We're looking for a new minivan -- open to either new or used, but
we're finding it tough going. Does anyone know about auto brokers, or some
such thing that will look around for what we want at a good price?  I
seem to remember reading about this kind of service, but I don't even
remember what they're called.  Has anyone used something like this?

24 responses total.

My parents just got a new '94 Dodge Caravan a few months ago, and Arbor
Dodge had a deal for UM Credit Union members where they could get it for
2% over invoice.  You might want to look into something like that.

I bought my last car through Detroit Auto Brokers in Southfield. I got
the car for $300 over dealer invoice, which may or may not be a bad deal,
depending on the car.  I liked them. Ask for Vicki, tell her I sent you:)
The number should be available through information. I may have the city
wrong, they are at 12 mile and northwestern.

How much do you pay the brokers?

They get part of the $300.  The other fees are license and tax.
It's a good deal,especially if you are getting a foreign car, it means
you don't have to deal with all those poseur foreign
car salespeeps.

Well, we bought one just yesterday (Gd Caravan) at invoice price
minus available rebates and a college graduate discount.  I know
this is a great deal -- so why do I feel so poor???

(You're thinking of the payments forthcoming?  :(  Anyway, enjoy
your new vehicle; they're fun.)

A college graduate discount?! I love it:)

( Dealer invoice that I referred to is not to be confused with
  the sticker price, btw.  It is the "official" price the dealer pays, and
  is usually about 1-2000 below sticker. )

Yep, we actually got the price that Consumer Reports says is the
cost to dealer.  I think they make their profit at the dealership
(when they offer those kinds of deals) on the addons like rust
proofing, undercoating, etc., which good old CR teaches us to 
decline.  I highly recommend their printout if you're considering
buying a new car.

Wow, you got it below dealer cost? I've got to think about buying American
again, then.:)  Dealers will sometimes take a very small margin on a car
if it helps them build up volume so that they can qualify for performance
discounts.

Dealers actually make substantial profit when they sell "at invoice".
That's because there is what they call "hold back" which is a sum of 
money that the dealer gets from the mfr based on how many cars he sold.

The dealer was very happy to sell me our Grand Voyager at 3% below invoice
(Chrysler empployee price).

The comsumer reports printouts are nice to have, but you can get the 
info from other places for free.  What are they, about $10 per each?
Kind of a steep price to pay for a sheet of paper.  And to think they
are a "non profit" organization, and supposedly pro-consumer.  Yeah, right.

(Hmmm...I'll have to remember that argument next time I buy a statistics
textbook..."$80!!!  Kind of a steep price to pay for a pile of paper!"
Somehow I don't think that'll work... :)

Warren, we got prices from a couple of different sources.  The CR prices
were alone in being bang-on the invoice that I looked at.  The others were
sometimes in the neighborhood, and sometimes not.  Which ones do you
think are good?

Well, it's been a while but the last time I bought a car I bought 
Edmunds new car prices, which lists all cars, for $5.95.  I knew the 
prices were right on because I could compare to the sticker.  I don't
recall that Edmunds gives the invoice prices, but CR gives the invoice
percentage of sticker.

I think CR overstates the advantage of knowing the dealer's cost the the
exact dollar... just because you're "armed" with this information does not
mean that you can "force" the dealer to sell the car to you for some set
figure over invoice.  You still have to shop around and ask for their best
price.  Whoever does not give you a good price does not get the sale.
And when they say "What would it take to get you to sign right now" that's
the time to run.  They want you to sign right now so you won't go some-
where else.  That means that you're likely to find a better deal some-
where else.  And if his deal is that good, you'll be back, so what's
he worried about.  Just my  $0.02...

They way I handled this purchase (and I had a ball, by the way) was
to get a solid offer from a Detroit area dealership that they would
sell to me at invoice, and I confirmed with them what that would be.  While
"thinking it over" I went to Naylor and told them that if they could
be competitive and match the price on a comparable car, we'd prefer to
do business locally.  In that case, it was a coup to have the exact
invoice prices on a list, because he couldn't then tell me that I
was getting a song-and-dance from the Detroit dealer.  Naylor couldn't
do it, so out I went, all very cordially. 
Usually my husband would do all the wrangling since I'm so conflict-
averse.  But his work schedule was inflexible and the rebates were going
to go away. It was a real education.

Sounds great, Roz.  IMHO, you did everything right.

But I still don't see the signifcance of the price list...Naylor couldn't
beat the price you got, list or no list, right?

BTW, what was the Detroit area dealership, just out of curiosity?

He stared at my price list for the longest time, IMO waiting for me to
squirm.  He squirmed first, but couldn't take issue with the prices since
they were correct. He managed to slam the other dealer pretty well (It
was Crestwood in Garden City), telling me that other people hadn't 
*really* gotten invoice price, etc., but what the heck, I did.
It seems to me that Crestwood makes its profit by taking cars other
dealers don't want, getting overstocked and then dealing in volume. I
might be wrong, but I'd check back there again next time just in case
the prices were lower again.  We had a nice salesman, but he lied here
and there, just about as I expected.  No wonder people like Saturn
where you don't have to do all the dancing around.

re Saturn:
No haggling, no lying (supposedly) but no good deals, and no reward for
good shopping.

Whenever I am shopping for anything I try to remember that

I have what the salesman wants (money), not vice versa.
If I think of it as "he has what I want" (the merchandise) then I 
feel at a disadvantage.

Besides, if I don't get what he has, no big deal.  If he doesn't get
what I have, he doesn't eat!

i have a 1964 mrcc;lredj gofgsklh sfgkdhjbrf

My dad use to have on of those!

My wife just bought a new Contour SE through Palmer Ford Mercury in Chelsea.
The Salesman was very good and we would recommend them.  The car is fully
loaded, with a sunroof, v6, leather interior, 5 speed, and all the options.
This car is really fun to drive.  It has blazing acceleration and very good
handling, plus I think it will be getting very good mileage (still too early
to tell).  I believe it has more legroom for the driver than does the Taurus.

Maybe it is early, but we haven't found any faults with it yet.  (price,
maybe)

Well..I'm not so rich to buy a brand new car..so i'm looking for a used
car..can anyone guide..waht all the things that we have to check when we go
for a used car.
Thanks

Pay a mechanic that you trust to look it over before you buy it.

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