I've only driven company vehicles so buying one myself is new. Looking at some options one of which was a Courtesy Vehicle(2023 Expedition). Has around 1.1k miles. What is a reasonable discount to request for one of these?

They of course are pushing dealer add ons, any of these actually worth it? Door Guards, Window Tint, Appearance Protection, and Dent Protection. Seems like we should pass on all.

Another question, do all Toyota dealer sales people have to check with their managers to do everything? I feel like they might have to check to see if its ok to sneeze.

The way I understand the manager thing, in most cases they aren't doing anything, just stepping away to build suspense, keep you in your head, and make it seem like this last offer is so good it had to be approved so you just stop there. It's all just a mind game.

With this new thing called the internet, I don't understand the need for all this back and forth crap. I can search online, if the price you have for the vehicle I want is good, and you offer me fair value for my trade, there is no need to spend all day at a dealer going through the motions of a car deal from the 80's, but alas it always still seems to be that way.

Most dealers still operate this way. They want to keep the salespeople dumb and powerless. It's also a method to "control the process", i.e. control you as the buyer.

Pretty rare to find dealers who do not play this game. Some of the contacts here on the auto board will get you straight to working with the manager. I'd try that.

To be somewhat fair, the Ford guy was better about this. But both Toyota places kept playing that card.

Having never done this my car buying view comes from TV. Inspirations are the Cosby Show episode where Cliff tries to act poor when buying a car and Fargo with the guy trying to get the paint protection stuff sold. My son's are too young to tell the salesperson they are my defrosting options.

See, they install that TruCoat at the factory. There's nothing we can do about it.

Any feedback on the courtesy vehicle part?

The answer to dealer add-ons is no. F*** no if you want to be frank with them. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a courtesy vehicle with that low of mileage provided you get a 3rd party inspection. Value? Got no clue. They are gonna try to sell it like it's brand new.

Edit: And for the record, DeMontrond plays the typical dealership games.

Bought a demo Expy back in the early 2000s. Worked out well for us. Fair discount to the vehicle for a couple thousand miles. Dealer closing part was an absolute nightmare, perhaps the worst I have ever had. I got as far as my car before the GM came out and said please come back, I'll handle the rest with no BS.

It is amazing that business model can survive. But a Demo can be a decent deal. Just a low mileage used car...

As I have gotten older, I have zero patience for the constant running back to the manager and other stupid games. Which basically means I limit my shopping to certain dealers and the brands they sell at this point.

My favorite was a few cars ago for my wife. Sher found a RDX she liked at an acura dealer in FW. We went over, fully prepared to come home with the car. Big cafeteria set up for for buyer and salespeople. First red flag. LEt them value her trade while we drove the RDX. Came back, the saleguy went went back and forth a few times unnecessarily. Wouldn't give us numbers on the price or trade. Wanted our desired monthly payment. I went to pee, came out and my wife was standing there fuming mad. SG had come back and said "cannot give you any numbers until we run your credit. She apparently stood up and told him, we are done here. Then he wouldn't give her our keys. I had to LOUDLY yell "Give me my ****ing Keys!" in the crowded room to get them back. Glad my wife wasn't carrying a gun. I think she may have shot that idiot, she was so mad.

Only product that I can think of where we still haggle back and forth like we're at some 3rd world bazaar.

Texker said:

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The answer to dealer add-ons is no. F*** no if you want to be frank with them. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a courtesy vehicle with that low of mileage provided you get a 3rd party inspection. Value? Got no clue. They are gonna try to sell it like it's brand new.

Edit: And for the record, DeMontrond plays the typical dealership games.

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Gotta love seeing those "new" cars on AutoTrader with 3,000+ miles

Absolute said:

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Bought a demo Expy back in the early 2000s. Worked out well for us. Fair discount to the vehicle for a couple thousand miles. Dealer closing part was an absolute nightmare, perhaps the worst I have ever had. I got as far as my car before the GM came out and said please come back, I'll handle the rest with no BS.

It is amazing that business model can survive. But a Demo can be a decent deal. Just a low mileage used car...

As I have gotten older, I have zero patience for the constant running back to the manager and other stupid games. Which basically means I limit my shopping to certain dealers and the brands they sell at this point.

My favorite was a few cars ago for my wife. Sher found a RDX she liked at an acura dealer in FW. We went over, fully prepared to come home with the car. Big cafeteria set up for for buyer and salespeople. First red flag. LEt them value her trade while we drove the RDX. Came back, the saleguy went went back and forth a few times unnecessarily. Wouldn't give us numbers on the price or trade. Wanted our desired monthly payment. I went to pee, came out and my wife was standing there fuming mad. SG had come back and said "cannot give you any numbers until we run your credit. She apparently stood up and told him, we are done here. Then he wouldn't give her our keys. I had to LOUDLY yell "Give me my ****ing Keys!" in the crowded room to get them back. Glad my wife wasn't carrying a gun. I think she may have shot that idiot, she was so mad.

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Car salesmen are the scum of the earth.

When I bought my trucks with the 1ags hookup, the process took me less than one hour total. I bought one truck off the lot and the other was ordered. Both with the same person.

I walked in told them what I want, they showed me the truck on the lot, gave me the price, it was great, we did the 0% for3 years deal, drove home with the new truck. The second one was ordered but the process was the same except the financing was for 5 years, nothing else was available. There was no haggling or hocus pocus which is the way I want it. I negotiate for a living and I just don't want to deal with a noobie salesman while he's trying to figure it out.

Get with 1ags.

ElephantRider said:

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Car salesmen are the scum of the earth.

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Just edging out Realtors!

HYC_AG said:

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ElephantRider said:

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Car salesmen are the scum of the earth.

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Just edging out Realtors!

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Don't forget about tow truck drivers

ElephantRider said:

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Texker said:

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The answer to dealer add-ons is no. F*** no if you want to be frank with them. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a courtesy vehicle with that low of mileage provided you get a 3rd party inspection. Value? Got no clue. They are gonna try to sell it like it's brand new.

Edit: And for the record, DeMontrond plays the typical dealership games.

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Gotta love seeing those "new" cars on AutoTrader with 3,000+ miles

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AutoTrader aside, but from dealers these demos are essentially new. It will still show you as the only owner when you go to sell, etc.

No, it won't be $20K less because it has 1k miles, but you can probably get a couple thousand lower than if it weren't a demo....