Is it better to buy in the summer after new models are introduced or in winter when not many people are buying? When are cars cheaper is my question
I've always heard a rainy day in late January or early February is the best time. Business is slow at that period, and NO ONE is shopping on a rainy day. The salespeople will be so desperate to get a commission that they'll probably let you off easier than normal. Also, someone posted a great article about working as a car salesman. THe best advice it gave on how to get a good deal was this: Call up dealership A, tell them you're looking to buy today and ask for their best price. Call up dealership B, tell them you're looking to buy today, that Dealership A quoted you price X, then ask for their best price. Call up dealership C, tell them you're looking to buy today, that Dealership A/B quoted you price X (the lower of the two), then ask for their best price. Repeat if you want through again if you want to try to get the price a little lower...
A friend of mine who works at a dealership tells me that the best time to buy a new 2005 model is the very last week of the year. Here's why: 1. If any 2005's are left on the lot on January 1st 2006, the dealership has to pay taxes on them. 2. Dealerships are literally running out of room for their 2005's and want to get rid of them. 3. This one I didn't know. The only salesmen working the last week of the year are the "hungry" ones. The guys who are still trying to make their end-of-year numbers. This means that they are willing to do anything to 'get the sale' and the buyer is basically in the drivers seat (no pun intended). I'm seriously thinking of buying a new 2005 CR-V the last week of this year. Hopefully I can get a good deal. Hope that helps.
The best time is when you have manufacturer discounts, dealer incentives, and superb interest rates all occurring at the same time. This may or may not fall into the dates mentioned by other posters. If you are not in a hurry, keep looking for that golden moment. Of course not every model is offered with triple goodies. Most of the time if you can get two out of three, it won't be too shabby of a deal.
I bought my wife's car on New Year's Eve, the dealer was pretty motivated. Taxes, commisions, sales contests etc. (but it still depreiciates 20% when you drive it off the lot, buying used is always smarter if you can get past your ego, for my wife I couldn't)
Anyone have any experience buying a car online? Most dealerships now have internet sales departments.
I've heard this is a good way to buy a car if you've already chosen a car with research and test driving. Apparently its a good way to bypass a bunch of the crap that sales folks try to pull. Lots of time you email back and forth some numbers until it looks good, bring in the quote with your down payment and drive away.
