Buying a New Car

[antisocialmunky]

Well strangely enough, I just got upgraded to a 2013 Hyundai Elantra because they didn't have my color for:

-$16950
+Carpet
+All Weather Mats
+IPod
+Cargo Stuff
+Auto Dim/Compass/Remote Control

So basically a fully loaded 2013 without the bluetooth package.. Also I technically got 16 inch wheels because that changed between 2012/2013.

Got the civic down to 17856 since everyone is dumping them on sale in my state. Dealer invoice is about the same:
http://www.edmunds.com/car-comparisons/?...Id=3011053

So it would seem that depreciation won't be too bad since I'm buying a car that hasn't depreciated a model year with extras, below MSRP. The loan is 3.9% but the advantage to that is that I can murder the principal as fast as possible once I get my new job.

[Yazilliclick]

Depreciation is always very bad. Has very little at all to do with model year of the car, as soon as you drive it off the lot and it becomes a 'used' car it depreciates by quite a margin. If you want to go new that's fine but don't kid yourself about it keeping it's value at all.

[antisocialmunky]

Depreciation is quite bad but I think for the price I'm getting it, it won't be too bad. I'm losing ~2K on it probably though for a trade in but its not too bad for the price I'm getting. Right now I'm just calling between the 2 dealerships I am talking with.

2011 Elantra:
http://www.kbb.com/hyundai/elantra/2011-...nchor=true

2011 Civic:
http://www.kbb.com/honda/civic/2011-hond...e=trade-in

[antisocialmunky]

Bought http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-sedan...l=FB2E5CEW for $16950 @ 1.9% interest so total paid was $17940.

I'll probably only lose $1000 a year. Cool. Checking around emailing people is so much easier.

[sunrise089]

I hope you enjoy it ASM. People gave you good advice here, but the important thing is you're happy. It's nice having a new car too - enjoy the nice smell, the perfect paint, and try not to shed a tear over that first dint or scratch.

One of my cars is a Honda, though not a Civic. If you have any questions about maintenance or service feel free to ask. Though having bought new you probably won't have any issues for quite a while...

[antisocialmunky]

Is there a taboo for normal Americans to never talk about the cost of expensive things? Its just something I noticed.

Also, post screwed up:

Yeah, lots of good advice though it all ended up coming down to luck and legitimately me not wanting to drive 20 miles.

What is the best way to fix scratches? I had the same problem with my computer case, I used a sharpie.

[Yazilliclick]

You can buy a paint pen from car company (usually pretty cheap, if you haven't picked up your car you can see if they'll throw one in). Basically like a marker but with car paint that matches color of your car. Just shake and paint over the scratch.

[sunrise089]

That paint pen thing seems like it would work, though I've never used one. The next step is buying a (tiny, nail polish size basically) can of 'touch up paint' which is the same stuff - actual OEM paint which will color match correctly (especially on a brand new car).

In both cases the scratch won't be very visible by color any longer, but it will be visible by feel. You could probably actually paint on a new layer of clear coat, but that might be risky and/or tough. A good intermediary step is to use a good wax or (better IMHO) several coats of polish, which will help fill in scratches to some extent.

The best advice of all though is to not worry about them too much or you'll go crazy

Re: talking about large purchases - it isn't a taboo, it's just a combination of modesty and caution. With the exception of really obvious amazing deals there's usually more opportunity to feel shame for overpaying than pride in getting good value. Plus if the item bought was obviously out of reach for many people there's a possible perceived arrogance component to worry about.

[antisocialmunky]

Cool on both counts, will keep that in mind.

[antisocialmunky]

Well some interesting repricing on that car happened today. I went in and suddenly they were refusing to give me the $250 rebate that Honda does for its vehicles this month (ends today). They told me that the car had to be sold and delivered for the deal to apply and seeing as the car I wanted wasn't on the lot, they said it didn't apply. Some arguing and phone calls happened but they ended up offering me one on lot in a different color with an optional package that they 'took' $100 off the price of. This was because they installed this package on all their cars and the new one coming in would not have this package. There were more accusations from me and my folks of them trying to play around but they held at their end of the story even going so far as spending about 30 minutes producing a Honda email with the exact wording with the pertinent text highlighted. I then called Honda and they told me that it was a dealer issue and even though its their rebate, the dealers were supposed to apply it so they couldn't verify anything for me.

Anyway, I ended up taking the first car I agreed to 2 days ago which is on delivery and left filling out all the paper work. What can I say it was slightly cheaper and I wanted my color.

After I left, I thought about it and several points didn't gel together.

1) They seemed very adamant about getting the $250 and mentioning how they were losing money on the car.
2) If all their cars had the optional extras priced at $599 (gave it to me for $499), why did they initially quote me for one without the package?
3) On the day they gave me the deal, they asked me 3 times about floor mats (apparently part of this package) since the Hyundai they basically price matched had the mats.
4) Why did it take so long to produce an email, I had to print off some documents and it took about 30 seconds.

So I went back to my notes:

1) A civic is roughly ~$17600 dealer price so the deal they gave me was impossibly low. They even mentioned several times during the argument that they were losing $900 on it. If they gave me the dealer price plus their doc fee of $200, it would be $17800. Subtract $900 and we arrive at my quoted price of $16950.
2) Both car options would end up roughly the same price (well I would have to pay $200 more on interest so it was more expensive).
3) The package from the website totaled $460 MSRP, not $599 quoted.
4) I checked and they weren't lying, all their cars had the package in their lot...
5) They spent 30 minutes 'finding' an email.

So my only conclusion was they intended to charge me $17400 to $17600 originally but since I refused to take the package because I am a cheap Asian person, they had to figure out a way to make something on the car.

I think that's fair, just wished we could have been up front about it. They couldn't tell me that they were losing on the price they gave which is to be expected. I mean they need to make SOMETHING on each car. I'm not opposed to profit. Considering that the MSRP/sale price of the Civic automatic is roughly ~19500/18000 and dealer price is about $17600, the only money they are making is off the loan. Ford has been at this strategy for years where Ford proper would lose money on every car only to make it back in financing.

All an all a very educational experience:

1) My car haggling micro is apparently ridiculous enough to break this game.
2) As with everything, if it looks too good to be true, it is.
3) Shopping around sucks.
4) Don't play poker with a car salesman.

I guess my only decision now is if I pay the loan in such a way I can get $250 out of it or not. And so hopefully concludes this car buying saga...:neenernee