[mikepinkerton]

I'm getting ready to start negotiating and I wanted to know if NoVA area dealers (Sterling, VOB, etc etc) participate in MACO (and thus pass it along to us) or pass along training costs as sometimes happens in other "large" markets.

I want to know exactly what fees I'll be seeing so I can prepare for them or go elsewhere if they pop up.

Thanks!
-Mike

[kobechrome]

Originally Posted by mikepinkerton

I'm getting ready to start negotiating and I wanted to know if NoVA area dealers (Sterling, VOB, etc etc) participate in MACO (and thus pass it along to us) or pass along training costs as sometimes happens in other "large" markets.

I want to know exactly what fees I'll be seeing so I can prepare for them or go elsewhere if they pop up.

Thanks!
-Mike

MACO is inherent in the invoice so there should be no extra itemized charge. If there is then it's a bogus charge. I believe all of the NOVA delaers to participate.

Here are the other fees you might see:

Document fee - BS fee, all profit for dealer (~$100-$400)
Processing fee - see above (~$100-$400)
Tire fee - legit fee ($4)
New tags/registration - legit fee (~$80)
Courier fee - BS fee but it's usually only around $10
Tax/title - 3.2% if you buy in VA, 3.0% in MD.

MD dealers are much better, professional and honest (+less fees) than VA dealers IMO - Sterling would be the only NoVA dealer I would consider but Passport/VOB are better.

To be honest - dont worry so much about how dealers charge their fees and just aim for 1) an over invoice price and 2) an out the door price. Just tell whatever dealer that you aren't willing to pay over X for the car and let them arrange their fees/costs, etc however they want. If you know the invoice price of the car + tax/title/registration/tags then you can set your own final price and let them meet that requirement.

For example, let's say your invice is $35,000. Then just say you'll allow $XXX dealer profit and then + 3.3% for tax/title/tags/tire fees/registration. Add it up, then you'll have a final price and use that to negotiate.