u/Sheltiedad5

I know the make, model, trim, and color I want and have been emailing/texting basically every dealer in a 20 mile radius hoping to get the best OTD price, but it seems like no one wants to budge or get close to my target. I haven't bought a car in 13 years and this is my first car purchase as an adult so I don't entirely know how to approach this.

For reference I'm looking at a CR-V Hybrid Sport-L and am in the Southern California market. Planning to purchase tomorrow. Everyone on reddit is saying you should be able to get an OTD of 7-10% under MSRP. My real goal was $38.5. So far the best written offer I have is $40,436. I have one dealer who verbally promised me $40K flat OTD (but it's in a slightly different color) and another who has promised to work with me "toward a $39,999 OTD" if I come in (whatever "working toward" means?). When I sent the lowest written offer to some other dealers, one is saying he can work with that but I have to come in first, and I kind of want to tell him I'm not coming in anywhere first without an agreed upon number. Another came back with an offer that was literally higher.

How do you get them down? Is it just grinding and sending the written offer to each one, round by round, or should I be really aggressive and just CC every dealer on one email like I'm deciding tomorrow, who can get to my target price first? Or do you think that I won't get anywhere and that's just the price in the market (despite what others on reddit have said)?

Hi, looking to buy a car soon and am 99% decided on a Hybrid Sport-L FWD. I'm in the Southern California market for reference. Two-part question:

1. I've exchanged emails with a few dealers and have quotes at a selling price of $36,840 plus taxes&fees at $3941.69 for an OTD cost of $40,781.69. If that's the end cost I can take it but would like to lower the cost. Is it realistic to negotiate them down from that? I'd prefer to get under 40, actually hoping closer to 38.5 out the door, but is that too aggressive in this market? Wouldn't want to blow the deal altogether by being too greedy.

2. I want the Sport-L because I want the leather seats, my old Chevy spark had the scratchiest, most uncomfortable fabric seats and I've decided that for my next car that I'm committing years to I want the comfort. I suppose this is a subjective question but is the upgrade in comfort of the Sport-L trim worth the difference in cost from the regular Sport? Would saving a couple grand in three Sport and putting on decent quality aftermarket seat covers be passable or would that just be tacky?

Thanks for any input you can give

Hi, I've been driving a Chevy spark for 13 years and it's been surprisingly reliable but it's showing its age and I now have a baby and a dog and the car seat barely fits in now, and it's time for something more practical and comfortable. Looking for suggestions on models to look at.

Something like a Honda CR-V is where my head is at right now. I'm also kind of interested in a VW Tiguan. I had seen a 2025 Tiguan at a local dealer that had been marked down 7k below MSRP because they wanted to get it off the lot, but was traveling and not able to look at it and by the time I got back was sold. But I've heard the 2025 model years for Tiguans had a lot of problems. Would consider a Taos but would have to see how big it seems in person. I've read a little on the Corolla Cross and Mitsubishi Outlander as budget friendly alternatives too. But beyond that I don't know a lot about other makes and models.

My budget is around 30k, in Southern California for reference. Preferably under but it seems more realistic that it'll go over, so I could stretch to 35 out the door. Open to recent year pre-owned but prefer new. Legroom and decent cargo space are important. Reliability of getting from point A to point B safely matters more to me than how powerful the engine is. After a dozen years in a subcompact Chevy even a modern econobox will probably feel smooth. With gas prices here I do think Hybrid may be worth it but that's pushing the budget pretty far from what I can see. Would prefer leather/leatherette seats, though not a dealbreaker. Good AC is indispensable. Any suggestions for other models to look at? And if the money was the same in the end would you choose a base trim on a better car like a CR-V or a high end trim on a cheaper model like a Corolla Cross?