Where are all those hot car deals?

[Mac1337]

As much as you read about Detroit's troubles I don't see any firesales. You certainly couldn't tell from commercials. Your usual thousand bucks here and there.

[Robert M]

Dakota,

All you have to do is stop at a dealership. They are absolutely positively desperate for sales on a level I've never seen before. I could've walked away with an loaded with leather '07 Hyundai Sante Fe for thousands less than what they were asking for a few months ago. Thousands. At that point, I was lucky to afford an '04 or '05. Now, I can get an '07 with 1/2 to 1/3 the mileage. That it huge!

Robert

[weapon]

They are not going to list the deals, you have to work for them.

Go in prepared, know all there is about the car you want beforehand, get financing done before you step on the lot. Negotiate the price of the car first. Do not mention a trade in until the end.

If you do not get the price you want, WALK AWAY. Leave them your card and tell them to call you when really want to sell that car.

Then go to another dealership and work them the same way. When you get a price, tell them that you need a day to think about it and then go back to the other dealership and use that price to negotiate a better deal. Keep doing this until you have knocked the last dollar off the price.

Now it the time for consumers to work over the dealerships for a change!

[Grateful11]

I saw a Chevy Duramax diesel the other day with a list price of $43K reduced down to $27K.

[bazookaman]

I think we have a Kia dealership around here that will GIVE you a car if you buy an SUV.

[Gutenberg]

There is a dealership near me that's advertising '08 Cobalts for $8,990 but I figure at that price the wheels and steering wheel are extra.

[incognegro]

on my budget, $20K is still an awful lot for a car, new or used.

[dmann]

Send an email to every dealership carrying the car you want. Tell them you are ready to buy now and ask for their best price. Once you have the lowest offer in hand, go back and ask who can do better. Continue until you have the price you want.

DM

[mrbigstuff]

I still think buying new is spending more money than one needs to, but if you're going to do it, I can't imagine there being a better time in decades.

That said, what are people out there (meaning you) buying?