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Question about new-car bargaining...

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
So, I've had it with my wife's Nissan Sentra... just a complete and total POS, and so Im going with something new for her, because Im out of town alot, and can't afford her to keep breaking down on the side of the road.
Anyway, we've decided on getting a new Ford (Im not looking for advice on this bit :D ) but my question is:

Should I try to, or can I bargain in a tune-up for the Ford Ranger I have now, with the price of the new car? Anyone ever tried this?
All the work, fluids, plugs, belts, etc. would cost quite a bit If i just brought the thing in and had them do it. Of course, I could do it on my own also, but if I can get it thrown in for buying another ford....

What do you guys think?
 

Serial Midget

Al Bundy
Jun 25, 2002
13,053
1,896
Fort of Rio Grande
I think you're living on Fantasy Island.

Financial incentives are one thing - although they reduce profit, they don't cost the dealer any actual money.

I am curious to find out what others think.
 

I Are Baboon

The Full Dopey
Aug 6, 2001
32,383
9,289
MTB New England
Usually the sales department and service department are like separate businesses (from my understanding, anyway). I'm not sure you'd be able to work in a tune up. Can't hurt to try though with dealers trying like hell to move cars these days.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
You could be a man and do all that work yourself :D
Generally I do, however, I want to get even the gear-oil changed, all belts, the stupid 4 cylinder has 8 spark plugs and two distributor caps... and the crap you get at autozone for cheap isnt as good as the dealership stuff... or so Ive been told.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
Usually the sales department and service department are like separate businesses (from my understanding, anyway). I'm not sure you'd be able to work in a tune up. Can't hurt to try though with dealers trying like hell to move cars these days.
That's what Im thinking.
Times are tight for car dealerships, so maybe it'd work out.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
Usually the sales department and service department are like separate businesses (from my understanding, anyway). I'm not sure you'd be able to work in a tune up. Can't hurt to try though with dealers trying like hell to move cars these days.
it doesnt hurt to try, but like you said, they are usually run separate. even if parts are cheap, youd have to figure in labor cost as well

car biz is bad, but not that bad to give away free labor

and the crap you get at autozone for cheap isnt as good as the dealership stuff... or so Ive been told.
its usually the same product, just not branded with a Ford or Mercedes on the actual part
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
I think you're living on Fantasy Island.

Financial incentives are one thing - although they reduce profit, they don't cost the dealer any actual money.

I am curious to find out what others think.
My thought here was that often dealers will throw in service packages with new cars. Free oil changes and tire rotations for 5 years, etc.
 

I Are Baboon

The Full Dopey
Aug 6, 2001
32,383
9,289
MTB New England
That's what Im thinking.
Times are tight for car dealerships, so maybe it'd work out.
MtnBikerChk got a bunch of free oil changes for her Pathfinder when she bought it, but obviously that was for the car she purchased. So I guess I just completely contradicted what I said in my last post about the two departments being separate.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
You have nothing to lose by asking! The worst they can say is "no."
Well yeah, I was planning on asking... just curious if Id be able to say "I know a guy who just bought a xxxxxxxx and he got it thrown in for free, so maybe I'll go there instead"
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,942
13,135
Portland, OR
I got a full tank of gas in MY truck when I bought the wifes car. Doesn't hurt to ask, but I would wait until AFTER the deal is done. Otherwise there might be some unidentified item on the sale that is $600 listed as (other).
 

buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
You have nothing to lose by asking! The worst they can say is "no."
Actually, the worst they could do is say "yes" and then not do the work and tell you that they did. Considering is preventive maintenance and a sale is hanging on it, I wouldn't put it past a car dealer.
Just haggle a great price on the car you want. Shouldn't be hard right now.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
stay away from the Fusion. i hated it
Meh.
We'll see what the wife wants. She'll have to drive both for sure. We rented a Toyota (Camry or Corolla I forget) to see what was up there, and it was a POS just like the Nissan.
Just want something bigger than her Sentra, because she's planning on spraying out some Burly Jrs in the next few years.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
Actually, the worst they could do is say "yes" and then not do the work and tell you that they did. Considering is preventive maintenance and a sale is hanging on it, I wouldn't put it past a car dealer.
Just haggle a great price on the car you want. Shouldn't be hard right now.
It shouldnt be that hard to check for new plugs and wires and most of the other items.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
Meh.
We'll see what the wife wants. She'll have to drive both for sure. We rented a Toyota (Camry or Corolla I forget) to see what was up there, and it was a POS just like the Nissan.
it was probably a Corolla. we have the Camrys here for company cars and they are great.
i drove the Fusion/Milan and it felt like the Ford of the bad years.
 

jdcamb

Tool Time!
Feb 17, 2002
19,800
8,383
Nowhere Man!
You test drive the car why not the service department? Seems to me that when you buy a car a big part of that is the dealer experience. If you can add to that experience and get your truck fixed then good for you.... Make it out to be a deal breaker. Go to another Ford dealer and pit them against each other based on what they are willing to do in regards to your truck.....
 

skunkty14

Monkey
May 29, 2007
175
0
Like others said can't hurt to ask & service vs. sales are usually separated businesses. I think what would hold you back is the fact that the dealer knows (as most drivers should too IMHO) that dealers really don't make jack on selling cars, it's the service dept. that keeps the doors open and lights on. That might make them less willing to bargain. If it works out let us know :D
 

buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
Not to derail, but I have often wondered it the rental versions of some cars are different than the ones you buy retail. I've rented a Focus on more than one occasion and thought it to be the pinnacle of horrible US car design.
Considering it was the best selling car in the world at one point, there must be some differences. I wonder if they are even made in the same factory.
 

Trainwreck

Turbo Monkey
Aug 10, 2005
1,585
0
Med. to Well-Done in Phx
Dealerships are really hungry right now. I would bet they would bite on your proposal. I usually always get something thrown in when I buy a new vehicle and love to push them just to see how far they will go. The wife just got a new TSX and got a deck lid spoiler thrown in free plus the light tint replaced with darker. When I bought the truck back in 2004 I was able to get a dash mat and 7 years of free oil changes. With the Mini Cooper all I could get out of them was a coffee mug.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
Not to derail, but I have often wondered it the rental versions of some cars are different than the ones you buy retail. I've rented a Focus on more than one occasion and thought it to be the pinnacle of horrible US car design.
Considering it was the best selling car in the world at one point, there must be some differences. I wonder if they are even made in the same factory.
Good question.
The thing that bugged me about the Toyota, was that for a larger car... all the "extra space" was in the front seats, while the back was still tiny. Also, little stuff, like the glove compartments bugged the hell out of me. Just tiny plastic hinges on everything that Im sure would explode 2 seconds after rolling off the lot. Just felt generally cheap everywhere inside.
Also, the seats were hard as wood, and I felt like Helen Keller driving the thing. Couldnt see a freaking thing.
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
You have nothing to lose by asking! The worst they can say is "no."
That's not true.

When I was looking at cars, they had a green which was not popular, and I clearly stated I wanted black.

Later, I mistakenly indicated green would be ok (this was a high pressure sell), which exasperated the salesman who's been trying to get rid of his stinker. I lost some credibility, ruining my negotiation position.

Most car dealerships avoid these kinds of pressure tactics, but it doesn't mean that you can't get a good deal from a high pressure dealer. He might be more flexible if he likes you, but if you ask for something ridiculous (in his mind), he might think you are a fool or someone is going to ask for the moon and the stars, and that would change the negotiation.

I think you should just calculate the repair costs and negotiate the car that much down.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
Just doing some searching, I've found that the MSRP on Ford's website is ~$1500 less than what the dealer has listed as MSRP.
Hmmm...
Looks like I'll be bringing that printout along.
 

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
I'm with MTNBKRCHK, never hurts to ask and be rejected, though I think your repair deal is ghey.

Determine what you want to pay for the vehicle you want. Offer this price and that you are willing to buy now if they meet it. If the request is unreasonable, they will tell you and with a little more give and take you'll find the threshold where both parties are happy.

IME, you'll never find the 'best deal' on big purchases or mortgages. Figure out what the car is worth to you and get on with your life.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
I'm with MTNBKRCHK, never hurts to ask and be rejected, though I think your repair deal is ghey.

Determine what you want to pay for the vehicle you want. Offer this price and that you are willing to buy now if they meet it. If the request is unreasonable, they will tell you and with a little more give and take you'll find the threshold where both parties are happy.

IME, you'll never find the 'best deal' on big purchases or mortgages. Figure out what the car is worth to you and get on with your life.

Thank you for that overwhelmingly vague and useless post.
What I "want to pay" for the vehicle is, obviously, as little as possible. And that's not even the point of the thread.
The point was that, since dealerships are currently struggling to stay afloat with the economy and all, I was wondering if they'd be willing to throw something like that in extra, in order to secure a sale. I've gotten some good advice about how the businesses are treated as separate, that I didnt really know before.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
Just doing some searching, I've found that the MSRP on Ford's website is ~$1500 less than what the dealer has listed as MSRP.
Hmmm...
Looks like I'll be bringing that printout along.
that wont matter. dealers sell cars over sticker all the time. was there a "dealer service charge" or anything like that on the car's sticker?
was the Fusion the hybrid?
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
that wont matter. dealers sell cars over sticker all the time. was there a "dealer service charge" or anything like that on the car's sticker?
was the Fusion the hybrid?
Not the hybrid fusion.

But anyway, Im not talking about "sticker price" but rather what they advertised as MSRP. I tried to varify that that's truly what the manufacturer suggested, and found a discrepancy.