sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

What does anyone think about buying over the internet such as Carvan?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

According to people online, that's going to be more or less mainstream. Dealers will no longer be showing hundreds of cars on their lots. Shop online through a dealer or an independent seller.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

We bought a Honda CRV last year through the Sam's buying service. Through a local dealer, and we got a far better price than we saw promoted through various "discount" web sites. I understand that Costco has a buying club also. In the past it was limited to just one make. Not sure about these days.

Ratskinner Loc: Copalis Beach WA

Recent tv ads show Jeep Wagoneer at $.05 less than $90,000.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Slightly off your statement but…I have noticed that none of the cars I’ve bought after around 2000 have needed mufflers or tailpipes and I had 165k on our 2002 Subaru, 90k on our 2011 Subaru, 85k on our present 2013 Subaru, and our latest, a 2018 Subaru has 55k.
Very few other problems.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Consumer Reports, too.

Chiroman8

Dear Jerry,

Talk about auto prices today, it can cost more money for a key remote today than I paid for my first used car ! How do you like those apples !

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Cars are like anything else. Buy good quality, maintain the hell out of it, and keep it forever (and the more features/options you purchase, the more to ultimately fail). My M-B (which I bought when I had a car allowance) is 16 years old and my wife’s Lexus is 14. Neither have had anything but maintenance by the book (or better in some cases), tires, a battery or two, brake pads and a serpentine belt (preventative maintenance). I’m going to change all the hoses this summer on principal. Fluid maintenance is key - regular oil, transmission and don’t forget coolant and brake fluid. Neither were cheap, but lacking something catastrophic, I expect another 8-10 years. In the end, it’s the rubber components that finally often kill the vehicle - engine/transmission seals, door/sunroof/trunk seals, CV boots, suspension bushings, hoses, etc.

i remember when you changed oil every 1,000-1,500 miles, points and plugs every 10K, belts and hoses at 50K and engines or transmissions were often worn out at 100K. Cars ARE a lot more expensive, but they are also a lot better. The next time you have some nostalgia for that ‘57 Chevy, just drive one, and you’ll see how far cars have come in reliability, fuel economy, safety, handling, braking and performance. Same is true of tires. Remember when a set lasted 10K?

Canisdirus

I used to buy the big diesel 350's for my business...and usually got bottom prices using a few tactics.

Salespeople are under the gun constantly...use that advantage. Pretty much all lots have quotas...every salesperson is expected to bring a customer from the lot...inside (important). You meet up with a sales person...leave the lot...that's a strike on the sales. Go inside...leave...strike.

That's what I did every time...wear them down...not the other way round. I go to the lot...take up 20 minutes...do not go inside...leave. I have every intention of buying the truck I am being shown ( I already know what I want).

I come back...same person flies to me like a boomerang...time invested and a strike against already.

Now I go inside...for an hour or so. I announce I will think about it...panic sets in. People will leave come back new ppl pop in...you know the routine.

Nope...I leave.

Third time...I am there to truly negotiate...and I do...hard. Salesperson is now willing to get a sale for almost no profit...just to get rid of me.

Lastly...after they run it all up...I announce I have my own financing...pure panic again. They end up shaving a point or two off...to my satisfaction. Back then, the nice double cabs were around 30-37k depending.

I routinely drove off at 25-32K out the door with extras...with little or no interest.

I stopped of course after I closed down my business...but I did find out the last guy got fired after I bought the truck.

Oh well...there are still plenty of folks that still walk in and pay sticker price...and then some...to balance it all out.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

Buying a new car back then was a major financial decision for the simple reason that they didn’t last very long. Detroit produced cars with an average life span of 75,000 miles. Aside from reading about it then I know from personal experience. My bought new 1970 Ford Torino which I babied and changed the oil every three thousand miles threw two rods going sixty mph on the highway at 75,000 miles.
Today my 20 year old Lexus with 197,000 miles still looks and rides like it was brand new.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I didn't keep my cars very long back then because buying a new one wasn't a big deal. I had a 1965 For Galaxy with the 427 engine. That was amazing. I sold that in '67 because it was too hard for my wife to drive. Next came a '67 Galaxy. I later got a 1969 Torino with the 428 - more civilized - power steering, etc - but not as fast.

Since 1962, I've had forty-two cars. Crazy!

NickGee Loc: Pacific Northwest

This has less to do with the inflation of prices than it does with the depression of wages/income. You and I have the same purchasing power that we had 40 years ago, while prices have continued to rise over the entire period. This is why it now takes 5 years to buy a car, and why our children (millennials in my case) will never be able to afford a home.

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/08/07/for-most-us-workers-real-wages-have-barely-budged-for-decades/

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

I bought my last car on line. I’m sorry but I can’t remember which site. I knew what I wanted so I searched with specific information. The car was 10 years old. The carfax was on line so I could rule out crashes and see service info. The dealership had gone through the car so tire tread and such were listed. There were 25 or 30 photos. The wife insisted that they send one of the non smoker girls to make sure it had no cigarette smells. That would be a deal breaker. The dealer was a dealership for a different brand so I checked them out as best I could. I did not get a Pre purchase inspection which was advised by everybody because I was confident it was the car for me. I wire transferred them the money and a couple days later they met me at the airport. Signed the title stuff and drove 2000 miles home in the car of my dreams. Not the shortest route but a mini vacation and road trip up the west coast highway. It was a positive experience for me. The wife had a good time on the trip but has never sat in the drivers seat no matter how hard I try.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

After 3 Lexus (or is it Lexi?), I am convinced Toyota is making the best automobiles in the world, and their dealer service is superb. When it’s time for a new car, it will be a Lexus. Drive up, their system reads the VIN, your name pops up on the overhead screen. A tech comes out, hands you keys to your free loaner car (always a new Lexus), places paper mats in your car and drives it off. Of course,, you have the option of taking the free shuttle home, or waiting in one of their 3 lounges (one with office “cubby’s” with phone and internet) and enjoying good coffee and fresh pastries. When the car is done (always washed), the bill is typically less than what you were expecting. Everyone is polite, knowledgable and goes the extra mile such as proactively replacing the dashboard that “may crack in the future” for free on a 10 year old out of warranty car. Remember when you waited in a closet and had to argue with the service manager over every warranty claim. Lexus has forced all the other dealers to up their game.

Amielee Loc: Eastern Washington State

In 2011 when I bought my Honda I paid 50% cash and financed the other 50%. 3 months later I paid it off. When I brought it in to the dealer for its first service the shop manager did remark that you paid it off early, but was not really insulting about it. Car now has 77,000 miles on it and I will be keeping it for a few more years. like maybe 10 or 15.