Car buying. We're planning on getting a new car in the next couple of weeks, and the whole process is freaking me out. I've never bought a car before, don't want to get swindled, and just want DH to handle it all! Any tips for me? Are you stressing unnecessarily about any very temporary things right now?
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I hate car shopping but my MIL enjoys it and plays all the little negotiating games for me. Best of luck to you! What kind of car are you getting?
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aw, it's not that bad buying a car! I did it myself last time without DH even knowing bc I found a deal and he wasn't answering his cell phone lol. My best advice is know ahead of time what you want and how much it's worth. I always research on http://www.kbb.com to figure out how much what I want should cost me and to make sure I"m not getting screwed. I also look on carmax.com to see what comparable cars are costing-- because they don't haggle so the price is just the price.
Lastly, decide ahead of time how much the TOTAL you will pay is and always make them talk about "out the door" price. If they are just talking sticker price that still has fees to come for tax, title, and whatever else. And don't even talk about monthly payments. They always want to tell you this car will only cost you x/month but they're usually talking about a 6 year loan and you could end up paying way more than you want to.
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We're in the middle of buying a used car out of state (from a family member) and the logistics of transferring it to our possession/state (with forms and tags and insurance and all) is giving me a headache.
Also, making travel arrangements for two different trips less than a week apart. I'm really nervous because I start a new job in early April and will have to right away request time off.
Oh, and today, a non-eating, super clingy toddler who is either getting sick (no fever) or whose two year molars are coming. He's woken up shrieking thrice so far tonight, over the span of 3 hours.
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No advice on car buying as I'd be feeling exactly as you are, but I am unnecessarily stressing about our upcoming international move. So much of the process is out of my control and that completely stresses out my inner control freak. Just wanting to fast forward a few months to when we are settled in a place to live, DH has a job, the immigration process has been completed, and we have finished these massively long plane journeys with our babies. Sigh.
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We bought our car through Costco. I definitely recommend it if you don't want to haggle. I think we got a better deal through Costco than we would have through the traditional car buying process.
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@autumnlove: Honda Odyssey. I feel like I should be bummed for getting a mom-car when I'm barely out of my mid-20s, but I'm so excited! Space! And more space! And no more borrowing cars to go to Ikea!
@Mae: I've been researching like crazy. Maybe too much. I think I'm stressed because my laid back side is totally warring with my "I'm going to make sure this salesman gives me everything I want" negotiator side.
@lovehoneybee: We had to do the transfer thing last year when getting a car from a family member. Surprisingly, MD didn't make it too painful. Very much out of the norm for here :). I hope E gets to feeling better soon!
@Ree723: I can't imagine that kind of stress. Having kids involved takes it to a new level. It will be worth it in the end!
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@NCSUchick27: We thought about that. Right now we're going through USAA, and I think they're pretty comparable. I'll definitely try it if this doesn't work though!
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@Weagle: Shop around for the best price! Honda is tricky because they typically don't discount their cars as much as other manufacturers. Call around or use the internet to submit price inquiries (as long as you don't mind salesmen calling you all day, haha). You should be able to get one for invoice pricing, it's definitely possible in my area.
Do you have a trade? That's where a lot of the negotiating is! Don't be intimidated. It's all a game, but at the end of the day, your salesman wants to make that sale, so they'll usually try really hard to make it work!
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@Weagle: Nice! We borrowed an Odyssey for a road trip last month and we loved it!
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I have no advice on car buying but am stressing out about home buying right now. Weare ready to put our house on the market but there is literally nothing out there for us to buy!! I hope it warms up and the snow melts soon so people will start listing their houses. I am pretty sure we are going to sell our house first and be "homeless" (we'll either stay with my parents or get a rental for a few months) for a period of time which really is stressing me out!!
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@Weagle: are you buying used or new?
I bought my car and negotiated everything via email. Made everything much less stressful when I didn't need to be pressured by salespeople. I thought Truecar was a great resource.
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@sunny: 2012 or 2013... Unless they want to give us a great deal on a new one!
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Also, I don't know if this tactic had anything to do with me getting a great deal or not (and actually it wasn't a tactic, it was the truth-- but i feel like it sort of helped)… maybe just one of you go and say the other can't come? When I bought my car, my husband and I had talked about what we wanted and what our budget was, but I happened to be out of town at my parents and found a car and my husband didn't answer the phone so I really couldn't ask him anything. I told the guy my max was X. I was just like "Look-- I like the car, but the budget I agreed on with my husband is X and I can't get hold of him to ask his opinion on spending more. I'm NOT spending more without talking to him. So you either meet X or I just have to walk away, I have no choice." And he did. It saved me about another 1500 off what he said was his best deal.
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@Weagle: Car buying is the worst! I erroneously thought that since we were paying cash that we would be more appealing buyers and the car guy politely informed me that the price was, in fact, LESS flexible when you are paying cash because they make the money in financing.
What's stressing me out now: MEDICINE (as many bees have humored me about). Between bronchitis and now a thrown out back, I'm so sick of researching the classes of drugs. If this baby ends up deformed, I'm blaming the drug community for making it so damn complicated. /end rant.
Oh, just read @Sunny 's comment - I actually negotiated over the phone before we even got there. I called and said we had been looking at cars all day, I had seen his vehicle online, and that I was only willing to pay x - he seemed to respond to my bluntness.
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It's really not that bad now! I always check kbb to figure out what the true cost is. There are a ton of websites now to help you figure that out. I also emailed a ton of dealerships to get their quotes first and did a lot of negotiating online first.
Oh my, so many thing stress me out... TTC for one! Actually, our upcoming vacation is stressing me out too b/c I hate flying! Summer plans are also stressing me out b/c we are planning two trips and it's getting closer for me to really having to price out flights/hotels...
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