Can someone help buy new car

[00Bolt]

my wife and I are thinking of selling her BMW and getting an expolorer. We are wanting to have another baby and that will give us 2. The BMW has given us nothing but problems (new tranny, etc) and has been in and out of shop since day 1.

I know Ford is having pretty big rebates right now... i think about $4k on them. So that will get rid of any upsidedown equity I have... But my question is this...

Iv never really done alot of research on buying new cars, I know there are tricks and ways to pay BARLEY over what the dealer paid for them and basically get them dirt cheap... but I dont have any clue on how to do that.... iv heard of things like xplans and stuff, but i dont really know what they are either...

can someone give me the low down on this so I dont go into a dealer blinded and end up getting ripped off....

thanks guys.... ya always come through!!

[wesman]

Hate to say I told you so, the mid-ship BMW's are POS's.

As far as getting the best deal, I think Edmunds.com lists invoice prices on vehicles. You shouldn't really need an X-plan # if you're buying a standard vehicle, they will always deal on thigns like Explorers etc. Find out what invoice is and offer just over that. Also, internet shop (email) the dealerships. Ask what they have and what sort of deal they will make you. Generally the internet sales folks price just above cost because they know everyone is shopping around.

--wes

[98Cobra]

Scott:

I have helped many of my friends buy cars. There are some basics you can apply to any transaction.


Figure out exactly *what* you want before you go in to the dealer. You can narrow it down to two vehicles if you like.
Check out www.edmunds.com and find out the price of the vehicle, with the options you want. it will then tell you the invoice price. If the vehicle is a common one, they will often sell it for right around invoice.
Better yet, if it is a Ford, find someone to give you an X-Plan PIN. There is a guy offering a free PIN on the F150Online Lightning forum. With that PIN, you can pay X-Plan, AND get the rebates, etc. My friend bought a new 2004 F150 4x4 last year, and between the X-Plan and rebates he saved over $9k off the sticker!
Don't be afraid to say "no". There will always be another deal, no matter what the dealer tells you!
Don't discuss your thoughts in the sales office if you are left unattended. They can hear better than you think.

I'd be happy to help you more if you need it.

[L8 APEX]

Don't fill out a credit app or inquiry until you are ready to buy. For some reason dealers don't want to talk to you without running a credit check. Those unused credit checks lower your score for a few months. Make yoru own moves at the dealer don't let them prod you into their ploys. I hate when they have to "check with the manager". When I bought my L I told the guy I want to deal with the decision making man, not a mindless minion. If they get up "ask the manager" more than once then you get up leave:D . Exlpoders are a common vehicle all dealers will be very close in price. Xplans help the dealers get reimbursed a little for giving you a discount.

[BC Lightning]

Also dont tell them a price range you want to pay monthly. For example, if you tell them you want a $400/month payment then they can raise the price higher and you pay more in the end. Get the final price on PAPER and then say you want x plan, deposit, trade in, etc. Never tell them that stuff before because they can and will jack up the price. Then tell them what monthly payment you want. The price can't go up because its on paper.

[StormShadow]

Get an X plan pin number. Talk to me or Rocks, we have a Ford guy that we refer everyone to . If you get an x plan pin then you don't have to haggle over a price, it is already set.

[PoorSvtman]

If you decided to go chevy for some reason come see me.