Hope this is ok to post on this board, I didn't see any stickies with this kind of info anywhere (and the dealer/retail experiences board is pretty quiet).

I've been looking on the web for new car buying tips, and found some really good guides. However with Scion's pure pricing it seems most of them simply don't apply.
I'm going to visit the dealer next week to see about a tC, and would like to be prepared. This is my first time buying a brand new car and I don't want to fall for any dealer scams.

Obviously I'd like to get the best deal, so here's what I've figured out on my own, hopefully correctly. If I'm wrong on any of these details, or anyone else has some tips to add I'd really appreciate it.

Here's what I've got so far.

1) Haggling or asking for sweeteners is a waste of time because of pure pricing.

2) Don't buy any dealer install options from the dealer, as they're priced less elsewhere.

3) Decline the extended warrantee(s) and pick a warrantee company yourself if you want one.

4) Arrange your own financing through your bank or similar, rather than take the dealer's financing options.

I have no idea what the score is with the documentation fee. All four of my local dealers have this at around $600. Is this a necessary evil?

Thanks for any help.

 

For the car yes, but if you have a trade in, you can haggle all you want on that! After a few days of driving from dealarship to dealarship and some haggling, I got my trade in price up from 1500 to 4000

 

Haggling on price of a new tC is pointless, however, asking for them to throw in accessories (shift ****, floor mats, whatever) can't hurt, what's the worst that happens? They say no?

At every Scion dealer I asked them how it would benefit me to purchase my vehicle from them, as oppossed to the other local dealers since the price was going to be the same. Put some pressure on them to EARN your business.

My only other recommendation is to check the dealer listing and see who scored the best...lots of reviews on here worth checking out.

 

1) Yeah, pretty much. I agree with below though about accessories. It is also key to be at a dealer that has the car/color you want. If they think the sale will happen "today", it helps.

2) I agree, but as said below ask for them for free.

3) I don't agree with this. I purchased a Toyota extended warranty for mine, and I haggled with the guy. It is a premium (pretty much extends the bumper/bumper coverage to 6 yrs / 100K), he waived the deductible, and came down to $1K for it. I think it is short money to double the bumper to bumper warranty.

4) I sort of disagee also. Arrange your own, them make the dealer beat it. This is what I have done always. I know my credit score, and i know the rates I can get. Every dealer I have used has beaten the interest rate and lowered the payment when compared the the outside financing I have available to me.

Everything is something you can haggle them with.

Paul G.