My newspaper had a very useful summary titled "Avoid costly mistakes with car buyer's checklist" by Philip Reed of Nerdwallet. I couldn't copy the link, but you can google 'philip reed nerd wallet' and look for the article. I'm saving the checklist for future use. Good luck to everyone considering a change in vehicle!
I strongly advice doing all negotiations via e-mail unless you enjoy negotiating. The e-mail route gives you a lot more control. Salespeople know how to control a negotiation. But his negotiating checklist is good if you want to go that way.
His point about the finance people upsetting you is very true. They pushed a $3,500 VIP package (5 years of all maintenance work, no way) and the Gold+ extended warrantee. I knew their cost for the warrantee, the price was around 3x their cost. I will probably buy the 8 year warrantee but from someone who sells it at cost. You have to be prepared to say "no" before you see the final finance person.
I am fortunate enough to be able to pay cash, though my savings account is now drained. Since I am still moving money around I thought of getting a car loan for a week. Which would give the salesperson a little more money. The problem was that I wouldn't get the car loan paperwork for 4-6 weeks, which means I would end up paying interest for a month, so I just used a HELOC check an my credit card. I will pay off both this week after the money transfers to my checking account, so only a few dollars interest. While they wouldn't let me pay for the entire car with a credit card, they did let me do $2,500, which means I will get $25 back from the credit card company.
Marche there are companies out there now that sell extended warranties on autos up to 10 years, some 15 years old.
Over the years when we went car hunting, if I started feeling pressured I would start crying (about the only time I cried back then) so we had to leave. The sales people never caught on but it got us out of there.
The warrantee would be from Subaru, just from a dealer that sells it at cost. I don't know why they do it, I suspect the person is not just working for a Subaru dealer but it is a big Subaru fan.
I have been advised against ever buying a warrantee that is not from the car manufacturer, that 3rd party warrantees aren't worth it and might for you to buy substandard parts for repairs. This is sometimes a problem with auto insurance companies.
I hate shopping like this, trying to figure out all of the nuances and unwritten rules of the game. The older I get, the more appalled I am at the games we play in absolutely everything (think politics, CEOs, big pharma, credit cards, rebates, cable companies). I just want it to be straightforward and honest so I can get on with things I would rather be doing. That said, this discussion is helpful, and I am going to try negotiating by email (thank you paulc).
I am also trying to ship a car to the west coast from the midwest and have no idea how to sift the good haulers from the bad. Quotes ranged from $4500 (phone) to $1500 + fees (online but no indication of what "fees" would be). I was hoping my SIL would handle the shipping details since I am giving them such a good deal, but darn it, they fall back into my lap and it's making me grumpy.
I've never shipped a car but I would treat them like any long distance movers, with great care. I would check BBB for complaints. Search the company names online to see if there are compliments or complaints about them (people are more likely to post with complaints so keep that bias in mind).
In college I remember some graduates moving to their next location by driving cars that needed to be moved. I don't know if they got paid but it was free transportation for them.