Last minute tips
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From: Maine, Virginia
Last minute tips
Well, my daughter Sarah has finally returned to Texas (Ft Bliss) from her Mid East deployment and now she's here home here in Va for a couple weeks.
Monday morning we're headed out to shop for a new truck.
I haven't really shopped since 2011. I'm familiar with the truck changes naturally. We are staying away from trucks with the sun roof. Shew wants an XLT with the 302A package. 3.5L, 4x4 and Screw.
When she got back to Ft Bliss a couple weeks ago, she took the Focus to the dealer for an oil change and some other maintenance. She was kicking some tires and a sales person came out and offered her $11,500 off of an XLT that was listing at $53K. That seems like a pretty strong deal but what concerned me was when they got her in to see the F&I guy, what would change, what they try to sell her that she didn't need, how would the terms shake out, etc.
I told to take a breath and walk away. "if they'll offer that price to you now, they'll do it again" is what I told her.
Since her driver's license still has my home address on it, I can get her an X-plan PIN if things don't go well.
Any thoughts, tips, tricks that I should look out. I'm a bit out of practice.
Monday morning we're headed out to shop for a new truck.
I haven't really shopped since 2011. I'm familiar with the truck changes naturally. We are staying away from trucks with the sun roof. Shew wants an XLT with the 302A package. 3.5L, 4x4 and Screw.
When she got back to Ft Bliss a couple weeks ago, she took the Focus to the dealer for an oil change and some other maintenance. She was kicking some tires and a sales person came out and offered her $11,500 off of an XLT that was listing at $53K. That seems like a pretty strong deal but what concerned me was when they got her in to see the F&I guy, what would change, what they try to sell her that she didn't need, how would the terms shake out, etc.
I told to take a breath and walk away. "if they'll offer that price to you now, they'll do it again" is what I told her.
Since her driver's license still has my home address on it, I can get her an X-plan PIN if things don't go well.
Any thoughts, tips, tricks that I should look out. I'm a bit out of practice.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
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From: GA
Well, my daughter Sarah has finally returned to Texas (Ft Bliss) from her Mid East deployment and now she's here home here in Va for a couple weeks.
Monday morning we're headed out to shop for a new truck.
I haven't really shopped since 2011. I'm familiar with the truck changes naturally. We are staying away from trucks with the sun roof. Shew wants an XLT with the 302A package. 3.5L, 4x4 and Screw.
When she got back to Ft Bliss a couple weeks ago, she took the Focus to the dealer for an oil change and some other maintenance. She was kicking some tires and a sales person came out and offered her $11,500 off of an XLT that was listing at $53K. That seems like a pretty strong deal but what concerned me was when they got her in to see the F&I guy, what would change, what they try to sell her that she didn't need, how would the terms shake out, etc.
I told to take a breath and walk away. "if they'll offer that price to you now, they'll do it again" is what I told her.
Since her driver's license still has my home address on it, I can get her an X-plan PIN if things don't go well.
Any thoughts, tips, tricks that I should look out. I'm a bit out of practice.
Monday morning we're headed out to shop for a new truck.
I haven't really shopped since 2011. I'm familiar with the truck changes naturally. We are staying away from trucks with the sun roof. Shew wants an XLT with the 302A package. 3.5L, 4x4 and Screw.
When she got back to Ft Bliss a couple weeks ago, she took the Focus to the dealer for an oil change and some other maintenance. She was kicking some tires and a sales person came out and offered her $11,500 off of an XLT that was listing at $53K. That seems like a pretty strong deal but what concerned me was when they got her in to see the F&I guy, what would change, what they try to sell her that she didn't need, how would the terms shake out, etc.
I told to take a breath and walk away. "if they'll offer that price to you now, they'll do it again" is what I told her.
Since her driver's license still has my home address on it, I can get her an X-plan PIN if things don't go well.
Any thoughts, tips, tricks that I should look out. I'm a bit out of practice.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,209
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From: San Antonio, TX
Anyway, give her a pat on the back and a handshake for me.
$11,500 beats your X plan by a fair amount and is a very good deal. Stick to your guns in F&I. Listen to their sales pitch, then politely decline. Things to expect are the "protection" packages, such as tire and wheel, paint and fabric. Do not buy them. Nitrogen for the tires, no way. If they already added this stuff to the trucks on the lot, leave and go to another dealer. The markup for these packages is crazy high, about $3k if you buy them all. I won't even buy window tint from the dealer. If you are truly being offer the truck for $11,500 off, you don't need GAP, as the resale on the truck is high enough to cover that.
Make sure she knows what she can get pre approved for as far as interest rates go. If Ford offers $1,000 for finacing with Ford credit, but the interest rate is high. Let the dealer finance you with Ford, the refinance with a credit union for a lower rate after the first payment. If she is putting money down, do it when the truck is refinanced, not at the dealer.
Insist on knowing what the cash sale price is, not what the payment is. There are too many variables they can play with to get you the payment you want, only to find out at signing time that it's for 7 years, with an iffy finance company for 12%.
Download a payment calculator onto your phone, and use that when they try to show you what your monthly payment will be. They hate that, but they can't fault you for it. In the old days, before smart phones, I used to take a little amortization handbook in with me so I could look up what a payment was for a given price over a period of time. They really hated that.
Be firm, but fair. Listen to their pitch, it's their job. Politely decline the up-sells. If the price is fair, finalize the deal, then go have a beer!
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 534
Likes: 168
From: Park County, CO
I usually buy in March (Texas truck month) as the rebates are the best here. MSRP - 15% (the real MSRP) - rebates. X-plan also limits the document fees and other BS. I usually look at the MSRP, do my mental math, and make my offer. I always let them know that I'll buy it right now at my number or will move along. Many will have their inventory on their websites so that makes it a bit easier.
El Paso is likely more limited than the DFW area where I'm at. I guess there is one thing that is always true, being in a hurry will cost you.
El Paso is likely more limited than the DFW area where I'm at. I guess there is one thing that is always true, being in a hurry will cost you.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Arizona/Texas
Have her get preapproved at the credit union. Now it's a cash transaction. Even after I said it was a cash transaction , the finance Bubba tried to get my information so he could get me financed through Ford. It took a threat to walk away from the deal, before he decided to do it my way.
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From: Maine, Virginia
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New User
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Can you clarify the point about making down payment when refininacing vs at dealership?
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From: San Antonio, TX
Many times, a shifty dealer finace guy can make that down payment disappear when the figures are crunched into a payment. It becomes cash in their pocket. If you make a down payment at the dealer, wait until the last minute, then have it factored in.
When refinancing with the credit union, their only interest is the loan itself. There’s no F&I guy putting a second high pressure squeeze on you. Either way, you pay into the equity of the vehicle. At the credit union you can feel far more assured that all of the money you pay down will be applied to the principal.
When refinancing with the credit union, their only interest is the loan itself. There’s no F&I guy putting a second high pressure squeeze on you. Either way, you pay into the equity of the vehicle. At the credit union you can feel far more assured that all of the money you pay down will be applied to the principal.
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 99
Likes: 5
From: Lewisville, Texas
If Sarah is going to title the truck in Texas, let her know that Texas will fine her if she doesn't do the title transfer (pay tax) with 30 days of buying. I had to nag the crap out of the dealership to get them to send me the title on my out of state purchase.
matt
matt
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From: Maine, Virginia
OK sorry, in the pic above is my daughter Sarah. She just purchased a 2018 F-150 XLT Screw 4x4 3.5L with the 3.55 axle and extended range tank. 302A package. MSRP of $53,700 and an OTD price of $46K after TTL. So, she got about $10K off the sticker, so, not a bad days work.
This truck happened to be the only Magnetic 302A sport package truck between Virginia and North Carolina. It was only on the lot for five days and they DID NOT want to deal on this truck.
Anyway, thanks to all for the helpful hints and encouragement.
This truck happened to be the only Magnetic 302A sport package truck between Virginia and North Carolina. It was only on the lot for five days and they DID NOT want to deal on this truck.
Anyway, thanks to all for the helpful hints and encouragement.
