I’m thinking about getting a 2025 Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy. It’s been almost 9 years since I bought a car. Should I negotiate through email or just go in person? What worked for you?
I tried calling a few places first, but honestly, it felt like a waste of time. Most just laughed at the offers I gave.
Here’s what worked for me: I visited three dealerships in person.
Dealer A didn’t have the exact car I wanted but was super helpful.
Dealer B negotiated hard with me for two hours and gave me an out-the-door price of $35k (taxes/fees not included) on a 2025 SEL AWD.
Dealer C wouldn’t budge from $37k, and I already knew that wasn’t competitive because of Dealer B.
In the end, I called Dealer A and asked if they could match $34k for a brand-new 2025 Santa Fe since Dealer B offered $35k. They agreed, and I ended up driving off with an awesome deal!
@Dez
That’s a great strategy! Where are you located?
I did both. I always email at least one dealer because they know you’ve done your research and have other options. That usually gets them to give a decent quote.
Then I use that price to negotiate in person with the local dealership.
We did everything in person at the dealership. It was exhausting, but we wanted it done quickly. We don’t buy cars often, so we’re not great at the whole negotiating part. 
Jordy said:
We did everything in person at the dealership. It was exhausting, but we wanted it done quickly. We don’t buy cars often, so we’re not great at the whole negotiating part.
I feel that. When I bought my first car over 30 years ago, I spent 6 hours at the dealership. Absolute nightmare!
@Hollis
Same here! It took us about 6 hours too. Between test driving, talking to the salesperson, and dealing with financing, it was a marathon. At least the staff was friendly. Felt good to finally get it done, though!
I handled everything through email and phone, and they delivered the car right to my house.
Milo said:
I handled everything through email and phone, and they delivered the car right to my house.
That’s so smart! Hope everything worked out perfectly for you!
I’m in the middle of negotiating via email, text, and phone right now.
Lior said:
I’m in the middle of negotiating via email, text, and phone right now.
Good luck! Let us know how it turns out!
Avoid going to the dealership for as long as possible. Once you’re there, they control the whole process and drag it out. I only go in person to test drive, never to negotiate.
I emailed 10 dealers. Only three gave me serious responses. I played them off each other until I had a price I liked. Then I called my local dealer, told them to match it, and said I’d bring my checkbook right away. They matched it, and I got the deal.
We’re in a bit of a different situation. We had to ask the dealer to request a Hybrid Calligraphy in our preferred color. It should arrive in a few weeks, and we’ve already put down a deposit. I’m wondering if we’ll even have much negotiating power in this situation since my husband keeps saying it’s a high-demand car.
@Reese
I’ve seen posts about people getting $2-3k off, so you never know. Is the deposit refundable? If so, would you walk away if they don’t give you a good price? Also, how long is the wait from when you ordered to when it arrives?
@Hollis
Yes, the $500 deposit is refundable. Actually, it’s just a check they’re holding. We ordered months ago because the 2024 models were selling out, and we really wanted Atlantis Blue. My husband doesn’t like negotiating, so he hasn’t nailed down a final price yet. I’ll be going with him to talk numbers when it arrives. The salesperson already joked about me grilling him the last time I was there, so he’s probably not thrilled to see me again. 
@Reese
Haha, you should absolutely be the one handling the negotiations. Salespeople should not be excited to see you if you’re doing it right!
@Reese
I ordered mine too and had to compromise on some things. They threw in an appearance package and pulsing third brake light for free. Got $1,500 in Hyundai incentives and managed to haggle $500 off MSRP.
If people are getting $2-3k off, I couldn’t match that. My color combo wasn’t available anywhere near me, so I had limited leverage.
If you’re negotiating, try to get at least $1,000 off MSRP and make sure to grab any Hyundai incentives. Good luck!
@Sam
Thanks! My husband wants all-weather mats, so I’m hoping to get those swapped in for free since it shipped with carpet ones. Do end-of-year deals even happen anymore? Feels like that’s not really a thing now.
Buying a car feels so different now, at least where I am. Dealers don’t want to negotiate online, and the prices you see online are never real because they add all sorts of extra fees and warranties. It’s basically take it or leave it. We got a good deal on our Santa Fe, but it came with a ton of extra stuff we didn’t even want.
@Gray
That’s frustrating. I hope that’s not the case where I live. I’m willing to drive further if needed. I’ve heard Toyota dealers do this a lot, but maybe Hyundai is better?