Yes, they have a "Starting Price", and it is just complete fiction that you can safely ignore. Even the dealer invoice is a number that isn't particularly relevant to the conversation, because it doesn't take into account dealer incentives/kickbacks/bonus kickers.
A dealer can sell a car they paid $30,000 for for $25,000 and still make $5,000 on the deal once everything is considered - it's just a lot of the additional revenue is very indirect, and not at all easy to associate with any particular vehicle.
And, negotiations with car dealers is frustrating, because they will waste your time, and frequently insist they have to go talk with their "Manager", or "The VP of Sales", or "Call the head office to get permission to make an exception on this deal, because they need it to make quota" or whatever bullshit they are spinning that particular day.
If you want to make your life simple, just go to CarMax. Alternatively, if you really like playing this idiotic car dealer game, then do a couple days research on the net, research the best prices that other people have paid, taking into account timing around end of month/quarter/year, factor in when the new model may be coming out as well - set your price - and then just offer it with a yes/no to dealers, starting with your favorite dealer, and working your way down.
A dealer can sell a car they paid $30,000 for for $25,000 and still make $5,000 on the deal once everything is considered - it's just a lot of the additional revenue is very indirect, and not at all easy to associate with any particular vehicle.
And, negotiations with car dealers is frustrating, because they will waste your time, and frequently insist they have to go talk with their "Manager", or "The VP of Sales", or "Call the head office to get permission to make an exception on this deal, because they need it to make quota" or whatever bullshit they are spinning that particular day.
If you want to make your life simple, just go to CarMax. Alternatively, if you really like playing this idiotic car dealer game, then do a couple days research on the net, research the best prices that other people have paid, taking into account timing around end of month/quarter/year, factor in when the new model may be coming out as well - set your price - and then just offer it with a yes/no to dealers, starting with your favorite dealer, and working your way down.