Shopping for a car

I've found most car sales agents are irresolute about sticker prices, and you never end up paying for just the sticker price after they add in all the "extras": dealer markups, market adjustments, added dealer accessories, taxes, and government fees. Low inventory and high demand often prompt dealerships to add "market adjustments" that can add thousands to the final price, even if not on the original sticker.

i.e. - "If you don't buy it, I'll sell it to the next sucker."
 
With the exception of the very first car I bought, I've paid cash for all my cars. Dealers don't like that. They want you to finance it through them. I love it when when they lead me into a little office and the person in there starts talking about financing. I let them go through their spiel, then mention it's a cash deal. They look dumbfounded and become less courteous. They then ask where the money is coming from, I feel like saying "Switzerland", but what should it matter as long as they are paid?
 
debodun said:
With the exception of the very first car I bought, I've paid cash for all my cars. Dealers don't like that. They want you to finance it through them. I love it when when they lead me into a little office and the person in there starts talking about financing. I let them go through their spiel, then mention it's a cash deal. They look dumbfounded and become less courteous. They then ask where the money is coming from, I feel like saying "Switzerland", but what should it matter as long as they are paid?
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why would they ask where the money is coming from ?

I've only ever taken a car out on finance once.. that was longest years of my lfe paying that off.. never again... all other times I've paid cash

Now when I bought the recent car, I'd rung the dealership ahead of time, to make an appointment to view it.. and I told them then that I was a cash buyer... and altho' I know they make their money from finance deals, they were nothing but courteous to me... .. and they certainly never asked where I got my cash... their ears would have been ringing and it wouldn't have been the sound of a sale.. :ROFLMAO:
 
debodun said:
With the exception of the very first car I bought, I've paid cash for all my cars. Dealers don't like that. They want you to finance it through them. I love it when when they lead me into a little office and the person in there starts talking about financing. I let them go through their spiel, then mention it's a cash deal. They look dumbfounded and become less courteous. They then ask where the money is coming from, I feel like saying "Switzerland", but what should it matter as long as they are paid?
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Switzerland ! 😂

We’ve paid cash for the last 3 cars we bought, including a signature SUV. Dealerships would rather have you go through them than pay cash but it’ is definitely none of their business where the money comes from.
 
robin416 said:
Yeah, you're paying dealer prices. I would check local garages to see what they charge for an oil change.
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It was better under the former owner. The business was sold about 3 years ago and now under new management. What used to be complimentary services like checking air pressure or testing the battery and fluid levels, they charge for now. I asked the desk clerk why the change and all I got was a clipped "Nothing is free anymore."
 
debodun said:
Used cars are almost as expensive as new. I am just in a quandary - why buy a new car at my age (I'll turn 74 next month). Also, I am teetering on the edge of bad vision - hardly any in left eye and right is extremely nearsighted. If I get a retinal detachment in the right eye, I will be legally blind and not be able to drive at all. Then I'll have a $30K paperweight in the garage.

Yet my old friend is requiring more and more repairs and becoming a money pit.

I am just not good at making important decisions. 🤔
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I'm paying attention to what Deb said in this post.

If she drives less than 3000 miles a year which she seems to indicate. She shows routine upkeep. Oil change, air filter change & new battery. Toss in not wanting to finance & not wanting to buy new due to potential vision problems.

Deb being frugal IMO Deb's best option is to have the brake work done. Especially if her vision concern becomes reality.

She used $30k as an example for replacing her car. 150k mileage & well maintained she could reasonably expect several more years of service from her present vehicle. Then sell it without concern for safety defects. I'm sure there would be someone that could use a beater car.

I'm going to use 5 years as an example time frame if her vision causes loss of driving privilege. The $2,880.00 divided by 60 months = $48.a month. Using cash @ 3.25% against $30k = about $81.00 loss in interest per month.

She would have a car that is safe to drive & reasonably low cost to maintain.

Frugal & facing vision loss are real for Deb.
 
againstthegrain said:
Or her phone number.
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do you mean this ? her name is not Marie Roberts

oil-change-jpg.493791
 
Knight said:
I'm paying attention to what Deb said in this post.

If she drives less than 3000 miles a year which she seems to indicate. She shows routine upkeep. Oil change, air filter change & new battery. Toss in not wanting to finance & not wanting to buy new due to potential vision problems.

Deb being frugal IMO Deb's best option is to have the brake work done. Especially if her vision concern becomes reality.

She used $30k as an example for replacing her car. 150k mileage & well maintained she could reasonably expect several more years of service from her present vehicle. Then sell it without concern for safety defects. I'm sure there would be someone that could use a beater car.

I'm going to use 5 years as an example time frame if her vision causes loss of driving privilege. The $2,880.00 divided by 60 months = $48.a month. Using cash @ 3.25% against $30k = about $81.00 loss in interest per month.

She would have a car that is safe to drive & reasonably low cost to maintain.

Frugal & facing vision loss are real for Deb.
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I also think if she puts some money into this car she could have it for another few years.
Get the brakes fixed . Get the air conditioning fixed. We had a Toyota Echo which is now called a Yaris and it had over 350 kilometres on it. When we bought our new to us car, we got offered $800 for it.
 
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