gottarondo, here's another forum for you to check out to ease your isolation
, kia-forums.com
Just an update on my own adventure. FYI, the Automobile Protection Association has a network of dealers with whom they have an agreement to sell cars at a pre-negotiated price. Apparently, the APA doesn't have an agreement with a Kia dealer in the Lower Mainland, so I got referred to a "APA approved" auto broker instead. As I mentioned already, the broker told me that it would be futile trying to find a dealer who would agree to the APA's price (which is around $600 under the sticker price).
I was just going to wait a few months, but then I thought, "Why don't I try another broker?" The one I spoke to is based in Victoria, so perhaps a broker in Vancouver might know a little more about what price I can truly get here.
Someone in another forum posted a list of Vancouver auto brokers and I contacted two of them. I chose them based on feedback (although there weren't a lot) in other forums and because both are members of the BBB.
The first guy I contacted has a $70 fee and quoted a price that was in the same ballpark as the APA's price. I presume it was a hard quote and he doesn't have to find a dealer to match it. If I decide to go with him, that means I would have wasted about $70 joining the APA (at least I got the invoice price from them).
The second guy has no fee (he gets paid a finder's fee from the dealer). He's going to get back to me after he checks his "connection." I also asked him to check if I could get a cargo cover, if possible.
So that's where things stand. Obviously, I've decided to go the auto broker route, because I don't want to put up with the hassle of haggling and I think there's less chance of being screwed if I have a "pro" handle it. Then again, brokers have their own interests to look after, too, so I'm not sure how much they're really on my side. All in all, if the fee isn't too much, I think it's worth it.