Car Shopping Advice

[tarheelpride]

I'll entertain this...

22 hours ago, thefuzz said:

How are you married, and neither of you have ever bought a car?

For one, she didn't get her license until she was 21 and never owned a car. My Toyota is a car my mom bought be in college and I had it about 10 years. This is our 3rd year of marriage, so yeah, no need to buy a car until now, after all of these car troubles and desire to have something more recent.

22 hours ago, thefuzz said:

What do you mean by "my wife can't handle an Accord"? or however you put it?  I have no clue what that means, especially if you are looking at Volvo's.

She can't park the thing. As I've mentioned before, my father-in-law has an Accord, and she does not like parking it at all (he lives in Philly). She feels that car specifically is too big and driving it on the highway (with all the merging, etc...) will worsen her anxiety and make her nervous. I think she doesn't like it, but if she does not feel comfortable handling the car, parking it, or driving it, and she doesn't like it, it makes no sense for me to press on getting one. I like it, but I have to compromise on it.

22 hours ago, thefuzz said:

What is your situation where you can't sell private party?

What interest rate did the credit union give you?  Terms?

We live on a college campus as a part of her job compensation and there are rules in place that does not allow us to sell things on campus. Weird rule, but they're paying her and providing housing, so whatever. I'm not informed on the car selling process enough to have someone meet me off campus to do the transaction and I don't want to be bothered with it, unless absolutely necessary. I don't want to put her between a rock and a hard place. And the car has a lot going on with it. I'm thinking someone will need between 2-3k to fix the various things wrong with it, and that's before we talk about the bumper, who someone decided to back into at a parking lot and drive off without a note. Cameras didn't catch who did it and it doesn't make sense to have my insurance go up fixing something that would only cost $900 to put a new one on and replace the shielding underneath.

 

Credit union gave me 3.44% on 60 months, with the condition that the vehicle is 2015 or newer.

 

23 hours ago, thefuzz said:

What is so intimidating about the negotiation process?  To be honest, I have negotiated 1 car in my life....purchased well over a dozen cars, and many boats.  (boats require much more knowledge/savvy than cars, and more negotiation)

Why the rush?  You need to slow down.

Me personally, I've never been good at negotiating. Working with Enterprise Rental Car, I was terrible at negotiating cars and selling products myself. I see myself as a bit of a pushover that I'm working on. I have no idea how I got to ran 2 stores. It makes me cringe.

 

I forgot all about my tags on the vehicle. We moved last year to Georgia and my tags expire next month. I don't want to have to pay to change my tags over, taxes on my Corolla, AND taxes on a new vehicle. So I'd like to have this car within the next two weeks if possible. I don't want to settle for something we would not want or get something that will cause us all trouble.

[Khyber53]

I'd advise buy used, 2015 or 2016. Pick up a copy of Consumer Reports Car Buying Guide and look over the possibilities.

Avoid Volvo's like the plague. They have been poorly built since they left Ford partnership and were purchased by Tata in India. Absolutely terrible to keep running and certified Volvo mechanics don't come cheap.

If you can't go Toyota (they run for 20 years or so reliably and I love 'em), and Hondas for some reason make your wife nervous, then I'd suggest checking out Subaru. Probably the third best car manufacturer for reliability with good pricing, a good resell market and they can be worked on just about anywhere for decent prices. Gas mileage is good and they are a low anxiety car if there ever was one. 

Run from Mazda, and don't look back. Nissan is a bit better, as is Mistubishi, but neither are really great. If you can't afford an Audi or Benz, just flat out avoid any European manufacturer. 

And lastly, I'd take your current car over to an Auto Zone or NAPA store and ask them to put their scanner/code reader on it. Most times they won't charge you for it and you can see what your car's computer says is wrong. Maybe those replaced spark plugs weren't gapped properly or the last mechanic set the fuel injection too rich. It could be as simple as replacing the gas cap (you wouldn't believe what a difference this can make and how it can set off the engine warning light). Also, you wouldn't be trying to run premium gas in it would you? I once did that for a while when I was young with a Ford Bronco I had thinking I would get more power. It actually made the thing run like crap and it would die out on hills (which was rough living in Boone, NC at the time).

Good luck with everything! Buying a new car is an exercise in getting screwed. They're going to get you, it's just a matter of how bad. And never go to the finance office, ever. Take your credit union financing to the pay window. The finance office is where they claw back all of the "discounts" they've given you with this fee, that fee, useless warranties you'll never get to use, road-side assistance plans that cost a fortune (your insurance probably already has this... or AAA is really inexpensive) and all sorts of other trickery. 

[Bronn]

On 2/23/2019 at 4:07 PM, Arroz con Panther said:

Can I hijack this thread for a quick second to ask what people think about Acura? My wife needs a new car soon and is pretty set on a MDX. Any thoughts?

TBQH IMHO Acura is just an overpriced Honda.

That is pretty blunt, I know, but you're paying a premium for the exact same parts 99% of the time.

That said, Honda's (and by nature, Acura) are pretty much the top of my list as far as reliability and safety goes.

IIRC the 2018 models of the MDX and Pilot differed a bit. Not sure about the 2019. But, at least under the hood and all other important systems, they are virtually the same vehicle IMHO.

[Bronn]

8 hours ago, Khyber53 said:

If you can't go Toyota (they run for 20 years or so reliably and I love 'em), and Hondas for some reason make your wife nervous, then I'd suggest checking out Subaru. Probably the third best car manufacturer for reliability with good pricing, a good resell market and they can be worked on just about anywhere for decent prices. Gas mileage is good and they are a low anxiety car if there ever was one. 

Yeah your post reminded me that I thought about the Subaru option this weekend after seeing a commercial.

They've turned into one of the most reliable brands on the road, and they don't cost an arm and a leg. There are a TON of them on the road that are 10+ years old.

I've wanted to actually get one of the older, station wagon or mini-truck looking style Outbacks for a while now and convert it into an off-road/prepper type vehicle, lol.

 

[thefuzz]

23 hours ago, tarheelpride said:

I'll entertain this...

For one, she didn't get her license until she was 21 and never owned a car. My Toyota is a car my mom bought be in college and I had it about 10 years. This is our 3rd year of marriage, so yeah, no need to buy a car until now, after all of these car troubles and desire to have something more recent.

She can't park the thing. As I've mentioned before, my father-in-law has an Accord, and she does not like parking it at all (he lives in Philly). She feels that car specifically is too big and driving it on the highway (with all the merging, etc...) will worsen her anxiety and make her nervous. I think she doesn't like it, but if she does not feel comfortable handling the car, parking it, or driving it, and she doesn't like it, it makes no sense for me to press on getting one. I like it, but I have to compromise on it.

We live on a college campus as a part of her job compensation and there are rules in place that does not allow us to sell things on campus. Weird rule, but they're paying her and providing housing, so whatever. I'm not informed on the car selling process enough to have someone meet me off campus to do the transaction and I don't want to be bothered with it, unless absolutely necessary. I don't want to put her between a rock and a hard place. And the car has a lot going on with it. I'm thinking someone will need between 2-3k to fix the various things wrong with it, and that's before we talk about the bumper, who someone decided to back into at a parking lot and drive off without a note. Cameras didn't catch who did it and it doesn't make sense to have my insurance go up fixing something that would only cost $900 to put a new one on and replace the shielding underneath.

 

Credit union gave me 3.44% on 60 months, with the condition that the vehicle is 2015 or newer.

 

Me personally, I've never been good at negotiating. Working with Enterprise Rental Car, I was terrible at negotiating cars and selling products myself. I see myself as a bit of a pushover that I'm working on. I have no idea how I got to ran 2 stores. It makes me cringe.

 

I forgot all about my tags on the vehicle. We moved last year to Georgia and my tags expire next month. I don't want to have to pay to change my tags over, taxes on my Corolla, AND taxes on a new vehicle. So I'd like to have this car within the next two weeks if possible. I don't want to settle for something we would not want or get something that will cause us all trouble.

I'g going to help, but please know that you are exactly the customer that dealerships drool over.  You will need to be careful.

You have a timeline (too short), not much experience, not much to put down (it sounds like), and have decided what type of car you want already....namely the Infinity, which I cannot tell you too many times would be a really bad mistake.

If your wife simply can't figure out how to drive an Accord, or feel comfortable behind the wheel of it, you need to seriously look into Civic's.  Especially the hatchback newer versions...those are smaller than the accord, a little cheaper, and "should" be easier for your wife to drive.  I'd start by getting her behind the wheel of lots of cars and see if she can figure it all out, but that's neither here nor there.

As to the private party thing and where you live, that doesn't matter.  Put it on craigslist, list exactly what's wrong with it, and sell it.  Meet the buyer at your bank with the title, they will count his cash, notary the bill of sale, and you will be on your way.  It may be uncomfortable, but you will likely pocket an extra few hundred dollars, and possibly a thousand or more.  Moving the vehicle easily means paying someone else to do it, and you will get the short end.

You are looking at payment, and need to be looking at purchase price.  Payment is how you get took at the dealership.

As to the tags/taxes thing?  Who cares.  You are letting hundreds get in the way of 10's of thousands.  That Toyota isn't worth enough to fret about the taxes...and lead you to making a hasty decision on a new car.  Slow down, and make the right call for you and your wife.

Also, I bet there isn't nearly as much wrong with your Toyota as you think there is, and 1 bad apple wouldn't scare me off from one of the very best car brands out there.

[blackcat]

cars.com, find what you like.

If you don't like negotiating, do it all online.  Last truck I purchased, I found what I wanted and paid what I wanted on top of 0% financing.  Sounds like you have some interesting circumstances.  Good luck.

[Skack25]

FWIW, I drive a 17 Civic and love it.

[thefuzz]

20 minutes ago, blackcat said:

cars.com, find what you like.

If you don't like negotiating, do it all online.  Last truck I purchased, I found what I wanted and paid what I wanted on top of 0% financing.  Sounds like you have some interesting circumstances.  Good luck.

Was going to bring that up as well, but it sounds like he want's to test drive them as well....I would arrange everything online, and have it in writing, contingent upon successful test drive.

[tarheelpride]

7 hours ago, thefuzz said:

I'g going to help, but please know that you are exactly the customer that dealerships drool over.  You will need to be careful.

You have a timeline (too short), not much experience, not much to put down (it sounds like), and have decided what type of car you want already....namely the Infinity, which I cannot tell you too many times would be a really bad mistake.

If your wife simply can't figure out how to drive an Accord, or feel comfortable behind the wheel of it, you need to seriously look into Civic's.  Especially the hatchback newer versions...those are smaller than the accord, a little cheaper, and "should" be easier for your wife to drive.  I'd start by getting her behind the wheel of lots of cars and see if she can figure it all out, but that's neither here nor there.

As to the private party thing and where you live, that doesn't matter.  Put it on craigslist, list exactly what's wrong with it, and sell it.  Meet the buyer at your bank with the title, they will count his cash, notary the bill of sale, and you will be on your way.  It may be uncomfortable, but you will likely pocket an extra few hundred dollars, and possibly a thousand or more.  Moving the vehicle easily means paying someone else to do it, and you will get the short end.

You are looking at payment, and need to be looking at purchase price.  Payment is how you get took at the dealership.

As to the tags/taxes thing?  Who cares.  You are letting hundreds get in the way of 10's of thousands.  That Toyota isn't worth enough to fret about the taxes...and lead you to making a hasty decision on a new car.  Slow down, and make the right call for you and your wife.

Also, I bet there isn't nearly as much wrong with your Toyota as you think there is, and 1 bad apple wouldn't scare me off from one of the very best car brands out there.

I didn't mean to make it sound like we're looking at what the monthly payments would be instead of the total price of the vehicle. I'm looking to get the car in the 23-25k range and I'm standing pat at offering an out the door price of 24k on the Volvo's we saw. They did ask and I told them I'm more interested in the total price. We have about 5k to put down and can do a bit more if we can get the payments to the bank to around $300/month after we put money down. The bank gave us a maximum of 20k. Ideally, with trade in + down payment, the loan will be in the 17k range or lower. 

 

My main thing about the Civic is the size of it to me. I go about 300lbs and desire something bigger. That is our fallback car if we can't get something bigger for a reasonable price, as long as I feel I have adequate room. My wife already mentioned that it would work for her so it's just a matter of test driving it to confirm it will do. Everything we're looking at, I'm having her test drive it. I can adjust to most anything pretty easily, it's all about how she feels. That's what we did all day Saturday, test driving and negotiating. Practicing parking, merging onto the highway, passing others, etc...

 

My thing with Toyotas just come from driving so many of them while I worked with Enterprise. I got bored with them and didn't enjoy driving them. They're so mundane. I'm not disputing they are solid cars. One thing I'm looking for is something that I can enjoy driving and Toyota didn't do that for me at all.

[tarheelpride]

Guess we'll cancel out Mazda's and look at Subaru's. I'm thinking we may have to look in SC or even around Charlotte to get a better deal than what we are seeing near Atlanta.

 

What is the problem with Mazda's that has everyone here telling me to avoid them like the plague?

[panther4life]

1 minute ago, tarheelpride said:

Guess we'll cancel out Mazda's and look at Subaru's. I'm thinking we may have to look in SC or even around Charlotte to get a better deal than what we are seeing near Atlanta.

 

What is the problem with Mazda's that has everyone here telling me to avoid them like the plague?

I don’t get it either. I hate to keep pounding this drum or belittle others thoughts but I’ve worked my way all the way up the ranks in the car biz over 12 year period. I even worked as a sales manager at Mazda dealership and my mom purchased a  2019 CX-5 SUV that she loves.

Anyway my reason for posting again was less about defending Mazda as I’m not some huge fan or anything but more to help you again. 

Please consider using a website like truecar or edmunds to handle the pricing for you. Dealers advertise the most aggressive pricing they are willing to offer on those sites and know they are competing for you biz directly against other dealers. 

The price will be e-mailed to you directly and will cut out all the haggling you’re not looking forward to and will assure you, that  you got a great deal.

Being in GA definitely runs up your total cost because of that ad valorem tax. 

[tarheelpride]

30 minutes ago, panther4life said:

I even worked as a sales manager at Mazda dealership and my mom purchased a  2019 CX-5 SUV that she loves.

The only thing I've found with the CX-5 that annoys me is when I rented one once, it didn't charge my phone or my wife's phone well at all. The phones got hot and it barely charged. On a vehicle with less than 5k miles on it. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind the CX-5 as an option.

[Ja Rhule]

On 2/23/2019 at 4:07 PM, Arroz con Panther said:

Can I hijack this thread for a quick second to ask what people think about Acura? My wife needs a new car soon and is pretty set on a MDX. Any thoughts?

My wife had a brand new MDX which we had to sell and buy Yukon (due to popping more kids).  My wife said there is no better car than MDX.

[Ja Rhule]

I’m looking to buy new car in next few months with 4th kid on the way.  I need crossover with 3rd row...  currently looking into Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60 and Volvo.  Any recommendations? Looking at:

1. Safety

2. Performance 

3. Deal