Internet Car Purchase

[CyinCo]

I just bought a car using the internet and a few phone calls. I take delivery tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous that something will fall through. They even gave me a price for my trade without seeing it. I've never driven the car I bought but I've driven the same model elsewhere. It is new so I don't expect any surprises.

Anyone else done this before? Did you negotiate the trade as well? Did the dealership stand by what they quoted for the trade?

I hope this all works out.

 

[Tank]

I would think it depends on the internet sight you bought the car on. I bought a car on eBay in 2005 and b/c it was eBay, they guarantee that the car seller disclose all items on the car and if you go to pick it up and things are different than what was disclosed, you can pull out of the deal without problem. Now, other than that, I don't know.

 

[bugs4cy]

Sold a Cherokee via eBay last year, but not purchased a vehicle online.

The whole thing was a little surreal. Purchaser barely spoke English. Missed two appointments to pick up the Jeep. He was from Chicago. His name was Jesus ... nope, not HayZeus, but he pronounced it GeeSus. Told him he had to pay in cash but he showed up with a cashier's check. When he did show up to pay and drive it away, he said he had never been this far west, it was like a cowboy movie out here on the range, and he was wondering if he'd see any buffalo along the road. He told us the Jeep would be in Mexico before Christmas...

When I left a comment about the purchaser basically disregarding everyting we agreed to on eBay, I was soundly heckled by other people. I don't think I've bough anything from eBay since.

It was one of those experiences where when it was finally all over, you just thought to yourself, "Wow, did all that just happen or am I dreaming?"

 

[dmclone]

I've done this 3 times and 2 times I had a trade. Never had any issues. All 3 were new cars. I always negotiate the trade before I agree to go and see the car. I honestly tell them the condition and insist on an OTD price.

What are you buying and where?

 

[dosry5]

My sister did that a couple of years ago and ended up finding out the car was a Katrina flood victim.

edit---she bought off ebay, not a dealer website.

 

[DaddyMac]

Is it new?

Curious to hear how it goes for you. I was thinking of doing the same thing down the road when we replace my wife's car. UPromise has a car purchase site and the model we were looking at was offered about $1500 less than the local dealer would do.

It would be new - so I'm not that worried about the quality of the car. Not sure what we would do about a trade. I'd prefer to sell it myself, but not sure it's worth the hassle.

As for their standing by it. I think, for the most part, dealers will look at the book value and not deviate much. When we bought my wife's last car on trade - the salesman barely looked at it. In fact, I don't think he did until after the deal was done and he went out to get the VIN. Just gave him the make/model/yr and he pulled it up.

 

[Cutlass]

I bought a C36 AMG off of Ebay about a year ago. I flew out to California and drove it home. The seller had good feedback, but the whole process was still a bit nerve racking. But everything worked out like it was supposed to, and it's a great car.

 

[JonDMiller]

I had this great idea a few weeks back to start a national car inspection service based off of internet car purchases...then I found out one already exists...I still think my concept is better, but there are only so many hours in the day. I was gonna call it 'TrustMyMonkey.com'

 

[dmclone]

Here is my normal procedure.

#1 Go and drive all the cars that I'm interested in but promise myself that I won't buy anything.

#2 Do a ton of research on the model that I like. Is there known problems with the car, what are the best deals people are getting, etc

#3 Go to all the dealer web sites and see if they have the make, model, package, color, etc that I want.

#4 Come up with an educated guess of the best price for that particular model. Come up with what I think trade in value should be on my trade in.

#5 Email the furthest dealership and saying something like this.

" I wanted to check with your dealership before I made a purchase from my local dealer. My local dealer has a 2010 **** ****(include package and color here) with an MSRP of 21,999 and I'm trading in a 2005 Honda Accord. He is offering me an OTD price of $8,450 after trade in before TTL. I noticed that you had the same model. Can you beat the price? I usually include pictures and condition of the trade in.

#6 I usually get back a response that they can beat that price by a few hundred.

#7 I then send that salesman's response to another dealership to see if they can beat the price. I wipe out my previous message and just include the salesman's response. This lets the salespeople know that you are serious and are actually working with another dealership.

I usually do this until someone says they can't beat the deal and then buy it from that dealership. You'd be surprised how much difference there is between some dealerships. I had a dealer in KC that offered me a $2,000 better deal on a $20,000 car than what the local Honda dealer was offering me. Usually it's just a few hundred and then it mostly comes down to who treated me better.

 

[isukendall]

Had a roommate buy a BMW (birthday present to himself) on eBay. The car was in Houston (we lived in Ames at the time). He hired a company for something like $100 to do a scouting report on it, they came back with a 50 page report that was very thorough about the condition of the car. It mentioned a couple scratches on the paint that are totally unnoticeable unless you wax it good and look really close. He flew down to get it, drove it back. I believe it was from a dealership. He seemed to think the whole thing went pretty well, but would highly recommend getting a 3rd party assessment of the vehicle.

 

[The_Architect]

If you've got the cash to buy a car straight up than buying directly from the factory is the best way to go. You never give the salesman a chance to get their grubby hands on it.

Here are some great resources:

Real, Actual New Car Prices Paid | Includes Rebates and Incentives | Real Car Tips

Fighting Chance New Car Buying Guide - Buy or lease a new car with our car buying guide. Get new car invoice prices for most all vehicles. Buying or leasing a car? Don't do it without this car buying and leasing guide.

 

[DaddyMac]

Here is my normal procedure.

#1 Go and drive all the cars that I'm interested in but promise myself that I won't buy anything.

#2 Do a ton of research on the model that I like. Is there known problems with the car, what are the best deals people are getting, etc

#3 Go to all the dealer web sites and see if they have the make, model, package, color, etc that I want.

#4 Come up with an educated guess of the best price for that particular model. Come up with what I think trade in value should be on my trade in.

#5 Email the furthest dealership and saying something like this.

" I wanted to check with your dealership before I made a purchase from my local dealer. My local dealer has a 2010 **** ****(include package and color here) with an MSRP of 21,999 and I'm trading in a 2005 Honda Accord. He is offering me an OTD price of $8,450 after trade in before TTL. I noticed that you had the same model. Can you beat the price? I usually include pictures and condition of the trade in.

#6 I usually get back a response that they can beat that price by a few hundred.

#7 I then send that salesman's response to another dealership to see if they can beat the price. I wipe out my previous message and just include the salesman's response. This lets the salespeople know that you are serious and are actually working with another dealership.

I usually do this until someone says they can't beat the deal and then buy it from that dealership. You'd be surprised how much difference there is between some dealerships. I had a dealer in KC that offered me a $2,000 better deal on a $20,000 car than what the local Honda dealer was offering me. Usually it's just a few hundred and then it mostly comes down to who treated me better.

That's some good info in there.

One thing I like to do in my research is use Edmunds.com. I've found them to be about the best for info. Alot of reviews, consumer ratings from people who already have that model. And their price building has been dead on from what I've looked at. Will give you retail price for options and what invoice is for those as well. Then will give you a "what other's are paying" to give a clue as to what you may expect for a purchase cost. Will also have alerts as to factory programs or special financing.

 

[Sparkplug]

Told him he had to pay in cash but he showed up with a cashier's check.

The cashier's check would have ended the deal for me. It looks real until a couple of weeks later your bank calls and you find out it was fake. Even the bank teller thought it was real.

 

[CyinCo]

Here is my normal procedure.

#1 Go and drive all the cars that I'm interested in but promise myself that I won't buy anything.

#2 Do a ton of research on the model that I like. Is there known problems with the car, what are the best deals people are getting, etc

#3 Go to all the dealer web sites and see if they have the make, model, package, color, etc that I want.

#4 Come up with an educated guess of the best price for that particular model. Come up with what I think trade in value should be on my trade in.

#5 Email the furthest dealership and saying something like this.

" I wanted to check with your dealership before I made a purchase from my local dealer. My local dealer has a 2010 **** ****(include package and color here) with an MSRP of 21,999 and I'm trading in a 2005 Honda Accord. He is offering me an OTD price of $8,450 after trade in before TTL. I noticed that you had the same model. Can you beat the price? I usually include pictures and condition of the trade in.

#6 I usually get back a response that they can beat that price by a few hundred.

#7 I then send that salesman's response to another dealership to see if they can beat the price. I wipe out my previous message and just include the salesman's response. This lets the salespeople know that you are serious and are actually working with another dealership.

I usually do this until someone says they can't beat the deal and then buy it from that dealership. You'd be surprised how much difference there is between some dealerships. I had a dealer in KC that offered me a $2,000 better deal on a $20,000 car than what the local Honda dealer was offering me. Usually it's just a few hundred and then it mostly comes down to who treated me better.

Almost the same process I used except I didn't disclose the other bids to the dealers. I just asked for quotes and the best quote, I took and then negotiated further over the phone. I set the price I wanted after trade and before TTL just like you said. I told him that I don't care how you get there between the trade and the car price. He got there.

I think I got a good deal. I'm also getting in on 0% financing since it is a 2009 model year.

 

[CyinCo]

I've done this 3 times and 2 times I had a trade. Never had any issues. All 3 were new cars. I always negotiate the trade before I agree to go and see the car. I honestly tell them the condition and insist on an OTD price.

What are you buying and where?

I am buying a 2009 WRX Premium from McLaughin Motors in Moline, IL. I bought the sedan version in silver with the SPT Catback Exhaust system. It is a big improvement on ride, quality, comfort, and performance over my 2004.

 

[dmclone]

I am buying a 2009 WRX Premium from McLaughin Motors in Moline, IL. I bought the sedan version in silver with the SPT Catback Exhaust system. It is a big improvement on ride, quality, comfort, and performance over my 2004.

Good choice. Is that the 4dr or 5?

 

[CyinCo]

Good choice. Is that the 4dr or 5?

The 4 door. I was torn between the hatch or the 4 door. My wife hated the the hatch so that made my decision a little easier.

 

[dmclone]

I was look at the WRX but my wife didn't like the hole in the hood :goofy:

 

[CyinCo]

I was look at the WRX but my wife didn't like the hole in the hood :goofy:

Yeah, my wife isn't a fan either. The 2009 scoop is more integrated than the 2004 version. The 2004 looked like someone cut a hole and then bent some metal to make a scoop. I supposed they could to a front mount intercooler but I like the top mount. Plus, my license plate doesn't interfere with airflow with the top mount.

 

[CyinCo]

I was look at the WRX but my wife didn't like the hole in the hood :goofy:

The downside to the purchase it the car now comes only with performance summer tires. They are great tires if you want a track day. But I really don't want them on my car. I'm going to try to sell them immediately and buy another sell of the Kumho ASX all seasons I had on my previous car.

Dm, do you know of any retail locations that will do a "trade" for credit on tires. That would be easiest. Otherwise, I'll put them on Craigslist.