For those wavering about buying a Prius....

[tmgrl3]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Aug 10 2006, 11:11 PM) [snapback]301290[/snapback]</div>

Troy is a Toyota dealer. He sells the genuine Toyota Financial Services extended warranty.
[/b]

Thanks for the information. I did check out the sticky on it as well.....

terri

[rudiger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kirbinster @ Aug 1 2006, 02:05 PM) [snapback]295767[/snapback]</div>

Keep in mind that depending what state you are in it may not pay to sell it yourself - and the dealers know that. Take for example that you have a car that is worth $10K in trade, in New Jersey if you trade it in for that value it reduces the taxable amount on the new vehicle, so you save yourself $700 in sales tax. Thus, you would have to make more than $10,700 yourself just to break even on a private sale not to mention the added insurance for however long you keep the car, etc....
[/b]

The last time I checked, the three states where this doesn't apply are California, Virginia, and (ironically) Michigan. In those states, you always pay sales tax on the full purchase price of the vehicle, regardless of whether there is a trade-in or not.

In effect, if you have a trade-in on a new vehicle, you are going to be paying sales tax on the trade-in twice. Because of this, I would be very wary of trading in a vehicle if I lived in one of those three states.

[New Revelation]

Well, for my current car which is an 84 Olds, I most likely won't get anything for a trade-in, at being 183K miles and the car's age. However, I also made the promise to my mom that I will not sell this car if I was to get a new one (it was her first brand new car when she first bought it). So I will keep the car and work on restoring it at a future time.

Meanwhile, I admit I am a bit nervous about the dealer playing game. I know I done all my research months before I even came to a decision, and while I am sure there are some genuine dealers, there are some that will try to toy with you too, especially to those who are first time car buyers. Most of them tend to buy out of emotion rather than financial sense, and end up getting taken advantage of.

With so many auto commercials you see on TV and newspapers and the internet, you have to wonder sometimes why buying a car is so difficult and full of hassles from people that are more interested in taking you for a ride than being honest with you.

My mom has always told me that when dealing you have to act as if you may not have interest and prepare to go somewhere else if the deal isnt going the way it should. She has done that a few times and each time the dealer was willing to work with her (you know how salespeople are desparate to get that commission and talking that crap about how they need to feed their family and such).

Maybe I shouldn't be so nervous when that time comes...I would just have to watch my "p's and q's" (old quote from Moe on Three Stooges)

[Pinto Girl]

I've often heard that a good way to have more control of the 'buying a new car' process is to sell your old car first.

You'll probably get more from selling to a private party anyway, and there will be one less variable when you visit the dealer.

I'm a bit surprised this wasn't part of your 'getting a bargain' training!

[rocco]

Granted this was nearly 2 years ago but I was mildly considering the prius (had never seen one in my my little town) and low and behold - while visiting the toyota to test drive a highlander there was my black bean baby sittin there with a "sold" sign.

I fell in love with it and kiddingly said I'll buy that one right now. Turns out a guy (who had been on the waiting list) brought in his trade-in - didn't like the deal and had that minute walked away.

Rather than be bothered with calling the numbers on the list - I bought it. - so . . it USED to be that there was always another buyer in line. Maybe not so much these days

[quagmire0]

It really depends on the dealer's situation. In our case, we were told during negotiations that they had reserved the car for us, much to the chagrin of the owners Aunt - who now had to order a car for later arrival. When they didn't budge on the trade-in, I walked, and they let me. :P I have no doubt that they already had a person they would rather sell to, so there was no negotiation to be had.

[PA]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Aug 28 2006, 08:55 PM) [snapback]310861[/snapback]</div>

I've often heard that a good way to have more control of the 'buying a new car' process is to sell your old car first.[/b]

But first make sure there's a bus stop near the dealership!