Articles to Save Money
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How to Buy or Lease a New Car for the Lowest Possible Price
Step 1
Go to the website of the car manufacturer you are interested in (example: subaru.com).
Click "Dealer Locator" and enter your zip code.
A list of dealers will be displayed along with links to their websites.
Step 2
Visit the website of each dealership (example: koeppelsubaru.com) within 20-25 miles of your residence and click "Contact Us" to display the email address of each dealership.
Step 3
Compose an email describing exactly what you are looking for.
Include the make, model, exterior color, interior color, automatic or manual, sunroof and every other option you want. Be as specific as possible.
Add details such as "Will buy within a week" and "Excellent credit score". You will be taken more seriously and they will make you their priority.
Do not include your phone number, ever. Otherwise, you will be harassed.
Send it to all dealership's email addresses from the previous step.
Step 4
Check your email in 1-2 days. Offers will already be in your inbox within hours, but you must allow sufficient time for all the dealerships to reply.
Copy the email from the dealership offering you the lowest price.
Reply to all other dealerships with that copy and ask if this is their best offer.
Step 5
Repeat step 4 as many times as takes until only one dealership replies.
That dealership will have lowered the price drastically.
Step 6
Schedule an appointment with the internet manager of the dealership that has offered you the lowest possible price, the person you have been dealing with (and no one else).
Step 7
Bring a copy of all the emails exchanged between you and the internet manager to your appointment.
Test drive the car.
Sign all the required documents.
Drive away in your brand new (and very inexpensive) car.
Note: Use the same principle for a New Car Lease.
The following example is a true story. The name and email address of the fleet manager has been omitted to protect his privacy. I took possession of this car on March 12, 2011.
Here are the original pricing and terms of the car lease, as advertised on the manufacturer's website:
1. The vehicle is a Subaru Impreza hatchback.
2. The vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission.
3. The lease is for 42 months.
4. The lease allows for 10,000 miles a year, for a total of 36,000 miles for the 42 months.
5. The monthly payment on the lease is $179/month plus tax.
6. The drive-off down payment is $1178.
Below is a copy of the final email sent to me by the fleet manager of the dealership I leased my new car from. I added the comments in bold:
Hello Eric, I have confirmed everything.
1. The vehicle is a Subaru Impreza sedan, NOT hatchback. Confirmed.
The hatchback is $179/mo, but the sedan is actually $199/mo.
2. The vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, NOT manual. Confirmed.
The automatic is $1000 more expensive than the manual (or $24/mo over 42 mo.)
3. The exterior color of the vehicle is Paprika Red Pearl. Confirmed.
4. The interior color of the vehicle is Ivory Tricot Confirmed.
The dealership I leased my car from did not even have this particular car in stock.
They had it delivered to their location from another dealership.
5. The lease is for 42 months. Confirmed.
6. The lease allows for 12,000 miles a year, for a total of 42,000 miles for the 42 months. Confirmed.
2000 extra miles per year at $0.15/mile come out to $1050 over 42 months
7. The monthly payment on the lease is $140.37/month plus tax and
INCLUDES destination and delivery. Confirmed.
8. The drive-off down payment is $419. Confirmed.
9. There are NO other fees or hidden fees, such as dealer fees or end of the lease fees, except for the standard disposition fee of $300 at the end of the lease. This fee will be waived if you purchase or lease another Subaru. Confirmed.
Please respond to let me know when you'd like to come in this afternoon or evening so that I may get the car here before you arrive.
Sincerely, Fleet Manager
Recap:
Grand total of original terms over 42 months: $10,544 ($1178 + $199*42 + 24*42)
Grand total of NEGOTIATED terms over 42 months: $6,314 ($419 + $140*42)
Savings: $10,544 - $6,314 = $4,230 (That's a 40% savings !!)
Total Savings including free extra 2000 miles/year: $1,050 + $4,230 = $5,280
Note: Results may vary.
Go to the website of the car manufacturer you are interested in (example: subaru.com).
Click "Dealer Locator" and enter your zip code.
A list of dealers will be displayed along with links to their websites.
Step 2
Visit the website of each dealership (example: koeppelsubaru.com) within 20-25 miles of your residence and click "Contact Us" to display the email address of each dealership.
Step 3
Compose an email describing exactly what you are looking for.
Include the make, model, exterior color, interior color, automatic or manual, sunroof and every other option you want. Be as specific as possible.
Add details such as "Will buy within a week" and "Excellent credit score". You will be taken more seriously and they will make you their priority.
Do not include your phone number, ever. Otherwise, you will be harassed.
Send it to all dealership's email addresses from the previous step.
Step 4
Check your email in 1-2 days. Offers will already be in your inbox within hours, but you must allow sufficient time for all the dealerships to reply.
Copy the email from the dealership offering you the lowest price.
Reply to all other dealerships with that copy and ask if this is their best offer.
Step 5
Repeat step 4 as many times as takes until only one dealership replies.
That dealership will have lowered the price drastically.
Step 6
Schedule an appointment with the internet manager of the dealership that has offered you the lowest possible price, the person you have been dealing with (and no one else).
Step 7
Bring a copy of all the emails exchanged between you and the internet manager to your appointment.
Test drive the car.
Sign all the required documents.
Drive away in your brand new (and very inexpensive) car.
Note: Use the same principle for a New Car Lease.
The following example is a true story. The name and email address of the fleet manager has been omitted to protect his privacy. I took possession of this car on March 12, 2011.
Here are the original pricing and terms of the car lease, as advertised on the manufacturer's website:
1. The vehicle is a Subaru Impreza hatchback.
2. The vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission.
3. The lease is for 42 months.
4. The lease allows for 10,000 miles a year, for a total of 36,000 miles for the 42 months.
5. The monthly payment on the lease is $179/month plus tax.
6. The drive-off down payment is $1178.
Below is a copy of the final email sent to me by the fleet manager of the dealership I leased my new car from. I added the comments in bold:
Hello Eric, I have confirmed everything.
1. The vehicle is a Subaru Impreza sedan, NOT hatchback. Confirmed.
The hatchback is $179/mo, but the sedan is actually $199/mo.
2. The vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, NOT manual. Confirmed.
The automatic is $1000 more expensive than the manual (or $24/mo over 42 mo.)
3. The exterior color of the vehicle is Paprika Red Pearl. Confirmed.
4. The interior color of the vehicle is Ivory Tricot Confirmed.
The dealership I leased my car from did not even have this particular car in stock.
They had it delivered to their location from another dealership.
5. The lease is for 42 months. Confirmed.
6. The lease allows for 12,000 miles a year, for a total of 42,000 miles for the 42 months. Confirmed.
2000 extra miles per year at $0.15/mile come out to $1050 over 42 months
7. The monthly payment on the lease is $140.37/month plus tax and
INCLUDES destination and delivery. Confirmed.
8. The drive-off down payment is $419. Confirmed.
9. There are NO other fees or hidden fees, such as dealer fees or end of the lease fees, except for the standard disposition fee of $300 at the end of the lease. This fee will be waived if you purchase or lease another Subaru. Confirmed.
Please respond to let me know when you'd like to come in this afternoon or evening so that I may get the car here before you arrive.
Sincerely, Fleet Manager
Recap:
Grand total of original terms over 42 months: $10,544 ($1178 + $199*42 + 24*42)
Grand total of NEGOTIATED terms over 42 months: $6,314 ($419 + $140*42)
Savings: $10,544 - $6,314 = $4,230 (That's a 40% savings !!)
Total Savings including free extra 2000 miles/year: $1,050 + $4,230 = $5,280
Note: Results may vary.
