buying tips

[dax]

Hi everyone I was wondering if anyone could help me with tips on how to haggle with the dealer when buying a new car.I live in canada and was thinking of getting the Mazda 3 GT.I have never bought a car from a saleman before so im not sure how the process works.If this helps,I dont need to lease or have any kind of financing at all.I have enough to buy car right away.Any tips you could give me would be helpful
Thanks dax

[beinkken]

there are a few online resources that you might want to check out

a bit long but an interesting read

10 steps

[gruss]

You have the cash in hand? Well the ball is definately in your court, there should be very little haggling. If you can find the invoice price on the exact car you want, and offer 250 bucks over that (they gotta feed their kids to you know) show em that wad and tell them to take it or leave it. Chances are they'll take it but maybe they want 500 over invoice or something, but you'll still get a killer deal.

[dax]

I went to one dealer and he said they only sell it at the msrp price,they do not discount the price.They also didn't have the car i wanted. They have a waiting list for mazda 3 GT sedans.I test drove the sport GT Its much better than my 90honda civic si,and i love the tiptronic shifter. :P

[cafecraigMZ3]

dax, pity you aren't in the US, where these are being discounted (even when needing to be ordered).

my suggestion is this. (It works quite well south of the border. For me, $250 over invoice.)

Individually email all the dealers in your area (~100km, however far you are willing to travel for a deal). you can pull email addresses off the mazda.ca website.

in your email(s), name the car you want (GT sedan) as well as the colour and options/packages. write that you are going to buy with cash and are looking for the best price offered for that vehicle. Also in the email, ask them when that vehicle would be available for delivery, and to list their offered price and ALL of the fees associated with the sale. It's okay to leave your phone number, if you like.

Some dealers will reply via email, and some may phone. take down the details that each dealership offers. don't bite at the first call or email. give it a couple days for all emails and calls to trickle in, and call back the dealer who gave the best price. with the salesperson you spoke with at first, verify the offer they emailed/phoned you with, as well as all of the fees. write everything down. again.

if you were called by a salesperson who has in stock the exact vehicle you want, but they were not offering the best price, tell them that you received a better offer from _____ but you will buy from them if they match ______'s offer. then confirm the price/fees, writing everything down, etc.

go see them, if not the car itself, and have in hand your notes from the call and/or original email reply. bring a calculator. when the salesperson goes to "get the manager's OK," and returns with an OTR price (after he has kept you waiting for at least 20 minutes for no apparent reason - apart from trying to wear you down), pleasantly verify their calculations yourself. If it's correct based on the agreement you negotiated, lucky you. If not, then get an explanation as to why the difference. 99% chance it's BS, and if not, they should have told you of any other fees beforehand. don't be afraid to walk out and see the dealer who made the next best offer.

chances are, the salesperson will stop you from leaving, and agree to make good on their original word.

don't buy 'protective coatings' of this and that, or extended warranties, unless you specifically plan on abusing your lovely new car. hopefully not.

then, just do the paperwork (verify calculations again) and write the cheque... (or place a $1000 deposit.)

just my suggestion. in any case, good luck!

[beinkken]

very good advice

[Senna 27]

Originally posted by dax@Mar 8 2004, 02:37 AM
Hi everyone* I was wondering if anyone could help me with tips on how to haggle with the dealer when buying a new car.I live in canada and was thinking of getting the Mazda 3 GT.I have never bought a car from a saleman before so im not sure how the process works.If this helps,I* dont need to lease or have any kind of* financing at all.I have enough to buy car right away.Any tips you could give me would be helpful
Thanks dax

If you live in Toronto or somewhere close to it, I can recommend a dealer. I got a good deal. It's a friend of a friend contact. The difference between walking into a dealership and asking what the best they could do and my contact was a savings of $1,600.00 over 48 months.

Let me know!

[Siphen]

I will be talking about American price and model.
I haggled with them for 40 minutes over my Mazda3 Sport Hatch, Sticker was $18,500. I informed them we were looking for a car around the $17000 range.They did not budge off this price for 40 minutes nothing was negotiable, we thanked the sales guy for his time and informed him that we had a few other manufacturers we were looking into. While my Girlfriend is using the bath room before we go they crack, he askes me IF they were able to due it for 17,000 would that make us a Mazda Customer, I said it would turn our heads and it probably would. After consulting with the manager he came back showing us the list for the car was $17,300, they sold the car to me for $200 less then list, I walked away paying $17,100! + I got a $500 rebate on top of that. I was walking on air when I got out of the dealership.

Moral of the story is let them know that you are interested in other cars in the same class and have been offered a better deal on them from other dealers. I told this guy Toyota offered to get me the Matrix XRS Automatic for $14,500 before I walked out.(They did to, problem was I hated the amtrix design and handling but mazda did not have to know this!) Do not be aftaid to leave without getting your vehicle. Always remember that sales people lie, alot heh

[SED]

I was in the same situation, walked in a Mazda dealer, letting them know I have to choose between Nissan Altima SExtra at 380cad lease/month and Mazda3GT Hatch... They agreed to give me the Mazda for same monthly payment... even if it came down to 10 bucks less per month than the X-plan I was eligible for...

[btacular]

yeah, letting them know you are interested in other manufacturer's really gets the competitive juices of these smaller companies (like Mazda) going... i told the guy i bought my 3S from that I was still looking at the Civic, Corolla LE, Accord and Camry... got my 3S at $453 over invoice (plus TT&L)!

you may have to leave the lot if they are inflexible... they will either come down at that point or they will call you over the course of the next several days (make sure they have your number)