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Am casually looking at new trucks.

Posted on 02/25/2023 7:26:39 AM PST by LouAvul

Inventory is increasing but a long way from pre panic levels. Plus, they don't seem to be interested in negotiating price.

Before, I'd contact (via email) a half dozen dealers with my criteria, they'd respond with a price, and I'd go to the lowest offer and negotiate from there.

No more, it seems.

No trades. No financing. Cash only.

What's the FR braintrust think about how to approach new vehicle purchase these days?


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: automotive; shopping; vanity
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To: LouAvul

Article about new car purchases from a few days back:
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4131379/posts


61 posted on 02/25/2023 8:23:09 AM PST by beaversmom
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To: V_TWIN
Yes, Tacoma or Tundra, depending on one's needs. You get what you pay for is true when buying a Toyota. One would like to see a 3/4 ton Tundra, that would be most excellent.

All the domestic brands are passe now, each for their own reason. I'm driving my last Ford right now. How long will it last? We'll see.

62 posted on 02/25/2023 8:24:58 AM PST by OKSooner (War is a racket. COVID-19 is a racket.)
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To: oldasrocks

Yes we would keep the ram except its a 6 spd with Cummins engine custom work behemoth that Mr.GG2 will no longer need after we finish rehabbing our house for sale. He’s been retired for a year now and just wants a runaround.


63 posted on 02/25/2023 8:27:38 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Blue Highway

I ordered a new Maverick with an off road package back in September and it hasn’t come in yet. The salesman told me when it comes in and I don’t want it I would get my deposit back. They would put it on the lot and tack a $10,000 higher price on it and sell it!


64 posted on 02/25/2023 8:27:45 AM PST by painter ( Isaiah: �Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,")
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To: vortigern

Only makes sense if the vehicle holds its value well.

Wranglers and toyota tacomas are the only ones I know that fit that description off the top of my head


65 posted on 02/25/2023 8:27:51 AM PST by SPDSHDW (Ya’ll knew he was installed via fraud, and chose to do nothing. Enjoy the roller coaster ride.)
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To: IYAS9YAS

“Never tell them you’re paying cash.”

Correct, finance to the hilt and pay it off as soon as you close the deal. Finance and parts are the two largest profit centers at a new car dealership. Let them think they are hooking you up for 7 years of interest and negotiate price, not payment. If you need a loan, put a HELOC on your house.

Studies say: Best value when buying a car:

Buy new and keep 20 years.
Second best is buy new and keep 15 years.
Third best is buy used 2-3 years old and keep 12-15 years.

We have 3, a 3 year-old Honda Passport (16k miles), a 7 year-old F150 (67k) and a 14 year-old Nissan Frontier (140k).

Set for life unless we want to waste money for fun. And I love the big crew cabs, some stuff I haul needs to not be in a bed collecting dust. That’s what trailers are for.


66 posted on 02/25/2023 8:28:59 AM PST by SaxxonWoods (The only way to secure your own future is to create it yourself. 111 is the key.)
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To: V_TWIN

search for a high mileage tundra or tacoma thats been well maintained.(and a semi decent price)


67 posted on 02/25/2023 8:30:46 AM PST by 2nd Amendment
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To: HonkyTonkMan
The price of new trucks is insane. Used prices are just as bad, and many want top dollar for a ragged out, abused truck.

I don't know where you're at, here in HELLINOIS the price of a used truck is pretty damn' close to the price of a new one.

Anything 3-4 years old with under 50k miles is going for about $5-$6k less than new, assuming it's in mint condition.

I've just been through the process.

I kept my old vehicle going as long as I could. Wasn't buying someone elses "junk" used truck and rather than save a few bucks on someone's used truck I went with new.

Paid sticker (no choice) but did manage to get the extended warranty for 50% less than what they were asking. $2,500 for a 7 year/100K bumper to bumper warranty on my new 2023 V6 Toyota Tacoma TRD OffRoad double cab was an acceptable price as far as I was concerned.

Paid cash for it and done. No payments. Already know this is the best damn' vehicle I've ever owned and my first pickup truck. (Also my first NEW vehicle for me only, in almost 40 years.)

68 posted on 02/25/2023 8:31:30 AM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: LouAvul
Buy a USED vehicle! Check Craigslist, or even drive around and do some driveway scouting, you might find a gem.

Dealers have used vehicles, including 'certified' used vehicles. When you get to the FINAL price, knock a few thousand off and make your offer.

A private party purchase can be risky but size the person up and go with your gut instincts. Good luck!

69 posted on 02/25/2023 8:34:57 AM PST by CivilWarBrewing (Get off my back for my usage of CAPS, especially you snowflake males! MAN UP!)
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To: wrench

2 grand? Yeah maybe buying from salvage junk yards for parts but not new. If you triple the $2k cost you’re probably closer. Give examples of how you get to that $2k figure for new everything interior wise. Thanks.


70 posted on 02/25/2023 8:35:18 AM PST by Blue Highway
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To: oldasrocks

Ha!
Yuppers.
The Cowboy Cadillac is a Joke !
I bought a F250 XL in 2019 new and this WORK truck is AND was Perfect!
Jump seats rear with 8 ft bed ...
I call it TITANIC.
I am struggling to find a solution for
Mounting my cb and 2 meter radios...


71 posted on 02/25/2023 8:35:42 AM PST by Big Red Badger (The Truman Show)
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To: LouAvul

“What’s the FR braintrust think about how to approach new vehicle purchase these days?”

Haven’t bought a truck, but we’ve had good luck just going to Carmax for gently used cars — trading in almost-perfect, low-milage cars. When DH turned about 65, the “thrill of the hunt” with car buying sort of disappeared. He used to consider it great sport.


72 posted on 02/25/2023 8:35:52 AM PST by MayflowerMadam (Stupid is supposed to hurt.)
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To: 2nd Amendment

and yes - check with Scotty on You tube. Try to get an older truck in the 02 to 09 range with a lot less electronics to go bad and cost you a fortune.


73 posted on 02/25/2023 8:36:02 AM PST by 2nd Amendment
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To: LouAvul

Cash is king.
I told the guy at the lot that I’d give him $2000 cash for that 1999 GMC Suburban back in 2015.
Still driving it. Getting the transmission rebuilt next week, though.

Whatever you get, make sure you install security measures.
Loads of auto thefts these days.


74 posted on 02/25/2023 8:36:11 AM PST by RandallFlagg ("Okay. As long as the paperwork is clean, you boys can do what you like out there." -Fifi)
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To: LouAvul
Never tell them you are paying cash until the deal is negotiated is good advice. Unfortunately, buying a car is still a miserable experience due to all the negotiation that goes on and the near infinite ways car dealerships have of screwing you over.

I don't mind the rep getting a decent commission but the dealerships need to go to a fixed pricepoint and stop all the nonsense with VIN etching, dealer preparation fees, destination fees, and whatnot. They will knock down the base price of the car but get all their profit back in other sneaky ways.

Also, I've learned to never trade in your old car when you are looking for a new car. I end up selling my car separately at CarMax (where you get a fair price) and then I can use the cash to go towards my downpayment on the new one.

Last time I bought a new car, I drove my wife's fairly new car (not my older car) to the dealership. Sure enough, as I was inside, the dealership had people checking out the car I drove in with. They were already scoping it out for trade-in value!

I did not dissuade them from believing that was the car I might trade in. So I was able to negotiate a decent price as they were counting on getting a sweet deal on my trade in. At the end of the transaction, I told them, by the way, I changed my mind on the trade in as I decided to hang on to it. So sorry.

It's sad we even have to play those kind of games when buying a car.

Also, good advice is to avoid the "finance" guy at the end of the transaction. Even if you are financing or purchasing the car on your own, the sales rep will try to get you in there for the hard sell on things like extended warranties, gap insurance, bundled oil change packages, anti-theft devices, etc. All of these are high margin transactions for the dealership, which means that innocent seeming "finance" guy is the most well-paid person in the whole show, besides the owner.

75 posted on 02/25/2023 8:37:22 AM PST by SamAdams76 (4,895,899 Truth | 87,656,930 Twitter)
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To: painter

At this point they are probably hoping you get impatient and change your mind. They want that extra $10k they won’t be getting if you drive it off the lot.


76 posted on 02/25/2023 8:37:32 AM PST by Blue Highway
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To: V_TWIN

Camaros have been in production every year since they were introduced.


77 posted on 02/25/2023 8:37:51 AM PST by MIA_eccl1212 (When the bad guys have leverage they use it)
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To: LouAvul

My wife just bought a new car. There was no negotiating.


78 posted on 02/25/2023 8:38:14 AM PST by caver
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To: LouAvul

Buy used. I would wait about 6-8 months and see how the auto market looks.


79 posted on 02/25/2023 8:38:31 AM PST by Kolb (Compone Accomoda Supera)
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To: LouAvul

I currently drive a 2012 truck, that I bought used in 2020. Before that, I drove a 1997 truck that I bought new and drove until the engine went out.


80 posted on 02/25/2023 8:38:42 AM PST by Bubba_Leroy (Dementia Joe is Not My President)
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