Success Stories
Edmunds.com visitors tell us how they saved money
Share your Success Story with us.
Please note: All items sent may be edited for length and/or clarity and may be published or republished by us in any format or medium and/or licensed to others for publication. If we publish your letter or e-mail, we may attribute it to you and may include your name, city and state, unless you expressly request that you remain anonymous. See our Visitor Agreement for more information.
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002
S.C. 11/29/05
I just wanted to say a big thank you to you. Using your site for TMV®, invoice and particularly in this case, incentives information, I was able to get a very good deal on a 2006 Mercedes S350. I wouldn't have been able to do it without the helpful information you provide. I also frequent Edmunds.com often to research specs of old cars, and that information is also key.
Cheryll Y. 11/26/05
I purchased a Honda Accord using my Edmunds.com invoice and paid invoice +$500. That works for me. Thanks for your service.
Maryanne K. 11/19/05
I want you to know that, thanks to Edmunds.com I found, through a link on your Web site, the perfect used car, a 2004 Toyota Camry. I found a private seller in my local area, the price was right, and I'm now driving my "new" car. Edmunds IS "Where smart car buyers start!" Thanks!
Anne S. 11/18/05
I used Edmunds.com to buy my 2005 Subaru Forester. You got me the 2.5 X Forester for 21K out the door. I would recommend Edmunds.com to anyone.
Gerald W. 11/13/05
Thank you VERY MUCH for your price quote. I used it to get a very good deal on a Nissan Altima lease. My son, who used to sell cars, said Edmunds.com is the place to go to get the best information. Thanks, again.
Brian A. 11/08/05
I consider your site the best authority for used car pricing. It's much more "true-to-the-market" than any other resource I've tried.
Karl N. 11/05/05
After poring over your Cadillac SRX data, I bought one and because of your page on "incentives", I saved literally thousands of dollars. THANK YOU!!!
Daniel P. 10/22/05
Thanks for the great article Confessions of a Car Salesman. My wife and I are ready to purchase a new car and the information that was disclosed in your story will help us insure that we are getting a fair deal. I am forwarding copies of the article to my friends & family so that they can see the whole process of car sales.
Ross B. 9/17/05
I want to thank the anonymous author of "Confessions of a Car Salesman" for two things: 1) As a piece of "literature," it's stellar in and of itself and I've read it at least five times, and 2) I took all the tips and advice he offered along with my wife and me as she bought a 2005 Honda Element. Thanks to those tips and my wife's negotiating skills, she paid a little over $1000 under invoice. Granted, the dealership probably wanted to move the '05's; still, she did very, very well and in part, we have to thank the outstanding article for that. Brilliant move, sending someone under cover. Talk about customer service at Edmunds.com!
Bob S. 9/09/05
I have meant to write for awhile. I recently purchased a 2005 Toyota Solara Convertible. I did all the research and got all my dealer quotes from your website. I got a great car and a great deal. Thanks.
Laji I. 8/15/05
The information we got from Edmunds was just great. I bought a 2005 Honda Accord LX from a dealership in Houston, TX for $200 below invoice. A Honda below invoice? Now that's just unheard of. The sales manager said all the usual things that I had read about on Edmunds. I had pointed out that there was a cash incentive for the dealer and he could not stay at the price he was asking. Even though it was stretching our budget a bit, we got a great car at a great price!
Darius M. 6/22/05
Confessions of a Car Salesman was one of the best articles I have ever read. It was very informative. I would just like to say good job to the writer and to anyone who had anything to do with the article.
Linda S. 6/17/05
Just wanted to thank Edmunds in helping me. I went to a dealer loaded with all your facts and figures, the dealer did all the things you stated to watch out for. When I said their price was almost $6,000 more than your True Market Value® price, they said I was wrong and to prove it to me, the manager called me over to the computer. He looked up the car on your site with each option and when he saw your TMV, his face went white and he told me you were way off in your price. Boy did I enjoy that! Thanks again. I went back to your site and found some dealers that will work with me with your price. Keep it up. Your site is the best tool to use against bad dealers.
Glen G. 6/12/05
Between family needs and business needs, I buy and sell three or four vehicles a year. I do not buy from dealers, only for sale by owners. I have had great success taking your information, and presenting it to the sellers and explaining the value of their vehicle. In the last four months, I bought a Ford Ranger and a Mazda B3000, at your private party sale price or used that valuation to establish a realistic price for the vehicle. Anyone using KBB values will lose lots of money paying those inflated prices. I hope that this service remains free. And it's easy to use, once you get familiar with the site's format.
Max M. 6/1/05
First, I have to say that I was sixteen when I made this deal for my sister. My sister was nervous about asking for what she wanted, so she told me to go in there and do it for her. Using your site and the True Market Value® price, we paid about $20,400 for a 2005 Mazda Tribute S with Package 1. That's almost $6,000 (including $3,000 rebate) off of MSRP! Thanks Edmunds.com for helping in our car buying experience.
Joe T. 5/25/05
I just wanted to let you know how helpful Edmunds.com has been. I just bought a new 2005 Kia Spectra and, with the knowledge I gained from the website, I was able to negotiate a deal $150 less than the True Market Value® price! That said, I know I got a reasonable price for the vehicle and have no regrets.
Trinette M. 5/25/05
I went into the dealership with my folder of the True Market Value® printout and paperwork and carried it with me throughout the entire process. When it came time for the dealer to make an offer, his price was out there and it didn't even include all of the options I wanted. After he finished, I countered his offer by pulling out my TMV printout and saying this is what I want, with these options and this is what I will pay. He seemed to freeze at first but then asked me to initial my offer. He took it to his manager and came back with an approval. Of course, he said his manager had a few choice words for Edmunds.com but I have nothing but praises. It worked in my favor! I was able to get the 2005 Mazda Tribute I wanted, including options and color, for the exact TMV that Edmunds.com provided, which was only $100 over their invoice price. After the deal was completed, he said he wondered what I had in the folder. Now he knows.
Tammy R. 5/21/05
The information I got from Edmunds was great! I took my online invoice to the dealership, and when I compared it to theirs, they brought out a SECOND invoice with prices that matched mine. The sales manager said, "I didn't know you were going to rob us." I ended up paying $400 below invoice including taxes, tags, etc. The information I got from your site saved me big $$$. Once salespeople know that you are an informed buyer, they treat you totally differently. Thanks Edmunds!
Jeannie W. 5/13/05
I hadn't even planned on buying a car, but knew it was on the radar screen. I had researched on Edmunds and read Confessions of a Car Salesman and several other articles on purchasing cars from dealers. Unexpectedly, I found a car online went to Edmunds.com to see the True Market Value® price and drove over to the dealer and test drove the car. They let me keep the car overnight and when I offered $2300 under sticker price, I got my deal. They weren't happy, but they understood that this FEMALE knew what she was doing. That was a very satisfying feeling for a female, first-time-dealer-owned-car-customer! Thank you for empowering an otherwise clueless girl!
John R. 5/3/05
I just wanted to thank you for the advice, the in-depth story Confessions of a Car Salesman and the True Market Value® feature. Using the TMV and going to just two new Honda dealers, I purchased a 2005 Honda CRV EX 4WD for $410.00 below the TMV and I got everything I wanted. Knowledge truly is power and your web site delivers it in spades. I have already and will continue to direct people to your web site.
Lee C. 4/23/05
I have used Edmunds for my last two new car purchases. Edmunds makes it so easy; I look at the True Market Value®, then I send a few emails and wait for a reply. For both purchases, I ended up paying significantly under the invoice price with no negotiation.
George C. 3/28/05
I used your service for a vehicle I just purchased. I received three quotes all within $100 of each other. I walked into the dealer and signed the papers. What a pleasure it was to buy my car through Edmunds. It was flawless and painless. I drove out of the dealer within two hours with my new car. I will highly recommend Edmunds to anybody who is looking to buy a new car. Thank you!
Roni D. 3/14/05
Thank you so very much for all your help. The website was very user-friendly. The information I got from you was highly valuable because it gave me all the tools necessary to get a great deal. The whole process from beginning to end took three days. Toyota of Rancho Santa Margarita rapidly contacted me and they provided me with the highest quality of customer service. The price was great - way below invoice - and I got the highest value for my trade-in. The service was fast, convenient, and reliable. I have a disability and getting an online quote was the best way to go. Everything was handled via e-mail and by phone. All I had to do was show up, pay, and pick up my new 2005 Toyota Corolla S. I will highly recommend Edmunds.com and to my family and friends. Edmunds.com the only way to go!
Randy H. 3/12/05
I just wanted to say THANKS for your web site. I just bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and thanks to hours spent on your site, I got the deal of a lifetime. I read everything you had listed in Tips & Advice, including the Confessions of a Car Salesman article, and I researched the heck out of my vehicle. I compared it to everything that interested me and finally went in for the first time, prepared to buy and not get taken. The Confessions article helped me more than anything. I took control from the very start and they never had a chance! It was the most exhilarating experience of my life. Imagine telling everyone how I manipulated the dealership from the very start! I can't help telling the story every time I get a chance. Thanks so very much. I tell everyone I know they better not buy without checking out your site. I tell you, I did everything from show up 45 minutes early, to throw him off his game the second day, to following him to the booth, standing there while he dealt with his boss. AMAZING!
Alex B. 2/22/05
Thanks for all your help! This is truly the BEST site to get the inside info when planning on buying a new vehicle. The comparison shopping was very helpful. Everyone should read "Confessions of a Car Salesman" to get the real scoop when dealing with car salesman and their chump sales managers. The pricing section was outstanding — being able to see an invoice for the base price of the vehicle and all the options was a major key to negotiating with the dealer. Edmunds.com True Market Value® is also a great guide to pricing. My success was negotiating a deal on a 2005 4Runner for $941 lower than TMV® by working three very eager Toyota dealers against each other (as explained in your forums). I bought the SUV for approximately $7000 BELOW sticker price WITHOUT a trade!
The finance manager grumbled a few times that the dealer's bottom line had a big "L" at the bottom of this sale in the tune of a $1271 LOSS.
They even met my best APR of 4.69% that I was able to secure through your finance section. They started in the upper 5% before I slapped down the actual bank quotes. All in all, it was worth the homework before going out into the market. When the dealers see you roll up with a notebook full of printouts, they know they're in trouble! They don't mess around and they don't waste your time. Thanks again for the expert info!
Francis J. 2/12/05
Thank you so much! I just bought a 2005 Nissan Altima. It had to be the fastest purchase I ever made. I brought the quote to the dealer and not only did they sell me a car, but I made friends and they beat the offer by $450. Wow! I love Edmunds and will show this site to all I can. Thank you so much and thanks to the dealer for treating me and my family like gold.
Mike D. 2/8/05
Thank you so much for the extremely informative website. I was able to use it as my sole source of information when purchasing our new Scion xA. Excellent reviews, extremely informative articles ("Confessions of a Car Salesman") had me prepped when I walked in with a check and walked out with my car. Words can't describe how good you folks at Edmunds really are.
Lee J. 2/5/05
Never in my life have I been so prepared to buy a new car as I was a few months ago, after spending time at your website. Anyone thinking about buying a new or used vehicle should find your site indispensable. I bought mine about four months ago through my credit union from the fleet/internet manager, and in so doing avoided the hassles of dealing with a floor salesman, F&I room, etc. I went in pre-approved, avoided the salesman, knew exactly what the TMV® was for my area, knew the dealer's cost with options, knew exactly how much I should spend for my new vehicle. No muss, no fuss, no hassle. The most enjoyable car-buying experience of my life. Less than a month ago, I bought my daughter a certified used Toyota. Again, Edmunds had me totally prepared, and the process of buying was a pleasure.
Thank you, Edmunds. By the way, your story by the "undercover" car salesman was awesome. Thanks again.
Bert D. 2/3/05
Edmunds is my go-to site for car shopping.
In the past 12 months, I have bought two cars using information found on Edmunds. Last year, I bought a 2000 Honda Accord EX. I found one locally for Edmunds.com True Market Value® and the dealer didn't even put up a fight on the price. Two days ago, I purchased a 2005 Odyssey EXL for less than TMV® from a dealer a few miles away. Reading through the forums and having the pricing information you provide really made me feel confident going into the buying process with the dealers. I was able to get quotes using your site and solicit prices from other dealers until I found one who met my offer. You guys provide information that helps to level the playing field for us regular guys who buy cars. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Patrick E. 1/13/05
Thank you for all the great information available on Edmunds.com! We researched a number of makes and models on your site before we took our test drives. Armed with the details your site provided, my wife and I bought a leftover 2004 Chevrolet Impala LS with a sticker price of $27,340 for $14,785, BEFORE deducting the value of our trade-in! While $3,185 of our savings were from the GM Card, we were only able to get such a great deal because of what we learned on your site. Thank you for helping us get into a great car for a great price!
Christina P. 1/3/05
The "Edmunds.com True Market Value®" and Dealer Quote Request tool allowed me to get a 2005 Honda Civic VP out of the door for True Market ValueSM. Thanks so much!
Ed B. 1/1/05
I just wanted to say thanks for the invaluable help your website provided. I just bought a 2004 Honda Accord based on your suggestion, when I wouldn't otherwise have even looked at Honda, and I couldn't be happier! I also got the car for $1,300 below invoice because of a manufacturer/dealer rebate I wouldn't have otherwise known about. The look on the dealer's face was priceless when he tried to jack me around on the price and I told him about it! Thanks again for all the help.
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002
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