If I "order" a GT from my dealer, how can I negotiate price?
3/22/10, 02:25 PM
#1
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If I "order" a GT from my dealer, how can I negotiate price?
Will they expect me to pay MSRP since I'm pretty much proving to them that I will buy this vehicle? My dealer says that order deposits are usually $1000 or less. Is that reasonable?
I did find the dealer price sheet at the top and have it downloaded--big thanks to Jeff!!!!!
Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated.
I did find the dealer price sheet at the top and have it downloaded--big thanks to Jeff!!!!!
Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated.
3/22/10, 02:31 PM
#2
MOTM Committee Member
Will they expect me to pay MSRP since I'm pretty much proving to them that I will buy this vehicle? My dealer says that order deposits are usually $1000 or less. Is that reasonable?
I did find the dealer price sheet at the top and have it downloaded--big thanks to Jeff!!!!!
Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated.
I did find the dealer price sheet at the top and have it downloaded--big thanks to Jeff!!!!!
Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated.
As for the deposit, that's a dealer by dealer case. The dealer I'm working with requires a non-refundable $1000 deposit because I ordered the glass roof. They said they've had a hard time moving the glass roof cars so they require a deposit on those.
3/22/10, 02:40 PM
#3
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My dealer charged me $1,000 for a deposit. It is subtracted from the Cash Balance Due, so it goes toward the price of the car. They get to keep the $1,000 if i back out.
3/22/10, 02:53 PM
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3/22/10, 05:05 PM
#5
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go to three different dealers and ask them for their best price; tell them you are going to three dealers and asking them all for their best price . . . then pick the one you like the best, and give them a chance to beat the best price if they weren't the ones who gave it to you
since you are ordering the car, they should give you a good price, since they don't have to carry the inventory cost; the car comes in and goes right out and they get paid, so they don't need as big a margin
I think you can get pretty close to X-Plan by doing this, since the X-Plan doesn't do much for the dealer anyway
since you are ordering the car, they should give you a good price, since they don't have to carry the inventory cost; the car comes in and goes right out and they get paid, so they don't need as big a margin
I think you can get pretty close to X-Plan by doing this, since the X-Plan doesn't do much for the dealer anyway
Last edited by Bert; 3/22/10 at 05:07 PM. Reason: more
3/22/10, 05:17 PM
#6
Mach 1 Member
You could negotiate the hold back also. Hold back is the fee that covers dealership costs, kind of like rent. If you order, it doesn't sit on the lot for an extended period of time si it's money in the dealership's pocket.
3/22/10, 05:20 PM
#7
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I got my 05 GT when the demand was sky high and places were charging thousands over MSRP. I called every Ford dealer in my area and kept calling until I found a dealer who would order it for me at $500 over invoice. Finally I found a place 2 hrs away, drove there, ordered, followed up a few times over the next couple months, killed a lot of time on TMS, then finally I drove up there and picked it up when it came in. I don't remember what the deposit was, but I MADE SURE TO PUT A DEPOSIT DOWN, because when it came in they tried to 'renegotiate' the price and say it had to sell for MSRP. I explained to them that we had an agreement and since I had the order form writen up and a receipt for money that we had a contract (money has to change hands to make the contract official). Therefore, I got my car for $500 over invoice in March of 2005.
Bottom line is, forget about MSRP. Decide what you want, and then negotiate from invoice price up, not MSRP down. With the 5.0 demand you might be best off spending some time on the phone before you start wasting gas going from place to place. Call and ask for a sales, preferrably a sales manager, and state that you want to order the car in for $X over invoice. Decide what you're willing to pay, find someone who's willing to sell it, especially when ordering. You could probably handle a lot of that online with the way so many dealers have internet sales departments. Try sending some emails and making phone calls.
OK, I'm rambling... good luck.
Bottom line is, forget about MSRP. Decide what you want, and then negotiate from invoice price up, not MSRP down. With the 5.0 demand you might be best off spending some time on the phone before you start wasting gas going from place to place. Call and ask for a sales, preferrably a sales manager, and state that you want to order the car in for $X over invoice. Decide what you're willing to pay, find someone who's willing to sell it, especially when ordering. You could probably handle a lot of that online with the way so many dealers have internet sales departments. Try sending some emails and making phone calls.
OK, I'm rambling... good luck.
3/22/10, 05:50 PM
#8
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I got my 05 GT when the demand was sky high and places were charging thousands over MSRP. I called every Ford dealer in my area and kept calling until I found a dealer who would order it for me at $500 over invoice. Finally I found a place 2 hrs away, drove there, ordered, followed up a few times over the next couple months, killed a lot of time on TMS, then finally I drove up there and picked it up when it came in. I don't remember what the deposit was, but I MADE SURE TO PUT A DEPOSIT DOWN, because when it came in they tried to 'renegotiate' the price and say it had to sell for MSRP. I explained to them that we had an agreement and since I had the order form writen up and a receipt for money that we had a contract (money has to change hands to make the contract official). Therefore, I got my car for $500 over invoice in March of 2005.
Bottom line is, forget about MSRP. Decide what you want, and then negotiate from invoice price up, not MSRP down. With the 5.0 demand you might be best off spending some time on the phone before you start wasting gas going from place to place. Call and ask for a sales, preferrably a sales manager, and state that you want to order the car in for $X over invoice. Decide what you're willing to pay, find someone who's willing to sell it, especially when ordering. You could probably handle a lot of that online with the way so many dealers have internet sales departments. Try sending some emails and making phone calls.
OK, I'm rambling... good luck.
Bottom line is, forget about MSRP. Decide what you want, and then negotiate from invoice price up, not MSRP down. With the 5.0 demand you might be best off spending some time on the phone before you start wasting gas going from place to place. Call and ask for a sales, preferrably a sales manager, and state that you want to order the car in for $X over invoice. Decide what you're willing to pay, find someone who's willing to sell it, especially when ordering. You could probably handle a lot of that online with the way so many dealers have internet sales departments. Try sending some emails and making phone calls.
OK, I'm rambling... good luck.
3/22/10, 07:21 PM
#11
Bullitt Member
QFT. No reason to pay anywhere close to MSRP; with the Retail Verification program, a retail order doesn't count against Jeff's dealer's allotment. That is if you're ready to buy now (which isn't really buying now; it's buying in May or June when the car comes in), I recommend going that route.
3/23/10, 05:05 AM
#12
Mach 1 Member
QFT. No reason to pay anywhere close to MSRP; with the Retail Verification program, a retail order doesn't count against Jeff's dealer's allotment. That is if you're ready to buy now (which isn't really buying now; it's buying in May or June when the car comes in), I recommend going that route.
3/23/10, 06:59 AM
#15
Mach 1 Member
3/23/10, 07:01 AM
#16
Shelby GT350 Member
3/23/10, 07:15 AM
#18
Bullitt Member
Go there with your wallet out, your check book in hand and, your mint 2009 Mustang GT with a for sale sign on it that reads 12k dollars less then what you paid for it. I think when your dealer sees this he'll know he's dealing with a shrewd bargainer and he'll be ready to give you a great deal to get you into the 2011 Mustang GT
Last edited by black sunshine; 3/23/10 at 07:17 AM.
3/23/10, 07:32 AM
#19
Bullitt Member
Sounds like they're jerking you around. Seriously, with the Retail Verification program out there, these guys really don't have a leg to stand on. Either they order you the car you want for 300 over invoice, and make money off your parts and service, or you go to someone who will order you the car for that price (I don't think I have to tell you who on this board can help).
3/23/10, 08:25 AM
#20
Legacy TMS Member
Even at $300 over invoice, a dealer still makes money - perhaps just not as much as they might like.
Ford's holdback is 3% of sticker minus destination. Ford pays that once they sell the car. Most dealers won't negotiate holdback - it keeps the lights on and helps pay the salaried folks - but know that it is there for them.
This is all negotiation. If you go in for a GT, they know something about you already, and knowledge is power in negotiation. Some sales folks will go the "no price quote" route. They are playing hardball to find out how emotional you are about the car. They know most Mustang GT customers are more passionate car owners. A more emotional client usually means a more profitable one. If they maintain that approach, I vote with my feet - and walk away.
Know the real price of everything on the car. Know how to calculate payments if you will arrange financing through the dealer. Though many are honest, some will try to pack payments, boost APR's, etc. Even better, pre-arrange your financing through bank, credit union, e-Loan, etc. and take them out of the financing picture, or make them compete against that. Cash is trash to a lot of car dealers. You bringing full payment takes a lot of negotiation leverage out of their hands. They are selling more than cars.
Be careful in F&I. The person you are sitting across from is another salesperson. The undercoating, scotch-guarding, dealer-installed alarm systems, etc. - much of this stuff is very overpriced at some dealers. I just said no to all of it.
Once the paperwork is done, look it over completely before signing anything. Mistakes can happen. Sad to say, occasionally they are not mistakes. Know how to calculate payments yourself.
Negotiate the price of the car. Do not let them start negotiating monthly payment. It is play time for them when they do that.
Or, just order through Jeff. He has proven himself trustworthy.
With all this said, there's also plenty of honest hardworking folks in the business. The others just ruin it for them.
Ford's holdback is 3% of sticker minus destination. Ford pays that once they sell the car. Most dealers won't negotiate holdback - it keeps the lights on and helps pay the salaried folks - but know that it is there for them.
This is all negotiation. If you go in for a GT, they know something about you already, and knowledge is power in negotiation. Some sales folks will go the "no price quote" route. They are playing hardball to find out how emotional you are about the car. They know most Mustang GT customers are more passionate car owners. A more emotional client usually means a more profitable one. If they maintain that approach, I vote with my feet - and walk away.
Know the real price of everything on the car. Know how to calculate payments if you will arrange financing through the dealer. Though many are honest, some will try to pack payments, boost APR's, etc. Even better, pre-arrange your financing through bank, credit union, e-Loan, etc. and take them out of the financing picture, or make them compete against that. Cash is trash to a lot of car dealers. You bringing full payment takes a lot of negotiation leverage out of their hands. They are selling more than cars.
Be careful in F&I. The person you are sitting across from is another salesperson. The undercoating, scotch-guarding, dealer-installed alarm systems, etc. - much of this stuff is very overpriced at some dealers. I just said no to all of it.
Once the paperwork is done, look it over completely before signing anything. Mistakes can happen. Sad to say, occasionally they are not mistakes. Know how to calculate payments yourself.
Negotiate the price of the car. Do not let them start negotiating monthly payment. It is play time for them when they do that.
Or, just order through Jeff. He has proven himself trustworthy.
With all this said, there's also plenty of honest hardworking folks in the business. The others just ruin it for them.
Last edited by Paris MkVI; 3/23/10 at 08:27 AM.