people and fast talkers. Let me start off with the facts...husband and I have lousy credit 530 beacon score. Had financial trouble in the last few years(like everyone) but we are back on our feet again(somewhat) and we need a vehicle. We have saved around $3K to put down and know what vehicle we are after. This weekend we found a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT with 53K miles and in really GREAT shape. So we started "the paperwork". No one would discuss ANYHTING with us until they ran credit-price on tag was $17K. This was Sunday and they told us to take truck home overnight and come back Mon. to finalize deal. We did and when we returned Monday they came at us with a "great deal" $569/month for 66 months. I asked if they were crazy!! Of course, they ran me through the bad credit deal, etc. Said sorry we can't pay that...so they started to do their little routine of "talking to the bank and managers in the back" the lowest we got from them was $399/month for 66 months with $4500 down. We could not come to an agreement so they gave us our check back and told us good luck! NO ONE ever gave us the price of the vehicle! ALL THEY TALKED ABOUT WERE PAYMENTS. I finally asked to see a breakdown of costs and this is what I got...
Truck price $16983.
Doc & Handling fee $598.75
Sales Tax $1069.01
Transfer tags $290. (which they said if we did not have a tag to transfer it would be 500.)
Total $19175.75 which they took off $3K(cash down) and came up with $16175.75
When I asked about the handling fee they told me they could not remove that at ALL! No chance. When I do the math on the payments and terms the price is over $30K!!
All the dealers talk about is monthly payments-no one will discuss the actual price of the car! Why is this and HOW can I get around it? I am in charge of the finances in our house so it is I that these people have to deal with. I understand our credit is lousy (but isn't a lot of peoples at this time??) We both work and have a decent income and a down payment. What should be my first steps when trying to "make a deal" on a used vehicle?
Truck price $16983.
Doc & Handling fee $598.75
Sales Tax $1069.01
Transfer tags $290. (which they said if we did not have a tag to transfer it would be 500.)
Total $19175.75 which they took off $3K(cash down) and came up with $16175.75
When I asked about the handling fee they told me they could not remove that at ALL! No chance. When I do the math on the payments and terms the price is over $30K!!
All the dealers talk about is monthly payments-no one will discuss the actual price of the car! Why is this and HOW can I get around it? I am in charge of the finances in our house so it is I that these people have to deal with. I understand our credit is lousy (but isn't a lot of peoples at this time??) We both work and have a decent income and a down payment. What should be my first steps when trying to "make a deal" on a used vehicle?