- Rule number 1: NEVER buy the car on the first visit to the dealer. You will still be lured into a trap. So leave as much as things back home which may be needed to continue with this process. Do not reserve your car on first visit. Take a friend with you whose sole aim will be to make sure that you don't make a purchase on the first day at the dealer.
- Take a test drive. longer the drive the better.
- Based on some research, the price before TTL (Tax, Title & License ) should be between $22,700 and $23,259 for HR-V 2017 EX AWD.
- One good site you can use to come up with some idea on price is www.truecar.com. Also check out other sites like www.edmunds.com, Costco's Auto Program . As an example see the below screen shot from true car dot com (make sure you choose the right year. some sites it defaults to 2016). $23,211 seems to be an exceptional price as per them.
- Also visit kbb.com for an idea on the "Fair Purchase Price"
- Visit the websites of most of the dealers in your area and ask for a quote. What I have seen is that most of the people respond to you via email and also provide mode details than you would expect. Also helps you refine your target price. Do this and you will not regret.
- Go to docs.google.com or use excel on your computer to start documenting the prices from various dealers. See a screen shot from my excel below. I have the price information that I received from 5 different dealers documented in the excel. All these prices are before adding TTL
- Are you planning to finance from the dealer? Some times you may find better and flexible financing outside the dealership. For example, you want to finance a 2017 model vehicle and don't have any good rates from the dealer. Try outside. Credit Unions are a good place to try. www.penfed.org is one good place I have turned to many times. New auto loans can be as low as 0.99% is what I have seen. Also you can schedule an auto pay from your bank account. They even mail you the check to your home. Checkout their car buying service too.
- Do your home work before you go to the dealer. Write down the Out The Door Price you are willing to pay on a piece of paper. This is the single number you need to pay attention. Do not go beyond this by even a penny no matter what.!!!!
- And now the last minute traps... Added warranty, this protection service etc... If you fall into this one in spite of all the preparation, only god can help you.
- And finally, always be prepared to walk out of the DEAL... have you seen "Hacking the System"? by Brian Brushwood
- If you have the documents from a previous purchase, going through them will also help understand some of the documentation fees, tax etc that you may have to pay for your location.
All comments are based on my experiences. Hope you can make the best out of them at your own risk!!!!..
Lets make the HRV buying happier. Comment your experience & post the price before TTL that you paid in the comments section...
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