[ZTWsquared]

(06-10-2011, 08:36 PM)oldeguy Wrote: okay, so some of you may have read my last post, about me havinh about $5000.00 to pick up a new to me vehicle. After much investigation, research, it has been decided to go another route.... a new car, using the money I have as a down payment. I went to a Ford dealer to talk, and it seemed like I new more about the 2012 Focus and it's various packages than the salesman. However, Does anyone know where I can get a good deal from an honest dealer? I priced a 2012 Focus SEL CDan ( still have a wheelchair to haul around in the trunk)

The key to getting a good deal is to know what the good deal is before you go to the dealer. Then it doesn't matter whether or not the dealer is honest or otherwise because you simply stick to your guns until you get the numbers you want.

It's been my experience (both as a consumer and as a subject matter expert) that going from dealer to dealer trying to negotiate one against the other is an unrewarding and unsuccessful method ... unless you've done your research and know what the cost / margins are - in which case you might just as well go to the closest dealer to you and use that info to get the deal you want from them.

You also need to know the relative value of the vehicle you're buying. If it's a hot mover and dealers are getting full pop and turning their inventory, you won't be able to get a low-ball deal no matter what you do.

Find the car you want (and I do mean the car) ... do the math ... figure out what a good deal to you looks like ... and then wait 'till the last business day of the month and go and make your offer.

Don't negotiate a payment, negotiate the final, all-in net price including whatever their admin fee and other dealer fees might be. And stick to you guns ... be prepared to walk and mean it ... but also be prepared to sign the deal if you get what you want.

If you want some insight into what the margins are and what kind of profit dealers are likely to accept, drop me a PM.