Re: Why does it take SO LONG to buy a vehicle?

queendiva · ‎03-12-2010

So sorry for your DH's trouble.

I bought a used car on 4/30 of this year. following the sudden death of my 10 y.o. car. DS found it online for me the night before. Called the dealership first thing in the morning to be sure it was still available before driving an hour to get there. Arrived as scheduled around noon. Was allowed an extensive test drive by myself, during which time I drove it to a friend's house to have him check it out.

Returned to the dealership to make the purchase. Asked to finance the least amount they would allow, then paid the difference by CC and personal check- certified not required.

Drove the car home around 3 or 4 p.m. Did the entire deal solo.

Complimented my salesman and the manager on my experience.

Your DH is more patient than I would have been. Unless the deal was mad good (which it may have been, end of month) I would have gone elsewhere.

Pink123 · ‎07-10-2019

@drizzellla My late husband was dealer principal for many franchises. I am also an educated auto finance manager.

For all of you reading this after you have decided on car, price, monthly payment I suggest you give them insurance and all things necessary and go home.

Have someone pick you up or get an Uber home. and go back the next day.

There is absolutely no need to hang around but again I don't know everything about this deal cash wise. Best of luck.

PS. Now wait....you need to see the Finance Manager (me) after the salesman who decides if you get the auto or not - then get out of there. The salesman will not determine your worthy. Yet they act like they can, lol.

TheWanderingOne · ‎06-22-2024

I have never, ever had any kind of trouble or prolonged process to purchase a car.

Perhaps it makes a difference that I don't buy off the lot - I order it to be built the way I want it. That takes about 90 minutes or so with the sales rep at the outset and I don't pay anything to place the order. When it arrives, I've already had my trade-in appraised and settled on what they'll give me for it, seperate from the purchase price of the car. I pay as much as they'll let me on my AMEX (points, baby!) and write a personal check for the balance. The first time that the finance manager told me that they wanted a certified or cashiers check, I told him he could either take my personal check or keep the car. Never been a problem since then. The whole process takes about 2 hours, including spending time with the sales rep to get all the settings the way I want them, etc.

I'm the customer. If they want my business, they'll do it my way.

~Not new, never been banned. Every time I take a break I have to re-register for some reason~

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

It doesn't.

Last vehicle I was in and out of the dealership in under 2 hrs. That included the test drive. I sent an EFT transfer to the dealer. I haven't used a certified check in 15 yrs. Dealer provided me with their EFT info to transfer to their account. They had their funds in minutes.

I called my insurance company and they faxed over the policy binder to the dealer.

I quit visiting the We Jack You Up Dealer years ago.

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

The last two times I got a vehicle locally (Honda & Hyundai) , I went through the process incredibly fast!!

However, a number of years ago my brother and I were visiting mom in south Florida and we convinced her to buy a quality used car. The one that she had was always breaking down and at the time her aide would drive her around since she no longer could do so.

So we went to a local Toyota dealership and she found something within minutes. It was still morning and I thought, great! This should be over with quickly....not a chance!

She had to fill out tons of paperwork, talk to her insurance agent and get a certified check from the bank. What an ordeal!

By the time everything was done it was around 5pm. It was also very stressful for her because of all of the hoops that she had to jump through!

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

What a hassel---can I just say ---I am so glad I gave up my car!!! I don't miss it at all. My stupid ex did the same thing a few years ago--and he was buying a used truck at some small car lot--- Each day he spent the entire day hasseling over gawd knows what---- when I gave up my car--it was like a huge load taken off my shoulders----but thats just me.

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@queendiva wrote:
So sorry for your DH's trouble.

I bought a used car on 4/30 of this year. following the sudden death of my 10 y.o. car. DS found it online for me the night before. Called the dealership first thing in the morning to be sure it was still available before driving an hour to get there. Arrived as scheduled around noon. Was allowed an extensive test drive by myself, during which time I drove it to a friend's house to have him check it out.
Returned to the dealership to make the purchase. Asked to finance the least amount they would allow, then paid the difference by CC and personal check- certified not required.
Drove the car home around 3 or 4 p.m. Did the entire deal solo.
Complimented my salesman and the manager on my experience.

Your DH is more patient than I would have been. Unless the deal was mad good (which it may have been, end of month) I would have gone elsewhere.

Can't say the deal was Mad good. There aren't many new cars on dealer's lots. If you see a car you like, you better buy it because it won't be there tomorrow.

I bought a new car in June. I had to wait over a month for the car. The dealer I went to had -0- zero 2024 cars on their lot. And weren't expecting any new car for another month. And they were getting - 3.

So I ended up paying list (and here we are inching toward 2025 models) and liking it. My husband ended up paying pretty much the same.

Boehm Collector · ‎03-09-2010

@Eileen in Virginia wrote:
WOW - thanks for the heads up! DH is thinking of replacing his 2008 Camry with a new RAV4. We haven't bought a new car since 2010 (2 actually). We paid for all 3 cars with personal checks. While the dealership probably called the bank to make sure we could cover them, I don't recall needing to give them certified checks. Also, it only took an hour or so for each transaction. Of course, that was a few years ago.

@Eileen in Virginia WOW, I have purchased several cars in my lifetime (starting back in 1983) ...... and I always had to get a certified/bank cashiers check. The only personal check that was ever accepted was for the initial deposit. But when I picked up the car I had to have a certified/bank cashiers check. BTW, I have always paid cash for all my vehicles. Never got any financing.

Pink123 · ‎07-10-2019

Yes @drizzellla auto inventory, interest rates, everything is a real mess stiill from 2020. A real pile on.

It's still hard to get parts on a new car if you have a little fender bender as well.

Whats going on at this point I'm not sure. I have hope it will straighten out unless its a new reality.

Boehm Collector · ‎03-09-2010

@drizzellla.. the last time I purchased a new car was in 2022. Inventory was still a mess. I went to the dealership knowing exactly what I wanted. They were expecting a vehicle with everything I wanted within a couple of weeks. While I was there they appraised my trade-in... Got a GREAT deal. I had to sign one document that spelled everything out. I gave a personal check for the deposit. It all took less than 2 hours. They called me when the car arrived. We scheduled an appointment for me to go to pick up the car. I immediately called my insurance company in order to arrange for coverage and went to the bank to obtain a bank cashiers check. When I went to pick up the car I checked it out thoroughly, the sales person showed me the car and how things worked, and I turned in my trade-in. There were several documents I had to sign... perhaps 10-12. But the entire process again took less than 2 hours. BTW, I paid cash for the car.... no financing. Do not understand how it can take two entire days to purchase a car.