Automotive Forums

Decided on a Dodge Caravan and went through CarsDirect.com to pick one out. I am now of the opinion that CarsDirect.com is misnamed because it gives you the mistaken impression that you will buy the car directly from them and what you see is what get at the quoted price - end of story. Unfortunately, it didn't work that way for me. I got referred to a local car dealer and made the mistake of going there on my lunch break just to check things out without preparing myself for the challenge of dealing with a car salesman, something I have avoided like the plague for many years.

It was probably somewhat masochistic of me to do so but I read up on how to deal with car dealers after I made a deal and only then did I learn of the mistakes I made.

Before showing me the car I had actually picked out on the internet I was shown a new 2006 model that was about the same price but a better trim (SXT instead of SE). I liked the car and it seemed like a pretty good deal to me. Researching after the fact it still seems like a pretty good deal so I have no complaint about the price. I had an old 1997 Van with me that I had actually intended to donate to charity because, although it still ran okay, it had 140,000 miles on it, a cracked windshield, brakes that were starting to grind a little, and a transmission that slipped a little in overdrive. Basically a reliable piece of junk that somebody can drive to work if they baby it enough. The salesman suggested they appraise it any way and came back with a figure of $750 which was probably about what I was going to get with a charity write-off - next year.

So the bottom line is I feel pretty good about the deal but didn't like some of the things they pulled on me. Simple common sense told me to avoid some of them but I actually fell for a few. I now feel pretty stupid. First off, there was the $50 charge for a pin-stripe. If that wasn't supposed to be included in the price then it should have said that on the car, don't you think? What a sneaky way to get an extra measly $50. If I hadn't been happy at the unexpected $750 I would probably have walked out when I saw that. Then there was the dealer prep fee of $599 which the salesman informed me that "all dealers charge". Like a fool, I believed him. Then they tried to get me to sign onto a financing rate higher than I knew I could get at my bank. When I was ready to walk out and arrange my own financing with my bank they did that for me since they were a customer of that bank too (I think I got the best rate but I intend to follow up on that and raise hell if I didn't - I have enough money on deposit there to buy 3 Dodge Caravans). Finally, the finance officer tried to sell me an extended warranty which is something I never buy on any product so that wasn't going to happen. I did fall for the "discounted" alarm system at a price of $399. I've subsequently learned it sells retail for about $69.

So the bottom line is I got a car I like at a price I feel pretty good about, and the unexpected $750 trade-in almost offset the rip-offs so basically I paid pretty much what I expected to pay when I walked onto the lot.

I will be getting a customer satisfaction survey and now I'm wondering if I should say anything about all this or just keep it to myself because what's done is done and I should probably maintain good relations in case I need any warranty work.

One thing for sure is that I will never buy another car from the same dealer and will not recommend them to anybody else. I wonder why they never think about that when they do things like this.  

You may find it hard to believe on the low profit that there is on new vehicles, however it is true.  The dealers do need to make money somehow, so they try to offer you other items, such as the alarm.  69 dollars for the alarm retail sounds rediculously low, unless it is an item called "stealth"  If it an item that you have to push a button to start, or uses a remote to "deactivate" then it is a piece of junk.  Go back to the dealer and get your money back.  Dealers make money on financing, often times more than they make on the car sale.  There is nothing wrong with that, as long as it is in line with other rates you may be able to get.

Extended Warranties on vehicles are almost a must.  If you plan on keeping the car for longer than the warranty coverage from the factory, you should have one.  They will negotiate on the price.  Even AAA when calculating cost of ownership on various models use the cost of an extended warranty in their calculations.  The cost of repairs are not getting cheaper.  The power sliding door on your van will cost about 1800 to repair if it goes out like my parents did.  Don't buy the "dealer sponsored" warranty.  They are 3rd party and don't really offer the kind of service you would expect.  Stick with the extended warranty the the manufacture offers.  They are the most comprehensive and are valid nationwide.  I have been in this business for about 15 years and would not own a new car without an extended warranty.