OT: Paying cash for a new car, tips?

[Mr. Pink]

Originally Posted by zap

Recently purchased a new vehicle. Price with the local dealer negotiated via email. I was pleasantly surprised by their offer but wanted to see if we could do better.

We only have one dealer (Lexus) in our metro area. So I tried negotiating with out of town dealers. Two problems. One, dealers north of us (D.C. area w multiple dealers) had awd models that we did not want. Second, not one dealer up to 200 miles west or south of us offered a discount off msrp.

So we purchased from our local dealer. Did manage to remove Toyota/Lexus dealer add on nonsense when we were at the dealer.

We sold our 2013 Mercedes privately.

A good friend is wanting to purchase a BMW X5 with a specific package. Found one up in metro D.C. but the dealer refused to sell it to her.

About ten years ago I negotiated for a new Subaru that was advertised on a fairly local dealer's website over a month by phone and email. When I was ready to write the check, I was informed that the car did not exist. You bet I was mad.