Posted on 02/08/2022 6:36:02 AM PST by devane617
Thinking of buying a car? Kimberly Walker, a mother of two in Columbia, S.C., can tell you exactly what that's like these days.
She recently found herself having to shop for two vehicles on opposite ends of the market. For herself, she wanted a late-model electric Audi, and after looking around, she was able to find a used 2021 e-tron at a local dealership.
The price? An eye-popping $68,000 with no room to negotiate.
"We went back and forth. We were there for four hours," she says. "They did not budge on that price."
For her teenage daughter, Walker was looking to spend just a few thousand bucks on an old car. The experience wasn't any better. For four months they tried private sellers and kept losing bidding war after bidding war. CarMax didn't have a single option under $15,000.
They eventually found a car. There was just one catch.
"We ended up purchasing a 2009 Toyota Camry that actually was not running at the time," Walker says. "But the mechanic agreed to put a new engine in it and gave it to us for $3,500."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsbreak.com ...
I have never spent more than a half hour buying a car
I’m going through this myself right now. My beloved little Z4 roadster recently died after 18 years of faithful service (engine is shot and its not worth replacing).
After searching on the internet I found what I wanted and agreed to buy the car I’d been looking for from a dealer in another state. I electronically signed the paperwork and paid the $1,000 up front money. Then a week passed in which they did not talk to me and nobody got back to be despite me calling every day and leaving messages.
Then they finally actually bothered talking to me. We worked out the terms and the manager said he was going to Fedex me the documents to sign and return - then we could hand the car over to the transport company to ship down to me which will take about 2 weeks. That was a week ago. I have not received any Fedex package. I called every day starting Friday to ask what was going on. On Sunday he sent me an email saying he would look into it and get back to me later that day.
Its now Tuesday. He still hasn’t gotten back to me and I still have not gotten any Fedex package. I bought the car over 2 weeks ago and we are not even ready to BEGIN the 2 week process to deliver the car to me.
I have never seen a business more disinterested in collecting money. Its incredible. Meanwhile, I am enduring the enormous PITA that comes with not having a car for the now 3rd week.
“ Because car dealers are still crooks like they always have been.”
*************
They’re not crooks - you’re just stupid. Nothing personal 🤓
I haven’t purchased a new car in over 20 years. I keep my eye out for older cars with low mileage (usually estates). Whenever I find one in good condition I snatch it up, whether I need vehicle or not. If it has less mileage and is in better condition than a car we are driving, then I sell one of our older cars, usually at a profit. Otherwise I give it to one of our kids or keep it as a spare.
I am currently driving a 2012 truck with less than 35K miles on it. It had only 20K miles when I bought it. My wife is driving a 2003 Lincoln with less than 30K miles. My adult children and their spouses are each driving 10+ year old vehicles with less than 40K miles. I bought each of them for less than $10K in the past 3-4 years.
What crazy person thinks they’re gonna get an all electric Audi for a low price? You’re not going to buy any used electric vehicle for the same price as a used IC of similar make and model.
“Looking to buy beachfront property in Maui. Offering $3000 per acre. Firm.”
Depends on the damage that caused the salvage title. My dad purchased three different salvage-titled vehicles from a guy who specializes in them. He buys them and repairs the work. He won't buy anything with frame/sub-frame damage or anything newer than a 2011 (too many computers). All the vehicles served their purposes. All are still running.
You are exactly right!
Way back, when the hourly wage was $0.50/hour, a hamburger sandwich was $0.20. Now, the hamburger sandwich is around $7 for a $15/hour wage. The ratio us mostly the same.
So they want a $30/hour livable wage. The hamburger sandwich will be close to $15.
Hey! Raise it to $50/hour so it is a livable wage. Yeah! Sure!
Are there any manual shifts still out there?
We bought a 2015 Acura RDX from Carmax. 25K miles, AWD and a hot 6 cylinder engine. Great price also.
Call them up and tell them wire fraud is a federal offense.
Carmax, Carvana, etc, they are going to be big competition (used markets) as the newer generation loves this method. I think their stock prices are reflecting this popularity.
“For her teenage daughter, Walker was looking to spend just a few thousand bucks on an old car.
“We ended up purchasing a 2009 Toyota Camry that actually was not running at the time,” Walker says. “But the mechanic agreed to put a new engine in it and gave it to us for $3,500.””
Nice. Camry is a good choice. Wife has had good luck with one.
$68K for an Audi? I guess those are good cars but that’s a lot of change to put into something to take out into the world.
Sorry, I’m an American. That means I drive a car. I’m not some third world peddle pusher or rickshaw passenger.
You can get a manual transmission on some jeeps.
But then you are stuck with the jeep lol.
The sales staff leaves you pretty much alone so you can browse without a shadow, then don't be afraid to walk away until you find what you like, not what they want off the lot.
I sold a three year old, low mile car to Carvana for $6,000 over original MSRP a few months ago. A month later i ordered a new little sports car for MSRP (that’s doing well these days). Then i got a $500 loyalty coupon from the manufacturer because i had bought one of their new cars 18 years earlier ( still have that car). Took all of 30 minutes to order the car online. Only problem is the buyers flying in from out of state to buy. And a long wait for delivery.
Walk out.
She stayed four hours?
Ridiculous.
They had her and they knew it. Of course they won't negotiate.
We have been very fortunate my husband’s brother has been very successful in oil and gas. He has given us 3 different vehicles over the years that we have managed to keep on the road and still have a 2000 Jeep that our daughter bought as her very first car from her own earnings at 15. She gave us this Jeep that my husband has been able to work on and that was equal to the cost of her insurance that she owed us after purchasing her second car. We run a tight ship here. MX lawn-keepers are now always asking if we have a car for sale. We have 4 in the driveway.
It was a time of great uncertainty. The dealer kept calling me with better offers until I finally bit.
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