Please give your online vehicle purchase testimonies (good or bad)

 

Overall, the major websites (cars.com, carsdirect, autobytel) don't have a price that is competitive or negotiable. I had better luck with a broadcast email to all the surrounding dealerships - it was my own sort of 'spam', and I got a great $ in the end.

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2002 TL-S, Aegean blue pearl
2002 Mitsubishi Montero Limited, silver with charcoal leather interior, and rear a/c for the dogs

 

I was offered a better deal on some of the extras because they thought I was an "internet customer." In truth, I did use Yahoo yellow pages to find the dealers closest to me. They offered a discount on the extended warranty. Also, they threw in wheel locks and (I think) mud guards, and I didn't even ask.

I did use autobytel, and they refered me to a different dealer. That dealer wouldn't give me as good a price, and wouldn't budge on her offer, but it made for valuable leverage.

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2002 Acura TL Type-S Dark Emerald Pearl
1986 Pontiac Fiero SE V6
1994 Ford Explorer 4x4

 

Bought mine online, loved the experience. The whole process took 6 days and knocked off almost $4,000 before walking into the dealership. Signed the papers in 15 minutes, I would definitely do it again!

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Those who know, don't talk.

 

$4000 off, Did you move the decimal point??
On a Type-S?? Better post some details for all of us skeptics.

 

Either, now that you brought up e-mailing dealers.

I like to thank everyone for responding.

 

TL-S Blk/ Blk, NAV, mud guards, moonroof visor, wheel locks, and all season floor mattes. MSRP came to around $35K and right when I walked in the door, $31,200. Then the negotiation begins.




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Those who know, don't talk.

 

I got my 2001 TL through Priceline.com in Feb of this year. I wound up with a silver TL w/navi, factory spoiler, mud guards and wheel locks for $28,900.00 + tax and license. Priceline charged me $50 for making the match.

It was kind of like a fax campaign. Priceline lets dealers in areas you designate know what you want, how much you want to pay, and when you'll take delivery. If you say you'll take delivery immediately, the dealers take you seriously. If they hook you up with a dealer, you owe Priceline $50 if you complete the deal, $100 if you back out. If they only get you a counteroffer, you can back out no charge, or if you wind up with a deal, you owe them $50.

The best part was I didn't have to go from dealership to dealership negotiating with sleazy sales reps and their even sleazier sales managers.

 

Keep in mind that just as the rest of the dot.com world, online auto brokers are hurting for revenues big time, so most of the real bargains are long gone. There are also two types of online brokers - those that arrange a factory order for you, and those that simply refer your request to a local dealer. In both cases, my recent experiences show that you can do far better with a fax broadcast.

 

I did a "fax and email attack" on all dealers within a 2 hour drive. Several responded, two with the right price. All paperwork except final signature was done via fax. Drove one hour, spent 20 minutes at dealership, and drove away in my '02 TL w/nav and spoiler. $31,900. I will never sit in a showroom, haggling, again.

 

Do you mean going thru sites like autobytel and/or emails back-and-forth with the dealers?

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2002 Satin Silver TL-S w/ Navi

 

With the ease and speed of the internet why would anyone choose to haggle on the dealers home turf when the process can be accomplished so much more comfortably from your own home ?