From: greis@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Gayla Ann Greis)
Subject: Re: Best time to buy a car?.
Organization: Computing Services Division, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 17:21:17 GMT

In article <1992Aug27.152044.20485@mlb.semi.harris.com> cbh@opus.mlb.semi.harris.com (Cherie Slasor) writes:
>In article <1992Aug26.182744.13689@midway.uchicago.edu> howard@chsun1.spc.uchicago.edu (Eboni Howard) writes:
>>A while ago I read a post asking when was the best time to buy a car.  I have
>>not seen a reply to this answer, I don't think.  When is the best time of the
>>year to buy a car?  I heard that during December or January is a good time because dealers are trying to get rid of the old models for the new year models.
>>For example, getting rid of the 92's for the 93's.  Is this true?  Can you get a good deal on a car during this time or is there a better time of the year?

>I had always heard that this was the best time to buy a car.  Late summer,
>from July thru September or so.  That was why we waited until the end of
>July to start looking.  Definite mistake.  Both the Saturn SC and Maxda MX6
>were pretty well out of 92's by then.  Maybe if we had made a decision
>before August we would have found one but other things intervened and
>they were all gone by the time we got serious.
>
>So if you definitely want a particular model, and that model is a good-selling
>one, don't wait too long.

Now think about what you are asking... When is the best time to buy a car?
Well, when do you need one? Invoice prices seldom ever go down, especially
lately on imports because the dollar keeps falling. People who wait, are 
actually spending more. All the invoice prices are published in buyers
guides. Magazines publish DCI and other rebates. Actually, this might
possibly be the *WORST* time of the year to buy a car! You get the leftover
stock on the lot with 500 miles on it, most rebates are over on '92s,
and you just think that you couldn't have gotten that kind of deal when
stock was better etc... The best time to buy is when you're ready. Sit down
with 1 salesperson, get to know them, and show invoice, and DCI and offer
$500 over net costs. Put a check behind it for $200-500 and have the 
salesperson submit an offer. Chances are the dealer will take it unless it's
a hot moving car like the Previa, EuroVan, LH, or Grand Cherokee. Then you
will of course have to pay more. Make car buying easy on yourself.

1) Do some research. Get invoice, rebate, and DCI information from the
   library.
2) Add up what you will pay, and what sticker is, on the *exact* vehicle
   you want. (color, options, etc...)
3) Write this all out and label everything, so a manager can't test your
   numbers!
4) Choose a dealership by talking to other new car owners.
5) Get one and only one salesman, and have them show you the car before you
   talk price. Quiz the hell out of them, and make sure they're honest on
   the car itself, otherwise they wont be on price. (Stick with *only* this
   salesman unless this salesman tells you otherwise. If you skate the
   salesman, you're only making it hard on yourself.)
6) Sit down, and tell the salesman *exactly* the vehicle you want. If they
   don't have it, let them locate it for you. (Don't waste your time running
   around, and their time by walking on them. They're on commission, not
   hourly!) They can get the vehicle easier than you can.
7) Discuss figures with the salesman, show them what their costs are, and
   tell them where you got your numbers. Offer $500 over net costs if you're
   financing with the dealer, maybe a bit more (up to $1000) if you're not.
   When you offer, write that you will buy it *today* for this cost, and
   back it with a check for $200-500.
8) Don't be bumped more than a few dollars. If they try to bump you, ask to
   see invoice, and don't buy on that day. Let them call you back. Make
   sure that the numbers match perfectly.
9) When they accept the offer, have them write on the contract under "other
   conditions of sale", "Vehicle subject to purchaser's approval at time of
   delivery." This must be done *before* the contract is signed. (just in
   case.)
10)Hopefully you've preapproved a loan, and you know what interest rates
   are. Give the dealer a chance to beat your rate, by say, half a point.
   If you have 8% for 48 months, tell the F&I guy, hey I already got a loan,
   but if you can do 7.5% it's yours! (This is almost all of his markup,
   saves you some money, and makes him some money.) Remember, if he wont
   do it, you've already got a loan.
11)Now, go back and shake hands with the salesperson, because it was really
   a pleasurable buying experience. You should appreciate that! The salesman
   usually makes about 25% of profit, so on $500 it put $125 in his pocket.
   Expect him to sell 2 cars/week, or a weekly (very weakly) income of
   $250. Some salespeople who have been around forever do 10/week because
   they have all referral business, but for a young guy like me, this is
   my average. For August, I only have 4.5 cars out so far, and one was to
   my parents. (You can bet I did it this way too!) At the time of delivery,
   a bottle of champane, or a thank you card is a nice touch to the
   salesperson if you think that they did right by you.

Other than that, good luck! This should save you lots of money, and make
buying easy, and non-stressful. You don't even (really) have to dicker
over price, because you know what you're going to pay before you go in there.
Newsgroups: rec.autos