Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14?

"AlexZ" <alexz.DeleteThis@no.spam> wrote in message
news:100620080526325607%alexz@no.spam...
> Thinking of buying a new Camry, '08 or '09. Has anyone here used
> Consumer Reports New Car Price Report? They advise you on options and
> prices but the report costs $14 for each model and each price year.
>
> Sites cars.com, carsdirect.com, carmax.com provide a lot of free
> guidance on options available and the price we should target.
>
> In view of that Is CR's "New Car Price Report" worth $14?

If you think knowing the exact invoice price (including the amount of dealer
incentives) will help you negotiate a better price, then it might be worth
it. But I think you could find most of that information (or be able to
estimate it close enough) elsewhere.

Typically this information is more valuable on American cars which sell
closer to the invoice price and have more options. Toyota options tend be
bundled with the trim level and since you cannot order a Toyota from the
factory anyway, there are less choices you have to make.

Check with a car buying service from your Credit Union, Costco, etc to see
if they can get you the information and also help you get a good deal. These
services will not always get you the absolute lowest price if you are a
highly motivated expert negotiator (but they come within a few hundred
dollars typically), and there is negotiating hassle involved. If you are
going to finance the car, and don't belong to a Credit Union, maybe now is
the time to join (if you have one at work).
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

There is an easier method. Why not do what major fleets do when they buy
vehicles. Spec the exact vehicle you want to purchase, model, drive train
options and color etc., then send it to the attention of the New Car Manager
at several dealerships of the same brand, for a drive home price bid price.
Then send it to several different dealerships of competitive brands to get
the best total delivered price. It has worked for me for years.

"Mark A" <nobody RemoveThis @nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:XHy3k.2914$LL4.77@bignews7.bellsouth.net...
> "AlexZ" <alexz RemoveThis @no.spam> wrote in message
> news:100620080526325607%alexz@no.spam...
>> Thinking of buying a new Camry, '08 or '09. Has anyone here used
>> Consumer Reports New Car Price Report? They advise you on options and
>> prices but the report costs $14 for each model and each price year.
>>
>> Sites cars.com, carsdirect.com, carmax.com provide a lot of free
>> guidance on options available and the price we should target.
>>
>> In view of that Is CR's "New Car Price Report" worth $14?
>
> If you think knowing the exact invoice price (including the amount of
> dealer incentives) will help you negotiate a better price, then it might
> be worth it. But I think you could find most of that information (or be
> able to estimate it close enough) elsewhere.
>
> Typically this information is more valuable on American cars which sell
> closer to the invoice price and have more options. Toyota options tend be
> bundled with the trim level and since you cannot order a Toyota from the
> factory anyway, there are less choices you have to make.
>
> Check with a car buying service from your Credit Union, Costco, etc to see
> if they can get you the information and also help you get a good deal.
> These services will not always get you the absolute lowest price if you
> are a highly motivated expert negotiator (but they come within a few
> hundred dollars typically), and there is negotiating hassle involved. If
> you are going to finance the car, and don't belong to a Credit Union,
> maybe now is the time to join (if you have one at work).
>
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

Mike hunt <mikehunt22 DeleteThis @lycos.com> wrote:

: There is an easier method. Why not do what major fleets do when they buy
: vehicles. Spec the exact vehicle you want to purchase, model, drive train
: options and color etc., then send it to the attention of the New Car Manager
: at several dealerships of the same brand, for a drive home price bid price.

Thanks.

: Then send it to several different dealerships of competitive brands to get
: the best total delivered price.

I am confused here. You mean if I am looking for a Toyota, also send my
specs to Honda dealers? How does that help?

: It has worked for me for years.

Again, appreciate your advice. Just trying to clarify.

Logistics: do you call the "new car manager", or use fax, email etc?
What gets most attention?
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

"AlexZ" <alexz DeleteThis @no.spam> wrote in message
news:100620080526325607%alexz@no.spam...
> Thinking of buying a new Camry, '08 or '09. Has anyone here used
> Consumer Reports New Car Price Report? They advise you on options and
> prices but the report costs $14 for each model and each price year.
>
> Sites cars.com, carsdirect.com, carmax.com provide a lot of free
> guidance on options available and the price we should target.
>
> In view of that Is CR's "New Car Price Report" worth $14?

IMO, yes. Have used it twice in the past. Breaks all prices down into
components, so can figure out any permutation of options w/ chosen model.

Cathy
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

I send a FAX to the New Car Sales Manager. When I bought cars for fleets
I used the same method except I sent the bid to the Fleet Sales Manager



Send it to several Toyota dealerships, IF all you will consider is a Toyota.
The price among dealerships of the same brand can vary widely



If you want the best deal however you should price the competition for
similarly sized and equipped cars.



You will discover there are plenty car on the market that are as good as any
Toyota, or better, but cost many thousands less to drive home





lexZ" <alexz.DeleteThis@no.spam> wrote in message
news:100620081608301727%alexz@no.spam...

> Mike hunt <mikehunt22.DeleteThis@lycos.com> wrote:
>
> : There is an easier method. Why not do what major fleets do when they
> buy
> : vehicles. Spec the exact vehicle you want to purchase, model, drive
> train
> : options and color etc., then send it to the attention of the New Car
> Manager
> : at several dealerships of the same brand, for a drive home price bid
> price.
>
> Thanks.
>
> : Then send it to several different dealerships of competitive brands to
> get
> : the best total delivered price.
>
> I am confused here. You mean if I am looking for a Toyota, also send my
> specs to Honda dealers? How does that help?
>
> : It has worked for me for years.
>
> Again, appreciate your advice. Just trying to clarify.
>
> Logistics: do you call the "new car manager", or use fax, email etc?
> What gets most attention?
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

AlexZ wrote:

> Logistics: do you call the "new car manager", or use fax, email etc?
> What gets most attention?

If that's the goal, try walking in naked.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

"Cathy F." <clfrclfr.DeleteThis@adelphiadotdashdot.net> wrote in message
news:8vednQHnK-qtfdPV4p2dnAA@giganews.com...
> IMO, yes. Have used it twice in the past. Breaks all prices down into
> components, so can figure out any permutation of options w/ chosen model.
>
> Cathy

Toyota (like almost all manufacturers) has that facility on their website
for a customer to build a car with whatever options that are available,
either factory installed or dealer installed.

Some manufacturers (not sure about Toyota) even make sure that a particular
option package is available in your area based on zip code where you live
(different distributors have different option packages in some cases).

The manufacturer may also provide links to local dealers near where you
live, some of whom have their own website with a complete list of inventory
(with full specs on the cars) including those scheduled to be delivered but
not on the lot yet.

Welcome to the 21st century.
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

"Mike hunt" <mikehunt22.DeleteThis@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:YM6dnTeaG66ZSdPVnZ2dnUVZ_r3inZ2d@ptd.net...
> There is an easier method. Why not do what major fleets do when they buy
> vehicles. Spec the exact vehicle you want to purchase, model, drive train
> options and color etc., then send it to the attention of the New Car
> Manager at several dealerships of the same brand, for a drive home price
> bid price. Then send it to several different dealerships of competitive
> brands to get the best total delivered price. It has worked for me for
> years.

Using a Credit Union or Costco buying service is just as easy (in fact it is
easier). The buying service requests go to the same fleet sales manager as
would a fax.

Keep in mind that Mike Hunt has only (and will only) buy American cars,
which is a somewhat different experience than buying a Toyota.
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:12:48 -0400, Cathy F. wrote:

> "AlexZ" <alexz DeleteThis @no.spam> wrote in message
> news:100620080526325607%alexz@no.spam...
>> Thinking of buying a new Camry, '08 or '09. Has anyone here used
>> Consumer Reports New Car Price Report? They advise you on options and
>> prices but the report costs $14 for each model and each price year.
>>
>> Sites cars.com, carsdirect.com, carmax.com provide a lot of free
>> guidance on options available and the price we should target.
>>
>> In view of that Is CR's "New Car Price Report" worth $14?
>
> IMO, yes. Have used it twice in the past. Breaks all prices down into
> components, so can figure out any permutation of options w/ chosen
> model.
>
> Cathy

I just buy the model Toyota I want, with the options I want...

Or, whatever Toyota is on the lot close enough.
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

"Hachiroku ????" <Trueno RemoveThis @ae86.GTS> wrote in message
news:ehB3k.528$ul.163@trndny08...
> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:12:48 -0400, Cathy F. wrote:
>
>> "AlexZ" <alexz RemoveThis @no.spam> wrote in message
>> news:100620080526325607%alexz@no.spam...
>>> Thinking of buying a new Camry, '08 or '09. Has anyone here used
>>> Consumer Reports New Car Price Report? They advise you on options and
>>> prices but the report costs $14 for each model and each price year.
>>>
>>> Sites cars.com, carsdirect.com, carmax.com provide a lot of free
>>> guidance on options available and the price we should target.
>>>
>>> In view of that Is CR's "New Car Price Report" worth $14?
>>
>> IMO, yes. Have used it twice in the past. Breaks all prices down into
>> components, so can figure out any permutation of options w/ chosen
>> model.
>>
>> Cathy
>
> I just buy the model Toyota I want, with the options I want...

I want to know what the "dealer cost" is vs. the "retail cost" - for each &
every option & pkg. which I may be interested in.

>
> Or, whatever Toyota is on the lot close enough.

Has yet to happen to me - they never have just what I want, right there.
Same with wallpaper - always have to order it. Oh - *once* I found a border
that was perfect, right in the wallpaper/paint store.

Cathy


>
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

"Mark A" <nobody.TakeThisOut@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:YCE3k.2734$rW2.1432@bignews9.bellsouth.net...
> "Cathy F." <clfrclfr.TakeThisOut@adelphiadotdashdot.net> wrote in message
> news:8vednQHnK-qtfdPV4p2dnAA@giganews.com...
>> IMO, yes. Have used it twice in the past. Breaks all prices down into
>> components, so can figure out any permutation of options w/ chosen model.
>>
>> Cathy
>
> Toyota (like almost all manufacturers) has that facility on their website
> for a customer to build a car with whatever options that are available,
> either factory installed or dealer installed.
>
> Some manufacturers (not sure about Toyota) even make sure that a
> particular option package is available in your area based on zip code
> where you live (different distributors have different option packages in
> some cases).
>
> The manufacturer may also provide links to local dealers near where you
> live, some of whom have their own website with a complete list of
> inventory (with full specs on the cars) including those scheduled to be
> delivered but not on the lot yet.
>
> Welcome to the 21st century.

Pssttt... I know all about the "build a car" deal on their websites. But I
also want to know the dealer cost for each option or pkg. - a help when I go
in & bargain.

Cathy
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

"Cathy F." <clfrclfr.TakeThisOut@adelphiadotdashdot.net> wrote in message
news:PaWdneCGxKicvdLV4p2dnAA@giganews.com...
> Pssttt... I know all about the "build a car" deal on their websites. But I
> also want to know the dealer cost for each option or pkg. - a help when I
> go in & bargain.
>
> Cathy

Bargaining based on dealer cost works well with American cars, where you can
order a car from the factory and there are (usually) no shortages.
Otherwise, your negotiating success (especially with a Toyota dealer) is
mostly based on supply vs. demand. It doesn't matter how much (or how
little) they paid for something, if they think they can sell it to someone
else at a higher price, they will reject your offer.

You can pretty much assume they are making a bundle on all options. Anyone
who visited the parts department knows this very well.
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14? 

"Mark A" <nobody DeleteThis @nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:0lF3k.2759$rW2.2682@bignews9.bellsouth.net...
> "Cathy F." <clfrclfr DeleteThis @adelphiadotdashdot.net> wrote in message
> news:PaWdneCGxKicvdLV4p2dnAA@giganews.com...
>> Pssttt... I know all about the "build a car" deal on their websites. But
>> I also want to know the dealer cost for each option or pkg. - a help when
>> I go in & bargain.
>>
>> Cathy
>
> Bargaining based on dealer cost works well with American cars, where you
> can order a car from the factory and there are (usually) no shortages.
> Otherwise, your negotiating success (especially with a Toyota dealer) is
> mostly based on supply vs. demand. It doesn't matter how much (or how
> little) they paid for something, if they think they can sell it to someone
> else at a higher price, they will reject your offer.

My experiences - with Honda & Toyota dealerships - differs from your
assertion. They reject it, I walk. I show up later (anywhere from a few
days to a couple of weeks later) - they come down in price. But not enough,
IMO. I walk again. I go back a thrid time & finally get what I had set out
for from the beginning.

Cathy



> You can pretty much assume they are making a bundle on all options. Anyone
> who visited the parts department knows this very well.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14?