I have begun the car buying process

"The Dummy Gummy" (dummygummy)
08/12/2015 at 10:46 • Filed to: car buying

I have begun the car buying process and boy I forgot how much I hate it. Dealers simply hate communicating through email. All I wanted to know was their price of the car, delivery date and what options were loaded on the car because I couldn’t match their MSRP price to the website. It is almost as if dealers hate selling cars. I’m not even trying to negotiate to hard, but I can’t even get simple information from the dealers.

Here is an Aston for reading my rant.

DISCUSSION (31)

Mattbob > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 10:53

“I HAVE begun the car buying process” ftfy

nermal > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 10:53

What are you trying to buy?

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 10:53

What kind of car are you looking at?

The Dummy Gummy > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/12/2015 at 11:01

‘16 Subaru Forester for the Mrs.

The Dummy Gummy > nermal
08/12/2015 at 11:01

‘16 Subaru Forester for the Mrs.

Tripper > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:02

It depends on the dealer. I find that communication gets much better once you have shown your face at the dealer. I bought an Audi S3 two weeks ago, the salesman was in constant communication (email and text) making sure I got everything that I wanted and stayed within budget.

I considered an STi when I was looking at the S3, but I could not get a call back from either Subaru dealer that I had spoken with. I found an S3 online, and just decided to show up at the dealer, 10 minutes after that I was test driving a car.

The Dummy Gummy > Mattbob
08/12/2015 at 11:05

This was a one off post to vent my frustrations. I really wasn’t paying attention to grammar/spelling, but for you I have corrected the error.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:06

Approved. The Forester is my favorite in the segment. I've heard the new Tusconn is pretty good, too.

The Dummy Gummy > Tripper
08/12/2015 at 11:08

I agree. I would show my face, but the problem is I’m in the middle of a month end process and I don’t get out before they are closed and have to work the weekends. I want to get the process rolling and potentially buying in the next week. You’d think, “looking to by in the next couple weeks” would get their attention.

The dealer that gets my business will be lucky too because I plan on replacing my car next year as well with a Crosstek.

B/Xmrrmvr > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:08

#notalldealers

Tapas > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:09

Oh...Aston for the rant...

I was gonna say, I’m pretty sure all of those are sold out.

But I’m sure you can get a deal on a used one lol

Dealers do hate selling cars. They can be cheerful little dwarves in person, that are actually bitter inside and want to stab you every time you turn around.

Money hypnotizes them though...in case you ever need to get out of a sticky spot.

The Dummy Gummy > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/12/2015 at 11:10

How is it in the snow? I haven’t found a car that compares to Subaru in the snow. I only ask because this is for my wife and she is what matters most. Also I live in the North East where snow is a huge factor.

OPPOsaurus WRX > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:11

where are you?

The Dummy Gummy > B/Xmrrmvr
08/12/2015 at 11:12

Ha, well I’ve messaged 5 so far, one has responded, but hasn’t answered any my questions. A second has responded with the wrong car info and then sent a follow up email saying “did you get my email”, which I already replied to the night before. Still haven’t heard from them since. The other three, zero info provided.

Mattbob > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:13

haha sorry to be that guy. For some reason the people leave out “have” or “to be” (as in “it needs fixed”) really bothers me.

nermal > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:15

Try going thru a 3rd party like cars.com or Autotrader. Usually you’ll get an instant response, and somebody more willing to talk numbers over email.

The Dummy Gummy > Tapas
08/12/2015 at 11:15

Haha, I wish I could afford that Aston.

It really is an issue. I would convince my wife to get an X, but we need the car within the next couple of months.

The Dummy Gummy > OPPOsaurus WRX
08/12/2015 at 11:16

New Jersey, but I’m about to try Ohio dealers. I hear they are selling them well below invoice and are quick to respond.

The Dummy Gummy > Mattbob
08/12/2015 at 11:17

It probably would have bothered me later on, but I just typed and hit published. Not even a glance over haha.

The Dummy Gummy > nermal
08/12/2015 at 11:17

Thanks for the tip! What is sad is I went directly through their websites.

Tripper > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:21

I have never had a “good” experience with a Subaru dealer. (Bought a 2005 wrx brand new, then a 2004 STi w 6k miles). The cars sell like hotcakes, so maybe that is part of it. I can also understand the perspective of the salesman i.e. they don’t want to waste too much time with someone who is not a “sure sell” as they could miss a walk in etc...

The more I think about it, I don’t think I have ever successfully purchased a car that I did not show up to look at. I did put a deposit on my E46 M3 based on pictures, but that was the only exception. Most of my phone calls/emails for cars have gone like this “Hi, my name is ___, I was looking at car X, is it still on the lot? Yes, ok I’m going to come and look at it at time Y. I have only had dialogue with private sellers before looking at a car.

Also, if you’re buying new the price really does not matter as you’re going to negotiate anyway. If you can’t make a deal on that car they will find you one that you want, or you can order one, but who wants to wait for that?

OPPOsaurus WRX > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:27

the place I got my WRX from was pretty good to deal with but thats near Boston

The Dummy Gummy > Tripper
08/12/2015 at 11:28

Yea, I agree price doesn’t matter too much, but I can’t even get what they are offering it for. I also can’t get when the car will be in as that is a factor too. Oh well, looks like I’ll have to find some time to venture in. I just didn’t want to venture to 5 different dealers to start negotiating. Maybe I will just visit the top two sellers in the state and go from there.

Do you still hve your STi?

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:29

Not really sure how good it is in the snow, as the only person I know that has a Forester doesn’t like to drive in inclement weather. I imagine it's fine though.

The Dummy Gummy > OPPOsaurus WRX
08/12/2015 at 11:33

Nice, if I decide to venture out of the state I will message you.

Tapas > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:38

That can be a challenge if you want something specific. But that can mean only one thing - Road trip!!!

Widen your search to the entire country to find what you want.

Fly there, drive back.

Tripper > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:44

When I was buying the Audi, the dealer could not (or would not) tell me when they were getting more S3’s or any other details. They could only look around at other dealer inventory and hope to trade something from their inventory for the car that I wanted. (I was through 4 cars over a 10 period all the while I had a 1k deposit on nothing, I was going crazy).

No, I bought the 04’ STi in the summer of 06’ I only had it for 7 months. I got 4 speeding tickets during that period and hit a deer. It’s so hard to drive an STi like a normal person especially because of the super close ratio gearbox. I decided to trade it shortly after the deer incident on an 02’ M3 and that I do still have.

The Dummy Gummy > Tapas
08/12/2015 at 11:49

Nah, I just want the limited with the Nav/Eyesight package. It seems to be the standard set up they are selling it with. I mean I would like a few more add on’s, but I’m not going to wait the 2-3months they are saying in build time.

But yea, I’m definitely not opposed to a road trip at all.

Tapas > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 11:54

So what car are you looking to buy?

The Dummy Gummy > Tapas
08/12/2015 at 12:07

Whoops, sorry included it the comments, but not the actual subject. ‘16 Subaru Forester Limited

Tapas > The Dummy Gummy
08/12/2015 at 12:10

Sweet!