I used to think car buying was mostly about choosing something you like and making payments.
But once you actually look into it, there are so many variables:
price, reliability, mileage, maintenance costs, insurance, financing, resale value, hidden issues, dealership pressure, timing… it turns into a full research project
My friend recently bought a lightly used Chevrolet Tahoe from a Lexus dealership. The vehicle was listed for around $52k, but after financing and fees, the total ended up being closer to $63k.
He later realized the finance department added a $3,500 maintenance plan. He says they never clearly explained what it was or what it covered. During the paperwork process, the finance manager was talking quickly and distracting him the whole time, which I know is pretty common at dealerships when they’re trying to sell add-ons.
He signed the paperwork without fully realizing what he was agreeing to. About a month later, he went back to ask what exactly the maintenance plan covered, and they told him it basically only includes FOUR oil changes. So he’s essentially paying $3,500 for FOUR oil changes.
Now the dealership is saying there’s nothing they can do because he already signed the contract.
Does he have any options at this point? Can maintenance plans like this usually be canceled or refunded after the sale, or is he stuck with it?
$3600 markup on a CH-R
yeah ok go fuck yourself
I looked at different banks and credit unions and I was able to get a 5.49 rate for a 2021 used car. That was for 60 months. Curious what people are getting? My credit is in the excellent range.
There's a 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT that was on the lot at a dealer in Michigan for about a year, then it was traded to a dealer in Atlanta in April, where it's been sitting on the lot for the past 43 days. It had the Michigan dealer's license plate frame in the photos on the Atlanta dealer's website.
The online price is $49,990, which includes the dealer fee and title fee (stated in the fine print at the bottom of the page).
I test drove it today and got the buyer's sheet:
I asked them to remove the "optional" addons and they would not.
I have no intention of buying it. I just find it hilarious how it's under $50K online, but they try and sneak in another $4,365.61 in fees when I tried to buy it (including double-dipping on the dealer and title fees).
Mike Calcara is the hero car owners need. Go show him some love.
Imagine if Subway said they were trying to protect consumers from unfair business practices and tried to outlaw Chipotle because they used corporate owned stores.
Would anyone buy that? No we would see it for what it is anti competitve action to try and ban an alternative business model.
If dealers are so great and all of your customers just love you so much why are you scared of a little competition?