[Kaz99]

OK...so we are getting an SUV. Our favorite is the Hyundai Santa Fe. 5 start crash rating, roomy, bells and whistles and great price.
Probem is...I am stalling cause I HATE haggling price. Any tips ?
What about trade-ins. I heard they use a rating called GALVS (?) and not Kelly Blue book ?
Can I just send out faxes to local dealers asking for best out the door price...and go with the lowest.

Thanks

-Ran

[JillnChris]

Do you have costco where you are? They have a no haggle car buying program. I hate buying a new car too!

[susy...patience]

...here's what helped me.

Consumer Reports has service that for reasonable price (under $20) will give you a report of exactly what dealer paid for vehicle with XXX options. That same service which you can buy by email will also give fair price for your trade in. Then I was buying a Ford & on Ford page there was a way to get internet quotes from several dealerships. I did all of this & had printouts before I went.

I brought them out when we started talking price and they argued why XXX was wrong and XXX was wrong but they were great negotiating tools. I kept saying but Consumer Reports says I start negotiating up from XXX price & other dealer in town says they will sell me the same car for so much lower.

I also use negotiation technique called broken record where you plan in advance to say the same phrase/sentence over & over no matter what people say.....it frustrates the other people but it does work.

The techniques helped me get what I wanted for only 200 more than I hoped to pay.

[cjrogers]

My dh and I have a friend at work who is fearless and will walk in and basically tell the salesperson that he is interested in the car and then talks them down significantly. He got a new infiniti last year for the "teens" and just got himself a Civic for apparently pennies on the dollar.

I don't have this skill, but I know he is a Hard-Behind when it comes to the negotiations and won't give up.

I guess if you put your mind to it, you can get a battle on...

I'm the type to take a price and stupidly accept it...

Good luck! I can't stand buying cars!!!!!! it's so much drama and hassle!

[saranbr]

We got our new Honda a couple years ago from the internet fleet manager-- had to drive a little further, but ZERO haggling over prices! It was perfectly reasonable and he was totally no pressure. That is the only way I will buy a new car in the future.

[maxine10018]

Just bought a Honda mini-van. I did everything via email. I alos found edmunds has a forum were others say what the best deal is they received. Consumer Reports is good too. Like another post said - we dealt with the internet/Fleet mgr. Very simple transaction.

karen

[buckeye1]

We got ripped off on our trade in last summer. As others have said, make sure you research the prices and stick to your guns. Be ready to walk away if you don't like their deal. Oh, and getting new car prices from dealers via the internet/email is a great recommendation as well.

As for the Santa Fe, I can tell you that we had an 03 and I LOVED it. It was my favorite vehicle.