Car-shopping questions

[shortstax]

A while ago an MMer posted fantastic negotiating advice for buying a new car.

Did anyone save a copy of the info? Or if you bookmarked it, can you post the link?

Also, I may be faced with buying a car within the next few days. This is rather unexpected, so I haven't done much research. Anyone know of an online tool that asks you the "requirements" you're looking for and then yields results of different make/models to research? Googling is failing me right now.

Any advice is helpful! TIA

[shortstax]

No Advice?

Anyone familiar with the Subaru Impreza?

[Deleted]

I've heard you can't really negotiate with Subaru cars.

When we bought my Honda, I did all the negotiations online. I asked for quotes from several dealers (locally and some that are 2hrs away). Then used the quotes to get a better price; asking one dealer to beat another dealer's price.

[Mushe]

I just bought a new car and got a great deal by requesting quotes from dealers through Edmunds.com.

Also, look at True Car (.com, I think) to see what is considered a good price for your area or nationwide.

I do have that thread saved from TN, but it's on my home computer. I'll see if I can find it by Googling, though.

Honestly, I didn't want to do that kind of negotiating so I did the online thing instead, and according to True Car data I got a really good price.

[aurora]

I think there was an excellent thread on TN ages ago about negotiating a new car, but I don't have it saved or bookmarked.

I posted a link a few weeks ago here to an Edmunds article about going undercover to work at 2 car dealerships (one high pressure, one no-haggle) that had a lot of interesting reading:
www.edmunds.com/car-buying/confessions-of-a-car-salesman.html

There are also other articles from the link: www.edmunds.com/car-buying/

I love Subarus, but have never had an Impreza (just Legacy and Outback). What do you want to know? I think today's Outbacks are more comfort-oriented, not exactly luxury but definitely more so than the Imprezas, which are more basic. But, both are excellent snow cars, and Subaru is one of the few manufacturers of cars in that range that still makes manual transmissions if you're looking for that (we were).

[Mushe]

Here's the thread from TN: community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/52922492.aspx?MsdVisit=1

[shortstax]

Hey, I found the original MM link in case anyone is interested: community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/1/52922492/ShowThread.aspx

We're looking to spend 16-20k for something to possibly replace my 2004 Mazda3. I love my current car, but it went into the shop this morning for transmission problems, and if the cost to repair is too high, then we might opt to just purchase a new car.

I was thinking about another Mazda, but the AWD of the impreza sounds appealing (ohio winters and all.)


*Thanks for the advice of online quotes. That's a fantastic idea

*Aurora, that article you posted is FASCINATING. thanks

[Deleted]

I have a legacy. I bought it brand new. The price between new and slight used was negligable. I ended up using overstock to get the best price. I love my car and now say I will die driving a subaru. The added bonus is I got it last year for the snow and it didnt snow at all. Didnt even have to test out the AWD.

[mrs.spunky]

Nothing to add re: negotiating but we love our '05 Impreza.