Be broke, like me! Then all those things are moot considerations. If the current trend continues, in a few years a bicycle - just a regular old bicycle without a motor - will cost $10,000.
Supply and demand.
I’ve done it a few times so it doesn’t intimidate me. It’s a good way to get cheap cars.
All by design.
Because car dealers are still crooks like they always have been.
This is a loser article. The woman is whining about spending 68k on an all electric Audi.
Cry me a river.
I took my Cadillac in for a recall I had received, and the new car lot was almost devoid of new vehicles. Literally less than 5 available. The used car lot had a decent selection to chose from. I wasn’t really in the market, as I was just browsing waiting for my car. The prices of the used cars were not listed on the cars, so I don’t know what they were asking for them.
Not a chore I enjoy for sure.
Ditto, but she made mistakes. The easiest ‘tell’ is when you are eager to buy a specific car, there is no reason for dealership to alter price. THERE was an occasion where she should have walked away in the first hour. BIG MISTAKE.
The second mistake with the cheap car was likely narrowing her search to too small an area. Cheap cars are available, just perhaps not in your ‘backyard’.
I’m not sayin it’s easy. I am purchasing a specific model style used vehicle, 4WD, for a work vehicle that will hold and carry my custom made stuff. We are traveling 180 miles to pick it up on Friday. Similar vehicles were 250-500 miles in different directions, and several /many on the East Coast or California. Too far.
What I am saying , some car salesmen can smell desperation. For them, it may be a common odor.
“The people who are looking for need-based transportation as opposed to want-base transportation — the folks who are looking for the traditional $10,000 or $12,000 car that has, you know, 95,000 or 105,000 miles — those folks are having a very difficult time in this market right now,” says Matt Jones, head of communications at TrueCar.
“This is troubling,” he adds.
Are police auctions still a thing?
Four hours? Leave after 30-45 minutes. No sense wasting your time.
One thing that seems to be in play is that there’s not a lot of dealer loyalty any more, People go where they can get the best price. I’m not sure dealer loyalty would even factor into a dealer adjusting the selling price in times like this.
hope the young are enjoying their minimum wage increase, not that they realize that they can’t buy what they assumed they could with more money, because the price of everything just goes up to adjust for their additional spending power.
The car market has changed. It’s now retail.
Up until about 20 years ago, buying a car was, (or could be), a negotiation. It was typically a male thing; you find a car you’re interested in, and then start at the advertised price, but that was dumb.
Options, extended warranties, getting a set of new tires, you were ‘trading cars.’ Of course, you could always just pay the sticker price.
Someone came up with an idea, and I believe it originated with Honda. Being a popular brand, they promoted the ‘no haggle’ sale. “Here’s a great price and everybody gets it!” This was especially targeted towards single women buyers, who didn’t have the confidence to negotiate. “We’ve taken the stress out of car buying!”
So today, it’s retail. Here’s the price, take it or leave it. And most of today’s meek buyers are so relieved that they can just write a check.
Don’t get me started on this subject. SMH
I specialize in cars 3,000 to $10,000. If she was a cash buyer all she’d have to do is pick the car pay and leave. I don’t understand why people think I should dicker with them though, as she found out finding a car these days is impossible. I price fairly and I stick to them just like Walmart does with their items
Like anything else, a car deal can be found if you look for it.
There are many venues for the smart buyer, and sometimes you just get lucky. Yes, it may take a while, but buying a car is like buying a pet... It has to feel right, it has to "fit" you, it has to be a part of your family. And yes I am a disciple of John Muir (The volksie guy , NOT the naturalist).
Check the want adds, look on Craig's list, or just ask around for the cat who wants to get rid of his ride to "move up" with a newer car.
What ever you go with, be it a dealership, or that guy down the street who is selling his ride, get it checked out by someone who knows cars, rooftop to wheels, bumper to bumper, even if you have to spend a few bucks with a local mechanic to check it out. Money well spent! And for gosh sakes stay away from the "salvage titled" cars. Read the fine print! Used Car dealers MUST divulge this if there is a salvage title on the car. This is usually the car you want that is literally "Too good to be true". Nothing but a headache!
When you find a car, and go thru all the steps, but be prepared to DEAL. That's the part that is the most fun. I get quotes from Kelly's blue book, and all sorts of info available on the internet, and I make it a point to have everything on a nice fat clipboard when I look at the car. Makes dealers nervous. Make it a process! Make it your search!
Remember, as a buyer, YOU have the power (and the bread man!)
Good luck!
Where do you shop that you have $68k and they won’t negotiate?
Perhaps it wasn’t $68k cash.
Suggestion. Bring $68k cash.
As for buying a junk car for your teenager...you might want to rethink that.
Buy at the end of the month from a dealer for the best price. Fleet managers have a quota to make every month and they will become more flexible as the month and year come to the end.
Talk to a half dozen fleet managers within driving distance and say that you will pay cash to the one with the best price.
That used to work in the past for a good deal. Donno about today.
Show the car to your wife and ask if she likes the color then take her back home and go make the deal.
Sorry, is this sexist?
If you see her hesitate on the price, dicker!
carmax——easiest way. fair pricing no hassle..competes with real price on used cars. My latest purchase was an hour.