Homestretch negotiations?

awshepard

(after-remark: sorry, long post...)Hopefully I can get a couple pointers as I'm getting towards the last phases of discussions with dealers. I've done my test drive (loved it!), and my research (not quite as fun). Here's what I've got:

Looking for white or graphite color, 2010, MT with sport package, floor mats and trunk mat, and splash guards. Invoice on all of that is $32,153 (as far as I can tell - if I'm mistaken, please feel free to correct me).

Using USAA's car-buying service, which links through TMV, I found a dealer in VA offering $1200 below invoice on the 370z (with any options), and with USAA's deal, they don't charge freight. They do, however, have a higher processing fee, and an "appearance package" fee. This dealer won't do an inventory exchange, so they might not have exactly what I'm looking for.

Another dealer (in MD, and closer to me) was offering $300 below invoice, charges freight, and has a lower processing fee. This dealer will do an inventory exchange within about a 300 mile radius, so I'm much more likely to find exactly what I want, but they won't do the USAA deal. In talking with the GM there, I mentioned the $1200 below invoice and no freight offer and asked if he could match or beat it, and he said he could - I guess through some financial wizardry. This dealer also offers free oil changes for 3 years, and free unlimited car washes - not deal breakers, but definitely nice perks.

I tried to run through all the numbers and taxes and fees, and I think the VA offer will come in around 33,5 OTD, whereas MD will come in around 34,4 OTD.

Granted, I have nothing in writing yet from either place, and I'm SURE they want to let me sit inside and smell the interior again, then get me to the deal table while I'm weak, but a couple questions:

- Is $1200 below invoice on 2010's a good deal at this point?
- If $1200 below invoice gives a sale price of $30,9, does $33,5 OTD sound about right/reasonable?
- Would it be worth it to wait for 2011's to be released, and then try to find my Z among the 2010's still floating around (which might not happen?).
- Am I risking getting my quasi-bluff called, or are GM's more concerned about moving cars than calling bluffs?
- Is it worth pushing this dealer harder for better prices, when if I buy from them, I'll be seeing them every couple weeks for car washes and/or every 3 months for oil changes?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

jayl

Darcars in rockville md, has a leftover 09 blue. Not sure about sport but I think its a touring and I am sure you will be able to get it around 27. I had talked to the sales guy there before i got mine...

awshepard

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check them out. Just out of curiosity, is the touring worth it over the sport package? I read a couple reviews that said if you're putting an extra couple grand into the car, it's better spent on performance than convenience. The rev-match was definitely nice (among other things), but I might be able to be persuaded to go touring since I'm not really planning on tracking the car. Any weigh-ins on this one?

jayl

i would have liked to get the sport package myself... but the price i got for the stock car didnt justify the $ difference for me.... the touring w/out NAV; only + I see is you already have 6 speakers... vs the 2 + 2 tweeters in the stock.

If you want the re-match and dont care about the extra $$ then get the sports package...

Corbitt

I think the sport would greatly outweigh the touring option.

Touring basically adds leather and a nicer stereo for a big chunk of change. Seems very pricey for only 2 seats of leather material.

Sport adds awesome wheels, VDC, Synchro Rev, and better brakes. Also the sport package costs less than the touring package.

Just my thoughts

jayl

I agree that sports is better over touring, however...

VDC is not a sports package feature... its standard.

Corbitt

Yeah, you're right. Instead of VDC, i meant to mention the limited-slip differential for the sport.

Thanks for the catch

optiontrader

- Yes.
- What the tax in your area? In SoCal, I add 10% to the price to handle TT&L and give me a ballpark (esp. since dealers prefer to focus on the floor price and not OTD). If sales tax's around 8.75% like where I live, then $33,5 sounds perfectly reasonable.
- How willing/far do you want to drive?
- In light of the large discount between MSRP and what buyers are walking out the door with, I'd guess GM's would be more concerned to be moving units off lots.
- Always worth to negotiate, but at that price level, you're in the realm of diminishing returns. A couple of Benjamins to me ain't worth spending additional hours at the dealership.

I'm a sucker for leather, so the Touring was an entering argument for me. The trim also adds power, heat, and lumbar supports. After sitting in both base and touring Z's, I also noticed alum pedals on my bare feet (though you can replace the base rubber ones later) and the leather door inserts just give the touring trims a better "feel" in the car. Doesn't matter in the end, I killed the touring/sport debate and bought the 40th.

The sport package IS the better deal, and after driving a Z w/it, definitely agree it adds to the driving experience.

If you can sit in a base model after sitting in a touring, and NOT have obsessive/compulsive thoughts enter your head (as they do mine), I'd recommend the sport package, if you have to choose only one.

__________________

40th Anniversary Z - 3M Paint Protection Film, CA Legal Tint! (70/40)

Corbitt

This part is key; end the sport vs touring debate going on within your mind and get both!

awshepard

Haha! You guys are better salesmen than the dealer!

@optiontrader - thanks for all the input. Tax in my area is 6%, so on a 31k sale price, I'm looking at ~1800 in taxes. I guess that takes me up to just under 33k, in which case another few hundred is just icing. I didn't realize the base model didn't have the aluminum pedals - I test drove a nismo (still surprised they let me take that one out ). I guess I'll have to see if I can sit in a base model to compare all the little options.

The dealership does have a 40th, but it's got a history -
- Someone bought it, turned out to be in the process of trying to defraud the dealership. They parked the car on a street that gets cleared for rush hour, so the city towed the car around the corner and dropped it - in the process, they messed up the front bumper (cover). Dealer/cops repo'ed the car, dealer replaced the bumper cover, all was well.
- Then, huge hailstorm came along and dinged up the car, I think the dealer described it as looking like a golf ball. They got their body guys to straighten it all out.
- Then, dealership owner had a buddy in town for two weeks and instead of having him rent a car, he let him use the 40th. Put about 6 or 7 hundred miles on it (who knows how he drives), then gave it back and made it the GM's problem to get rid of.

I think they're offering the car around 35, but is it worth having a car that's had that many problems? I'm a little bit on the OCD side like you - I strongly prefer a car with as low mileage and as little history as possible.

Corbitt

To be honest, that sounds like an awful price for that car. Did you mean that is what they have it listed at, and you haven't done any negotiations? Or is the 35K after you've talked them down?

Sounds like its had a very rough life so far...

optiontrader

$35K for a Z that's been thru all but the wash? I purchased mine with 20 miles on it for $1K more. Either way, I wouldn't consider that car unless they were willing the shave off considerably more...

The dealership should definitely let you sit in a Base. It drives the same, so no test drive necessary - just see what you can live with and without.

__________________

40th Anniversary Z - 3M Paint Protection Film, CA Legal Tint! (70/40)

vrv

2010 has been the worst year for dealers, every lot in my town has at least 25-30 z's left with no one buying them. the biggest victims of the recession high end car dealers. and the z is a high end car.

I suggest you wait a few more weeks and then for the price you would pay now, you'll get leather and a nice sound system.

only go for the sport package if you're getting a manual tran.

best of luck

awshepard

Thanks for the thoughts...a couple quick updates...

I found a white 2010 6mt with sport package, kickplates, and performance brakes, about an hour away from me. I got an offer (not yet in writing) for 33,7 out the door, so I'm still keeping my ear to the ground on that one.

The closer dealer is still trying to push the 40th anniv. on me - GM says 35k out the door and on the road. It's quite tempting, honestly; forgetting the past, it's got the sport package (LOVE) and the touring trim (aluminum pedals!). Sticker is what, 39-40, invoice around 37?

optiontrader - was your 40th out the door at $36k, or was that before tax, tags, and fees?

dlek00

FYI - I was at the dealership about a 2 months ago and test drove a 40th with 40 miles on it. They had it listed at $34,900... I did not even bother negotiating since I was more interesting in getting a base sport.

I also do not know how inventory is around you, but I've done several searches within the last few weeks on Nissanusa.com around Chicago and I have seen lots of 40ths (10+).

Basically $35k OTD for that 40th still doesn't seem like a great deal to me. I am very OCD and would rather pay like $1k more for a brand new one.

Good luck!