I have a lot of respect for what they do, it’s a tough job. I’m going to test drive a VW Tiguan later on today, and it isn’t my intent to purchase anything, I’m just in the gathering information stage as we look for a bigger SUV.
I know a person in car sales would say - “if they are on the lot, they want to buy. Otherwise they wouldn’t be here.” Maybe that’s true, I don’t know.
But, how do you handle getting “pitched”? There are customers who are self sufficient, some look for guidance and others want to build a relationship. I feel like buying a car really speaks to that.
After that its dealing with the finance guys whose job it is to wear you down. Why they can't remove the dealer add ons and such and such. I've heard the worst from those guys.
I bought 3 cars during COVID.
I have found some dealerships are almost the opposite of the cliche, they are not high pressure at all. Maybe because inventory was so tight vehicles were "selling themselves"
but we also did a lot of research and were upfront with sales people on our timing, etc.
One thing I will say to avoid if you can, is online forms and requests.
I bought a Toyota Camry for one of my teens in 2020 and I still get tons of emails from all the dealerships I reached out to when I narrowed down the details and was price shopping.
We were fortunate enough to have a laid-back guy as our salesman the last time we bought. I was glad he got the sale instead of others we had dealt with at other dealerships.
They will want your contact info especially if you want a test drive.
They will want your contact info especially if you want a test drive.
Just be careful and make sure they don't run your credit as a precondition to test drive
I also hear end of month or end of year is the best time to go but I don't know if that's a real thing.
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If you are earnestly researching go ahead and do that. I dont think you have to mention where you are in the process, just that you are shopping a new car.
They will want your contact info especially if you want a test drive.
Just be careful and make sure they don't run your credit as a precondition to test drive
If a dealer wants to run your credit just for a test drive, get the fuck out and don't go back. Jackals...
There are lots of cars I would love to test drive without intention to buy, being a car enthusiast, but unless I know the salesperson personally I don't bother.
If/when one really is in the process of fact gathering with intent to buy, then everything you ask is legitimate. You can test drive everything and buy nothing and it's all good.
The same end result, but with different intentions.
Now you're asking about something different here, but I still think the same mentality applies. You should be as direct as you wish and demonstrate up front how much you know, implying that you wouldn't need any kind of patronizing tone.
If you know a decent amount of cars that's good. Some people know absolutely nothing, some are experts, the majority are in between and likely leaning towards casual knowledge at best.
The type of stuff that car salesman lack in knowledge (the more nuanced enthusiast abstract stuff) usually doesn't apply to most buyers and instead they are often experts at the minutiae that appeals more to casual buyers.
If you don't like them, you can move on without leaving contact info -- no harm, no foul.
That works if OP had narrowed it down, but it sounds like he is trying to figure out which vehicle he wants to do that with.
If this is the car that you ultimately want, then there is a very different conversation to have with them. This next conversation would also need to be non-emotional. As if you do not care whether you buy a car or not.
You also do not talk about a trade at this point. It is another way for them to make money which is fine, but you need to negotiate the price of the vehicle without a trade in the picture.
Finally, do not talk about payments. Not until you are with a finance guy at some point.
Remember... the sales person needs you more than you need them.
then i go in and buy it. i usually worry more about the financing deal than anything.
I bought a 2021 infiniti in Nov 2020 and got 0% financing.
That ship has sailed....
then i go in and buy it. i usually worry more about the financing deal than anything.
I bought a 2021 infiniti in Nov 2020 and got 0% financing.
That ship has sailed....
Agree but in this case, he really wants to test drive the car first to see whether he likes it. After he walks away, he can absolutely deal with them about a specific vehicle via email, etc.
Regarding the 0% financing, that will come back the moment the dealers are sitting on too much inventory for specific models.
Over the past few years, people were running to the car dealers with their stimulus money like they were making it rain in a strip club.
I’ll gladly let them go through whatever process they need to put if respect for their time but I’m always willing and likely to walk. Never let them pressure you into “buying right now”
Gather all your information from everywhere, do your research on the vehicle and once decided make a lower offer than they previously offered.
If it’s a new car a dealership service department should enter into the decision. A bad service department is a nightmare
Really? I don’t know. If I’m making a purchase as significant as this I think a test drive is reasonable. I would take the information and ultimately come back if I liked the Tiguan the most.
I disagree fully. As long as you make it clear that you are just doing your due diligence and you have no intention of buying a car until you test drive a few cars, there is nothing wrong with it. Now if you go in pretending to be interested with no intention, that's a diff story.
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looking at vehicles, but I think scheduling a test drive when you have no intention to buy is bad form. It is a tough job, and having a salesperson in the car with you means he’s wasting his time. Personally, I wouldn’t do that.
I disagree fully. As long as you make it clear that you are just doing your due diligence and you have no intention of buying a car until you test drive a few cars, there is nothing wrong with it. Now if you go in pretending to be interested with no intention, that's a diff story.
Exactly. I have a family of 6, we have to get in the vehicle and test drive to ensure it is the right fit for us.
Then we came back and they asked us where we went so we told them to the other dealer. Overall we went with the dealer that let us test drive as they are less pressure and more reputable. And their pricing was better plus was able to say. I can go to the other dealer.
Me: "I loved it."
Oops.
End of negotiation...
Ha! We’ve typically been a Honda family. I ended up *not* test driving the Tiguan, but I took a good look at it in the lot. There is another Tiguan I’m more interested in at another dealer which is where I will test drive and potentially negotiate.
2. I never show any emotion with them.
3. I never fall in love with a car and have no problem walking if the deal isn't right.
4. I never discuss the monthly payment I want, because they will try to price the accordingly. I did once, and the dealer came back with a price higher than what we discussed. His excuse was that he got me the payment I wanted. Now I tell them lets work out a price, and I'll decide what my monthly payment will be based on my down payment.
5. Always assume they are lying to you.
Found a dealer on the forums that was offering great pricing and did it all over e mail.
That's the only way to go for me, has been since 2007 or so. I refuse to go to a stealership before the deal is done.
Get up and leave. Ive done it, got the deal I originally offered other times I just left and went somewhere else.
The car business is a commodity service now days. You can buy anywhere and get the car shipped or now delivered to your door.
Why would you feel compelled to be "honest"? Don't tell them anything about why you are there. If they ask if you are ready to buy, just say, "If I find the right car and the price is good, then I'm ready."
And that's basically true. I once went to test drive a truck and had no intention of buying until a few months later. But that had one truck left over from last year and it was something like 6K cheaper. So I bought it and it turned out to be a great deal.
I told him that’s not my problem.
Another I had negotiated a new car by email and when I showed up they told me they had just sold the car by accident. When I got up to leave the story changed.
It’s a zero sum game and there are so many dirty tricks they (try) to use. You have the power of walking and they know it and that is your greatest leverage.
most people do not realize this and instead are controlled by their emotion of wanting the car. They instantly give the leverage to the sales person.
It was a saturday morning and I was getting ready to leave to drive there to pick up the vehicle. At this point, we only negotiated price.
Before I left, I spotted a different truck at another dealer that was closer to my home. I called them and said I would purchase this truck from you for this price and it must also include xyz. If you can sell this truck to me under these conditions, then I will buy it.
However, I am leaving the house now to pickup another truck at another dealer. You have about 20 minutes to "speak to your boss" and call me back before I pass your exit on the highway. Once I pass your exit, the deal is off and I will just buy that other truck.
They called me 10 minutes later agreeing to my terms, I got off their exit and bought their truck.
This way you don’t just test drive it. You will drive it like you would in the real world. All day or weekend. It’s a night and day difference than doing a traditional test drive.
You’ll learn if there are minor things that bother you. Where buttons are. If it feels cheap inside. Etc.
If I had a dollar for everyone who said “I’m not buying today” and then bought that day, I could retire. So that line means nothing. My advice… go on you test drive and then do your thing. If you don’t want pricing that day, say that and leave. You don’t have to go through the whole process if you don’t want to. I’m not sure why people do. You’re not forced to stay.
We will definitely ask for your contact info so expect calls after the fact. As soon as you walk in, you are a prospect. You will get bothered until you tell the person to stop. It’s a sales process and yes, we’re in it to make money. I’m not sure why people would expect anything different. I’m going to do what I can, within reason, to sell you a car. It’s my job.
That being said, my biggest advice…avoid the women sales people. Customers think they’ll be nicer and easier. The ones I work with are among the most aggressive on our staff of 35.
I did the same thing you did which is go to dealerships to see/drive the car as part of the final decision. I was not buying a car on that first visit. I told them that and that, to me, high pressure sales tactics and constant reach outs were going to push me to buy somewhere else with all other factors being equal. I did my own homework and just needed them to show me the car and answer my questions. I don't think any one of them was pushy.
Ultimately the experience was better because I was just honest with them upfront about what it would take to win my business which is ultimately what they want to do.
I gave up my Mazda CX5 which I loved. It was a fun ride, but it was not practical with a car seat. My knees would fit the front if I was in the passenger seat. It just was not practical.
The VW Tiguan got high remarks and today I knew I’d be willing to make a deal if it made sense. I targeted two different 2021 CPO Tiguans with AWD. The first smelled like the first owner was a smoker. Deal breaker. The 2nd it was in rough shape.
I pivoted to looking new, but none of the new Tiguans had AWD. Fortunately, they had a 2022 in AWD with low miles (below 15k). Had everything I was looking for and after a few trips back to the sales manager, we got a deal done.
It’s a grind, but I was transparent and pleased with the result.