My dad is looking for a new car, and he loves the Fiesta ST so we decided to look at one at a Ford dealership just down the street. They had an orange one with the Recaros listed for $21,000 which sounded like a great deal. When we got there, we saw that it had these horrific decals on the side that completely ruin the car. We sat in the seats and decided that we liked them (I would probably take them from him and put them in my car lol) and asked about the price. The salesman had the nerve to say $28,000. I told him it was listed online for 7 grand less, and he said that it had extra dealership packages (including an extra grand for the decals) on it and the online price included the rebates. We asked him why you would list it online for so much less, and he said that "It's okay since every other dealership in the world does it to lure people in." My dad and I looked at each other, told him how disgusting his practices are, and walked out. In England, it is actually illegal to do something like this. I hate dealerships and their shady practices. This dealer is Greico Ford in Fort Lauderdale. If any of you ever make it there, turn around and walk away.
I have been drinking so this is stream of consciousness, apologies in advance.
If you have usaa, use their car buying service.
If you do not, use truecar to get printouts and offers from them first. Bring paper- physical paper. That makes it real. Have your own financing squared away but do not tell them that. Get their price offer printout during negotiations, then mention you have your own financing later. When asked about the rate (they will) lie and say 1.9-2.9% or so, and make them work to obtain a better rate. Write things down. Waste their time, then leave because you are uncomfortable being pressured. Chances are someone will come running after you to try to get you to sign right away, because they have done no business while you were wasting their time. Dress nicely but not stuffy, and keep things professional. You aren’t there to make a friend, and being unfriendly feels “wrong” but your relationship with this person is transactional, like a prostitute. You each have an objective and ideally land in the middle.
Do not be rushed. Rushed decisions are rarely good decisions.
Take notes while talking to them, occasionally reference your notes, and if they say something that doesn’t match what they said earlier - ask them to clarify which statement is true. Negotiations are like a fight - the first one to backpedal gives up ground and will probably lose. You don’t *have* to buy the car. Remember that. You can walk away. They will try to get you excited, get you chomping at the bit, then they’ll spin the numbers for a low monthly payment for 72 months and you’ll be screwed. Do your own math. Write things down - people who write things down during negotiations aren’t easy marks and they’ll likely try to get you out of there as quickly as possible.
Call and ask what color ST’s they have available. When you go in to buy, you had your heart set on whatever color they don’t have, and you’ll expect a little something to accept something other than your preferred color.
Go test drive a gti, a veloster n, and a few other cars. Get brochures and have them tucked into the back of the little notebook you take to shop for the car. Don’t reference them, but make sure they can be seen. Show you have options.