Purchase of 2013 Ford Focus SE Hatchback

[killerkoolaid37]

Good Afternoon!

I was recently shopping for a new car, and after much discussion with my mechanic and most of my gearhead friends, I've decided to go ahead and go for the 2013 Focus SE Hatchback. I'm wondering if I could speak to a salesperson to discuss what I could expect when trying to purchase the car as I've never purchased a new car before. I would also like to see if there are any tips I might get in order to try and get the best deal and ask questions about what I would expect to pay monthly when all is said and done as I'm unsure what the final total would be after taxes, tags, freight, warranty options, etc.

The vehicle I've been looking at is listed on the dealer's website as right around $16000 (Or close enough as to not matter.) The car is a manual transmission Focus SE Hatchback with the Winter Package. I understand that the price that's listed is assuming that I would qualify for all incentives, which I'm certain that I don't. I'd like to also go over if possible what incentives are available in my area and how to ensure I qualify for them.

Lastly, I'd like to go over with someone how my credit score would affect the price and what it will do to my monthly payment, IE, if I have X Credit, I should expect Y APR on the contract.

I'd like to assume that I'll have about $3000 for a down payment, including cash in hand and trade-in value of my 2002 PT Cruiser.

Oh and PS: Should I even try and haggle the price down?

PPS: Have car purchase contracts been known to have early payoff penalties in them?

I understand these are a lot of questions but I would appreciate any help I could get. If any additional information is needed please let me know. Thanks!!!

[Sponsor]

[BlueFlik]

Hi, welcome to the site. Congrats on choosing a Focus, I'm sure you be happy with it.
For most of your questions, I'll let the professionals deal with them, but the one I can help you with is your PPS. I've never heard of such a penalty. If they try to include one, call them out on it.
Good luck!

[killerkoolaid37]

Thanks, I appreciate it! Yeah I'm hoping to talk to a dealer about this so he/she may be able to look at things on their systems and be able to tell me this information before I go in and get potentially blindsided. It's not that I don't trust dealers, I just don't necessarily trust the one I'm buying from. I used to work for a bank selling mortgages and other loans, so I kinda know how it can be on the other end. :)

[imccrea]

Originally Posted by killerkoolaid37

Good Afternoon!

I was recently shopping for a new car, and after much discussion with my mechanic and most of my gearhead friends, I've decided to go ahead and go for the 2013 Focus SE Hatchback. I'm wondering if I could speak to a salesperson to discuss what I could expect when trying to purchase the car as I've never purchased a new car before. I would also like to see if there are any tips I might get in order to try and get the best deal and ask questions about what I would expect to pay monthly when all is said and done as I'm unsure what the final total would be after taxes, tags, freight, warranty options, etc.

The vehicle I've been looking at is listed on the dealer's website as right around $16000 (Or close enough as to not matter.) The car is a manual transmission Focus SE Hatchback with the Winter Package. I understand that the price that's listed is assuming that I would qualify for all incentives, which I'm certain that I don't. I'd like to also go over if possible what incentives are available in my area and how to ensure I qualify for them.

Lastly, I'd like to go over with someone how my credit score would affect the price and what it will do to my monthly payment, IE, if I have X Credit, I should expect Y APR on the contract.

I'd like to assume that I'll have about $3000 for a down payment, including cash in hand and trade-in value of my 2002 PT Cruiser.

Oh and PS: Should I even try and haggle the price down?

PPS: Have car purchase contracts been known to have early payoff penalties in them?

I understand these are a lot of questions but I would appreciate any help I could get. If any additional information is needed please let me know. Thanks!!!

If you have the VIN of the specific vehicle that will help me out. As far as APR rates it's difficult to say what you will get because different banks in different areas offer varying APR's. I've seen people here get as low as 1.49% on a car loan but like I said, I would get pre-approved through your credit union then see if the dealer can meet or beat it.

For $16,000 that probably assumes RCL rebate, college grad, etc to get to that price. As an employee I cannot even buy an SE hatch for $16,000 so there is some manipulation of numbers there.

Early payoff penalties in my state are illegal, check with your state to see but I think that would be rare.

[scot254]

16k is a very low price, if they don't stick to that or go over 17.5K walk away. Don't know your credit but I wouldn't let them bait and switch me, 16K is again very low.

Also make sure they aren't charging you crazy for GAP or other things. Look at the final montly payments and multiply it out and make your decision from there. Dealers love to sell cars for cheap and get you on other aspects.

At 16k and a horrible 6% interest with 3K trade in your payment should be around $267.00 / 60 months.

Also...If you want GAP make sure to talk to your insurance company first. I know on one of my cars it was $20 a year through insurance, but I got suckered into paying $10 a month from the dealership workup.

[killerkoolaid37]

Originally Posted by scot254

16k is a very low price, if they don't stick to that or go over 17.5K walk away. Don't know your credit but I wouldn't let them bait and switch me, 16K is again very low.

Also make sure they aren't charging you crazy for GAP or other things. Look at the final montly payments and multiply it out and make your decision from there. Dealers love to sell cars for cheap and get you on other aspects.

At 16k and a horrible 6% interest with 3K trade in your payment should be around $267.00 / 60 months.

Also...If you want GAP make sure to talk to your insurance company first. I know on one of my cars it was $20 a year through insurance, but I got suckered into paying $10 a month from the dealership workup.

Re: the 16K Price, let me clarify, that's 16K w/ all of the incentives added on. As it stands it'll probably be closer to 17K as I don't qualify for the military or college grad incentives (though maybe the college one if my gf signs w/ me...)