janeliz
Drama Llama
I'm the Wiz and nobody beats me.
Posts: 5,641
Jun 26, 2014 14:35:07 GMT
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Post by janeliz on Aug 21, 2020 13:04:39 GMT
It’s time for a new vehicle for our family, and this is always a stressful time because my husband and I have very different purchasing styles.
I don’t mind if it’s a few years old, but I want a warranty and I’m not opposed to financing if need be. I’m more comfortable dealing with a dealership or an auto buying service. I research, make a decision, and make a purchase. As long as I like my car, I’ll drive it for several years.
My husband is mistrustful of dealerships and is convinced they’re all ripping him off. He wants a used vehicle and he wants to pay cash. He needs an SUV or a truck due to his job, but he has no preferences other than that. His disinterest in the process usually means he procrastinates and takes forever to find something. Once he does take the plunge, he will drive it until the wheels fall off.
My best friend trades her Honda Pilot in every few years and just gets another Pilot. Another friend is married to a guy who will just decide one day he wants something else and he’ll just purchase something on his lunch break.
How about you? How does it typically work in your family?
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Post by busy on Aug 21, 2020 13:15:33 GMT
We do a lot research and narrow it down to a few candidates. Then we go do a little test driving and decide what we’re going to get. Then we use USAA’s auto buying service. Soooo easy. I loathe the dealership shenanigans and this completely removes them. Last time, we selected the car online - the price is already set and fair - and the dealership brought it to us. We had to sign one or two pieces of paper when they delivered it, and they took a few minutes to pair our phones and garage door opener and then left. We completed all the rest of the paperwork online with USAA. It was fabulous.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,276
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Aug 21, 2020 13:15:42 GMT
We buy from the same salesman that we have used for almost 20 years. He has gotten us some great deals and treated us fair. My kids have bought cars from him now too. He is honest, or we wouldn't have been with him this long.
We generally buy and keep. We bought 3 new cars for our kids as they graduated from High School, and transferred title to them when they graduate from college. They have traded after a year or so, for new. I just bought a new(ish) truck for myself, but I kept my old one to use as my farm truck. I wasn't looking for a truck and had intended to get a new mid size SUV. My sales guy mentioned the truck to me, since he knew what I drove and I ended up lucking into a fairly new truck with less than 20K miles on it. It was a great deal.
None of us finance though. We pay outright.
But I will say this - I am shocked to the core at the price of brand new larger vehicles now. Holy moly - a new F250 is shocking!
I also worry for the folks who are buying super nice, super expensive vehicles now at 0% - but financing for 7 years or more. Oh boy. That isn't going to work out so good for some. They can barely make that payment, so when it comes time for new tires, repairs, etc. on a 7 year old vehicle, it's going to kill them.
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Post by mikklynn on Aug 21, 2020 13:16:33 GMT
We try to alternate buying our two vehicles so one is new or newer, one older.
We drive them into the ground. Neither of us minds buying new, but we have bought used - lease return, GM program car, but we always buy the warranty on used cars, never on new cars.
We will finance part, but look for the best deal on that, too.
We both research what we want, then go drive cars to ensure we still like it. DH is tall, so that matters.
We used to go directly to the dealer by our house. We had a relationship with a salesman there, through my job. They closed, unfortunately.
Now we ONLY buy thru Costco. We have purchased 2 new and one used car and had great experiences at 2 different dealerships.
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Post by gar on Aug 21, 2020 13:16:39 GMT
We lease
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Post by kitkath on Aug 21, 2020 13:25:07 GMT
We lease. I’ll get into a groove and really like a certain car so I will lease the same model in a different color for 2-3 leases. Right now I’m on my second Buick Encore and I wouldn’t mind getting it a 3rd time! It’s small and has all-wheel drive but actually holds a lot of stuff when the seats are down.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 21, 2020 13:26:29 GMT
I am leasing. And I like that way. I'll be turning in my 2019 Trax in April. And I think I'm going to get another Trax because I really like it. My DH keeps trying to talk me into a blazer. But I'm not sure I want something so big and expensive.
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janeinbama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,201
Location: Alabama
Jan 29, 2015 16:24:49 GMT
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Post by janeinbama on Aug 21, 2020 13:28:34 GMT
We buy new and drive till the wheels fall off. DH and I both go as we are tall and both want to be comfortable. When DH bought a new truck after driving the same one for 29 years, he had been researching for a couple of years and decided he wanted a Toyota Tundra 4WD. We were picking up a table out of town, stopped for gas and DH saw the shiny Toyota truck parked next to us. Talked to the guy, we pulled away from gas pumps and he chatted a few minutes longer. We picked table up and stopped at the Toyota dealership we bought my car from and he test drove, decided on all the options and the salesman found one in Georgia. Our DDs were floored. He kept his old truck.
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,816
Location: Houston, TX
Jun 25, 2014 22:47:49 GMT
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Post by smartypants71 on Aug 21, 2020 13:32:30 GMT
I buy new and keep it for about 4 years or so because I like to have the latest tech in my car. I'm pretty loyal to Hyundai, so it's a pretty easy process for me. I just trade in my Tucson for another Tucson.
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Post by 5peanutsnana on Aug 21, 2020 13:37:23 GMT
DH is a Ford retiree, so no research necessary. He has driven F150s for over 30 years. I am driving my 3rd Edge, which I love. We have always bought new and 0% interest. Different stages in our lives require different vehicles. It's not the same, now, as when the kids were still at home and driving.
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Post by beepdave on Aug 21, 2020 13:52:34 GMT
It’s time for a new vehicle for our family, and this is always a stressful time because my husband and I have very different purchasing styles. I don’t mind if it’s a few years old, but I want a warranty and I’m not opposed to financing if need be. I’m more comfortable dealing with a dealership or an auto buying service. I research, make a decision, and make a purchase. As long as I like my car, I’ll drive it for several years. My husband is mistrustful of dealerships and is convinced they’re all ripping him off. He wants a used vehicle and he wants to pay cash. He needs an SUV or a truck due to his job, but he has no preferences other than that. His disinterest in the process usually means he procrastinates and takes forever to find something. Once he does take the plunge, he will drive it until the wheels fall off. I seriously had to look at who posted this. This is exactly what happened with my sister and her new husband YESTERDAY!! She called me freaking out because they are expecting a baby and his car is now a piece of junk and won't even last until the baby gets here next year! They are exactly you and your husband! Her ex-husband is the one who would go buy something on his lunch break because he saw it and liked it while he was getting Carrabba's! Hahaha!
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Aug 21, 2020 13:57:15 GMT
While we usually buy, we have rented a few cars over the years. I am a good candidate for a lease but DH is not as he puts a lot of miles on a car. We tend to buy new, fully loaded and then drive them for a long time. The last car I had for 12 years, while the current one will be 6 years in Dec. DH has been driving his car for 8 years. DD recently traded her 10 year old car in and bought a 2017 model SUV. For the actual buying process, I am a negotiator while DH is not. When DD made her trade last month, she asked me to go with her but specified her dad could not. Her reason? Dad just finds the car he wants, asks how much and writes a check. Turns out DD is quite the negotiator and did an excellent job.
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Post by buddysmom on Aug 21, 2020 13:57:26 GMT
We have a 2008 Lexus SUV with about 220K miles on it. We have had very few repairs on it. Bought new in 2008. We hope to trade it in within a few months and will get another Lexus SUV-but the smaller model.
We will pay cash and buy it online or through Costco. Anyone know which might be a better deal? We already test-drove one so we don't need to go to the dealer.
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Post by whipea on Aug 21, 2020 14:06:27 GMT
I buy from a dealer. I usually lease because I do not want to deal with car repairs as it ages. Plus, I like having something up to date every few years.
I bought my last vehicle and regret that decision. I have had it almost three years and within the next few months will probably sell it and lease again.
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Post by auntkelly on Aug 21, 2020 14:18:14 GMT
I love BMWs. I buy them from a BMW dealership. I sometimes buy them new and I sometimes buy used. I pay cash. I generally drive a car for six years before I trade.
My number one rule is to always say “no” to all those add ons the dealership pressures you to buy at closing-extended warranties, upholstery protection packages, etc. I’m good w/ the included factory warranties. I’ve always read that those high pressure purchases at closing are where the dealers make the big bucks.
My husband is not brand loyal. He gets new car fever more often than I do. He used to lease, but now that we are retired he pays cash. He’s always looking for a good deal. He loves to shop for cars (which I hate to do). He generally changes cars every three years or so. He agrees with me about not buying all those packages the dealer pressures you to buy at closing.
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schizo319
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,030
Jun 28, 2014 0:26:58 GMT
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Post by schizo319 on Aug 21, 2020 14:21:50 GMT
I am also in the market for a new car right now. Like you, I prefer to go to a dealership because I feel like I'm less likely to get a "lemon" from a dealership because they check out and repair the cars they get and it's in their best interest to do it right. That said, I HATE going to a dealership because all the car salesmen use the same antiquated high pressure sales tactics that they've been using for decades and it makes me feel like they think I'm an idiot who will fall for their crap.
I don't like to buy from private individuals because you don't know the history of the car or what kind of "gremlins" the owner isn't disclosing to you.
DH and I shop for our own vehicles however we want to, he doesn't even go WITH me to buy my car (I had a car salesman tell me to go on home and ask my husband about buying the car I was looking at - I gave him an earful about being an independent woman who didn't need my husband's or any other man's opinion on MY car - I doubt he ever used that particular line again LOL)
I hate car shopping. I wish I were brave enough to use one of those new services where you buy the car online and they just drop it off at your house.
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,687
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
Jul 22, 2017 4:59:41 GMT
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Post by luckyjune on Aug 21, 2020 14:26:12 GMT
We stick pretty close to Honda. In fact, our first Pilot, a 2002 from when it was the new model fresh off the line, is being towed to the junkyard tomorrow, with over 350,000 miles on it.
We buy new and go through Costco. We have done this a couple of times and the price we pay is always lower than what we went in thinking we'd pay. It's a super easy process with no haggling.
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
Posts: 4,302
Jun 29, 2014 3:29:30 GMT
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Aug 21, 2020 14:27:31 GMT
1 - Decide on type (sedan, SUV, etc), how many seats we want, features 2 - Eliminate all the crappy brands per DH, who is in auto repair 3 - Find vehicles made by the reliable brands that meet criteria #1 4 - Decide what year(s) we are shopping for. We only buy used, but never the model that was the first of its release 5 - Look for private sellers who are selling the exact make, model and year we are looking for in the color we want with the features that are must haves 6 - Drive several vehicles that meet criteria #5. Eliminate the shitty ones 7 - Find THE ONE. Make an offer based on KBB and condition. Get turned down. Walk away. Get call back from same seller next day accepting our offer.
ETA #8 - Pay cash
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 21, 2020 14:32:52 GMT
We buy used, no exceptions. We usually buy a fleet vehicle with around 20,000 miles And keep it for 5-6 years. Lately we’ve bought from Carmax because the paperwork so easy and we weren’t quite sure what model we wanted, since we were going from a van to a smaller SUV. It’s really easy to see all the vehicles as they sit side by side. We used to buy outright, but were planning to buy a house and it turns out that if you don’t carry any sort of loan, it lowers your credit score. You need the proof that you can pay it on time. Sure enough, our score rose 50 points just by carrying a loan.
Generally we will start talking about a new vehicle at about the four year mark, but waffle and put it off for a good year or two.We hadn’t had a car loan in at least a decade and it’s nice not to put a car payment into the budget.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,947
Jun 26, 2014 17:47:08 GMT
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Post by peppermintpatty on Aug 21, 2020 14:35:23 GMT
We do the research, then my dh will haggle with about 6 different dealerships. We tried the Costco thing once, it was a scam. We did it ourselves and were about $3000 below what Costco was offering. My dh doesn't mind putting them against each other. He deals with them through emails so that there is a paper trail and he can show one dealership what another one is offering. We also have them do all the paperwork and then bring the paperwork and the vehicle to our house so we don't have to wait for hours for them to try and pressure us with other crap.
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,899
Jun 26, 2014 22:49:09 GMT
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Post by tracylynn on Aug 21, 2020 14:47:13 GMT
There's a Ford Dealership in the area who has a "no dicker sticker". Because of their volume, they have the best prices around.
I literally picked my last 2 Ford Escapes from them from the website, told them I was coming in to test drive, and bought them. The car I bought in late 2016 was less than a 2 1/2 hour process start to finish. I know what the car is worth, I know their price and that it can't be beat, I know what my trade is worth, and that's it.
I have no time to hassle over buying a car.
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Post by scrapbookwriter on Aug 21, 2020 14:53:19 GMT
We buy new. My husband researches the heck out of everything. He reads Motor Trend. He watches video reviews online. He goes to the dealerships and test drives a few options and narrows it down to maybe two or three vehicles that he likes. Then he brings me in for a test drive. (I have veto power, even on the car that he will be driving. I once vetoed a car because the passenger seat was uncomfortable.)
After the test drive, I go home and leave DH to negotiate. I hate car shopping and I reeeeeallly hate watching DH negotiate. It's painful for me. He knows to the penny how much the dealership will have put into the car. He is perfectly willing to walk away if he can't get the deal he wants. He also shops multiple dealerships to get the deal he wants. He always ends up dealing with the sales manager directly and he always ends up paying far less than the "Lowest We Can Go." He'll purchase on the last day of a slow sales quarter, counting on the sales manager's desire to bump up his quarterly sales to earn dealer incentives. The last time we bought a car, the sales manager requested I come in without my husband the next time I want to purchase.
I'm not into cars. I want something reliable, comfortable, and preferably pretty. I'm annoyed with myself that I let DH talk me into the gray Audi I'm driving now. I like the car when I'm in it, but I hate the color.
We prefer to pay cash, but we'll put part of it on our credit card to get the cash rebate. Also if there's a discount for financing, we will finance the smallest amount possible and pay it off as soon as allowable (usually at six months). A huge part of DH's pleasure in a new vehicle is knowing he got a great deal.
Side note: I used to drive a Toyota Sequoia and absolutely loved it. After 9 years it was having some issues (electronics, acceleration). I wanted another Sequoia. But they changed the specs on the Sequoia. They've turned a great passenger SUV into a truck. It's awful. On the test drive I didn't even get out of the dealership parking lot. I braked and put it in park and said No. I can't imagine ordering a car without having driven it first.
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Post by jubejubes on Aug 21, 2020 15:15:09 GMT
Retired GM worker family here. Used to be able to get the GM executive driven cars in the 90's & early 2000's. They would have few miles, full warranty and very reasonable price. Xh was allowed 2 vehicles per year (benefit in contract) and I was allowed 2 vehicles per year. Always had a new car/suv/truck and only paid for an oil change. Spoiled us very much. My last car I bought in 2012 and it is going strong, 2012 Buick Regal, fully loaded. Since then I am divorced and no longer have this benefit. Very similar process as 5peanutsnana.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Aug 21, 2020 16:21:38 GMT
We buy used and keep them for a fairly long time. Well I try, dh is ADHD so he likes to find something newer. In the 23 yrs we’ve been married he’s had 3 vehicles and I’ve had 4. I dig my heels in because I usually really like whatever I’m driving, but sometimes I need to give it up. Like when we could no longer fit all our dogs in my car and had to get my 4Runner Dh always wants low mileage. He just bought a 2018 Toyota Tacoma and sold his 2005 Tacoma to my son. I have a 2007 Toyota 4Runner. I would like a newer model for some of the upgrades, but mine is in such good shape there is no reason to change.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,005
Jun 25, 2014 20:53:57 GMT
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Post by blue tulip on Aug 21, 2020 16:28:44 GMT
we buy salvaged vehicles. not flood damage ones, not any electrical problem or rollover ones. usually they've had a front end collision and a couple panels replaced. they are 3-5 years old. we drive across the state to Detroit, where there are tons of small businesses that make their living buying wrecked cars at auctions down south and fixing and selling them. we know what to look for to see if the work has been done right. these places aren't stupid, they want the best return for their investment so they buy the best cars they can that just need some body work. our latest was my 2015 taurus with 19k miles that we bought a couple years ago. a tree had fallen on it and smashed in the roof and trunk.
it works great for us because we get a newer, nicer looking, lower mileage car than we would otherwise be able to afford without a salvage title. We usually end up paying about 50% of what the same car is worth not salvaged. we are still able to have them insured with collision- in fact, we had a fusion that we bought salvaged, and then we were hit by someone and it totalled it out AGAIN. we liked the car so much that we took the payout, bought the car back from the insurance company at wreck price, and had it fixed, with money left over to get a $$$$ hot water heater for our house since that had just gone out.
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Post by worldwanderer75 on Aug 21, 2020 16:29:38 GMT
Buy a vehicle that's a few years old and pay cash and drive them until they die. We've always done it this way but neither DH or I care on bit about cars as long as they get us from point A to point B. My DH is really interested in the new Bronco but will prob wait until he get one that's a couple years old.
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Post by femalebusiness on Aug 21, 2020 17:00:44 GMT
The last time that I bought a car my daughter was going to the dealer to buy a new one and I told her to pick one up for me too, in black, while she was there.
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Post by Fidget on Aug 21, 2020 17:09:26 GMT
I used to lease and turn mine in every 3 years. I have a really short commute to work - less than 3 miles each way, and I'm not lugging kids around to sporting events anymore since they are all grown. I found I was turning in a perfectly great vehicle with low mileage (less than 25k ususally) so I decided to buy my last car. I found 0% financing in 2014 through Ford so I bought a Ford Fusion and I still have it, it has whopping 36,400 miles on it. I'll keep it a few more years and then I'll buy again. I will say - I wish I had a few of the bells and whistles that I see on my friends cars. I would really like a remote start, a back up camera, heated seats and a navigation system. These will be must have's for me on my next vehicle.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 20:24:59 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2020 17:35:13 GMT
For our main vehicles, we buy new. DH and I do our own thing separately, including the research and most (or all of the dealership stuff). I used Costco auto buying program 3 yrs ago and it worked so well he used it for his pickup a year later. I'd probably use it again, I think I got a better deal that I would have negotiating and saved a significant amount of time. He bought during a big auto maker sale and the dealer sale price was identical to Costco although Costco had a $750 gift card incentive on new vehicles so he did get that. You can use Costco for the pricing and still get whatever incentive financing the auto maker is offering. It was pretty close to 10% off sticker price and in both cases they did a dealer trade to get us exactly what we wanted. What you save varies on the vehicle make and models and it also works on used vehicles.
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,791
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Aug 21, 2020 17:58:17 GMT
DS just bought a car through Carmax and got exactly what he wanted for the price he wanted, and it was remarkably easy for him.
I hate buying cars. The last time I needed a new car, I asked DH and DS for a birthday present. The present wasn't the car, but that they would do all the research given what I wanted, test drive the cars for me, then narrow it down to a couple cars for me to test drive. I drove one car, said I loved it, and then DH took care of the entire purchase. They like, and care about, shopping for cars, while it's one of my most hated activities.
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