Buying a car online vs at a dealership
10-11-12, 08:11 PM
#1
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Buying a car online vs at a dealership
Buying a car online vs at a dealership
I am debating looking into purchasing a car online. I am so sick and tired of listening to car sales people try to upsell and teeter around what the price of the car is. I absolutely despise them. Has anyone had a good experience with online purchases? It seems to me like there are so many more options and a more competitive market. If you have had a good experience with a certain site please recommend!
I am debating looking into purchasing a car online. I am so sick and tired of listening to car sales people try to upsell and teeter around what the price of the car is. I absolutely despise them. Has anyone had a good experience with online purchases? It seems to me like there are so many more options and a more competitive market. If you have had a good experience with a certain site please recommend!
10-11-12, 08:30 PM
#2
If you're a member of a credit union, I recommend using their services. Not only do they have inventory that comes with deep discounts for simply being a credit union member but also they offer competitive auto loan rates. Aside from that, I would check out True Car's website (truecar.com). Best of luck! I personally like to go to the dealership, after having done my research, just to check out the actual color combo I might be interested in or just to get a physical feel of the vehicle. Best of luck to you!
10-11-12, 10:20 PM
#3
Lexus Test Driver
Buying online is the only way I'd ever do it. You skip all the BS you listed above and you save a lot of time and gas money.
Email all your surrounding dealers and tell them exactly what you want and what you are willing to pay. Of course this means you have to do all your homework ahead of time and on your own. You have to be ready when you do this, or you'd be wasting their time too. About the only disadvantage is you cannot test drive a car this way. When Lexus used to have their Taste of Lexus events, this was the way to test them all out. Maybe drive a friend's and do it that way.
Good luck!
Email all your surrounding dealers and tell them exactly what you want and what you are willing to pay. Of course this means you have to do all your homework ahead of time and on your own. You have to be ready when you do this, or you'd be wasting their time too. About the only disadvantage is you cannot test drive a car this way. When Lexus used to have their Taste of Lexus events, this was the way to test them all out. Maybe drive a friend's and do it that way.
Good luck!
10-13-12, 09:48 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
Respectfully, I may have to disagree. My experience is to never buy a car, new or used, that you can't inspect and test-drive first. Although most of today's new vehicles are assembled and prepared quite well, you still never know what problems you could find. In general, minor paint-scratches, steering-wheel shimmy at cruise speeds from wheel/tire-mount problems, runout/vibration in the brake rotors from warpage or other problems, tracking problems from wheel alignment/suspension problems, and dirt/smudges in the interior are the most common problems I see.
10-13-12, 09:54 AM
#7
Lead Lap
Respectfully, I may have to disagree. My experience is to never buy a car, new or used, that you can't inspect and test-drive first. Although most of today's new vehicles are assembled and prepared quite well, you still never know what problems you could find. In general, minor paint-scratches, steering-wheel shimmy at cruise speeds from wheel/tire-mount problems, runout/vibration in the brake rotors from warpage or other problems, tracking problems from wheel alignment/suspension problems, and dirt/smudges in the interior are the most common problems I see.
Too easy to deceive with a pretty picture & a well written description.
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10-13-12, 12:51 PM
#9
Lexus Champion
I'll go test drive at dealers but usually don't buy there....I always look online and haggle via email...HOWEVER -- some dealers still don't like to deal like this -- they want to immediately call you and/or schedule an appointment to come in.
Houston area where I live is a shetty area for getting good deals evidently because I haven't bought any cars locally except for my C5 back in 2004....always use autotrader/cars.com and just use email to make the deal.
Houston area where I live is a shetty area for getting good deals evidently because I haven't bought any cars locally except for my C5 back in 2004....always use autotrader/cars.com and just use email to make the deal.
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