On-Line Car Purchases

Bill Bess · #1 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 08:03 AM

Hey, Just thought I'd ask a question regarding On-line vehicle purchases and "how it worked for you?".

I got tired of dealing with the usual teams of lieing sales personnel at dealerships and decided to test my luck On-line. I searched for the exact car I wanted from listings at several dealerships. Compared options and models and then requested their price...."a qoute that I couldn't refuse".
It was amazing the different prices I got from several dealers on the exact same car. Next I worked one dealer aganist each other and kept the dealing in my court..not theirs.

Anyway, I ended up with what I think was a "smokin deal", especially now with all the factory give-backs.

Any experience out there with the On-line thing?
Bill

Ron61 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 08:41 AM

Bill,

Just one. Last year I was thinking of buying a Mustang and I went online to the 3 main Ford dealerships in this area. As you said, the first prices varied a huge amount. I then worked them down until I got what seemed a fair price and took my laptop with me to the dealer. When I got there they said the price they gave had been wrong and it was more. I just sit down and logged onto one of the other dealers sites and let them see what they gave as a price which was now lower than theirs. After some screwing around I got tired and decided I didn't want the car anyway. Same thing happened to a guy here a few months ago that was going to buy a new Ford pickup. This dealer here gave him a price and he agreed to come in the next day and pay cash for it. When he got there they told him they had given him an incorrect price and that it would be about $1,200 more. He went online to the dealer South of here and showed them the same pickup for less than the price they had originally agreed on and then got up and rove down there and bought the pickup. Glad that yours worked out so well.

Ron

trularin · #3 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 08:49 AM

Purchased a Jeep for my wife after looking on-line.

I did about the same thing you did and waited.

I found cash will lower the price even more.

LudicrousSpeed · #4 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 11:55 AM

Did all the research, then did some on-line shopping to find the minivan we were looking for (2007 Honda Odyssy). Found a comparatively great price on one in LA with low miles in the trim level we wanted. Kept watching it & searching for a few more weeks. Finally went down there with cash in hand. The internet price was almost 6k less then their "sticker" price. Of course I had a copy of their add, and we got down to business. Couldnt get them much lower, and their trade-in offer was weak (had a 95 Accord), but we ended up with a pretty good deal. Honda Certified with plenty of warranty left.
Wifey is happy.

Only down side is most of that cash was earmarked for the Cobra, but it needed to be done. Just have to wait a little longer.

cobra de capell · #5 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 12:59 PM

An interesting option is carsdirect.com - I directly a friend to that site, not necessarily to purchase through it, but to come up with a bottomline price to compare with what she was being offered by a local new car dealer (Ford and a truck) - the quote from carsdirect.com turned out $2,000 less than the 'smokin' deal' offered by the dealer - the dealer gave her the price quoted by carsdirect.com.

That site, somehow, provides the MSRP and the amount off that price, minus any rebates - allows one to select options and like magic the bottomline price to listed - no
haggling required. You select the dealer in your area - carsdirect arranging the deal and pickup.

At the very least, one knows the possible price prior to entering the show room - great information to have in one's pocket.

Balance_Point · #6 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 04:51 PM

I have purchased my last 3 cars online. I make the deal and get it in writting, including method of payment, before I go on location. 2 of these cars were special order and it still worked out great. I have no patience for the dealer experience.

sllib · #7 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 04:56 PM

I did the same thing from a online buying service called Autobytel. I ordered the truck directly from Ford while working in Seattle, picked it up in Virginia when I got home and only paid a small handling fee to the dealer (plus dealer prep-can't get around that). I even got a "flood discount" of $1500 for a flood I wasn't affected by! If you can stand the wait you can get exactly what you want at the best price.
Bill Stradtner