Buying new - am I a fool to pay sticker price? How do I negotiate?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Buying new - am I a fool to pay sticker price? How do I negotiate?

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887 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2368359 4-Dec-2019 20:15

mattwnz:

allio:

For context, we're looking at a base model 2020 RAV4, which has been out since April 2019 - I know RAV4s consistently sell well but it's more than half way through its life cycle now.

If you are looking at the RAV4, why not look at the Mazda CX5?

Too expensive - they start at $41k. Even if they knocked off 10% that's still more than the RAV4, and even the RAV4 is more than we want to spend (though I only realised this after posting this thread). Love the look of them though.

billgates:

@allio - Kia Seltos is what we have selected as well (EX model). The local dealership and all other dealership straight up said 0% negotiation on the LX model ($26k + ORC) and the LX+ ($30k + ORC). If you were offered the LX for $31k + ORC, I can confirm that atleast 2 dealerships offer it for $30k + ORC.

Thanks, that's helpful. I think it might actually have been $30k + ORC (that's what my wife thought he said). I wasn't sure if it was a 'hush hush' offer from that particular salesperson or available more widely. Given the big price difference to Toyota/Honda/Mazda we might have another look at the Seltos - it was very tidy.

mattwnz

20177 posts

Uber Geek

#2368360 4-Dec-2019 20:15

jonathan18:

With some car brands having such great servicing and warranties, one doesn’t need to stick to only demos, but can still be confident purchasing privately.

I’m thinking Mazda in particular - someone above mentioned they now come with five year warranty and servicing, and this is transferable with a private sale. I bought my car privately when it was 12 months old, and enjoyed two years of free servicing (offered three years total at that point). It was still in perfect condition at the time, and provided a significant saving over buying either new or a dealer model.

My brother did this when buying a honda privately . Only 15 months old, and still had free servicing, and got decent price when compared to comparable cars. Toyota seems to have copied hondas pricing model but not allowing negotiation with the dealer from what I have seen, so the best way to get a good price on a toyota maybe to buy one privately which is only a year old, and still has it's warranty and free servicing.

mattwnz

20177 posts

Uber Geek

#2368364 4-Dec-2019 20:24

allio:

Too expensive - they start at $41k. Even if they knocked off 10% that's still more than the RAV4, and even the RAV4 is more than we want to spend (though I only realised this after posting this thread). Love the look of them though.

You may find a second hand private seller of one, with the balance of the free servicing and warranty still intact, as the current cx5 model is now a few years old, which does benefit you as a potential buyer. You may also find a private seller of a RAV. Even the previous model cx5 was a very nice vehicle and I don't think they did a major upgrade with the newest model, it seems to have been more of a facelift upgrade. The reason for suggesting the CX5 over the rav 4, (I driven both of them) is that I found the cx5 is nicer to drive, and I found the rav 4 isn't great for passengers in the back due to it having a bad swing to it, so often people in the back got car sick when going over the Rimutuka hill road. Haven't tried a CX5 over the hill before, but would hope it would be better than the RAV.

Wyvern

91 posts

Master Geek

#2368378 4-Dec-2019 20:30

in process trying to buy a Kia Sorento or Mazda C-X9 now. local Kia dealer saying staying firm on the $59,990 price saying that MRP is $73,990. AS per previous poster in this thread I think that is just marketing spin. Surely they can offer 5 or 10% off. Mazda dealer is offering 10% off but prefer the Kia tbh.

Wyvern

91 posts

Master Geek

#2368379 4-Dec-2019 20:30

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

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#2368382 4-Dec-2019 20:43

I bought a 2018 Honda CRV Sport 7 last month, private sale. 8 months old , $33,000 ($45k is new price)

14,000 km / new condition / 3 year service plan included / just over 4 year warranty left.

Go test drive the hyundai SUV, if you buy a different SUV they give you $250 cash towards the other car :D

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

jarledb

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#2368454 4-Dec-2019 21:34

allio:

For context, we're looking at a base model 2020 RAV4, which has been out since April 2019 - I know RAV4s consistently sell well but it's more than half way through its life cycle now.

Might not fit your budget, but the RAV4 I would go for is the new Toyota RAV4 Prime plugin-hybrid. Coming in mid 2020 (its a 2021 model).

Driven has a write up about it.

It does 0-100 KMH in 5.8 seconds, and can run on the chargeable battery for up to 63 KM.

BTW: If you don't need brand spanking new, then the Signature Class from Toyota is good value. It's used cars that have had a full overhaul and usually come with really good warranties.

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scuwp

3888 posts

Uber Geek

#2368466 4-Dec-2019 22:05

Recently purchased a new Kia Sportage diesel. Absolutely love it. If you are looking at for the new RAV4's then the Sportage would be the equivalent, not the Seltos. We tossed up about waiting for the new RAV, it was still a few weeks away at that point, but so pleased we didn't wait. Now I have some of the new RAV's in our work fleet and can't say I am terribly impressed by comparison to the Kia.

Didn't manage to haggle on price much, the model we wanted were selling faster than they could get them on the lot so they weren't really interested, but did manage to get some accessories and the service plan, and a loan car until ours arrived. Value for money compared to the Toyota or the Hyundai was unquestionable.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Kia.

I would also take a bit of time and sell your cars privately. Even your sharpest price in likely to be waaaay better than any trade in or buy now from Turners. IME unless it's a late model car all any dealer will do it take it straight to the auction house, they don't want them on their yards.

Happy shopping!

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Stu1

1770 posts

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#2368546 5-Dec-2019 07:03

Sometimes yes if it’s a good deal , keep an eye out for prices of models you are interested in do your research. Dealers are also more likely to reduce price at end of month than at the start. Took me nearly 6
months to decide and get what I wanted but had a good idea of what was a good price. If they don’t reduce price see if they can remove extra costs such as onroad costs which can be up to 850 , car mats (140)and factory tow bars if needed around $1300. It all ads up that 30k car can cost another 2.5 with extras. I also found it was cheaper to buy out of our region, Wellington is crap for selection, Auckland, Waikato and Hawke’s bay, palmy had better deals as well as more cars to try. Car delivery prices were around 600 Auckland to Wellington , 400 from the tron and 250 from the bay which is not too bad if you know what you want and want it transported. Good luck happy car shopping

ilovemusic

1439 posts

Uber Geek

#2368817 5-Dec-2019 15:25

jarledb:

allio:

For context, we're looking at a base model 2020 RAV4, which has been out since April 2019 - I know RAV4s consistently sell well but it's more than half way through its life cycle now.

Might not fit your budget, but the RAV4 I would go for is the new Toyota RAV4 Prime plugin-hybrid. Coming in mid 2020 (its a 2021 model).

Driven has a write up about it.

It does 0-100 KMH in 5.8 seconds, and can run on the chargeable battery for up to 63 KM.

BTW: If you don't need brand spanking new, then the Signature Class from Toyota is good value. It's used cars that have had a full overhaul and usually come with really good warranties.

the rav4 prime sounds great, it will be the second fastest toyota you can buy lol

likely to exceed OP's budget though, will probably be a good $20-30k over a base rav4.

mattwnz

20177 posts

Uber Geek

#2368834 5-Dec-2019 16:01

ilovemusic:

jarledb:

allio:

For context, we're looking at a base model 2020 RAV4, which has been out since April 2019 - I know RAV4s consistently sell well but it's more than half way through its life cycle now.

Might not fit your budget, but the RAV4 I would go for is the new Toyota RAV4 Prime plugin-hybrid. Coming in mid 2020 (its a 2021 model).

Driven has a write up about it.

It does 0-100 KMH in 5.8 seconds, and can run on the chargeable battery for up to 63 KM.

BTW: If you don't need brand spanking new, then the Signature Class from Toyota is good value. It's used cars that have had a full overhaul and usually come with really good warranties.

the rav4 prime sounds great, it will be the second fastest toyota you can buy lol

likely to exceed OP's budget though, will probably be a good $20-30k over a base rav4.

Hopefully other manufacturers will bring out competing vehicles to help drive down prices with competition.

alasta

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#2368889 5-Dec-2019 16:32

mattwnz:

ilovemusic:

the rav4 prime sounds great, it will be the second fastest toyota you can buy lol

likely to exceed OP's budget though, will probably be a good $20-30k over a base rav4.

Hopefully other manufacturers will bring out competing vehicles to help drive down prices with competition.

They already have. It's called the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in.

mattwnz

20177 posts

Uber Geek

#2368894 5-Dec-2019 16:42

alasta:

mattwnz:

ilovemusic:

the rav4 prime sounds great, it will be the second fastest toyota you can buy lol

likely to exceed OP's budget though, will probably be a good $20-30k over a base rav4.

Hopefully other manufacturers will bring out competing vehicles to help drive down prices with competition.

They already have. It's called the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in.

I was meaning more mainstream ones like Mazda, Honda etc. There are quite a few euro EVs and hybrids, but they are often very pricey. Only having a few will still keep prices high, and make seem seem like an alternative to petrol, rather than the new normal. All manufacturers really need to offer them, which will help drive down prices. WE need prices around the 30-40k mark to make them comparable to petrol and to make them affordable, otherwise the saving don't add up. But then I do wonder if we have the power generation capacity to support an large EV car fleet.

allio

887 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2370705 8-Dec-2019 21:37

ilovemusic:

the rav4 prime sounds great, it will be the second fastest toyota you can buy lol

likely to exceed OP's budget though, will probably be a good $20-30k over a base rav4.

You're right about that! Maybe once the kids have moved out (will be a while, they haven't even finished being born yet).

We went and looked at a few more options, including the Sportage, but realised that we really wanted the RAV - the only issue we had with it was the price. Ultimately the savings on the alternative options (the equivalent Sportage worked out around $2.5k less after ORC) weren't big enough to justify not getting the car we wanted. So ended up buying a new GX today. Certainly wasn't the savviest new car purchase anyone's ever done, but we're happy.

Thanks to all for the advice. Didn't end up using any of the negotiating tips but it was a big help in working out our choice.

billgates

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#2370759 9-Dec-2019 06:52

Congrats @allio

Is there any wait for the GX 2.0 Petrol model at your dealership? The Hamilton dealership I visited had sold out of both GX 2.0 Petrol and Hybrid variant and new stock was not due until Feb 2020. I do like that Toyota includes both front and back seat mats and capped service pricing on all their new cars.

Do whatever you want to do man.

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