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Last time I bought a car was 14 years ago, and we still refer to it as the new car. I looked up stuff got a good price and got it at that price.
Now, I’m looking to maybe buy another new car and my husband will take my car. It’s a fine car, and I don’t need to buy another. There’s the rub. The tools I used aren’t available anymore and everything I look at wants all my info. Which I do not want to give because I am not ready. I want to play with numbers. And I make my decisions slowly. And one of those decisions could be “not at this time”.
There’s the rub. The tools I used aren’t available anymore and everything I look at wants all my info. Which I do not want to give because I am not ready.
Get another email address just for looking for cars.
For the phone number just use the dealerships phone number.
For name and address, just make all up.
If you want phone calls just get a Tracfone for $59.00 with one year of service. LINK Comes with new phone number.
There are services that provide you with the dealer's exact cost for a car and tell you what a fair price is. You have to pay for the service.
then find 5 dealers in your general area, drop off or fax or e-mail each of them the exact car you want, your fair price offer and tell them the first dealer to call with a yes, gets the sale. Tell them you will not discuss anything with them other than an unqualified acceptance of your offer. A friend of mine does this, and always gets a yes. Sometimes he had to hang up on some of them when they call and try to convince him to come in to the dealership or to accept some other deal. He tells them, I will come to your dealership when I get an unqualified commitment form you to accept this deal. I expect you to have the paperwork prepared when I arrive.
Edmunds is a good resource. Or look up car forums - a quick google found a place called Prius chat. These forums normally have specific threads on pricing and availability. Folks also exchange information on what they paid, etc.
Also - if you belong to a Credit Union (or can join one), they typically have purchasing services that can get you a 'fair' price (Same with Costco and USAA). Those who like to negotiate can do better, but not everyone wants to play that game.
will all give you a fair value for buying or selling your car.
You don't need to give them anything, email, phone, nothing.
New or Used
I've used them for years, compare the 3, and pretty much Edmunds will be the lowest most conservative amount.
2018 Base Prius
Invoice
Base Price $22,067 MSRP $23,475
Destination $895 $895
Total Base Price $22,962 $24,370
Options (change) Price with Options
$22,962 $24,370
Are you looking for a fair price or the lowest price because there is a difference. Fair is any price anyone is willing to pay.
Here are some suggestions to see what the market price is on a car at any given time:
peruse online and print ads for the car you are looking for
use the online guides edmunds, nada, kbb, truecar, et al to get a sense of what the pricing is
the forums at edmunds.com usually have a prices paid thread for a particular brand
Then decide what is a fair price to you and offer it. If it's in the ballpark, they will will either negotiate it a bit or accept it. If it's not reasonable to them, they will thank you for coming in and wish you well.
The sending an e-mail or fax returns nothing more than a come on in and we can talk. They know what you are doing and they don't want to give you a price to shop around.
Edmunds True Market Value comes pretty close. For most mass market models, 8% under MSRP is fair. For things like loaded full size pickups, 20% off MSRP could be overpaying.
Edmunds.com
NADA
KBB
are the best sources for wholesale costs.
I'd also look at the Costco Wholesale Club's auto buying service, and read the Consumers Reports Magazine articles on how to buy a car at the best cost.
I'm astonished at how many people make what is the second most costly purchase In Their Life, and begrudge a few hours research. I spent 5 days, 10-16 hours per day researching (I was in a hurry), and ended up getting what I wanted, for about $1,200 less than local sales of that exact car. Certainly worth that $/hour rate!
I'm astonished at how many people make what is the second most costly purchase In Their Life, and begrudge a few hours research. I spent 5 days, 10-16 hours per day researching (I was in a hurry), and ended up getting what I wanted, for about $1,200 less than local sales of that exact car. Certainly worth that $/hour rate!
At 13 hours a day, that's $18.50 an hour. I wouldn't get out of bed for $18 an hour. But it was worth it for you.
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