Car Buying Advice

Swazzle

Good morning ladies! I hope you all had a nice weekend.  

Over the weekend our car decided to kick the bucket (sort of, the transmission is shot & it's going to cost so much to fix that we don't feel it's worth it & we've decided it's time for a new car). We found our current car on Craigslist from a private seller and now we're thinking of getting something a bit newer. We will most likely be going with a VW Jetta as we're big VW people & the Jetta is the cheapest & my personal favorite.  I need some advice & answers, if anyone can help that'd be great!

What are your thoughts on new vs used?

Is leasing a car a waste of money?

Anything we should or shouldn't do/say when we're at the dealership?

Any other words of advice or tips? 

Thanks in advance, girls!

Stina51286

What are your thoughts on new vs used?

Depends on the incentives. When I bought my car I bought it new because I got 0% interest for 6.5 years and $500 cash back for being a student.

Is leasing a car a waste of money?

Yes. Big waste of money. Too many rules when leasing.
 

Anything we should or shouldn't do/say when we're at the dealership?

Don't tell the sales person if you have a down payment or cash until the negotiating is done. Don't settle on the sticker price because depending on the situation you can get that lowered. If they are not willing to reduce the price try to get something thrown in for free (ie a remote start). They post the prices they do with wiggle room.

Any other words of advice or tips? 

Whoever is the better negotiator is the one that does the talking (FI is better so he does this). Don't settle on the first car. Take the time to look around and see all options and better pricing.

thejucheidea

Man, if you're going for a VW, you best be ready to either get rid of it before you get to 125,000 miles or so or be ready to pay out the ass for every repair that happens. The cost of VW repairs is mindboggling.

And leasing is definitely a waste of money.

Swazzle

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_car-buying-advice?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:0d1b3ee5-c95f-46f0-89e6-86ff720d9ca9Post:f91897b0-ba90-4ecf-89d9-7f9c9b8632c1">Re: Car Buying Advice</a>:
[QUOTE]Man, if you're going for a VW, you best be ready to either get rid of it before you get to 125,000 miles or so or be ready to pay out the ass for every repair that happens. The cost of VW repairs is mindboggling. And leasing is definitely a waste of money.
Posted by ahstillwell[/QUOTE]

<div>We have a Jetta now.  Apparently their cars between 1999 - 2007 have a shiit ton of engine/transmission problems so we're staying away from those years now.  FI does a lot of the repairs on his own & if he can't he orders the part(s) needed which helps cut down the costs also.  He's a huge VW-fanatic, it's safe to say we'll never own anything other than a VW. </div>

thejucheidea

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_car-buying-advice?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:0d1b3ee5-c95f-46f0-89e6-86ff720d9ca9Post:bc425d7a-c5ed-4bf6-a19c-287671ead311">Re: Car Buying Advice</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Car Buying Advice : We have a Jetta now.  Apparently their cars between 1999 - 2007 have a shiit ton of engine/transmission problems so we're staying away from those years now.  FI does a lot of the repairs on his own & if he can't he orders the part(s) needed which helps cut down the costs also.  He's a huge VW-fanatic, it's safe to say we'll never own anything other than a VW. 
Posted by rdr716[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I had a 2000. Thousands of dollars in repairs.

Peaseblossom55

Defintely don't lease.  I am currently leasing and about to go over my miles alloted for the lease.  So next week I will stop by the dealership to see if they will let me out of the lease 2 months early just to buy or if they will forgive any overage of miles when the lease is up in August if I just buy. 

I hate dealing with cars and dealerships.  When I look I will probably be buying either a civic or an accord.  BF & I had the money discussion and since we want to get married and buy a house soon, it would be better to buy a cheaper car outright then say finance a new Mercedes.  Oh well.....

Beads921

What are your thoughts on new vs used?Depends on your intentions. Is this a car you'll be driving forever (well, until it dies)? If so, I'd go new. Yes, you'll pay more in depreciation but you'll also get to drive it for the first 5 years without having to put much into repairing it. If you're only keep it for a few years, I'd probably just get used. Of course, your financial situation and dealer incentives make a difference here too.
Is leasing a car a waste of money?I probably wouldn't do it. But again, depends on your intentions and financial situation, as well as what you plan to do with the car. If you drive a lot, you'd have to be careful not to go over the mileage. If you know you'll only keep the car a few years but really want new, it's a good option, and cheaper than buying. But in the end, all that money is just gone and you have nothing to show for it.
Anything we should or shouldn't do/say when we're at the dealership?Stina made good points about negotiating. Basically, just act like you know you're stuff, even if you don't. They'll give you a better deal that way. Also, be prepared to walk away if they're not working with you. 
Any other words of advice or tips? Nadda. FI bought a Mazda a few years ago and to this day wishes he had bought the Jetta he was looking at instead. We've sold the Mazda now and we'll never buy another one. 

melmac86

What are your thoughts on new vs used?

If I were buying a car, I probably wouldn't buy brand new since the value of cars depreciates so quickly. Personally, I would look at certified pre-owned.

Is leasing a car a waste of money?

I think this depends on the situation. I currently have a lease on my car, which has a cheaper monthly payment than my previous one that I was paying on to own. I got a much better interest rate with my current car. The payments would be even cheaper, but I rolled in my previous car loan (long story - previous car was hit when I stupidly did not have insurance; would've cost a lot to fix).

I like having a lease. I go in for a service every 5-6,000 miles and I never pay anything out of pocket as that was already figured into the lease package. I'm allowed 12,000 miles/year for 3 years. In September, it will be 2 years that I've had it and I'm just now coming up on 15,000 miles. I drive about 700 miles/month and part of my job includes travelling to patient's homes about 50% of my work day.

With that said, I probably wouldn't have a lease as a long-term option. When this is up, I'm going to buy a car and add in an extended warranty, because I would've been screwed if I didn't have it on the last car. Before my accident, my transmission had to be repaired, which would've cost me thousands without the warranty. --Sorry, that was LONG!

Anything we should or shouldn't do/say when we're at the dealership?

Not totally sure about this one.

Any other words of advice or tips? 

Check the internet prices on the dealerships website, before you go to make sure it matches up with what they have posted on the car when you're actually there. Some times, it'll be listed lower on the website and you can mention that when you're there.

Also, do your homework. Check kbb.com to make sure you get the best trade-in deal on your current car if that's your plan.

Good luck!

lennonkdc

PP have covered all the bases really, and I esp liked what Liv had to say about leasing. It depends on the situation, how many miles you'll be putting on the car and what kind of deal you can get. For some leasing is a good option for others, its a waste of money. 

As for type of car, BF and I are HUGE VW freaks as well, I've had my 1996 Jetta for almost 10 years, BF's had a Corrado, Golf and now drives a Passat. If your going to go for a Jetta, try for a TDI, the engine has a better track record for what I'm told. I would also suggest test driving a few other brands of car. We fell in love with the new Fiat 500 after having a chance to drive one, and a new base model start at about what a 2-3 year old Jetta will run you. Moral of the story- we still love VW's but we're making room in the driveway for a new Fiat...

jaycee7389

What are your thoughts on new vs used?
It depends on the situation. I think both options can be good.

Is leasing a car a waste of money?
Again, it depends on your situation. I'd prefer to have a low monthly payment for the rest of my life but have a vitually brand-new car on top of that. I purchased my last car and figured I would keep it for a long time after I paid it off. It kept breaking down, things needed repaired, and I never really had a sense of peace that I would get from point A to point B. I might as well have had a lease payment for all of the money I spent on repairs. I'm all for leasing.

Anything we should or shouldn't do/say when we're at the dealership?
Feel pressured or be afraid to say 'no, I can't afford that'. You can almost always negotiate when purchasing a car, so why not do it?

Any other words of advice or tips?
Good luck!

swhite2012

What are your thoughts on new vs used?

I used to think that new is always the way to go, but I think a one or two year old car with less than 40,000 miles on it is good too, just due to new car depreciation.

Is leasing a car a waste of money?

Yes and no. FI wanted a new car and all we could afford at the time was a lease. It's worked out OK, but the mileage is a pain. I would only lease if you absolutely had to for the lower monthly payments.

Anything we should or shouldn't do/say when we're at the dealership?

Hmm, I don't have anything for this one

Any other words of advice or tips?
Shop around. If you find something you like at one dealer, definitely see what comparable vehicles go for elsewhere.

jemmini6

What are your thoughts on new vs used?

Depends on how long you want to keep it.  If you are planning to drive it into the ground, then new is a good option.  If you are only looking to have it for a few years, then don't waste the depreciation on a new car.

Is leasing a car a waste of money?

Again, totally depends on your situation.  My old car was contsantly having issues and I had recently graduated college, so I didn't have much for a downpayment, so I opted for a lease.  Having low payments and zero maintanence (plus a few years post college) has allowed me to save for a downpayment when my lease is up in a few months.  It's been a great transition car and I don't regret leasing at all.  In the position I'm in now though, leasing wouldn't make much sense, but I definitely don't think they are a waste of money in every circumstance.

Anything we should or shouldn't do/say when we're at the dealership?

Always negotiate the 'out the door' price (tax, title, license, warranty, etc.).  For example, if you are comfortable spending, say $15K, and you agree to a car price of $15K, you could end up with another couple thousand in the other fees.

Any other words of advice or tips?
If you can afford it, I'd seriously consider a Jetta TDI.  H is a big VW guy too and currently has a Golf TDI, it gets insane gas mileage and the engines last a hell of a lot longer (they said they don't even fully break in until 100K).  When my lease is up, that's what I'll be looking for if I can afford it, they hold their value extremely well and are hard to find used because people hold on to them.

doubleSS07

What are your thoughts on new vs used?

My first car was a used car and I can say that I would not do used again unless it was a dealer certified.  I have had my car that I bought brand new for 10 years next month.  I have had limited issues or repairs and I am almost to 200,000 miles.

Is leasing a car a waste of money?

I would say if you plan to keep the car more than say 3 years then yes leasing is probably not the best option.  If you like to have something new all the time or you can say write it off on taxes for work related expenses then leasing would be a better option.

Anything we should or shouldn't do/say when we're at the dealership?

From both experience and research I did, there are a few things to know before going in.  Once I decided on a car and figured out what I HAD to have, what I'd LIKE to have and what I could do without, I found online what the dealer cost is for that car with everything I wanted.  You should always work the pricing UP from the dealer cost not DOWN from the sticker price.  NEVER EVER pay sticker price for a new car. 

I agree with PP's that whomever is the better negotiator under pressure should do the talking.  Be prepared to walk away from the dealer, not necessarily the car.  There are lots of dealers out there.  If you can stall a little go towards the end of the month..they need sales at the end of the month.  Also don't let them know what you are working with as a down payment or possible trade in, don't tell them a montly payment either, know what you actually want to spend on the car because they will get you in at that payment but the terms could be awful.  Personally I would get pre-approved through your bank or a credit union before you go because you can use that pre-approval interest rate to negotiate with the dealer on their interest rate or incentives.  You have to know your stuff going in because they will do whatever they have to, to get you to sign off.     

Any other words of advice or tips?
check out dealers in different areas not just your home town to see what they will offer you.

AudgiePodge

What are your thoughts on new vs used?

Look into getting a certified pre-owned with a warranty.  Most new cars depreciate like crazy for the first few years.  We just bought a certified pre-owned car last weekend that was half of what the MSRP was when it was new in 2009.

Is leasing a car a waste of money?

If you want to drive something new every couple of years, then leasing is a good idea.  If you put a lot of miles on your car and want a vehicle after your payments finish, then it wouldn't be for you. 

Anything we should or shouldn't do/say when we're at the dealership?

Don't discuss how you're going to pay for the car (financing or paying cash), down payments or trade-ins until after you negotiate the purchase price.  Always negotiate the purchase price and not the monthly payments if you're financing. 

Any other words of advice or tips? 

 Make sure you know what the interest rate is going to be and try to keep it under 48 months for financing.   You can also shop around for interest rates before you buy.  You don't have to go with the in house financing, but sometimes they can get you better rates.  We went with the in house financing because we were able to get a rate of 1.49%

Swazzle

So, after reading all of your advice & forming a plan of action for tonight, FI called to say that the place our current car is at now "fixed" it & so we don't need a new car right.this.second. Which is a relief because I was feeling really overwhelmed by the rush to get a new car.  

We will, however, be trading this car in towards a new one very soon in the future so your tips & advice won't go to waste.  Thank you all SOOOOO much!