Tips on Buying Cars: buying a new car, york metro area, new york metro

Question
QUESTION: I'm looking to buy a new 09 Nissan altima S with a couple upgrades.  my
questions has to do with how much wiggle room dealers have as far as giving you
a reduced price? the sticker price for that car i think was like 23000, but the
guy i went to today told me he could do 20000 after i told him he had to do a
lot better than 23000.  Is that really the best they can do, or should I expect
more?  I live in the New York Metro area, so there are a lot of Nissan's I can
shop around to, so before i go to my second one i wanted to ask you about this.  

And by the way after i told the guy i need a better price and I will be shopping
around at several Nissans before purchasing, the general manager came over and
was outraged and basically looking to start a fight."


ANSWER: Hi Phil, Find out the invoice price and offer that. Nissan is a good selling vehicle so they tend not to want to haggle.

Find you another dealer...that manager sounds like a jerk. I feel for the poor sales person you were dealing with, they always get the short end of the deal.

Don't forget to negotiate your interest rate...that is how they make money.

Let me know if I can help further and good luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks.  I'm a little confused about the interest rate part.  I thought the rate comes from the bank Nissan does business with, lets say Chase for example, not from nissan.  the bank is paying for the car correct?  and the buyer is just paying back the bank car loan right?  so wouldn't the interest rate be mostly based on the buyer's credit score?

also do you know of any accurate ways (maybe web sites) to calculate or locate the invoice price?

could a buyer ask for a price that is less than the invoice price during negotiations?  i know you said nissans go quick so they don't want to haggle, but it seems like a buyers market, plus we are looking to get an 09 and 2010's are due out soon.

Answer
You are right, it is based on your credit, but dealers will mark up the rate to make money. So tell them you will be looking into your own financing...

I've never seen a dealer go under invoice, even if the new ones are here especially a Nissan, Honda or Toyota. Edmunds.com is a good one.