Ten Tips to LABOR DAY car sales.
It’s the Wednesday before the biggest Holiday (Labor Day) weekend for car shopping, the annual model year-end clearance events on every dealership in the USA.
However, this year will be different, as pent-up demand and a roller-coaster stock market have sent car buyers into showrooms in record numbers, hoping to score a deal on the last of the 2011 models.
[caption id="attachment_5147" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="2011 Nissan Juke"]
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Surprise! There isn’t much in 2011 year-end model left-overs to pick from and 2012’s are not plentiful either. Cars like the new 2012 Camry actually went UP over $1000.00 in base price over the 2011, so dealers are touting the difference to be an extra $1000 bucks in savings without handing you a rebate voucher! So what should you do to insure you get the deal you want on the car you want this Labor Day?
Here is MYCARLADY’s 10 Tips for getting the best deal during 2011 Labor Day holiday model year-end car sales clearance events.
- List the top 3 new car models you want, and list the must have features and optional colors for each model.
- Get online and search the manufacturer’s website for the dealerships within 100 mile(or more if you are willing to travel further). Also research available incentives. IF you don’t see the incentives, and rebates listed, go to www.edmunds.com and look-up your car, find the incentives button and add the information to your vehicle worksheet.
- Go to each dealership website and see if they have the car in stock, or something as close to your wish list as possible. Print out all the appropriate vehicles. DO NOT CONTACT THEM YET!
- Look up the dealership on YELP, GOOGLE/maps or DEALERRATER.com and read the reviews. be sure this is a place you want to do business with. Delete the dealership from your list if the negatives outweigh the positives by 75%. Remember happy people rarely rant. But good service reviews are a big plus if the place is likely to be the one you do your service with. Negative sales reviews are worth considering, but notably, there is always 3 sides to a complaint, so if the dealership responded to the complaint on the review site, consider it a wash.
- Take your individual car sheets and create a score card by giving each car a merit point for positives: 1)right color. 1)top features 1)proximity. Add up the scores.
- Now EMAIL, or call and ask to speak to the INTERNET or FLEET manager of the dealer with your top 3 car choices. Ask if the specific car (by stock #) is still available. If it isn’t available, ask if they are willing to dealer trade for a car you found at a far away location. (Some dealers will not trade at this late a date in the year BECAUSE they have no stock to give back.
- This process should eliminate wasted time and gas, hunting down the right car. It will also keep you from settling for the wrong car, although color should not be a deal killer. (Also note, stay away from off colors that will reduce resale value at trade-in time.)
- Make an appointment to test drive the car. Early morning appointments are best. It’s easier to get in and out of the dealership.
- Check your credit score by going to www.annualcreditreport.com or contacting your bank/credit union. Find out what your bank will offer you for amount, term and interest rate, so you can compare with the dealership and auto manufacturers offers. 0%-2.9% may not be the right answer if the cash rebate is worth more. When you know your budget, credit score and down payment ahead of the visit, you should be able to make a deal quickly.
- GOT A TRADE? WHAT’S MY CAR WORTH? go to kbb.com and click the button. Then take $1500.00 off the trade-in number for reconditioning and service because that’s where the dealership will probably be. DON’T LOSE YOUR TAX CREDIT! This number is in addition to the net tax value. Not sure what it’s worth or how to include it in the negotiation? Contact MYCARLADY for an honest, independent opinion.