Buying a Car Online: One Man's Experience

Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:13PM EST

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TechCrunch's Michael Arrington offers a tale about his experience with CarsDirect, from which he just purchased a new Honda Pilot. Compared to the wild hassles of buying a car the traditional way, Arrington's experience sounds painless, even nearly pleasurable. (Last time I bought a car, I waited a week for one dealer to return my call when I'd decided to buy the car, then finally gave up and bought a car from another "no haggle" dealership 20 more miles down the road.)

But CarsDirect sounds like a wholly different world. Pick your model and any option packages you want, choose a color, and there's your price. CarsDirect goes over everything on the phone with you and delivers the car to your door.

Arrington apparently didn't finance the car, so financing options are not really discussed here (he says the rates were better than his bank), and he also notes that trade-in values are very poor. The only trick in buying the car online, he notes, is getting a test drive (or drives) done so you can actually pick out the car you want to buy. If you read the comments on his post, you'll see this has spawned an interesting (if not really tenable) debate over whether online buyers like Arrington are abusing free test drives offered by dealerships and whether they could be driven out of business by sites like CarsDirect. (His point is that he offered two dealerships the right to match the CarsDirect price; one laughed at him.)

I'd love to hear more thoughts and personal experiences from anyone who's bought a car online. Now that I have two kids, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I end up in a minivan (sigh), and the online buying method looks really tantalizing. Thoughts?

Comments on Buying a Car Online: One Man's Experience

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  • 1 Posted by jairaj on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would miss the haggling though. A year ago I bought my BMW Z4 for several thousand dollars below the Edmunds.com TMV price posted.

  • 2 Posted by scottiecordes on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    I did not buy online so to speak, but did get a CarMAX price on the internet first for my latest new car purchase. Not all CarMAX dealers sells new cars. However, my local CarMAX is a new Chrysler dealership. With that price in hand, I also allowed three dealerships to match the price. I showed them screen shots to back up my evidence. Two came close (within $400), saying that they were making nothing on the deal (yeah, right), just moving merchandise. The other said...you have done your homework. We cannot match that. I fully expected each of them to run out the door to follow me as I walked, but they did not. I then drove to CarMAX and purchased the car for the price on the internet. No hassles, no haggles. I would recommend them if you have that option for your next new car. If the CarMAX closest to you is not a new car dealer, their website is still a good resource. Just pull up a location that does sell new cars.

  • 3 Posted by apk6797 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought my last car(2001 Chevy Prizm) through Cars Direct from a dealership about 75 miles away. The dealer found the exact configuration at another dealership,about 100 miles further, picked up the car,delivered it to me. We completed the paperwork on my driveway, and my trade-in was driven away. I used a credit card for the downpayment, an overnight pre-paid envelope was left for the balance, which I paid after transferring the funds. The trade-in was not great, but the no-hassle factor was worth it My previous car was purchased at a dealership, with the usual run-around. I'll take the Cars Direct anytime Al Kaplan

  • 4 Posted by docmortgage on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is my second time around at trying to buy a car on line. The first time sent me screaming to a local dealer, and this time I took some precautions that helped, but I failed anyway. A couple of things to remember; 1) Don't use your regular E-Mail address. Get a seperate account for the purpous of buying a car, or your going to be getting more spam than a WWI dough-boy, and you'll have your new car a long time before it stops. Know exactaly what you are looking for. Do all of your homework ahead of time. 2) Don't bother with anyone who won't give you a price right at the get go. Life's too short. 3) Beware... Some people are selling car loans, not cars (vehicle to be offered after credit check). 4) Beware of offers that require your zip code to begin, You're about to be referred to a local dealer. This may not be a bad thing, but most "Internet Managers" that work for dealers, are not their best sales people, and will act as though you're bothering them, when asked for information. Good Luck. RMW

  • 5 Posted by j_joynualla on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought my acura mdx through carsdirect.com a year ago and it was my best experience buying a car. My online purchase saved me the agony of haggling. When it was time for me to pick up the car the agent at the dealeship was so accommodating that he showed me everything about the car, explained everything in detail. this is my fourth time to buy a vehicle and I have never seen such an agent so meticulous. The only thing thing he didn't show me was to drive. It was a very pleasant experience and I would it again in a near future.

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