Car, Insurance, and Registration

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

It's time for us to purchase a new Honda-CRV-LX for my wife drives to work. I need all your opinion and help please.

1. 2010 Honda-CRV-LX 2WD = $22800 out the door? Good deal or Not?

2. Insurance adding my wife on both car.

- My old car Toyota Camry 1993 = $280 Full coverage with 21 st. century for 6 months.

- Honda 2010 under my name, and Camry 1993 under her name = $1280 for 6 months both of us ($740 for me, and adding $540 for her).

(of course my wife will driving a Brand New Honda to works, and she only has her CA licences less than 6 months)

3. Do I need to change my old Toyota Camry under her name?

Thank you for all your inputs.

Loi and Suong

p.s. I did lot of reading online $22800 seem like a good deal, and I am not sure about the insuracne and registration???

[Dai. 7]

It's time for us to purchase a new Honda-CRV-LX for my wife drives to work. I need all your opinion and help please.

1. 2010 Honda-CRV-LX 2WD = $22800 out the door? Good deal or Not?

2. Insurance adding my wife on both car.

- My old car Toyota Camry 1993 = $280 Full coverage with 21 st. century for 6 months.

- Honda 2010 under my name, and Camry 1993 under her name = $1280 for 6 months both of us ($740 for me, and adding $540 for her).

(of course my wife will driving a Brand New Honda to works, and she only has her CA licences less than 6 months)

3. Do I need to change my old Toyota Camry under her name?

Thank you for all your inputs.

Loi and Suong

p.s. I did lot of reading online $22800 seem like a good deal, and I am not sure about the insuracne and registration???

Hi Mr. Loi,

I bought my wife 2 cars since she has been in the US. Her 1st car was similar to what you are looking at getting your wife. I bought her a 2010 Rav4 base model equivalent to your LX 2wd. I purchased it for around 20,500 out the door with tax title and license. Go to truecar.com enter in your zip code and Make & Model Car you are looking for and they will tell you what invoice on the car is and what other people in your area are paying for the car (before taxes). I don't know what the taxes are in California so I would just compare prices before tax. Always try to bargain under their invoice pricing. I traded in the Rav4 just recently and got her a roomier car since we have a baby now. I purchased a toyota Venza 4cyl fully loaded for $25,000 and I got their special financing 0% interest for 5 years and they also have no maintenance cost free for 2 years. You might want to look into toyota since they are having great deals right now. I don't care about the recalls because toyota is fixing all the pedals and the motors have always been reliable.

For insurance my wife and I have both our names under each of our cars. For our cars only (not homeowners and ETC.) I am paying $130 a month for full coverage on both my Lexus GS and Her Toyota Venza. But insurance might be cheaper in Texas than in Cali and I am also getting multi coverage discount on my home, umbrella policy, and life insurance.

Good Luck and have fun Mr. Loi.

[ScottThuy 140]

It's time for us to purchase a new Honda-CRV-LX for my wife drives to work. I need all your opinion and help please.

1. 2010 Honda-CRV-LX 2WD = $22800 out the door? Good deal or Not?

2. Insurance adding my wife on both car.

- My old car Toyota Camry 1993 = $280 Full coverage with 21 st. century for 6 months.

- Honda 2010 under my name, and Camry 1993 under her name = $1280 for 6 months both of us ($740 for me, and adding $540 for her).

(of course my wife will driving a Brand New Honda to works, and she only has her CA licences less than 6 months)

3. Do I need to change my old Toyota Camry under her name?

Thank you for all your inputs.

Loi and Suong

p.s. I did lot of reading online $22800 seem like a good deal, and I am not sure about the insuracne and registration???

I have had 21 century a couple of times... they would give me a good quote and then when it came time to renew I would get hit with an increase... they said because insuring in Fl was so costly for them... I would switch to Geico when the rate went up and then if Geico decided to do something stupid like they did a couple of years ago.. I went back to 21 again only to get buped up again.. I suspect its a Florida thing... Insurance is a ####### in Fl.... Now I am back with Geico and amprobably way overinsured but for the lowprice, I couldnt pass it up... When my camarois finally on the road Imay revisit the insurance thing... shopping around for insurance is free..just the time it takes to get quotes....

I have seen where her having her license for a short time, even if she had been driving in VN for years, makes a huge difference in some states with some companies... they treat them like they have had an accident already...

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

Hi Mr. Loi,

I bought my wife 2 cars since she has been in the US. Her 1st car was similar to what you are looking at getting your wife. I bought her a 2010 Rav4 base model equivalent to your LX 2wd. I purchased it for around 20,500 out the door with tax title and license. Go to truecar.com enter in your zip code and Make & Model Car you are looking for and they will tell you what invoice on the car is and what other people in your area are paying for the car (before taxes). I don't know what the taxes are in California so I would just compare prices before tax. Always try to bargain under their invoice pricing. I traded in the Rav4 just recently and got her a roomier car since we have a baby now. I purchased a toyota Venza 4cyl fully loaded for $25,000 and I got their special financing 0% interest for 5 years and they also have no maintenance cost free for 2 years. You might want to look into toyota since they are having great deals right now. I don't care about the recalls because toyota is fixing all the pedals and the motors have always been reliable.

For insurance my wife and I have both our names under each of our cars. For our cars only (not homeowners and ETC.) I am paying $130 a month for full coverage on both my Lexus GS and Her Toyota Venza. But insurance might be cheaper in Texas than in Cali and I am also getting multi coverage discount on my home, umbrella policy, and life insurance.

Good Luck and have fun Mr. Loi.

Thank you Scott, and Dai.

Wow. you ready got a good deal on your Toyota Rav4, under the invoice price. We did looked at the Rav4 fully load it. The total price is $33,000 out the door with 0% APR, and 0 down payment for me, since I want to build my wife credit line, it jumped from 0% APR to 12% APR for her, and $5000 down payment. The total with interest will add up in 5 years is around $43,000. That Seller is crazy.

Cali Taxes and REG. is around 12%.

Scotts, I will look into other insurance since 21 st. doesn't give my wife any deal.

[Dai. 7]

Thank you Scott, and Dai.

Wow. you ready got a good deal on your Toyota Rav4, under the invoice price. We did looked at the Rav4 fully load it. The total price is $33,000 out the door with 0% APR, and 0 down payment for me, since I want to build my wife credit line, it jumped from 0% APR to 12% APR for her, and $5000 down payment. The total with interest will add up in 5 years is around $43,000. That Seller is crazy.

Cali Taxes and REG. is around 12%.

Scotts, I will look into other insurance since 21 st. doesn't give my wife any deal.

Build up her credit with credit cards... not a car. My wife has 2 credit cards now (one secured, and one regular) her credit score is mid 600's. Chase approved my wife with a $500 Limit card and the limit is rising still. Put the car in your name. get department store credit cards for her.

[BinhJerome 14]

I think the insurance rates you are giving out are a bit on the high side, and I would say to call around, check any of the online companies and see if you can get a better quote. The price for the new vehicle is not a bad price, but insurance will always be high on a new vehicle, and the bad thing is that no matter how "good of a deal" you get the moment you drive it off the lot it is not worth what you paid for it, so maybe in your best interest to shop around for a "new" used car, maybe look at some 2009 vehicles, still almost new but they won't have the price drop when you drive it home. Jerome

[Dai. 7]

used cars dont get good finance rates like 0% interest for 60 months. our new toyota venza i bought it at the right time, I bought it for a little less than used car value if i was to trade in right now I would be able to get my money back simply because i shop and bought it at the right time.. buy new cars at the end of the month. best deals are close to end of the year when they next year models are out and they are trying to clear the previous year models out. toyota's and honda's have good resale so their prices doesn't depreciate as badly as others.. you just have to buy at the right time.

Edited April 26, 2010 by Dai_Tx

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

Thanks Jeromebinh and Dai,

We will look into different insurance better than 21ST Century.

We STOP by the dealer yesterday. These are what they give us.

$23000 out the door, down payment $6000 with 3.9% APR for 60 months Honda-CRV LX = $294 a month.

I bargain down to $22000, and they let me goes???

[Dai. 7]

Mr. Loi,

Wait until the last day of the month on Friday and try to deal directly at the sales manager. It's better to deal at the end of the day at the end of the month because the sales manager is trying to hit the dealership quota so you can bargain better.

[ScottThuy 140]

For Cali and Fl..that rate is not bad... Always shop them against other companies though. Go in a few days before the end of the month and tell them that you are just shopping but are not going to buy that day... regardless of what they try.. walk out the first time there.. They will try tomake a deal, or throw numbers at you to get you to make an impulsive decision... Never give them your keys to your car.. or your drivers license..(copy only) .. they can use them as leverage to keep you there... I sold cars years ago and there are so many tricks that are used to keep you there or add pressure.

then go back, as was said, at the end of the month.. use that previous discussion as a starting point or guide... pull out that VN culture on them and negotiate brother... its a dance... enjoy it... tell them that you only want to deal with 1 person... if it is the salesman.. then its only them... the ####### of going back and forth between the sales dept and the manager.. is just a ploy... if the manager is the one.. deal with them alone... if the manager says he needs to talk to finance, then say that you want to determine a price..not financing... then after a price is identified.. financing is round 2... if you let them do it as if its tied together, they will slip extra profit into the financing... dont think that the finance guys are not under the gun as well or in there to try to get extra $ out of the deal.... If the sales dept makes a deal and sends it to finance and the finance guy doesnt get the deal done.. he catches hell... use that against him...

Dont be affraid to walk out of the finance office to get them to go the extra mile to make the deal. always remeber that they have to sell cars to stay in business and wont sell at a loss... (unless its a prior year unit).. make them earn the $... dont look at your getting a new car from them as them doing you a favor or you being lucky... they are lucky to get your business in this economy...

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

Great Advice All!!! will looking to shop around other dealer after work.

thanks.

[Anh map 2,098]

When my dad wanted to give me his car dealership (a GM brand) I said no. It's a tough business.

New driver insurance is going to be high, no way around it. If you are in a state like Mass, it's crazy. 2008 Civic and 2008 Accord = $4000 a year. I have max good points and get assessed $1000. Linh is assessed $3000 as a new driver. It should go down this Fall when she's had her license for 3 years. Here's hoping she keeps that clean driving record.

Sites like Edmunds.com can help you determine what you're likely to pay. Also kbb.com (Kelly Blue Book) is another good reference. Buy on price, not payment.

[Dai. 7]

When my dad wanted to give me his car dealership (a GM brand) I said no. It's a tough business.

New driver insurance is going to be high, no way around it. If you are in a state like Mass, it's crazy. 2008 Civic and 2008 Accord = $4000 a year. I have max good points and get assessed $1000. Linh is assessed $3000 as a new driver. It should go down this Fall when she's had her license for 3 years. Here's hoping she keeps that clean driving record.

Sites like Edmunds.com can help you determine what you're likely to pay. Also kbb.com (Kelly Blue Book) is another good reference. Buy on price, not payment.

Damn! $3000 a year just for you wife? That's insane.. I am glad in Texas, insurance is not that expensive. That hurts if you are making a car payment and paying for insurance. If insurance was that high for me that I would buy my wife a good cheap beater car and just get liability insurance. Dang and good max points for you gets you $1000 a year? Man do they expect a lot of natural disasters in Mass or a lot of bad drivers?