The $4,000 question

[Ace]

Why do I think smallpotatoes is going to wind up with a busted-ass Saturn?

 

[User 1019]

Hang in there another month, or so, and gt one of the last 2015s that they're dying to get rid of. Worked for me on my truck. List was 52. Got 'em down to 39 after rebates and research.

 

[User 11148]

Why do I think smallpotatoes is going to wind up with a busted-ass Saturn?

And payments ... don't forget the payments.

 

[cjericho]

Hang in there another month, or so, and gt one of the last 2015s that they're dying to get rid of. Worked for me on my truck. List was 52. Got 'em down to 39 after rebates and research.

Depending on the car some 15s are all gone or very few left.

 

[TyWebb]

So many things affect your fico score -- and it is a bit mystical. For example, just you finding out that 826 score (someone checking your score) affected your score. So by the time you found out your score, it had likely changed.

This has always confused and confounded me. When I bought my new Honda in February, I noticed the drop after the dealership checked my score. Does anyone know why exactly this affects it? How can someone checking the score make you more of a lending risk?

 

[PaperDoll]

Is there going to be another cash for clunkers program?
After you go to a few dealers go to edmunds.com, dealers have a price guarantee. Also they have a forum where people say what they paid for their car and which features, options, etc they got.

I tried both the Edmunds and Consumer Reports price guarantees at a dealership yesterday. The salesman basically dismissed them out of hand -- they were 2015s, but Edmunds provides a VIN number to an actual, matching car which is supposed to be on-site when the quote is requested.

He said he'd give me a similar discount on a 2016, but I had to buy a car off the lot even though a model with the color/options I wanted was not available.

I took my money and ran. This morning, I e-mailed the account which had been spamming me incessantly since I requested the quotes to complain about how that salesman had treated me. I requested an updated quote on a 2016 model from the same dealership -- since it's the closest one which participates -- but I have no intention of ever going back there again.

 

[Chef2]

Ragu is right.
A person's credit score is very misleading.
If you have a credit card, and pay off the balance each month, continue to do so.....but don't close it.
If you're applying for a loan, lenders love to see a mortgage that's current, car payments that are current, and credit cards that are current, but not closed.

 

[dixiehack]

This has always confused and confounded me. When I bought my new Honda in February, I noticed the drop after the dealership checked my score. Does anyone know why exactly this affects it? How can someone checking the score make you more of a lending risk?

Because then they know you are looking to borrow money because you don't have it because you are obviously a poor America-hating taker Philistine.

That's an exaggeration, but not by much. And the more times your report gets pulled like that, the more it goes down, unless the same type of requests are bunched together (i.e. shopping for a rate on a new car loan over a couple of weeks time).

Part of the reason the formula is so complex is they don't want people or businesses to figure it out for themselves.

 

[JayFarrar]

Funny, or not funny update: A facebook friend had the same exact car and had a similar transmission issue which cost him $3,800 to repair.

Turns out basically every car made by GM in that time period is having the same issue and they've extended the power train warranty to 120,000 miles. They've also instructed GM dealers to fix the problem for free or, if you already paid for it, they're cutting reimbursement checks. He got a check.

The problem has to be related to the transmission clutch wave plate for the extended warranty/reimbursement to kick in.

These are all the cars covered:
Models: 2007-2009 Buick Enclave
2008-2009 Chevrolet Equinox, Malibu
2009 Chevrolet Traverse
2007-2009 GMC Acadia
2007-2009 Pontiac G6
2008-2009 Pontiac Torrent
2007-2009 Saturn AURA, OUTLOOK

So I've got a call in to the mechanic to see what the transmission issue actually was and go from there.

 

[User 1019]

Depending on the car some 15s are all gone or very few left.

I found my 14 Dodge Ram in February 15. They're out there. You just have to make dealers look for them, and maybe pay a couple hundred bucks for them to go get it.

 

[cjericho]

I found my 14 Dodge Ram in February 15. They're out there. You just have to make dealers look for them, and maybe pay a couple hundred bucks for them to go get it.

Not all cars. Some 15s are gone, at least in NJ and NY.

 

[User 1019]

I find that very hard to believe. If I can find one of the most popular trucks, in a very specific color with very specific options in Alabama in February, I'm confident the vast majority of vehicles aren't simply gone.

 

[cjericho]

I find that very hard to believe. If I can find one of the most popular trucks, in a very specific color with very specific options in Alabama in February, I'm confident the vast majority of vehicles aren't simply gone.

Went to several dealerships looking for '15 suburu foresters a couple weeks ago. Four dealerships had only 16s. Not saying Ram isn't a good truck, but it didn't sell as well as a lot of others this past year.

Top 13 Best-Selling Pickup Trucks In America - July 2015 YTD - GOOD CAR BAD CAR

Few years ago, went looking in late Oct for a honda civic. Forget how many dealerships, at least three, and they had none left. The best selling cars do sell out. Not saying at every single dealer, but I've been to dealers late in the year where they only have the next year's models.

 

[PaperDoll]

Few years ago, went looking in late Oct for a honda civic. Forget how many dealerships, at least three, and they had none left. The best selling cars do sell out. Not saying at every single dealer, but I've been to dealers late in the year where they only have the next year's models.

I had a similar experience car shopping this week, as I posted upthread. However, every other time when I've turned up in the spring (usually late April), the salesmen have done "dealer swaps" to get a model in the color and with the options I want. This time, I was told that would absolutely not happen -- even though I came in with two online quotes on specific cars, with VIN numbers, which had been available from that specific dealer.

That makes me think the '15 model I want is not only still out there, it was on that lot a week earlier. That makes me call BS.

The dealership wants to get their model-end cars off the lot, not search out someone else's to fill your order. That was a reason (along with the salesman's dismissive attitude) that I walked, and then e-mailed my displeasure to the Internet sales manager. Since I got yet more spam from that dealership this morning -- this time from the specific salesman -- it obviously hasn't filtered through. I plan to resend to any other e-mail addresses I can find... and have already reached out to a colleague-of-a-colleague who works for a quote-providing website about the issue.

 

[TigerVols]

I find that very hard to believe. If I can find one of the most popular trucks, in a very specific color with very specific options in Alabama in February, I'm confident the vast majority of vehicles aren't simply gone.

Houndstooth?

Gun rack & bull testicles?

 

[User 1019]

You know it.

 

[WCIBN]

Went to several dealerships looking for '15 suburu foresters a couple weeks ago. Four dealerships had only 16s. Not saying Ram isn't a good truck, but it didn't sell as well as a lot of others this past year.

Top 13 Best-Selling Pickup Trucks In America - July 2015 YTD - GOOD CAR BAD CAR

Few years ago, went looking in late Oct for a honda civic. Forget how many dealerships, at least three, and they had none left. The best selling cars do sell out. Not saying at every single dealer, but I've been to dealers late in the year where they only have the next year's models.

According to cars.com, there are 424 brand new 2015 Subaru Foresters still in dealers' hands. There are also 36 new 2014s left, two new 2013 models and over 11K new 2016 Foresters. Cars.com is a great tool to check dealer inventory for cars & SUVs/CUVs.

list of 2015 Subaru Foresters in dealer inventory:
http://www.cars.com/for-sale/search...d=21165&yrId=56007&searchSource=GN_REFINEMENT

 

[cjericho]

I had a similar experience car shopping this week, as I posted upthread. However, every other time when I've turned up in the spring (usually late April), the salesmen have done "dealer swaps" to get a model in the color and with the options I want. This time, I was told that would absolutely not happen -- even though I came in with two online quotes on specific cars, with VIN numbers, which had been available from that specific dealer.

That makes me think the '15 model I want is not only still out there, it was on that lot a week earlier. That makes me call BS.

The dealership wants to get their model-end cars off the lot, not search out someone else's to fill your order. That was a reason (along with the salesman's dismissive attitude) that I walked, and then e-mailed my displeasure to the Internet sales manager. Since I got yet more spam from that dealership this morning -- this time from the specific salesman -- it obviously hasn't filtered through. I plan to resend to any other e-mail addresses I can find... and have already reached out to a colleague-of-a-colleague who works for a quote-providing website about the issue.

Were the online quotes from edmunds.com? Pretty sure that's guaranteed, as you said they list a specific car with the vin number, and the price also includes every fee, except the state sales tax. If it was from Edmunds you should email them and let them know the dealer didn't honor it.

 

[cjericho]

According to cars.com, there are 424 brand new 2015 Subaru Foresters still in dealers' hands. There are also 36 new 2014s left, two new 2013 models and over 11K new 2016 Foresters. Cars.com is a great tool to check dealer inventory for cars & SUVs/CUVs.

list of 2015 Subaru Foresters in dealer inventory:
http://www.cars.com/for-sale/search...d=21165&yrId=56007&searchSource=GN_REFINEMENT

yes i did not say they were sold out everywhere. They are not at several dealers in NJ.