Yep us too. Won't be giving then a try ever again with how our last experience went.

ElephantRider said:

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dubi said:

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Talk to the GM; they will negotiate and they will remove the apex too.

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They told us directly that they would not remove it and that we had to pay for it when we were looking at a Palisade a few years ago. Was not up for discussion.

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Looking at a Palolisade for the wife right now. Thanks for the heads up. Won't even call them.

Cartographer said:

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Thanks for the feedback.

It's probably not worth my time to go back or even call but, if you haven't looked through the new FTC rules, it's eye opening.

As of 2024 all of those fees and add-ons appear illegal.

Proposed 463.4(a) would require a motor vehicle dealer to disclose the true "Offering Price" of a vehicle in advertisements that reference specific vehicles or price or financing terms. Under the proposed rule, the "Offering Price" of a vehicle means "the full cash price for which a dealer will sell or finance the motor vehicle to any consumer," excluding only required government charges." [107]

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/07/13/2022-14214/motor-vehicle-dealers-trade-regulation-rule

You can just keep this in your back pocket if you need to deal with people again. Price on their site should = price you pay other than TTL.

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Current status:

Quote:

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On January 4, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC" or "Commission") published a Final Rule in the Federal Register, titled "Combating Auto Retail Scams Trade Regulation Rule" ("CARS Rule," "Rule," or "Final Rule"), in order to curtail certain unfair or deceptive acts or practices by motor vehicle dealers. The CARS Rule was to become effective on July 30, 2024. Because of a pending legal challenge, this document announces that the effective date of the Final Rule is delayed until further notice.

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Hornbeck said:

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ElephantRider said:

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dubi said:

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Talk to the GM; they will negotiate and they will remove the apex too.

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They told us directly that they would not remove it and that we had to pay for it when we were looking at a Palisade a few years ago. Was not up for discussion.

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Looking at a Palolisade for the wife right now. Thanks for the heads up. Won't even call them.

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We did not pay for the Apex on our Santa Cruz that we purchased from CS Hyundai.

Their lot is full of cars so I think they will make deals now. Several years ago their lot was empty so they could set the price with zero negotiation.

Currently car shopping, and not enjoying it in the least. What if any are folks' experiences with our local CarMax?

Sold a car to carmax here and it was great.

Maybe a stupid question, but doesn't that leave you paying significantly more sales tax on the new vehicle if you're not trading in?

MyNameIsJeff said:

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Maybe a stupid question, but doesn't that leave you paying significantly more sales tax on the new vehicle if you're not trading in?

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Not a stupid question at all. Spreadsheets are your friend. That's why salespeople want you to make emotional decisions versus financial ones.

Sales tax is only 6.25%, that's only $625 of tax per $10,000. Even financing the extra $625 would be between $10 and $15 extra a month. The flip side is that you have cash in hand from the sale of a vehicle.

However, we are talking about price 'differential' in the trade-in number versus the amount made on a private sale (or other 3rd party like Carmax). The financial penalty goes away as the vehicle sell price is increasingly greater than the trade-in number. And it doesn't take much.

Many tears ago, I paid the penalty to have cash in hand. Ended up having twins so I had to sell my truck (decked out in some of the finest stereo equipment from the Crutchfield catalog that only came in the mail). Bought a 4-door sedan and used the money from the truck sale to buy two of everything…. Cribs, clothes, diapers, car seats, doctor bills… this let me ride out the emotional and financial shock of twins.

Selling outright for any amount more than what the dealer will give you as a trade in value the dealer offers results in a lower price --- assuming you apply that money towards your down payment. But sometimes we need the cash for other things.

Especially here in BCS; dealers are not even competitive with their price. It would be really easy to get more for your vehicle just about anywhere that the amount the dealer will give you. In Texas the purchaser pays the sales tax. If you put all that money down, you got extra over the dealers offer, you should make out ahead financially. Even if its only a little.

Medaggie also makes the perfect point. Your time is valuable so don't waste it on those who care about you the least, like car dealers in BCS.

Sorry to run on long. I have tried to buy a car in BCS for years. I have saved thousands each time driving to Conroe, Austin, etc.

Carmax is fine to buy your car, but if getting a new car, take the Carmax quote with you to the new car dealership.

Buy in Houston or Austin - easy drive, better prices, and get a dinner in too.

Was in Lithia the other day and it had a completely different vibe than in the past. Turns out they have a new GM. Talking with the service manager, he said the guy is really customer focused. Could be smoke/could be legit. Might be worth a look.

We just bought a Tesla and I don't think it could have been easier. You can't even walk in and buy a car. The store is there to answer questions and facilitate test drives but you purchase through the app. Find the car, click "buy", do some online paperwork with insurance and loan if you're financing and schedule your pick up. Show up at the scheduled time and drive out. No BS. No market adjustment nonsense. No hydrogen in the tires. Pick up took 30m because it was my first Tesla and I didn't know how to pair it to my phone or how the automatic locks worked when you walk away. Had I known what I was doing I'd have been done in 5-10 minutes. Another guy there at the same time walked up to his car, walked around it checking body panel fits, hopped in and left. I think he was gone in 3 minutes. Thats how car buying should be. The first legacy brand that implements that model will change the world.

13B said:

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Was in Lithia the other day and it had a completely different vibe than in the past. Turns out they have a new GM. Talking with the service manager, he said the guy is really customer focused. Could be smoke/could be legit. Might be worth a look.

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We went in recently to look at a Cadillac XT4 for Mrs LOYAL AG. Sales guy was really low pressure, test drive, "I can get that color for you to see", etc. they did have the add ons but we haven't reached the point of trying to negotiate so I can't say if they'll take them off or not. Not sure we'll buy there just because of reputation but they haven't hounded us to this point which I do appreciate.

We had no complaints buying a custom order Bronco from the local Ford folks.

For my Corvette I found it as a dropped order in Tomball when they were still over a year back logged. Tried the Bryan Chevy folks for service and they were horrible and very slow. They ordered the wrong rotors twice resulting in it being in their shop for a whole month. I use the Navasota Chevy for service now and they are excellent.

LOYAL AG said:

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We just bought a Tesla and I don't think it could have been easier. You can't even walk in and buy a car. The store is there to answer questions and facilitate test drives but you purchase through the app. Find the car, click "buy", do some online paperwork with insurance and loan if you're financing and schedule your pick up. Show up at the scheduled time and drive out. No BS. No market adjustment nonsense. No hydrogen in the tires. Pick up took 30m because it was my first Tesla and I didn't know how to pair it to my phone or how the automatic locks worked when you walk away. Had I known what I was doing I'd have been done in 5-10 minutes. Another guy there at the same time walked up to his car, walked around it checking body panel fits, hopped in and left. I think he was gone in 3 minutes. Thats how car buying should be. The first legacy brand that implements that model will change the world.

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I bought a Tesla back in 2012 when they were just getting started. Absolutely the best buying experience I've ever had. No undercoating or extra car key fees!

I sold it to carvana after 100k miles and that was super easy as well.

KidDoc said:

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LOYAL AG said:

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We just bought a Tesla and I don't think it could have been easier. You can't even walk in and buy a car. The store is there to answer questions and facilitate test drives but you purchase through the app. Find the car, click "buy", do some online paperwork with insurance and loan if you're financing and schedule your pick up. Show up at the scheduled time and drive out. No BS. No market adjustment nonsense. No hydrogen in the tires. Pick up took 30m because it was my first Tesla and I didn't know how to pair it to my phone or how the automatic locks worked when you walk away. Had I known what I was doing I'd have been done in 5-10 minutes. Another guy there at the same time walked up to his car, walked around it checking body panel fits, hopped in and left. I think he was gone in 3 minutes. Thats how car buying should be. The first legacy brand that implements that model will change the world.

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I bought a Tesla back in 2012 when they were just getting started. Absolutely the best buying experience I've ever had. No undercoating or extra car key fees!

I sold it to carvana after 100k miles and that was super easy as well.

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Sounds like Tesla process hasn't changed much. Now they'll accommodate like 17 keys including your phone. I've put one of these on my Christmas list with the idea being I'll wear it as a wedding ring. I already wear a black ring so this would just replace it.

https://a.co/d/dQKk4JJ

Bought an F-250 from CS Ford earlier this year. Thanks to all you folks on TexAgs and the warning about the add-ons, when he came back with an agreed-to price approved by the finance guy, and it had add-ons, we walked out.

They called the next day and asked what they could do. I told him no add-ons and another $500 off for wasting our time.

He agreed. Of course we got screwed, but I didn't feel it (much).

Not a CS dealership, but I just bought a new car last week. As we're signing all of the documents, I notice he gives me one that has a $299 charge. I question it and he tells me that it's a special insurance product that gives you some extra money upfront in case of a totaled car or theft. Applicable if you buy the next car from that dealership. I told him I didn't want it. He ran thru the song-and-dance about why it was good, they recommended it, etc. I told him I didn't want it. He said "well, we'll have to re-do the contract since I already have that in there." No problem I said, I've got time. He prints out the sales contract again, and just reduces the sales price by $299 and keeps the insurance product. I was good with my negotiated sales price, so it was a wash in my mind. I can't imagine they get that big of a kickback on that insurance product that they push that hard to sell it. Maybe that's all profit to the dealership and it's some kind of self-insurance.

I've always heard good things about Covert in Bastrop.

So he was saying it was in the price you agreed to but now he would lower the price and still leave it in?
Hmmm pretty shady, I think I would have headed out because what else was hidden and now there is no trust left

happyinBCS said:

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So he was saying it was in the price you agreed to but now he would lower the price and still leave it in?
Hmmm pretty shady, I think I would have headed out because what else was hidden and now there is no trust left

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No, it was an add-on cost that I didn't know about ahead of time. I guess they just assumed I would go for it, and I bet a lot of people do. There were no other unexpected fees. I guess I did kinda go for it, but my out the door price didn't change from what was agreed to.

MyNameIsJeff said:

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Hornbeck said:

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Goose83 said:

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I always liked the old "Come up with another couple hundred bucks and I'll run it past my manager, but I think I can make it work" schtick.

Of course they already know what they can and can't take, but a lot of buyers don't know that and fall into that trap.

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I'm in sales. I don't appreciate it. I don't appreciate you wasting hours of my time so you think you can squeeze a couple thousand out of my frustration.

I do multimillion dollar deals. I don't play games like that with my customers. Therefore, I don't do stuff like that going back and forth on a $50k car deal. I expect to negotiate everything up front via phone / email.

If a car guy says "just come on down and we'll work it out.." Do not under any circumstances just come on down, unless you want to waste your day, walking away with no car.

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"Your presence is your power". That was the absolutely most horse**** line I have ever gotten from a salesman. That was our one and only Aggieland Chevrolet. Saved like $8k on a much nicer truck in Houston the next week.

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Since I posted this, the salesman that spouted that line has joined and posted a time or two in the automotive board.

The fiancee and I were in a wreck that totaled his truck in Houston. I found at College Station Toyota. Explained to him what I do, don't mess around with me, the price on the sticker was fine and I'd likely be by later to buy the truck. He didn't asked me for a deposit or anything like that, just my phone number. So he sells the truck half an hour later and says that he can get another one just like it in a few days. I roll my eyes because I know it's BS because their entire dealer group is out of that specific truck. So I head to his place in West Texas and I'm able to find the exact truck he's looking for with the cargo cover and window tinting with absolutely NO JACKING AROUND OR HASSLING. I mean we were there less than an hour and handled the entire thing over text with the Toyota rebate and financing. It was literally the easiest car transaction ever.