Article 27742 of rec.autos.marketplace: Path: freenet.victoria.bc.ca!holly.softwords.bc.ca!news.bctel.net!news.cyberstore.ca!vanbc.wimsey.com!news.rmii.com!newsjunkie.ans.net!gatech!newsfeed.pitt.edu!uunet!in1.uu.net!newstf01.news.aol.com!newsbf02.news.aol.com!not-for-mail From: gary203@aol.com (Gary203) Newsgroups: rec.autos.marketplace Subject: How to buy a car from a dealer for the right price Date: 10 Aug 1995 08:32:37 -0400 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Lines: 43 Sender: root@newsbf02.news.aol.com Message-ID: <40cu95$ra3@newsbf02.news.aol.com> Reply-To: gary203@aol.com (Gary203) NNTP-Posting-Host: newsbf02.mail.aol.com Go to your local library - they should have in reference department book(s) published annually which list car's invoice price & options' invoice price. Offer $200 over the invoice telling them that you arrived at your offer based on the invoice + $200. The dealer will respond in three ways: 1. Tell you that the invoice price you have is too low. When this happens: Show them a copy of the page from your source & tell them that the only way they can convince you their cost on the car was higher is to show you the original invoice. If they refuse to show you invoice & insist their cost was higher - you walk. 2. Tell you they paid additional costs to the manufacturer. When this happens: Same response - their original invoice will list all costs they paid. 3. Tell you $200 is not enough profit for them (e.g. "we have to pay rent on the building and we offer buyers so many services, we can't afford to sell a car for only $200 over cost"). When this happens: offer more if you wish. Decide beforehand how much you aere willing to offer over invoice. If you reach that amount, WALK. I would pay no more than $750 over cost. There are plenty of Honda dealers out there. If you see the original invoice - LOOK FOR AN ITEM LISTED AS "HOLD BACK" or some similar term. This will be usually be printed in a random place on the invoice (lower left, etc) not in the costs column. The number printed, usually with no "$" symbol (e.f. "Hold Back 350") next to "Hold Back" is an amount the manufacturer will reimburse the the dealer after dealer sells the invoiced car. DEDUCT THE HOLD BACK from the invoice price after you see the original invoice. I write such a lengthy posting I recently spent time researching to arrive at this procedure. I bought a car this way successfully (I walked from 1st dealer & bought from 2d dealer). It was much easier, quicker & cheaper than traditional purchasing - no artificial dickering because the dealer knows you are armed with as much info as is she. Good luck! Gary203@aol.com