Buy a 2013 or a 2014 model?

winnre

Truecar gave me numbers but ALL the dealers have their own add-ons which truecar does not account for. They offer stuff that is 99% profit, for instance they have the VIN serialized on all the parts (don't care), offer 5-year cleaning of the interior (don't care) or offer Lo-Jack (so-so). The car I got has the third tail light that blinks. I hate that. I guess the dealer can disable it. It's hard to buy a plain vanilla car!

I got a 2014 and it was not my original color desire, but the inside has ALL the bells and whistles. I have A7, Bose, Nav/Touring, and Sports package. I was afraid I'd have to go without Sports or Nav but I got it all at the cost of color only. A great trade since I plan to be the driver all the time.

I'm glad I bought now. The new design is not going to be like a new computer where the old models are basically unsellable. It will be many month before a new car comes out to see in person and by then you will be waiting for the next one. Live now!

Check with FightingChance.com as well if you want to be real picky. I got my deal by waiting about 60 days before pulling the trigger. Don't settle but don't sweat the small stuff either.

dtul

You can always order the car if you don't mind waiting. That's what I did. It's a four month wait, but I'm getting exactly what I want so it's worth it. Whichever you decide you will be getting a great car, but if it were me I'd get the 2014.

Jordo!

Wait until 2014's are on the lot and go for a 2013 or even a low mileage 2012.

Also, invest in the Black Book so you can see the auction value of the car. Bring that with you to the dealership and you will watch their faces fall before your eyes. It's like an anti-bullshit talisman.

TrueCar et al is not really of any value -- it will just help average out the degree of robbery committed by salespersons in striking deals.

I would also review the thread on buying a new car -- the info on prices is a bit dated, but the details on dealer holdback, differences between invoice and MSRP, etc are all very, very useful.

Good luck!

__________________
Enjoy it. Destroy it.

FirstTimer

Thanks, here's one more piece of data in my experience. I arranged for a very specific car with a very specific features through CarsDirect. OTD price was $36 less than haggling with the dealer directly. Said dealer went on and on and on about how the incentives for buying 2013 models have never ever ever happened before and that they will never ever ever happen again. I was going to point him to links all the way back to 2009 showing the incentives on 2008 350Zs but why bother?

Not only did he want to make a direct sale at higher margin than paying out a 3rd party commission and making less even when I told him I was the party on the receiving end of both potential transactions for this car, he just kept lying and lying and lying with easily refuted facts and figures in the age of KBB and Edmunds...

In the end, he was about $500 above the average KBB OTD price so I passed. I like the looks of the latest mock-up of the next generation Z as opposed to that Michael Bayish monstrosity that was previously floated about so we'll just have to wait and see.

HEK

I'm throwing in my 2 cents. I just bought a 2013 Gunmetal, Sports/ navi, Touring with a 3k Nissan incentive a great trade for my 2013 beetle turbo navy, Fender sound, sun roof and I'm glad I waited since 2009 for it to happen. If you can wait then it's meant to be but right now just a FYI, dealers need to move the '13's since soon the 15's will be out and the overstock on '14s remains high, research and visit them as many times as it takes, I went to the same dealer 3x and walked away 'till finally the called me and we agreed on a price, no charge for the mudflaps, rugs and free oil changes for a couple of years. Good luck.