Recently I joined this board as well as another (350zmotoring.com) to keep up on stuff Zzzzzzzzzz.

I ve seen several threads on folks dissatisfaction with all-to-many-scum-bag dealers out there. Here is an option I would hardily recommend to any one buying a car:

Use a Car Broker.

After a frustrating experience with the local Toyota dealers last spring in buying a Highlander, I went to a car broker in northern California. I used the same broker for the Zzzzzzzzzzz I just ordered and will never purchase directly from a dealer again.

Advantages included:

-Spent a total of 20 minutes on the phone to get a deal done.
(Though I did visit dealers to determine precisely what I wanted)

-Bought the Highlander for $2500 below MSRP; ordered the Zzzzzz for MSRP (with the possibility of a better deal if pricing falls before I take delivery).

-Car was delivered directly to my front door on time in perfect condition.

-Straight forward pricing; no haggles, no car manager, no lies,
no back & forth, no games.

-Broker is paid by the dealer.

A good broker knows the dealers in their area and knows what the true going price is in the market. They work with the fleet managers...not the low life salesmen and their scum sucking managers. Because the fleet guys want the repeat biz of the brokers they deliver. Look at it this way. As consumers we place an order every couple years. A broker places 300-400 orders per year. This gives the broker leverage.

I found my broker thru the recommendation of a friend. If you don't have a contact try the phone book; ask about years in the biz & annual volumn and a reference.

If your in California & want to try my broker, PM me & I'll give you name & phone number.

 

You getting kick backs or something? Damn dude, you sound like a marketing brochure.

 

I know, I know. I tend to be the (overly) enthusiastic type when I find a good thing.........particularly in this car stuff.

Plus, I really detest car dealers....at least the ones in Sacramento area. They could not give a straight, honest answer if their lives depended on it.


To answer the above question: no, nothing in it for me. Just trying to be "helpful Hanna".

 

I guess I have never had a problem with a nissan dealer because, I have only worked with one, and well... I know the owner, and his son is my best friend, and also the one who sold me the car.

Works out for me!

 

Shoots has the very best scenario; nice going. For the rest of use, try the brokers.

 

Thanks Rat's... I have a question though. What is the price of a broker... is it a flat rate on all cars or per price of the car?

Thanks,
-Shoots

 

Shoots,

On my Highlander it was $500. On the Z I forgot to ask. I was shooting for MSRP (most dealers here have markups of 1 to 5 grand). When told MSRP was good, I felt it was as good a deal as I would find & did not ask further. The broker tells me that if pricing falls before I take delivery, I get the benefit. I find this difficult to believe but we will see.

 

My mom used a broker and got a sweet deal, too (not on a Z! ). She didn't even have to pay the broker. We assumed they got some kind of cash from the dealerships.

 

Broker payment does come from the dealerships.

The broker I work with has been in the car biz for 20+ years and has a network of relationships with dealers' fleet managers.

 

So the money comes from the dealership, so what is their insentive to work hard to get you the best deal?

If I does come from the dealership then I do not see a reason to not work with a broker.

-Shoots

 

The incentive to get the best deal is future biz which relies on repeat customers & referrals. If the brokers don't deliver cars for less bucks & hassle they are out of business.

On our Highlander I did my homework on dealer cost & msrp and made an offer to a local dealer. Dealer laughed & said my price was below his cost. Went to the broker & bought it for $100 LESS than I offered the dealer and $2500 under what dealer said was his "bottom line".

On the Z, the first dealer wanted $5000 over MSRP; the second $1000 over. Ordered through the broker for MSRP.

Plus I love not having to see the inside of a dealers office and having car delivered to my door.

 

The broker is essential a personal shopper. Just like you can have a person get your measurements, and then come to your house with a van full of clothes for you to pick out.

The advantage a broker has is that the fleet people are a little more in tune with the entire sales cycle. I bought my car from a Sales Manager and a Fleet Manager (they tag-teamed me), and the fleet guy had just about everything he could possibly need within a foot of his desk - pricing, availability, bank rates, etc.

Trust, I have to friends that work for a Chevy dealership. One of them didn't even know what a C5 was when I asked how sales were doing.

Only real downside of dealing with a broker is that you have to know you can trust them, get several references and contact those ref's. In many cases you will give those brokers every piece of personal information you've got, as well as a significant amount of leway to use your info (loan appls, etc.)...

Good luck all!

 

dczoner brings up a point I had not encountered/thought of with brokers; i.e. giving them personal financial data. In my first purchase thru the broker I just wrote a check to the car dealer when the car was delivered. I'll do the second the same way.
Even with a loan, I'd deal directly with the bank & just have the funds available (via check or electronic transfer) when the car is delivered.

I think the broker I've used darn near walks on water....BUT no way do they get any personal financial info other than, maybe, a credit card number for a deposit. (our broker did not require a deposit on eithor car.)