05-18-2024, 04:03 AM
Unless things have changed dramatically in the last 12 years, my advice is to avoid all the car dealerships in Hilo.
If you INSIST on going this route, my recommendation would be to present yourself as if shopping for a vehicle AND financing. Their modus operandi is to screw customers on both, and if they think they can get you on the financing, you have a better chance at getting them closer to a fair value on the vehicle. They will try to put you into their "how much per month" box while giving concessions on price and act like they are doing you a favor. Get them to put the vehicle price in writing, and then go outside and "have a smoke" or "talk to the (whoever... wife, brother, etc)" and then come back and proceed with the purchase and give THEM the bait-and-switch, you've decided not to use their financing but will purchase the vehicle at the agreed upon price by bringing cash to the sale via outside financing.
If you go in there like you don't need their financing they won't negotiate fairly on the price. They "need" to screw you and the best you can do is set them up for that before pulling the rug out from under them.
Even then, they may try to renege on the agreed price.
If you INSIST on going this route, my recommendation would be to present yourself as if shopping for a vehicle AND financing. Their modus operandi is to screw customers on both, and if they think they can get you on the financing, you have a better chance at getting them closer to a fair value on the vehicle. They will try to put you into their "how much per month" box while giving concessions on price and act like they are doing you a favor. Get them to put the vehicle price in writing, and then go outside and "have a smoke" or "talk to the (whoever... wife, brother, etc)" and then come back and proceed with the purchase and give THEM the bait-and-switch, you've decided not to use their financing but will purchase the vehicle at the agreed upon price by bringing cash to the sale via outside financing.
If you go in there like you don't need their financing they won't negotiate fairly on the price. They "need" to screw you and the best you can do is set them up for that before pulling the rug out from under them.
Even then, they may try to renege on the agreed price.