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The pandemic has kind of hosed things up because dealers can be unresponsive with no consequences for their bottom line, but at least in the last few years there has been a huge emphasis on working email leads more effectively. It's obviously highly variable but this isn't 2012 anymore; there are at least some dealers who run email competently. The amount of effort is low to start, so you might as well fire em off.
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Aug 22, 2022 17:13
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Yeah I was able to get prices on a Japanese compact car over email in 2015 at dealerships in a large metropolitan area with a lot of competition.
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Aug 22, 2022 17:18
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I was gonna do email just bc, after (stupidly) putting my email address into the Consumer Reports car buying thingie, I'm now getting emails from a few dealers asking if I'm looking for a new car. Will prob fire off a few emails expecting no reply before I start calling.
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Aug 22, 2022 18:44
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Oddly enough, I had more success with email when internet was relatively new. In 1999 I bought a new Z28 over email from the then-new "internet sales department" of a local Chevy dealer. I asked for a price over email on a unit they had in stock, and they gave it to me immediately with no BS. I went in for a test drive and signed the papers and was done with probably less than 90 minutes of total time invested. But I've bought 3 cars since then and basically got nowhere with email, beyond maybe confirming that a car was in stock and setting up a test drive.
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Aug 23, 2022 05:31
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I bought my Mazda almost entirely via email, but it was in March 2020 right before the automotive supply chain went to poo poo, so no idea if it’d work in the current climate. Emailed every dealer within 50 miles asking for exactly the model, trim, and color I wanted and that I was buying that week with the Mazda promo financing. Got the run around or the “come on in and we’ll talk” from several, but also got good price quotes from several others. Went with one that got me about 10% under MSRP, showed up to sign the papers and drive it away. Exactly how buying a car should be.
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Aug 23, 2022 06:18
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I used Truecar back in February, it got me in touch with several email/internet sales departments for Mazdas. One dealer came out with a below MSRP price without even arguing and they got my business. I talked to other dealers on the phone but nobody else had the trim/color combo I wanted on allocation.
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Aug 23, 2022 12:44
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My wife made initial contact with the dealership via e-mail and then literally everything else except the test drive and then picking up the truck a couple months later was done via text message with the sales guy during the evenings, apparently.
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Aug 23, 2022 13:02
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Hadlock posted:Everything is cheaper in America, they just make up the difference on volume  I almost saved over a grand on a camera this May but in the end Canon refused to ship it because my card didn't have a US billing address  But a few years back I bought a lens and a graphics card in Hong Kong. Realistically you don't actually save anything of course if you fly just to buy something, but I know I'm traveling to the US or Asia every now and then so I save all purchases for then.
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Aug 24, 2022 10:24
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Yeah you're not saving anything, just getting a free vacation out of replacing a necessary item. Going to the US from Europe is probably not half as exciting as going in the other direction
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Aug 25, 2022 04:19
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Hadlock posted:Yeah you're not saving anything, just getting a free vacation out of replacing a necessary item. Going to the US from Europe is probably not half as exciting as going in the other direction I mean obviously as an American you think so but most of the Euros I know are super jazzed to go to the States.
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Aug 25, 2022 12:50
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US is a nice enough place to visit I'd imagine, especially if your port of entry is gonna be Chicago, NYC, or DC. Most of the problems compared to Europe come from living here.
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Aug 25, 2022 13:55
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Can I just say that is really sucks buying a car right now? Because it really sucks. Such a pain in the rear end.
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Aug 29, 2022 02:24
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Looking for help for a couple who recently dramatically increased their income in exchange for a whole new commute that absolutely requires a car. So the car is needed on the timeframe of a few weeks. Proposed Budget: $3k down, 20-30k total (maybe?) New or Used: either, but probably new for the longevity and better apr Body Style: sedan, hatchback, or crossover How will you be using the car?: 50mi/day work commute, not much else besides city driving What aspects are most important to you? Reliability and low maintenance costs are the #1 concern, followed by comfort for longer drives with good handling/smoothness, then good MPG. Some overall favoritism towards Subaru due to positive past personal experiences A broader question than just what type of car to get is how exactly to approach this situation. One route that I think would be best in most general situations would be to get a cheap used car with the cash on hand and then save for something better. But that runs immediately counter to reliability, the most important aspect for the car (and commute). My car is also making GBS threads the bed, and based on my amateur research the used car market in the $3-5k range does not seem to be what it once was.. On the other hand, financing is like giving extra bags of cash in the form of interest to Satan while betting that your life will remain at least as stable as it currently is for the entire length of the loan. But they also have a large flexibility in their budget going forward, and have resolved to set aside $2,500 for the next 6-12mo to secure something that will be safe and dependable for the long term. Of course that doesn't necessarily mean targeting a loan of a one year term length, but rather going for 36-48 months without prepayment penalties, then having the flexibility to pay it down faster. Discussing short to medium term lifestyle sacrifices in exchange for minimizing the total amount of interest paid seems like a good start to me. Cars on the 6x$2500 end of that range would probably have to be used, which sacrifices some safety and dependability for more cash on hand and less overall debt. I've been wondering how even to approach asking this, and it might even be too subjective to give a concrete answer about, because even something like perceived job security affects how risky it is to assume a future income. People navigate more perilous situations every day, but people also do stupid poo poo every day too. Is it just shopping around different credit unions and banks for rates while poking around some dealerships to see exactly how much would need to be financed? Seems like plenty of cars in the $20,000-$30,000 range would be potential options. Any general words of wisdom for navigating the car market in 2022?
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Aug 29, 2022 03:27
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Shop at local credit unions for loans. Get pre approved and have the "dealer fills in the check" thing ready to go. At the same time, call dealers to make sure they have cars at MSRP before even agreeing to see something. I'd look at the Camry Hybrid, Accord, CR-V, Mazda3 and maybe the RAV4 for reliability and comfort on the highway for that much. Then also look up Sonatas, Tucsons, and maybe the new Kia sedans that look snazzy. Really it's just going to be sitting in them and figuring out what feels the best for an hour a day. I'm sure I'm missing a lot but 20-30k is the sweet spot for new cars. I wouldn't even bother looking for used in this market. drat that's a long commute.
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Aug 29, 2022 03:55
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A Bag of Milk posted:Looking for help for a couple who recently dramatically increased their income in exchange for a whole new commute that absolutely requires a car. So the car is needed on the timeframe of a few weeks. There’s nothing under $5k with the reliability desired. Prius.
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Aug 29, 2022 04:43
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50/mi day one way or round trip Reliability and gas mileage puts Prius in the top three
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Aug 29, 2022 04:54
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A: Prius if they can find one and swing it. Corolla or Civic hybrid if not. The actual answer will be "whatever they can find in stock." B: Sit down with an amortization calculator and figure out how much you're actually saving with weird payment plans vs. paying the minimum for the life of the loan. In an era of rising interest rates it might not be worth it, and in the best case it probably won't be $1000. Getting gap insurance to cover a low down payment will probably work out better. C: No loan from a reputable place will penalize you for paying extra, and no one should accept a loan under those terms. Dealer financing will ask you not to pay it off in the first 6 months, but that also isn't a requirement. If they want to pay some extra early to get above water and drop gap coverage, I wouldn't blame them, but again it's probably a lot of sacrifice for not much gain.
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Aug 29, 2022 05:04
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Mildly curious what the amortization calculator says about sinking $3 grand into a depreciating asset in the era of 7%+ inflation. I can't help but wonder if there's a better place to put that money, but also I guess most people aren't able to find 0 down car loans these days
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Aug 29, 2022 05:12
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My credit union does gap insurance for an incredibly nominal amount. Like 100 bucks or something. I wouldn't do it otherwise.
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Aug 29, 2022 05:14
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Thanks for all the advice. The 50mi was round trip although I have since learned I lowballed that, and it's actually 58mi, and nearly 2 hours. That commute would not be my cup of tea but people must follow opportunities where they come I suppose. Based on actual dealer inventory it looks like we're still in the hosed times, so "what they can get" may indeed be the truest answer. Has anyone used Costco Auto Program? They claim to pre-negotiate prices with certain dealerships. But the prices listed on the Costco website are wildly different from the dealership. $29k for a hybrid Rav4 on Costco vs 36k actually existing on the dealership website, for example. Is it really a matter of asking the dealer for the "Costco Member-Only Price Sheet" and instantly being shown a price thousands of dollars off of sticker? Or, when you look at the Costco website, are you looking at a hypothetical version of the car (e.g. without various extras) that you will never find in real life, and thus the prices will never line up?
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Aug 29, 2022 05:52
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Jay-V posted:I'm looking to purchase but I'm very much not a car guy and not sure where to start so hello! Lexus ES 350. It’s basically an Avalon with leather seats. Your use cases sound almost exactly like my own. I bought a 2015 model a year and a half ago for about $23k and I love it. No hitch, but you could get one added at a shop that does that or else use these.
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Aug 29, 2022 13:12
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The Prius is not a comfortable car on the highway for 2 hours a day, are y'all crazy? There's plenty of cars with the Prius driveline that are more comfortable. Have them get a loan on a new car. With the amount of miles they'll be putting on it, it's expected that they'll need a new car every 3-4 years anyways. Might as well be a new one with a warranty and the reliability needed. Mustache Ride fucked around with this message at 13:23 on Aug 29, 2022 |
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Aug 29, 2022 13:20
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Yeah I was gonna suggest the Camry as a more comfortable Prius alternative. You give up some fuel economy in return for comfort and sound deadening material, and also the car merely looking unattractive instead of like dog poo poo.
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Aug 29, 2022 13:43
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Hadlock posted:Mildly curious what the amortization calculator says about sinking $3 grand into a depreciating asset in the era of 7%+ inflation. I can't help but wonder if there's a better place to put that money, but also I guess most people aren't able to find 0 down car loans these days A Bag of Milk posted:Looking for help for a couple who recently dramatically increased their income in exchange for a whole new commute that absolutely requires a car. So the car is needed on the timeframe of a few weeks. The financing cost is pessimistically there as a backstop for exactly the situation you're theorizing. If you're suddenly unable to make payments the bank will be happy to liberate you of the need to. You should sell it yourself and close out the loan of course but you have options and flexibility and the financing cost is for helping you stay flexible. Interest is currently a bit up compared to the heady days of finance every dollar you can but they are still drat low compared to some past paradigms where it paid to be financing averse. I still like 3 year term loans to be financing cost averse but anyway the smart plan for most people's budgets is to get a 4 or 5 year loan and pay it off early if you want to minimize interest costs if you have nothing better to do with the money like eat or gamble in retail stock market accounts. The main way to save money right now is minimize the number of transactions you have to make. It sounds like you're already convinced of this but do not buy something now to trade back in 1-2 years. This is one of the biggest advantages of paying financing cost to realize big gains in safety or reliability compared to trying to buy cars for cash only. All that to confirm what others are saying, you're looking to put $3k down on a $25k car that could be new or used based on your right now requirement. Yes financing is as easy as shopping rates and using the best. A Bag of Milk posted:Thanks for all the advice. The 50mi was round trip although I have since learned I lowballed that, and it's actually 58mi, and nearly 2 hours. That commute would not be my cup of tea but people must follow opportunities where they come I suppose.
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Aug 29, 2022 14:14
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Is the costco buying program generally similar to what truecar does, or is it more expansive? I essentially get truecar through my aaa membership, but my experience with it in the past is that I'll get a few offers on price but still end up negotiating or dealing with crap on tacked on fees, so that it is better than coming in blind from the street to buy a car, but doesn't actually make it hassle free.
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Aug 29, 2022 16:06
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The two way road of buying 5 figure assets is nothing is really binding until the to be registered owner signs an invoiced purchasing agreement. Short of concierge level service where the agent is bodily with you at the dealer or serving you the PA and loan paperwork personally you just have a promise they talked with the dealer and they are cool with the deal. Costco lands on the hands off side. Costco encourages you to walk out and report them if your bottom line differs but I've read a couple online horror stories that Costco isn't exactly pressing their relationships during the car chaos times and saying "well what are we going to do, they are our only dealer in your area."
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Aug 29, 2022 16:49
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I'm in the early stages of car shopping for me and my partner. We're both remote workers in a north Chicago neighborhood, but there's probably a dog in our future and I don't want to have to fireman carry it to the vet. Not in a tremendous hurry to buy, but would like to be driving by the end of the year if possible. Proposed Budget: ~$30,000, 800 credit score New or Used: Mostly looking at new given the market conditions Body Style: Sedan How will you be using the car?: City driving, road trips, eventual dog transport What aspects are most important to you? Reliability and ability to be at least somewhat drivable in poo poo Chicago weather My preference would be a Honda Civic or Accord, but there's pretty much no inventory nearby and the few Hondas there are have $5K dealer markups and thousands in add-ons I don't want. I've rented a handful of Nissan Sentras and Altimas in the past and liked them well enough, and there seems to be way more inventory in my area with a likelier chance of getting one at MSRP, but I know they're not generally as well-regarded or value-retentive as their Honda counterparts. I've only done a bit of research on the used market, but the prices generally seem to be so high that it seems to make the most sense to just buy new unless there's something I'm missing. Anyway, does it make sense to buy a car that I think I'd be happy with but falls into the realm of "good enough," or should I hold out for the one that I'd rather have but will either have to wait for or accept that I'm going to get gouged? Should I be giving the used market a harder look? Or should I just start doing squats now so I can comfortably carry a golden retriever for over a mile?
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Sep 6, 2022 19:46
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Go to a Carmax or whatever and sit in all of their midsize hatchbacks/CUVs and figure out which ones are comfortable. Then make a short list and call around until you find something. It might take a while if you are particular. The thread really likes Mazda.
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Sep 6, 2022 20:31
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KillHour posted:Go to a Carmax or whatever and sit in all of their midsize hatchbacks/CUVs and figure out which ones are comfortable. Then make a short list and call around until you find something. It might take a while if you are particular. The thread really likes Mazda. Also, be sure to test drive everything on your short list. Every car looks awesome on paper. It's often not until you're behind the wheel that the deficiencies show up. We went through this a couple years ago with my daughter-in-law. She liked the looks (and prices) of many cars, but when she drove them the Mazda 3 stood out very obviously as the best of the lot.
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Sep 6, 2022 20:35
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yeah not sure why you want a sedan specifically when your use case is Haul Dog my main advice is don't buy a Nissan Rogue Sport
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Sep 6, 2022 20:37
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Deteriorata posted:Also, be sure to test drive everything on your short list. Every car looks awesome on paper. It's often not until you're behind the wheel that the deficiencies show up. Right. By "sit in" I mean "drive"
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Sep 6, 2022 20:38
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We haul around our 50-60 lb German shepherd mix in the back of our 2015 Lexus ES almost every day. One time we even squeezed her bed back in there with her. So if the aesthetic of a sedan is high priority, you should be okay. PS we bought our Lexus two Februarys ago for like $23k and 42k miles. So if your budget is $30k, while agree buying used probably isn’t smart for generic brands at the moment, it can be nice to see your 2010s luxury options with that budget.
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Sep 6, 2022 20:43
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Thanks for the hatchback advice, was thinking sedan just based on my own preferences and experience, but I'll keep an open mind if I find one I like. Sounds like I'll be taking a field trip out to the Carmax then
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Sep 6, 2022 21:00
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Squashing Machine posted:Thanks for the hatchback advice, was thinking sedan just based on my own preferences and experience, but I'll keep an open mind if I find one I like. Sounds like I'll be taking a field trip out to the Carmax then A hatchback is a sedan for people with big dogs and a need to carry the occasional piece of furniture. They're great.
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Sep 6, 2022 21:06
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Jedi Knight Luigi posted:We haul around our 50-60 lb German shepherd mix in the back of our 2015 Lexus ES almost every day. One time we even squeezed her bed back in there with her. So if the aesthetic of a sedan is high priority, you should be okay. This advice also applies to a BMW 7 series from like 2016, but with an even larger rear door for improved doggie ingress/egress
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Sep 6, 2022 21:39
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Hadlock posted:This advice also applies to a BMW 7 series from like 2016, but with an even larger rear door for improved doggie ingress/egress I don't particularly recommend a 7 series for Chicago city driving.
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Sep 6, 2022 21:43
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Can't comment on chicago, with with all the modern whiz bang radar ultrasound things never had an issue myself driving in dense downtown traffic before we moved to flyover country. Wife complained for about a week but then learned to trust the whiz bang gadgets and haven't had any issues, zero
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Sep 6, 2022 21:47
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Squashing Machine posted:I'm in the early stages of car shopping for me and my partner. We're both remote workers in a north Chicago neighborhood, but there's probably a dog in our future and I don't want to have to fireman carry it to the vet. Not in a tremendous hurry to buy, but would like to be driving by the end of the year if possible. My only advice is to make sure you get something with some form/degree of adaptive cruise control. Shouldn't be hard if you're buying new, as I think it's standard on Toyotas and Hondas these days (and probably other makes).
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Sep 6, 2022 21:48
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Hadlock posted:Can't comment on chicago, with with all the modern whiz bang radar ultrasound things never had an issue myself driving in dense downtown traffic before we moved to flyover country. Wife complained for about a week but then learned to trust the whiz bang gadgets and haven't had any issues, zero Weren't you in a good weather state? I've noticed that makes a huge difference in people's perception of how those devices work. I also live in a place where people drive where the lane markers used to be because gently caress You, that's why.
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Sep 6, 2022 21:50
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KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:Weren't you in a good weather state? I've noticed that makes a huge difference in people's perception of how those devices work. Everything people do in New England is because "gently caress You, that's why"
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Sep 6, 2022 21:53
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