As a former car salesman, I can tell you that this stuff is too mechanical and unnecessarily complicated.

Step 1: make sure your credit is straight, if you got issues or you're in over your head when it comes to debt--forget about getting a new car PERIOD!

Step 2: go on dealership websites to see if they even got the car you want, no dealership is going to "custom" order i.e. dealer-trade a car for you especially if you're trying to haggle them down.

Step 3: realize, if the car is in high demand e.g. when Mini's first came out, you can kiss a discount good bye and expect to pay MSRP at least.

Step 4: the dealership does not have to bend to you, if they don't want to whore out a car, then you should look elsewhere.

Step 5: DO NOT think that your trade-in is worth what you arbitrarily think it is. In other words, don't think just because you spent $20K in aftermarket parts that you can recover 70% of that, NOT EVEN CLOSE. Dealerships don't like modded or riced-out cars.

Step 6: PM me if you need help.

Thanks, AK and edeeZee! The whole article was long but it was very helpful since I'm the first time car buyer!

Thanks!!!

One note on the "TMV" true market value pricing quoted by Edmunds.com is that I hear it is an average selling price. As with average figures, some people paid less. Therefore, when you use that feature on Edmunds.com, it shouldn't be viewed as the lowest or best price possible.

so i'm gonna read this in like an hour and take some notes
bc i'm buying my first car, a new 370z
once i build a little credit and the army gives me some money :icon14:

thanks in advance AK

If u wanted to have invoice price r near invoice. Ask them for fair rate r use your own finance...

If you want below invoice. They will jerk u around with high rate and they won't let u use ur own finance. (if u have cash, PM me and I can help u get a good deal)

Ok I'm looking for a Montery Blue z, but most of them are out of city (mostly in San antino and houston 3 and 4 hr drive) Should I:
A) do negotiations over the phone before visiting?
B) ask the local dealer if they can get one of them from another dealer, but would they charge more since they are getting it from a different dealer?

My just waiting till my mom gives me the green light (hopefully in Jan.) so I'm window shopping.

ROGUES GALLERY OF THE UNDERWORLD: 1. Lawyers; 2. Politicians; 3. Bankers; 4. Agents for Insurance companies; 5. Car salespeople; 6. Agents for the airlines (whether ex-convicts or not, on any of 'em!) I refer to all of them as necessary evils!

A) Yes, Do some shopping over the phone. Get an "Out the Door" number. Which should include dealer fees, and title fees. Make sure you stress all fees. Then you can do an apple to apple comparison.

B)Depending on where the car is located, you could inquire more cost down this road, due to shipping charges. But I would certainly have them look, because they may find one close by.

Well I called a dealer in houston
 

I was on autotrader and found a MB for $31,080, a saleperson e-mail be back with this:
"Hi jezer, 370z is touring w/ sprt pk. Very nice coupe ,clean car fax , call me JD JAVIER MOSSY NISSAN . this car is certified pre- owned,, 7 years or 100,000 miles warranty, please call , jd 713-256-1575"

I called him and chatted for about 15mins and asked about it. Since it was pre-owned I asked about the milage which was 8446 with the 7yr 100,000 warranty. It is a touring/sport pkg, but when I asked about nav he said that it's not on it :shakes head: I guess I should have done more research. So touring has the optional nav? He called it the Tech pkg? and that the GT models come standard with it. Never heard of a GT model though. The price when I asked was $33,997 w/o the fees and title, which I believe was false advertisement since if you check it here New-Inventory Mossy Nissan Houston TX the MB is priced at $31,080, which I feel is skectchy, plus that fact that he said that there are not alot of 370z around south tx, even though they have about 17, but he might have been talking about the particular MB color. I did tell him that pkgs are options and that I'm just looking for the particular color. So time to look for more.

1. Navi is an option on the Touring Model.
2. GT Touring was 2008 model. Not 2009
3. If the deal doesn't feel right then pass on it.

thanks fusz, got another Q. For a base z with a/t and 16xx how much would you think it should be? The dealer is asking for 30k?

What are you looking for exactly vash?
~New or used?
~MB only?
~Touring with nav only?

-MB only (buutt if they are REALLY scarce, then PG would be the next choice)
-used preferably
-the tour/sport pkg would be a plus, but not necessary (unless its a M/T I would like sport)
-A/T is fine since I drove a M/T once...for like an hr. :D

I'll be calling that dealer in S.A. about their used MB, just want to know what would be used price for it. I checked KBB and they don't even have the 370z up....unless I suck at browsing their site.

Quick search I am only finding 2 MB, both are touring but one has sport package but no nav (over 12,000 miles) and the other has no sport package and does not mention nav.

Hmm are you using autotrader? Cars for Sale: 2009 Nissan 370Z in San Antonio, TX 78233: Coupe Details - 265068760 - AutoTrader.com

This is the one I'm talking about, if it helps.