I can’t help but think about how confusing ads must be to the public. Most of us get a new car every four or five years so it must be hard to know who to trust and what ad is actually telling the truth. 

Motor vehicle dealers say some of the crazies stuff.  “We will give you six or seven or eight thousand dollars over the current market value for your trade in vehicle.”  They don’t explain in the ad that the overage is actually applying the rebate and discount numbers to the trade’s actual cash value. You can get six or seven thousand off the price, without a trade. 

Unfortunately, many automobile dealers think the public is stupid.  The dealer thinks price is the only thing he can talk about.  Isn’t it odd that a dealer can offer a six or seven thousand dollar incentive but they need to charge six or seven hundred dollars in dealer fees? That doesn’t make sense. If you have seven or eight thousand in extra negotiating funds to offer a customer why charge dealer fees.  Many states do not have dealer fees.  Some dealers in this area (central Florida) have dumped charging fees because it is just another way to exploit the public

Don’t be fooled by all the loud advertising that makes wild promises and sound like the person in the ad is hollering to their neighbor across the street. Pricing in advertising should be ignored.  Stick to the plan I talk about on this website and ignore the promises in the advertising.  In fact, the dealers with the wildest ads, avoid them like the plague

Review

1. Shop three or four dealers for the same make and model. Two different manufacturers than you need 6 or 8 shopping spots, if possible

2. Get all of your figures, whether price or monthly payment, all-inclusive (tax, tag, fees) OUT the DOOR figures.  Keep all of the factors involved in the pricing the same wherever you go. Model options, down payment, what trade in, finance term etc.

3. Don’t make, or agree, to any offer until you have received all your pricing quotes from each dealer

4. Consider dealer reputation, location and service department policies (loaner vehicles, pickup, hours of operation,  size)

Patience and due diligence can save you thousands of real dollars