What are you guys monthly car payments on your z's? how many months is the loan for and what not? apr? how many actually had the cash to go buy with cash? just curious cause im planning on buying a z pretty soon, just try to get estimates.

 

There have been many posts about this...

Several long and very detailed discussions, I'd recommend searching for them. You'll get more "instant" results than waiting for people to post.

 

how is knowing how many peeps had the $$ to buy with cash helping you to estimate your payments?

Anyway...your payments will be based on YOUR credit and ability. Somebody could have put $10,000 down and monthly payments are only $300, but that means nothing to you if you dont have the $$ to put that kind of loot down or the credit to have a very low APR and monthly payment.

 

The dealer is going to chew you up and spit you out. Never tell a salesperson how much you want to pay per month. Negotiate the best price for the car then the best possible APR and the monthly will work itself out.

 

I agree, never ever tell the car salesmen (and especially the finance manager) how much you can afford. Do your research first.

First of all, 2003 model Z's are dropping in price. It's the end of the year for cars and the economy is lousy. A lot of the pent up demand for Z's has been met and dealers have a lot of inventory right now.

Go to the NissanUSA.com website and "build" the exact car you want. They have a tool there to let you check for matches in dealer inventory within 100 mi or something like that. This way you can see who's got the car you want, and which dealers have a lot of inventory, and therefore are more willing to deal. The Nissan website also has loan and lease calculators.

Then go to eloan.com and use their calculators to figure out your car payments. It helps if you know your credit score first. You can obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus. Your interest rate is determined by what your credit score is.

If you're thinking of leasing, go to www.leasecompare.com to get fair idea of what a lease should go for.

If you're absolute sure the Z is the car for you and you're ready to buy, then get your financing/leasing in order. This is easily done and you can do it all on the internet. When you get the approval, now you can go car shopping.

Armed with the inventory information from Nissan's website, go to the dealer that has the car you want and has a good amount of inventory. I'd do this the last couple days of the month. Why? Because salespeople have quotas to meet each month. The dealership does too. So they have a higher incentive to move a car even if it's for a lower price at that time. Dress appropriately. Test drive the car. If you want that very one, then when the salesman asks you "well what do you think?" answer "I like it, and I'm ready to buy if the numbers are right." You'll get invited to go back inside and "talk" about it. This is where the dealer will start the song and dance, the old game of charades. He'll probably ask "how much can you afford monthly." Answer, "I don't need to talk about financing with you because I've already got that taken care of. My loan has been pre-approved by X institution and as far as you're concerned, this is an all cash deal." Then say, "I want the best price possible on this car. I don't have a lot of time to fool around." He'll answer "well these cars are very hard to get and nobody is selling them for below sticker." Answer, "I know for a fact that is untrue. I've ready through several Z car forum and people have reported that the Z market is not what it was and cars are being sold at below sticker. Are you in a position to deal today, right now? Perhaps you should go and get your sales manager?" Your salesman will now either go and get the sales manager or ask you to submit an offer. I'd suggest you offer him a few hundred over dealer's invoice (you can get this from edmunds.com). He'll say "that's ridiculous". You can then ask him what he "thinks they can do." In the end, it'll boil down to what he's willing to offer and what you're willing to take and think is reasonable. Also, be prepared to just walk away if the deal is not right. Don't let them browbeat you into a deal just because you're tired of dickering back and forth. This is their little game that they've been training for, forever. There's always another car at another dealer. I told my dealer I had no problem getting the car from another state, if the price were right.

Once you have the submitted/accepted offer down in writing, they'll probably want you to talk to their finance manger anyway. They'll tell you something like "We can beat whatever payments you can get." This is true. They do this by changing the term of the loan to a longer one. They can get you a lower payment but it'll be with a longer term and/or a higher interest rate. The finance manager is one of the highest paid employees at the dealership because this is where the big $$ are made. On a car like the Z the difference between what the dealer buys the car for (don't forget there is a holdback that is really profit) and what msrp is, is relatively small. So they can make more money on selling you a financing package than by selling you the car! Just say, I'm not interested in talking to the finance guy, I already have my financing approved.

They'll try to sell you "servicing packages", paint protection, extended warranties, all kinds of stuff you can get aftermarket for a much better price. Extended warranties can be had from your credit union at half the cost of what the dealer sells them for. Buy NOTHING extra from the dealer. Just get the sales sheet with the approved deal and ask them to contact your financial institution to complete the deal.

Congratulations, you've bought a new car! Now you can start modding!!!

 

TheLex has listed some of the best car advice you could have. All very true. Good job.

WayneTN