Conducting business and dressing comfortably.

[retro]

Car dealers do not like people that pay in cash or by check. People always come in thinking they are going to get a better deal because they are willing to pay cash when that's not the case. When a dealer sells a car, they make most of their money on the financing so the price of the car can be lowered. Whenever someone pays cash, the price of the car needs to go up a bit to make up for that lost revenue....
I guess my point is, dealers do not like getting cash for a car so don't expect to be treated better.

I paid cash for my car... and I did get a better deal because of it. Well, and because they had been trying to sell it well above blue book for about a month and a half at that point to no avail. I called 'em up, told them how much money I could pay for it... they came back with a different offer and I told them I wasn't interested. Got a call back the next day asking me to come test drive it and they'd accept my offer. You just have to know what the dealer's cost on the car was and what the value is, and then come in a little above that. A sold car is better than one that sits around forever.

 

[Tim]

I paid cash for my car... and I did get a better deal because of it. Well, and because they had been trying to sell it well above blue book for about a month and a half at that point to no avail. I called 'em up, told them how much money I could pay for it... they came back with a different offer and I told them I wasn't interested. Got a call back the next day asking me to come test drive it and they'd accept my offer. You just have to know what the dealer's cost on the car was and what the value is, and then come in a little above that. A sold car is better than one that sits around forever.

The dealer makes money on the financing side and that adds to the profit margin. When that financing goes away they need to make it someplace else.
And you are right about a car sitting on the lot for a while can bring the price down. Every day a car sits on the lot it costs them money. And if there wasn't enough interest in a car, they will dump it to another dealer if they can or drop the price to get rid of it.

But there is NO benefit to a dealer when you pay them cash. It hurts their bottom line.

If you want the absolute best deal, finance the car and pay it off in one lump sum right away.

 

[AUFred]

The salesman kept asking if we were financing or paying out right. I ignored his question and kept trying for the best number. I know they make money off financing too. At one time cash customers were treated as more valuable but not anymore.

 

[Francis]

If you want the best deal possible, go to a dealership at the end of a month.

 

[Joe the meek]

The salesman kept asking if we were financing or paying out right. I ignored his question and kept trying for the best number. I know they make money off financing too. At one time cash customers were treated as more valuable but not anymore.

I've always found that cash is king, particularly when you're spending a good amount of money.

That said, buy a new car at 25k and drive it off the lot, how much resale value have you lost? Put 20k on the odometer and how much resale value have you lost? For myself, a new car is one of the worst investments you can spend your money on as you're generally losing money on it once you start driving it.

 

[BadBoy]

My favorite is pitting the same "like" car dealerships against one another when buying new. Works like a charm because regardless, you're paying lower somewhere, who cares where?

 

[AUFred]

I've always found that cash is king, particularly when you're spending a good amount of money.

That said, buy a new car at 25k and drive it off the lot, how much resale value have you lost? Put 20k on the odometer and how much resale value have you lost? For myself, a new car is one of the worst investments you can spend your money on as you're generally losing money on it once you start driving it.

We were not buying new. We bought a 2007.