knoxtom said:

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Finance guys average 80-90k, top ones make 150k ish. They do better on average but sales boys can make more. Finance guys don't make nearly the money they used to make as banks don't allow them to hammer the customers on rate anymore




You can make money selling cars, but the problem is you have to be there all the time. Those top dog salesguys have been there from opening to closing bell every day the store is open for 15+ years. They start every month knowing they will sell 10-20 units just off repeat customers. I know a guy selling subarus in Knoxville who has been there every monday through saturday for over 20 years. Never missed a day. On Sundays when the store is closed he walks around the parking lot and hands out biz cards. Every Sunday for 15+ years, never misses one. Pretends he is "doing inventory work" and people come up to him. He makes 250k plus a year. He would go to the lot on Christmas and thanksgiving afternoon to catch the people walking off a big meal. He is probably dead now, but why would he care, he never lived anyway.

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I'm not sure what market you are in, but exactly 0 of the finance managers I work with in East Texas make $80-90k. Maybe at a tiny store that does 40-50 units a month. Lowest paid in my district is $150k, top are $300k.

Your second paragraph hits the nail on the head. Pay can be great, but you work your ass off for it.

I knew a guy who made over 100k for a dodge dealership back in 1993-96

Selling cars for a living sounds like the worst. Doesn't matter how much they make. You can make money doing anything else.

I have a family member selling used cars online at a big dealership in Houston. Due to the supply chain issue, used car became a big thing. He cleared $300k last year.

This is absurd.

Ragoo said:

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Selling cars for a living sounds like the worst. Doesn't matter how much they make. You can make money doing anything else.

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It absolutely is. I have a family member who has been in the business for about 30 years. He makes good money in management but works all the time. He has Sundays off but is still dealing with work even when we get together for a big family dinner.

The other thing people don't tell you is how often you get fired. You could be absolutely killing and the dealership will be sold, new owners come in, and replace a bunch of people. My family member was once fired so the owners kid could have a job. You end up bouncing around from dealership to dealership.

superunknown said:

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All I know is you get the best deals by emailing every dealership that may have a car you might be interested in, giving them ultimatums and having them bid against each other. If they attempt to negotiate, just tell them "you must not want to sell me a car today."

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I did that in 2005. Wife wanted the 04 Tiburon 2.7 V-6 6 speed. Emailed 5 local dealers... received 5 bids. Told each I was going with the lowest price. After a week narrowed it down to one dealer, and told them, "A penny, a single penny, I'm walking".

Went to the dealer... wife took the car (GT Model) for a drive and really wanted it. As we were walking to the finance office I saw the yellow model (Special Edition) and told the salesman, "Match the price and you're selling two cars". They did.

The only downside was the finance manager put my car in her name... hers in mine. Didn't work out real well the few times I had to retrieve it from the two yard with wife, no pun intended, in tow.

JamesPShelley said:

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Didn't work out real well the few times I had to retrieve it from the two yard with wife, no pun intended, in tow.

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Sort of burying the lede there. You're in the habit of getting towed?

I went to see a long-time friend ,who happens to run one of the largest dealership groups in North Texas , and he said that not only is has it been busy like never before since the nonsense started, that they are not negotiating on price at all. It's sticker or hit the road. I was shocked but he said the lack of vehicles available have made people incredibly easy to sell to.

Duncan Idaho said:

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I knew a guy that was making $80k back in 1989 selling Mazdas in college station.

So I have no doubt a car guy in Dallas/Houston could make $200-300k. But most are probably lucky to make $30k

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I think I know who you're talking about. I bought a car from him. I think his last name was Watson?

mrad85 said:

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Duncan Idaho said:

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I knew a guy that was making $80k back in 1989 selling Mazdas in college station.

So I have no doubt a car guy in Dallas/Houston could make $200-300k. But most are probably lucky to make $30k

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I think I know who you're talking about. I bought a car from him. I think his last name was Watson?

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Grammy, was this when you bought the DeLorean?

knoxtom said:

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Most car salesmen make 40-60k a year

Every dealership has a top dog, that guy is making 150k+ After that they all have 3-4 guys who perform well every month. Rest of the salesguys are just guys.

Salesmen don't make more by hammering the buyers, they make more by selling a bunch of units

Salesmen don't make more by selling Lamborghinis, those stores have the one guy who has been there for 20 years and is making a bunch, the rest don't sell anything. Walkins don't buy Lambos.

Finance guys average 80-90k, top ones make 150k ish. They do better on average but sales boys can make more. Finance guys don't make nearly the money they used to make as banks don't allow them to hammer the customers on rate anymore

Buy here pay here people make as much as nice dealerships, sometimes more. Nice buy here pay here lots crush it selling $300 payments to people with bad credit. They just put a lowjack on the car and repo it if the payments fail.

Traveling salesguys make bank but they are in a different city every weekend. Their job is a festival of booze, coke, and crack.

New car sales Mgr makes pretty good money, usually 150k range
Used car sales Mgr makes more than new car as profit is better
GSM usually makes 200-400k


You can make money selling cars, but the problem is you have to be there all the time. Those top dog salesguys have been there from opening to closing bell every day the store is open for 15+ years. They start every month knowing they will sell 10-20 units just off repeat customers. I know a guy selling subarus in Knoxville who has been there every monday through saturday for over 20 years. Never missed a day. On Sundays when the store is closed he walks around the parking lot and hands out biz cards. Every Sunday for 15+ years, never misses one. Pretends he is "doing inventory work" and people come up to him. He makes 250k plus a year. He would go to the lot on Christmas and thanksgiving afternoon to catch the people walking off a big meal. He is probably dead now, but why would he care, he never lived anyway.

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No he didn't. How miserable.

Sounds like something out of a movie

Sea Speed said:

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This is absurd.

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You think it is a lie, or it is absurd he is making that kind of money?

There is absolutely no reason for me to come in here and make-up a story. I bet you didn't try the used car market in 2020. Unless you positively know better, go crawl back into your hole.

He manages online sales and he literally cannot keep up. We are shocked at the his income last year and so is he. He knows it is temporary and expects a fairly dramatic reduction going forward. With chip issues and supply chain issues, the used car market is still going pretty good.

Speed really hurt your feelings, huh?

Change Detection said:

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Sea Speed said:

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This is absurd.

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You think it is a lie, or it is absurd he is making that kind of money?

There is absolutely no reason for me to come in here and make-up a story. I bet you didn't try the used car market in 2020. Unless you positively know better, go crawl back into your hole.

He manages online sales and he literally cannot keep up. We are shocked at the his income last year and so is he. He knows it is temporary and expects a fairly dramatic reduction going forward. With chip issues and supply chain issues, the used car market is still going pretty good.

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Eaaaaasy killer.

NoahAg said:

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TecRecAg said:

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Curious about this myself.

Dealership parameters probably matter, too. The top guy at Lamborghini Dallas is probably pulling in more than the top guy at Southwest Kia.

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Have you seen what new Kias go for now? I'm guessing the top Kia guy is doing pretty well.

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Yeah the Tellurides are selling out almost instantly. Saw them offered for 10-15k over MSRP this week. Not sure if that's all dealerships.

lexofer said:

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NoahAg said:

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TecRecAg said:

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Curious about this myself.

Dealership parameters probably matter, too. The top guy at Lamborghini Dallas is probably pulling in more than the top guy at Southwest Kia.

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Have you seen what new Kias go for now? I'm guessing the top Kia guy is doing pretty well.

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Yeah the Tellurides are selling out almost instantly. Saw them offered for 10-15k over MSRP this week. Not sure if that's all dealerships.

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Pretty much. It's been that way since they first came out. They can't make then fast enough even with every dealer adding a market price adjustment.

ToHntortoFsh said:

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I never pay for the extra nitrogen, paint protection, lug nuts whatever. Usually they say those are non negotiable items and when you say you don't want them and to take it off they get confused. I bought my wife's car and the extras (N2, paint protection, and locking lug nut) we're like 2200 extra. I told the guy I'm not paying extra for N2 when it's 78% of what we're breathing right now, I have no idea if you even put the protectant on, and I can go get a locking lug nut for $30 at autozone. They took it off and apparently I still drove off w extra special nitrogen filled tires.

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My aunt and uncle tried to buy a Telluride a few months ago. They picked one out, but there was a waiting list. They talked numbers on it and got it all worked out in the event it would become available. The people in front of them didn't end up getting it, so they went to sign the papers and the guy told them he "forgot" about the mandatory $2000 for window tint and clear coat protectant. Uncle chewed them out and walked out. Wouldn't even let them try to make the numbers work, he wasn't doing business with them.

The problem is the finance guy couldn't care less at the time. There was a waiting list on the car and if he didn't sell it to him he would sell it to the next person in line.