Car Dealers in the area
 

I am interested in knowing if anyone has had a problem with local car dealers that give you a "out the door" price for when a new car is delivered and then at closing increases the price. I just had that happen.

ProfEngineer, in my limited experience, Florida dealers like to tack on their "service fee" and make it sound like it's non-negotiable. I know some have had success in getting rid of it. I have gotten quotes for cars but have found them non-competitive as compared to what I can get up north. I recently purchased a vehicle up north at old stomping ground. Dealer provided $6k off MSRP and was able to do all the licensing / titling for Florida. To be frank, I'd tell you to look at your old hometown and see if they can do better.

I've purchased 2 vehicles since I've been in Florida. One from Jenkin's Honda in Leesburg and one from Blount Honda in Leesburg.

No dealer service charge or other charges were added to the cost of either vehicle.

Prices were comparable to what I paid for similar vehicles in Rochester NY.

If they quoted you an out the door price, they are cheating you to charge anything more. An out the door price means that it includes everything, including taxes, tags, and title. I would refuse to do business with that dealer.

I remember many years ago buying a new Honda from a dealer in St. Petersburg. I picked up the check from the credit union and called them and said I'm on the way over. When I got there the salesman said there's been a math mistake. I calculated a $100 wrong in your favor, so we'll need another $100. I said, here's the check, this is all your going to get. He said, they'll take it out of my salary, I said you get paid a commsion and they might take it out of that, but you'll learn next time to double check your math. He said, I'm going to need that $100. I said, nevermind the deal, give me my old car back and I'll go to another Honda dealer and make the same deal. He soon changed his story, and there was no way they had my old car on the lot, they had taken it three days earlier and gave me a demo car to drive in the meantime.

:agree: I thought it as just me. I purchased a new Hyundai 3 times from Jenkins of Leesburg and two times from Vision Hyundai in Rochester. All 5 times I got a price I was happy with. I would have walked if I didn't get it and they knew it. Negotiate an "out the door price" and make sure it's what's on the contract.

:undecided:I think it may be possible people here don't do as much HOMEWORK as they could. I see it with home purchases too.

ProfEngineer (OP) Please tell us what happened.... did you pay it or did you walk?:ohdear:

No price is final until the papers are signed. As long as your shoes are tied, you are in complete control.

I agree with on dealing up north. Down here it took 60 days to get the car and they said my trade-in value had drop approximatel $7000

I walked Send complaints to BBB, Attorney General and GM

I wonder what dealership did this to you?

I had a similar experience with Jenkins Hyundai. I think it was because my husband and I are young and it was our first car, so they took advantage of our ignorance. We ended up over paying for a 2014 Sonata. 3 years later, we're still $9k upside down on it.
We bought another car from them a year later, a 2015 Accent, and we're still $5k upside down on that one.

Will never buy from them, again.
Even their Ocala location said that's their "crap store". They send all the "bad reps" there. And I'm quoting the GM.

:ohdear: If you over paid.... why are you blaming them?:confused:

Because 1 we were ignorant as to how the buying process worked and they knew that. 2 they showed us "reports" showing that it was the lowest price available, which was obviously a lie. And 3 Why would you increase the price of a vehicle WAY more than it's worth? We know NOW to never trust a salesman, but at the time, and even when we returned recently to trade-in or re-finance, we tried to trust them, but they continued to try and take advantage of us.

Don't you know how to tell if a car salesman is lying.... his lips are moving.:blahblahblah::blahblahblah::blahblahblah:

It is a big GM dealer Go to BBB and see how many complaints there are against this dealer. Should have looked there before going to this dealer. Florida is not the place to purchase anything. Everyone is out to get the retired people.

The problem is that dealers can sell cars for any price they want. But, I believe the car manufacturers should set a fixed price for their products and put the commissioned dealers out of business, like almost every other retailer has done. It is not fair to take advantage of inexperienced buyers.

Come on people. If you don't like the price walk out, it's that easy. Last year I made a good offer on a Ford in Mt Dora. They accepted-the offer and when the papers came back they had a $595.00 dealer prep fee. I walked and whent down the road, bought another car, by the time I got home there was a call from the original dealership that the would take off the dealer prep fee. I called them and said too bad I bought somewhere else. All you have to do is walk away. Remember you are in the drivers seat don't let them bully you. Walk out.

Ahhh......

:faint: Sometimes life is not fair!

I agree, but this is an unfair practice that can be corrected, and should be.

I have retired after 30 years in the retail and wholesale auction automobile business.

I have found that most of the people that are this far upside down in their cars it is caused over several transactions of being up side down in the cars that they traded in.

Lets look at the information you supplied.

1. We ended up over paying for a 2014 Sonata. 3 years later, we're still $9k upside down on it. Average wholesale on a 2014 Sonata GLS (the mid range Sonata) is $9,000. So after making payments for 3 years you still owe approx. $18,000 on this car.

And you are blaming the dealer for this? How far were you upside down on the car you traded in on the 2014 Sonata.

2. We bought another car from them a year later, a 2015 Accent, and we're still $5k upside down on that one.
You also own a 2015 Accent the average wholesale on 2015 Accent is approx $8,850. So from what you said you have paid for 2 years and owe
just under $14,000 on this car.

Again I can't help but wonder how far upside down you were on the car that you traded in.

As you keep trading and are is this situation the reverse equity position only gets worse.

The average wholesale figures that I am quoting are from the data supplied by Manheim Auto Auction dealers website. Not knowing the exact model and mileage I am only guessing at the numbers.

Manheim is the largest auto auction chain in the world.

I have had bad experiences since I moved to Florida. I could not find one dealer who would give me a similar price as my NJ dealer, primarily due to the dealer fee. That is until I spoke with Carolyn Davis at Jenkins Hyundai in Ocala. Carolyn was able to lease me a 2018 Hyundai Sonata at the same price I had been paying using a NJ dealer, which is all I was asking all the other Hyundai dealerships in the area, including Jenkins in Leesburg, to do. If one can do it and still make a reasonable profit, why can’t all the other dealers do it. California has a law limiting dealer fee charges to $85.00. You can sign a petition to ask the Florida legislature to limit auto dealer fees by going to “eliminate Florida auto dealer fees”.

Out the door price is just that!
 

I speak from 30 + years in automobile sales as well as management and ownership. I just helped a wonderful woman here in the villages buy a new Mercedes. her deal was almost 4 thousand over what I negotiated, I knew from doing thousands of deals they would be high grossing her so I decided to handle the deal,and have some fun.
For the Benz buyers out there stay away from the MB south store just a word of caution.
If your buying a new car do your research on Exactly what you want with what options then shop online. Do it without putting your contact information unless you want to get a bunch of sales calls. All the pricing is available from consumer reports,Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book. And if your quoted an out the door price and it changes and you still buy, Shame on you.

i get a out the door price that increases by any amount i walk. dishonest dealer and may have the same thing trying to get any service work done

We are taking this much too seriously. 1. Do your homework on the internet and know exactly what you want and what you should pay. 2. Turn this into entertainment by hitting several dealers, test driving a bunch of cars, know they are trying to overcharge you and will if you let them, and go in being prepared to walk. 3. Consider buying up north, I did.
Where else can you get this much entertainment for free. As a side note, it sometimes is the dealership making the salesmen act this way.
A good deal is when both parties are happy. Walk if you are not.