[net.auto] Buying new cars

pauldan@hou2e.UUCP (P.SAUNDERS) (06/24/85)

<<>>
Anyone have any words of wisdom (or just plain words) on this subject?
In particular:
     1)  When is a good time to buy? 
     2)  Is it better to wait and buy an '86, or to try to get a good
         deal on an '85 before the '86s arrive?
     3)  How much below list can one expect to get the price?
     4)  I have a 12-month old (1984) car.  If I'm buying a new car in
         the same price class as my "old" one, would it be silly to trade
         it in instead of selling it?  What are the advantages/disadvantages
         of each?
     5)  If the new car is FWD, how do I make it turn? :-)

Any help on #1-4 would be appreciated.

Thanks-

Dan Masi
{...}!allegra!ark2!dan   ||   {...}!allegra!hou2e!pauldan

pauldan@hou2e.UUCP (P.SAUNDERS) (06/24/85)

<<>>
BTW, I should have mentioned in my previous posting on this subject
that I am looking for information regarding *imports*!

Thanks again-

Dan Masi

joec@u1100a.UUCP (Joe Carfagno) (06/26/85)

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Someone recently asked whether to buy an 85, or wait for the 86
model year.  Here's my experience with purchasing a new Volvo (about
6 month old data) -
 
We looked at new 1985 Volvo DL's (their basic car) - with A/C and auto.
trans. only it costs about $15K.  There were basically no discounts, in
fact, we knew (because the dealer told us) that there was a $1200 markup
over dealer cost.  Instead, we bought a new 1984 GLE (their nicer model)
for $16.4K.  The GLE has A/C, power windows/doors, sun roof, very nice
interior, AM/FM/Cassette, fancy wheel rims, pinstripes, etc. - lots of
extras.  The list price was $18K -> we got a $1.6K price reduction.
1985 Volvo's (DL and GL) were not discounted at any of the dealerships we 
checked out.
 
While most of the savings is because it was an 84, we felt it was significant
because we expect our Volvo to last for 10 years.  It's new and we
got the normal new car warranty.  Moral - if you plan on keeping the
car for any period of time and are not concerned immediately with resale
value, then go for the best car at the lowest cost.  Best time for that
would be end of model year - although leftover Honda's and Toyota's will
be much harder to find;  Volvo's and BMW's for yuppies aren't.