Hello,
Do you have any experience purchasing or leasing a car through Costoco Auto Program? or do you know someone who has?

http://www.costcoauto.com/index.asp?ZipCode=90260

If so, how was that experience for you or for them? Can you share things that you liked and disliked? and is it really worth it to go that route?

Thanks for your input.

 

There should not be any problem.

I have insurance through them and have been very happy.

 

I used it for our Subaru in the fall of 2001 and I think we got an OK deal. They did not have arrangements with my Infiniti dealer when I looked at the G.

 

All those programs are designed to do is get you in the door. The dealer doesn't recieve any incentives from Costco so they aren't going to give you any better deal than the one you negotiate if you walked in off the street.

 

Shodog,
Thanks for your comment. However, if that was the case, then I would assume that I would hear negative publicity about such programs.

 

Not if people don't know any better.

 

I'm in Austin. When I was car shopping/comparing, I called up the program to get pricing on the Acura TL.

The nearest approved dealership was Atlanta.

WTF?!?!?

I know a few people that have used it. There isn't any bickering or bargaining. You go in, and they give you a damn good price right there. It would take major effort (but possible) to do better than the prices that some friends have received using the program.

 

Print Out The Carsdirect.com Quote And Make Them Beat It...worked For Me! That Got Me A Thousand Under The Costco Price.

 

This is right on the money. I can only confirm this as a former pre -owned mgr. at an Inf. dealer. You'll always do just as well on your own. The amount of discount you get is proportional to your regions averages.

 

All they do is get you an average discount without the "let me talk to my manager" BS. You CAN do better on your own, but a lot of unsophisticated folks don't, so for them, they get a better deal and no hassle, good for them but BAD for you.

 

We used it to purchase my G 2.5 years ago. It was easy and I would definitely do it again. They sent us to the fleet guys at the Infiniti dealer they had worked their deal with. There’s no pressure at all and back then the price was $1k over the dealer’s true cost. I would think that’s gone down since then (for comparison, it was $300 over the true cost at Honda). Back then the fleet guy said that of all the purchasing deals they had going, (i.e. Costco, Sam’s, etc) Costco had the best deal. I don’t know if that was true or not though, after all, he was still a sales guy.

It depends on your preferences though, my husband still thinks he could have gotten the same deal if he haggled on his own, and for some odd reason he likes to haggle. I don’t know if he could have gotten the same deal, but I can say that the Costco way was much less stressful and less time consuming. Personally, it’s not worth my time and aggravation to haggle at a dealer after work or on the weekend, I have better things to do. I hope that helps!

 

I went to carsdirect.com to see what their target price is. For a G35 coupe 6mt with premium and aero, they said the target price is $36530. MSRP is $37030. That doesn't seem like a lot off. In fact, I'd have to say that $37000 drive out would be a fair price.

Now if their target price included TTL, then that would be a great deal.

 

As far as Costco, I looked into it, and I agree with Shodog; there is no real PROGRAM with Costco. All the COSTCO sales go through a specific individual (or Group or individuals) at the dealer.
As far as the CARSDIRECT *target* price, this is just an estimate and is as good as EDMUNDS TMV price. It is their best estimate. Depending on the make and geographic location, CARSDIRECT gives you either the TARGET price (which I just described) of the CARSDRECT Price. The CARSDIRECT price is the one you need to use. They will stick to it. The only GOTCHA is, they have to find the car.
I bought a 20003 ALTIMA 3.5 though Carsdirect and got a good deal as far as I am concerned. And I did not have to deal with my local Nissan (Smithtown) dealer. Downside, I had to drive to a dealer 35 min away (Queens Nissan); and he had to get the vehicle I wanted from Star Nissan in Bayside.
But, they found the car I wanted.
Finding a manual (either G35 or SE Altima) is not always easy.

 

Exactly within a minute of hanging the phone up with the Costco receptionist I get a phone call from a sales person at Costa Mesa Infiniti stating that he got the call from Costco and would like to be of help to me. I have to say the guy was very polite and was able to actually listen to me when I was talking.... impressive for a car sales person.
I will try to go next Friday with the Costco card and see what kind of a deal we can work out.
I was advised by the Costoco receptionist to ask for the Costoco membership price and factory invoice.
I hope it will work out

 

Take A Print Out Of The Carsdirect Price With You! Might Save A Few Hundred Bucks- Couldnt Hurt!