The Great Car Purchase of 2008

Jason and I knew we wanted a wagon type vehicle. Something with a door in the back that opens upwards, and allows for the dogs to ride in the back cargo area. We also knew that we would likely get a Kia because:

1. The inlaws have a Kia

2. The warranty is the best around

That's not to say that Kia is the best, because my in-laws have had to use that warranty a good bit, but still, at least its free.

So, last Wednesday, when I got the news that the Jeep condition was likely fatal, I went to the local Kia dealership by myself and asked to see a few cars in our category (Rondo, Spectra5, and Sportage).  They were very nice to me and brought each car up to a covered area for me to look at since it was raining that day. I let the saleman, Billy, know that my husband would be the primary decision maker, but because of his schedule, I'd be the main car shopper. Dropping that Jason works for the Sherrif's office and is in the Army helped me too I think. :)

Anyway, at the time, I fell completely in love with the Rondo. So, I spent the next few days looking all all of its competitor cars and reading all kinds of car buying advice websites. You were all very helpful in directing me- thank you!

Friday night, Jason and I went to the dealership together and each test drove the Rondo and the Spectra5 (smaller, sportier version). Jason loved the Rondo. We left the Kia dealership and went to the Toyota dealership to check out a Matrix, a similar vehicle, about the same price as the Rondo. Jason test drove it alone, and liked it, but the Toyota dealership wasnt willing to give us the same kind of rebates/incentives that Kia was. (And that is understandable. Toyota is known for good solid cars, Kia is still newish and is still building their reputation.).

So, we decided Friday night that we wanted the Kia Rondo. We wrote out all the features that were important to us, so we would look decisive when they asked us what we wanted. The Rondo has an optional 3rd row, but in the end we decided against it because I dont think it would get used in the next 5-6 years because the kids will just be too young for us to be hauling their friends around. Kids that young are still required to be in booster seats etc, and I surely wasnt going to take their friends AND their booster seats around town. Our NEXT car purchase will likely be something with a 3rd row, but for now, it was just wasnt a cost efficient choice for us at this point in our lives.

(The back seat is a lot larger/deeper than the Jeep. Will be much easier to accomadate 2 car seats)

So, we wanted:

• New Kia Rondo
• LX (base model)
• with the convience package (cruise control and keyless entry)
• dark exterior (blue, dk. grey or red)
• black interior ( I figured that would be better to hide the spills that are likely to happen with two kids)

We went back to the dealership Saturday afternoon. We took the Rondo out again for a test drive, together this time, and without the saleman. We took it on the highway for a good drive so we could really see how it handles and how noisy it might be on the hwy. (very quiet)

(31.8 cubic feet of storage space! The largest in its class, and FAR larger than the Jeep. )

When we came back, we made it known we wanted to talk seriously about purchasing the car. We already knew the invoice price, the rebates being offered etc etc etc. So we had a magical number in our heads of what seemed fair. I knew the trade-in value of the Jeep (which was in working order at this point, but that dang Jeep is cursed and we knew it was only a matter of time before something else happened).

At first, they low-balled the trade in value. They had the KBB print out right in front of them, but offered us several hundred less. I didnt plan to make money on the Jeep trade in, I just needed it paid off, and I knew my payoff amount was higher than what they were offering. I simply told them, "This won't do, I'll need ***** for the Jeep or it can't be done."

They caved instantly because I am a MASTER NEGIATIOR. MWHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!! :)

Next, they gave us their "best price offer". It was the lowest they could sell the car for, and included all the rebates they could give. The price seemed fine. But then? They said, "well, of course there will be *** for sales tax and *** for our dealership 'closing fee'."

(shiny tires...oh my!)

I was very skeptical about that. I asked what all their closing fee included (tank of gas, detailing, scotch guarding seats, etc) and I just didnt feel like we should be paying for those things. They should be complimentary.

We asked them to leave us alone for a few minutes.

We called another Kia Dealership and gave them all the numbers and car details and asked if they could beat that price. You know what they said?

"JUMP ON IT!" They couldnt beat the deal.

I like rounded numbers, such as something ending is 500 and not 733. So, I told Jason to mosey over to the salemen, say his wife wasnt will to pay ****** and if they could go down that $233, we would have a deal.

Oh, they made us wait like 20 minutes! Finally, they came in (we had one saleman, but their was a team approach when it comes down to actually making the deal.)  and said, "Congratulations, we have a deal!"

Of course, I realized at that moment, that we probably could have negiated to have the whole closing fee ($400) waived, because it just seemed like they caved too quickly at the end. But, I was satified with getting over half of it waived.

Now, if you'll notice, we didnt get the color car we wanted. They didnt have the exact make with features we wanted in the color we wanted in stock. If we wanted them to get one from another dealership they had a very silly $800 fee for that "service". I told them I wasnt willing to pay $800 just to get the color I wanted, they understood, knew I knew that price was all fluff, and said they could certainly negotiate that down, but we wouldnt be able to get our color choice combination for about a week.

We really didnt have a week because we couldnt chance that the Jeep would fail us again, especially with Jason being out of town.

So we had decided early in the negotiations to give up our color preference in favor of other negotiating factors.

In the end, we got $4000 off sticker price. I felt really good about our negotiations, especially standing up for our trade-in price tag, and getting that closing fee lowered significantly. I think there was possibly more room to negotiate an even better deal, but A) we didnt have time B) I didnt realize that possibility until we had a "deal".

But we feel GREAT about the deal we got and our ability to negotiate. I actually ended up being the primary negotiator and I was really proud of myself for handling that role so well. Often times, women can either come off emotional or b*tchy when handling business affairs. I felt that I handled the negotiations with confidence and control.

We had hoped for lower payments than our Jeep, but in the end we ended up with payments that are about the same. Which is still FINE for a brand new car. Again, if we could have waited another month, we would have gotten a better financing rate (the sale of our old house still hadnt been reported to the Credit Reporting Agencies, so our real estate debt was high).

So now? We have a brand new car, paid no down payment, payments about the same monthly, and a killer warranty. Best of all, the car is aweome. I've never driven anything that handles so smoothly. I alway feared driving the Jeep in the rain because it has rear wheel drive and a tendancy to skid. This will not be an issue in the Rondo.

And the new car smell?

The BEST.

(IF you want to see better pictures than the ones I took, go here)

Comments

[Leah]

CONGRATULATIONS! I am so excited for you guys and proud of your awesome negotiation skills! I LOVE my wagon and hope you like yours as much as I do!

[Page]

So happy for you guys! I love that feeling of having negotiated a good deal. LOVE IT!

[Nicole]

How exciting! I looooove new cars! Great job on the negotiations - you're my hero!

[sandy]

Good job! I'm so happy for y'all. It's nice to be in something dependable! I wish that "new car" smell would last longer!

[Punchbugpug]

Buying a car stinks. It looks like you got tan interior, which I would LOVE to have. I have black and HATE IT! My BIL was a car salesman...#1 in NYS for many years....it's funny to know the "games" that are played. Good job standing up for yourselves.

[Magnolia Sun]

Great job and the car is so nice and I love the color. Now you don't have to worry when Jason is out of town.

[Judy]

Congratulations!!! Gotta love that new car smell!

[Dooneybug]

Great job negotiating!!! Beautiful new vehicle, congrats!

[Jenna :)]

ah i love the new car!! good job on those salesman!!!

[Tammy (Norman's Woman)]

I think you'll like that tan better than black. Black shows Pug hairs like Crazy! Woo-hoo! New Car!

[pam]

Sounds like y'all got a great deal! I love that color, it looks great. congrats!

[Leah H.]

CONGRATULATIONS! I love the color. It sounds like you did a great job. :o) I love the new car smell too. My new car is almost 2 years old and it has lost that smell :( so maybe I will have to go buy another new one!

[girlville]

1) i think i could LIVE in the back - there's SO much space.
2) sounds like you did everything right - glad i gave you such sound advice ;-)

[Wendy]

Great car and I am so glad that everything worked out for you guys! About time huh? I am excited to hear about how you like it. We have been looking in to the same car.

[Lisa]

That is adorable! I have not seen one of those around here..... So happy for you guys! How exciting it is to have a new car. I LOVE that new Car smell! so when you pick me up at the airport again I will have to look for you in this car rather than the Jeep! So cool!

[Priscilla]

NICE!

Way to go! I'm not confident as a negotiator, at all. You did great!

And the new car is Awesome!

[Mrs. D]

I love your new car. I've looked at the Toyota Matrix before but I didn't realize that Kia had a model that is really similar.

Good for you for negotiating!!

[Anth]

Congratulations on becoming a master negotiator. Dealing with salesmen is very annoying to me - Dh did all the talking when we bought our car, so I am impressed that you did it mostly yourself!

I'm so glad you love your new car!