Originally posted by javaContour:
"What's it gonna take for you to sell me a car today."
I think that's the approach I take to car buying. I lay my cards out, and have them give me the bottom line. If that bottom line isn't acceptable, I leave. Like when I bought the Contour, everything was based on the payment which I would have on a 5 year loan. I told them I owed $4,000 on my Sentra, had $2500 cash, and told them to quote me a payment for 5 years trading in the Sentra and having that loan paid off. The payment came to a reasonable value considering interest rates and what I was buying, and what was thrown into the deal, so I bought. Some may have gotten the car for less haggling every part, but that small difference isn't worth my time and trouble. I've already run the numbers, so I know what I'll accept.
I don't play games, and I don't tolerate games. I have them give me their best offer, and since I've already researched what I think is good value, I take it or leave it.
I still believe that you are comparing wholesale and retail when using the auction price. If you can buy the car at auction, do so, but from what I see it's normally dealers getting cars to resell on speculation. Therefore, it's not indicative of a price I'd compare to when sitting on the lot.
Depreciation is irrelevant to this discussion. A car is a purchase, not an investment, so the car should be assumed to have zero salvage value at the time of purchase.
You're not emotionally attached to the car? Then don't buy it. You'll live to regret it. I made that mistake once with my Sentra, and I will never do it again. The value of having an emotional attachment to your car transcends money, and makes even an unpleasant commute much better. Of course, don't let the dealer see that.
WMCougar, making deals amicable to all involved has nothing to do with socialism. Socialism is where government controls the deals made. Except for a few exceptions, including cars, we do not live in a bargaining society. It's against our culture to bargain in stores.
I guess my rural upbringing is showing. I just believe it's better to create a long term business relationship where I am a repeat customer than to shave a little money off the price. You treat others right, they'll treat you right, and if they don't subscribe to that, they aren't worthy of my business.
Think of it this way, it's this kind of sharp dealing that is at the heart of the Firestone tire fiasco. Ford tried to get the tires too cheaply (their only fault) and Firestone cut corners to supply them rather than insist on a fair price for the tire they were contracted to supply. An amenable deal would have only cost a little more initially and saved a lot in the long run.
