Foo - Buying a car.. Tips??

After driving a car the same age as me for 7 years I finally have the opportunity to buy a new(er) truck. My question is more along the lines of how low are dealers pricing them. Before this disastrous economy hit I learned from a friend's dad how lenient dealers will be (it was his hobby to buy and sell newer cars), but I don't know now if they're for the most part marking them as bottom line as they can to get the business. Of course I'll be haggling, but I want to know realistically what to expect. If it matters, I'm looking for an '07-'08 extended cab Chevy 4x4 around the $20,000 mark.

Anybody have any recent car buying experience or knowledge on this?? Thanks.

Gonna buy a truck that who's company will be bought and resold 3 times in the next 6 years?

They are decent trucks, 3 of my buds have them for plowing and such. I always had a Dodge Dakota 4x4 w/ v8. I loved that thing. Apparently, somebody else loved it more, or at least enough to steal it. Buy what you want, just remember, gas won't be getting any cheaper really.

The Dakota is a good pickup, as it is the only one of its size range with a decent V8.

I've found that MPG between a midsize truck (Tacoma, Dakota) is only about 1-2 MPG better than a full size truck. So, I'd probably just go for a full size vehicle especially if doing off road work, because you get better clearance.

Also, don't limit yourself to just Chevies. Other companies have good pickups that can handle a full size load.

Gas or Diesel?

The biggest things to remember when buying a car are:

Do not be afraid to say "no" and walk away.

"Invoice Price" is total bull excrement and is not at all representative of what a dealer pays for a vehicle in the end. They'd have you believe they make 1-2k on a car. That won't even pay the gas bill at a dealership, let alone rent, payroll, floorplanning costs, insurance, taxes, etc...

So, offer what you want to pay, and if they say, "no," walk away. 70% of the sticker is probably a good place to start in today's economy. That's not a bad representation of what the car will be worth the moment you sign your name.

If Chrysler is still in business in 3 years it will be the Mother of All Miracles.

If Chrysler is still in business in 3 years it will be the Mother of All Miracles.

Of course now that the second most imbecilic car company on the planet (Fiat) owns them, maybe they have the Pope on their side.

Get one with pedals. Gas aint gonna get cheap again.

Why the 4x4 requirement? Just adds weight, robs you of (even more) mpg, costs more to insure. If you're wanting to play in the dirt, you could spend half of your budget on a Jeep, and have 2x the fun.

Best tip is you're always going to get hosed buying from a dealer. Unless your wife works there...

1. Know what the vehicle is worth retail.
2. Pay close attention to the interest rate they try and stick you with.
3. Be ready to tell them to stuff it.

Best tip is you're always going to get hosed buying from a dealer. Unless your wife works there...

1. Know what the vehicle is worth retail.
2. Pay close attention to the interest rate they try and stick you with.
3. Be ready to tell them to stuff it.
4. Pay cash if you can.
5. If you need financing, get pre-approved from your local bank/credit union.

If you take dealer financing (unless buying new), you are just getting gang banged without the lube.

line up financing with the local credit union if you need to. Ask the "finance" guy at the dealership when he throws a 7% loan out there how much is it worth in a discount to finance it through them. Take the discount, make a payment, refi through the credit union.

Hmm.. I thought this thread died out. Thanks for the responses. I'll try to answer accordingly.

The only way buying a current GM product would be a disaster (moreso than other cars) is if they completely go out of business. If they were bought and sold over and over, the 'new' owning company couldn't afford NOT to honor what they already have (warranties), losing a tremendous following and a hit they couldn't afford. I'm not a fan of the mid-sized trucks. They feel far less powerful, for minimal gas improvements, and aren't cheap.

I'm an automotive hobbyist and a bit of a wrench-head, and I have far more knowledge and experience with Chevies, and I really do like them a lot, it's not just because of brand loyalty.

Half-ton gas. I can't afford the Duramax, though I really wish I could. Maybe the next one. :)

I worked at a dealership a couple summers ago, and my boss was pretty cool and let me see probably more than I was supposed to (as a lot porter, anyway), unfortunately they aren't a Chevy dealership, but I will definitely ask for a heads-up and a deal on trade-ins. I like the 70% rule of thumb, too.

This is my first "big purchase" (fresh out of college after being poor for... well, ever) and starting with minimal credit. I plan on putting down a pretty big down payment and financing the rest. Plan on going through my bank.

I will have my "Shove it up your ass" voice cleared and ready to be unleashed. I'm sort of excited to try it out, to tell you the truth...

The four-wheel drive is sort of a requirement. That's what I've had and I really can't see going without. I spend time off-road with some hobbies and spare time (eg hunting). And having it and not needing it is not as big of a pain as needing it and not having it is an advantage.

Thanks a lot for all the responses, though a little later than I thought. :)

Walk away. Whatever you do walk away. After you have negotiated to the price they want you to pay (which always happens whether you realize it or not) walk away. Come back a few days later saying you liked the car but the price was all wrong. Let them figure out the right price you want to pay. Don't give them any more info than they need. They will use it to sell you crap you won't need.

Websites aggregate actual sale prices (or something like them), worth skimming kbb.com or edmunds.com for that kind of thing. Of course if those figures are contributed by dealers and dealers always get what they want, those are the prices they'll be steering you toward anyway so you might not need to know them after all.

It's entirely possible that cars are as overpriced as real estate these days. For like 20 years they've been existing just because the financing was there every step of the way, to keep the mfr's afloat, the dealers afloat, and to move the cars out to the customers (often enough for them to keep rolling into new ones), not 'cause anyone liked them enough to pay (near) MSRP for them.

Rule#1: TRUST NO ONE!
Buy a Carfax membership and run the VIN # yourself. I will not publish my reasons here but will PM them on request.

If Chrysler is still in business in 3 years it will be the Mother of All Miracles.


Of course now that the second most imbecilic car company on the planet (Fiat) owns them, maybe they have the Pope on their side.

I love the banter between you two.

Talk to the finance guy.

http://www.carbuyingtips.com/

This website has been around for a LONG time...helped me before. When I first read this site, I negotiated my car for $400 over what the dealer paid for it (and KNEW how much the dealer paid for it).

Umm,
just out of school? There are books on how to buy cars, try and find a good one.
You don't need a new vehicle. You also don't need a big car payment. You should be saving.

Find something used that costs about half what you were thinking about spending.
When you find something you like, take it to a garage and have them go over it with
a fine tooth comb. Costs me about $100 these days.

I have a 3 year old Sonata I paid 11K for. I pay extra on and will be out from under
the payment in 2 to 3 years time.

You need to get your finances in order, buying a new car isn't all that
smart a move right out of school.

Umm,
just out of school? There are books on how to buy cars, try and find a good one.
You don't need a new vehicle. You also don't need a big car payment. You should be saving.

Find something used that costs about half what you were thinking about spending.
When you find something you like, take it to a garage and have them go over it with
a fine tooth comb. Costs me about $100 these days.

I have a 3 year old Sonata I paid 11K for. I pay extra on and will be out from under
the payment in 2 to 3 years time.

You need to get your finances in order, buying a new car isn't all that
smart a move right out of school.

+1 gazillion

You NEED to be saving every possible dime at this point. Housing isn't going to get any cheaper and in the next few years prices WILL start to inflate again. If you ever want to own your own home, you'd better get on the ball NOW.

Plus, your retirement plan sucks. I don't know you and I can say that with a fair amount of confidence. It sucks because you aren't doing anything about it. And if YOU don't start NOW, you won't have any retirement to look forward to.

Having the biggest & baddest toys today won't help when you find the right playmate and decide to start a family and buy a house. Nor will it help when you lose your job because of the crappy economy AFTER you buy that house and start your family.

Words to live by today - less is more.

Another source of good information is Consumer Reports. You can usually find it in your library. Cars models vary and have good and bad years sort of like wine vintages. Moving your model and year a little bit either way might give you less headaches and repairs costs over the next couple years.