buying a car with real time quote on carsdirect.com / Amazon

[bellwilliam]

I see many posts on buying a new Vibe, and I want to give my thought on purchasing online with carsdirect.com, I am in no way affiliated with them. http://www.carsdirect.com (owned by Amazon, you can also go through amazon.com) is the largest car selling web site. It is also the only real time price quoting web site I know of.it takes only seconds to get the prices on 99% of cars. its final price already includes all rebates and incentives, so you don't need to research them. The price is what you they will sell you at, so it takes the guesswork out.It is great for pricing out cars. e.g, for a hot selling Mazda 6, it would list it at MSRP, but for a slower selling cars like Grand Prix, it would be $3000 under invoice. so you can compare the actual purchase price.I played around with the numbers all the time. I use it to price out cars. My buying experience with it is also really positive. The price is not the lowest (but close), but at least you can then use the number as a starting price to negotiate with your local dealer.I have bought 3 cars from carsdirect.com. after you pick your car/color/option on the web, enter a credit card number ($300 or so to guarantee the purchase). Someone would call you with the exact amount of cashier's check, which dealer it makes out to, your car's vin number.I then bring the cashier's check to the dealer. the dealer would have my car washed and all documents typed up already. my record was 25 minutes from the time I walked in to driving my car off the dealer lot. One good thing about the cashier's check it that the car dealer can not add on the craps like window etching / waxing.Vibe is currently selling for $2000 under invoice, plus there is a sidebar that talks about $1000 GM loyalty rebate. If you are planning to buy a car, just check it out to get real time pricing.

[bellwilliam]

One thing I want to emphasis is the importance of real time pricing. given above example:All magazine reviews will rate Mazda 6 above Pontiac Grand Prix. but they are comparing them at MSRP prices.so if both cars are priced MSRP at $22,000 (hypothetical). you would have to pay $22,000 for the Mazda 6, but only $16,500 (total of $4000 rebates + difference between MSRP and invoice). currently carsdirect.com is listing Mazda 6 at MSRP, but Grand Prix at $4000 under invoice. so it would be unfair to compare the 2 cars at its MSRP. I know Mazda 6 is a better car, but is it $5500 better? Most importantly, carsdirect.com is genvibe's sponsor !!! Admin II must be happy.p.s. I would still take the Mazda 6, but that's just me.