new car buying advice

[Auryn]

I was hoping someone here could help clear the fog in my head.
I am working up to getting a new car- my honda accord is up to 150K and been hit 3 times (while parked) so I am ready to get something new.
For the first time in my life I am going to buy a new car since its not much more than buying a used car.

I am looking at the Subaru Forester.
I have a dealer that is hot to sell cause their month was crap and I basically got him down to pricing the car at msrp with a couple of cheap optionals included.

Should I be able to wiggle an additional discount out of him or at least some accessories/ equipment or is usually msrp the best you can do??

He was basically chewing rocks friday afternoon as I was walking out without buying anything after test driving the car (he has called me 3 times since friday)

[irish]

Heck....ask for floor mats. They seem to want people to buy them from the dealership. Least you know they will actually fit the floor.
Try for anything....lol!
Good luck! 

[William_MacKean]

MSRP is Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.

If you are not at least 10% below that, you are getting screwed.  Ask to see their invoice price.  That is still a hair above what they paid, but closer to a good price on this month.  Then see if that is before or after the manufacturer's rebate.  That reduces their invoice price as well.

[Auryn]

Thanks guys

From what you are saying William that means I should be able to get them down another $1000.
We will see how hard he wants to sell this car to make his quota for the month.

[Tipsy Gypsy]

Consumer Reports publishes a new car buying guide that lists not only the MSRP but also dealer cost, dealer kickbacks, details their sales and negotiating tactics and how to counter them, etc. The book is ab-so-lutely on the mark. Well worth every dime!

https://m1.buysub.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SinglePageCheckoutView?catalogId=11351&storeId=11351&categoryId=10214&productId=944923

I found the copy I purchased years ago at a local bookstore.

[Lady Kett]

Don't forget to negotiate loan terms. A great sales price at 12% interest would really suck. Make sure you focus there too. And if you are trading, put some emphasis on the trade in value. An extra $500 in trade in plus 1% lower interest can go a long way.

When we buy new cars I actually focus on the financing. It sort of messes with the sales people, while I mentally keep track of MSRP and trade in. Then they start trying to throw in extended warranties and service packages and I just say no. I end up getting a car at a good price, with a good interest rate for the loan, and some extras in warranties or service packages for the price I was willing to pay in the first place. Dealers make more profit on those extras so they love to sell them. I just refuse to pay extra for them.

Good luck!

[Butch]

The last 2 new cars I bought, I looked up on Edmunds . com site.  Enter the model with all the options, and theyu  will give you the MSRP, the dealer cost, and what others in your area are paying. 
Recom you DO NOT pay MORE than what others in your area are paying!  Remember, even $100 more than dealer cost is still a profit for the dealer.
The last car I bought, a Hyndai Sonata, I used the feature on the Edmunds website to have local dealers contact me.  One was a sham, but the other was an offer less than $200 above dealer cost!
Good luck!