Some questions before pulling the trigger...

Bibimbap · 06-19-2009, 05:19 PM

Hey guys,

I know I've been on and off on the forums and I am about to make the purchase very shortly.

NISSAN 370Z
BASE
6MT
PEARL WHITE
SPORTS PACKAGE
PAINTED SPLASH GUARDS
ILLUMINATED KICK PLATES
CARPETED FLOOR MATS
CARPETED TRUNK MAT

MSRP: 34,280
DEALER PRICE: 31,716

Now, I don't believe this will be the final price as I'm hoping to get a deal for $31,200. Couple things that I noticed differently was that they were going to charge me an additional for dealer service fee ($599) and a appearance protection package ($399). The salesman I talked to mentioned that the protection package was a spray that they put on the car to prevent chips and interior (kind of iffy on that).

My main objective is to avoid any hidden costs. Mainly I'm probably going to avoid the appearance package, but the cost of dealer fees seems a little high. I'd like to get some opinions on if this will be worth my while or if I should negotiate that price. Thanks guys.

UPDATE:

So I went back for round 2 and I pulled out the VPP plan on their ***. The price with VPP came out to be 31,516 and this included mats and illuminated kick plates. I felt really nervous about the whole deal so I was wondering if this was a good price for the car. I did sign the buyer's agreement on that price, but I'm wondering if the price is still negotiable if it isn't any good -- I tried getting the $599 dealer's service fee off, but they said they could not take that off.

frost · 06-19-2009, 05:21 PM

As someone who has purchased ~25 vehicles between me and my girl, I can tell you that there are only two things you can't negotiate on, taxes and license fees. You can get them to reduce or eliminate those stupid fees you discussed, you just have to make sure they don't jack something else up on the other end, like the interest rate.

Bibimbap · 06-19-2009, 05:40 PM

Heh, it'd be hard for them to do say seeing as how it's going be paid in full.

edeeZee · 06-19-2009, 05:49 PM

Here's practical advice if you choose to take it: tactfully tell the dealer will not pay for those 2 aforementioned add-ons. Don't get confrontational-sounding nor angry. Just say in a calm voice something like, "I went to several Nissan stores and they didn't have these fees." And if they keep pulling your leg, then leave and go to another Nissan store.

I used to be a car salesman for a few years, and I know what goes on as an insider. What Frost was saying about things like "interest rate" are back-end profit. If a new car dealer doesn't make their money on the front-end i.e. the diffference between MSRP and invoice, then they go for it on the back-end.

I won't burst people's bubbles on this forum, but I'm certain a lot of people who frolic with the hackneyed "I scored invoice!!!" don't realize they probably got raped on the back-end. Yeah, you can take your financing to another lending institute other then the one the finance & insurance guy wrote you up for. But when the dealer added $400 wheel locks which de facto retail for under $50 at most Nissan parts dept.,then the dealer is laughing all the way to the bank.

370Z Purist · 06-19-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bibimbap

Heh, it'd be hard for them to do say seeing as how it's going be paid in full.

It seems to me that you're pretty much set, all you need to pay are taxes, registration, etc. From what I understand you're paying in full, so no interest! Awesome.

Although it's come to my attention that I think all Base models don't come with Pearl White... Only Touring. I don't know for sure.

I have no idea what the Dealer Service Fee is, probably some upfront for crap like going to the dealer to have work done... bunch of crap. Tell them to clarify that. Usually appearance protection packages are incomplete; your best bet is to either take care of car yourself using wax and polish, or get this "clear bra" nonsense I'm hearing about. I've already gotten a small paint chip after they applied this. Since you have cloth interiors, I recommend you scotchgard those.

Seeing as your dealer already cut the price by about 3 grand, you'll probably pay the MSRP in total; that is, after all taxes. So 31 grand + miscellaneous fees = $34.5 k roughly. It sounds pretty good.

frost · 06-19-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edeeZee

Here's practical advice if you choose to take it: tactfully tell the dealer will not pay for those 2 aforementioned add-ons. Don't get confrontational-sounding nor angry. Just say in a calm voice something like, "I went to several Nissan stores and they didn't have these fees." And if they keep pulling your leg, then leave and go to another Nissan store.

I used to be a car salesman for a few years, and I know what goes on as an insider. What Frost was saying about things like "interest rate" are back-end profit. If a new car dealer doesn't make their money on the front-end i.e. the diffference between MSRP and invoice, then they go for it on the back-end.

I won't burst people's bubbles on this forum, but I'm certain a lot of people who frolic with the hackneyed "I scored invoice!!!" don't realize they probably got raped on the back-end. Yeah, you can take your financing to another lending institute other then the one the finance & insurance guy wrote you up for. But when the dealer added $400 wheel locks which de facto retail for under $50 at most Nissan parts dept.,then the dealer is laughing all the way to the bank.

Right. I've never heard of anyone "getting one over" on the dealer, despite what they may think. This is what they do for a living. You may be a fine negotiator, but these guys do this several times a day. Even someone who buys a ton of cars, like me, only has the experience they get in a couple days.

I also agree with not getting all up in their face. Be friendly with them. No reason to make it a frustrating horrible experience if you know what you are and are not willing to pay for.

dad · 06-19-2009, 05:59 PM

This may help you.
Maintenance-Car bibles

dad · 06-19-2009, 06:02 PM

dealer service fee ($599)

What is^ that?

Bibimbap · 06-19-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad

dealer service fee ($599)

What is^ that?

I'm trying to find that out myself lol. Thanks for the advice guys, if anything keep the feedback coming. I'll use it as help for round 2.

frost · 06-19-2009, 06:34 PM

I helped my mother purchase a car a year or so ago. They had a dealer service fee of around $400, dealer markup because the car was "popular," tint fee of $300, some paint protection fee, and the (now normal) dealer destination fee. I got everything knocked off for her except the destination fee which they reduced.

Bibimbap · 06-20-2009, 06:05 PM

So I went back for round 2 and I pulled out the VPP plan on their ***. The price with VPP came out to be 31,516 and this included mats and illuminated kick plates. I felt really nervous about the whole deal so I was wondering if this was a good price for the car. I did sign the buyer's agreement on that price, but I'm wondering if the price is still negotiable if it isn't any good -- I tried getting the $599 dealer's service fee off, but they said they could not take that off.

frost · 06-20-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bibimbap

I tried getting the $599 dealer's service fee off, but they said they could not take that off.

They lied. It's their own fee, they can do what they want with it.

Bibimbap · 06-20-2009, 08:09 PM

Any suggestions on how I can get them to get rid of that?

frost · 06-20-2009, 08:19 PM

Well, generally if they let you walk off the lot and don't call you within a couple days, they aren't going to negotiate on removing the fee. Generally you would have to go to another dealer at that point, but I don't know what your options are.

Bibimbap · 06-20-2009, 08:32 PM

Well... Here's the issue.

Dealer A is the one I'm talking to currently.
Dealer B is the one I've been talking with before, but decided to go with A.

Dealer A found that I wanted a Pearl White and got it towed to the dealership.

Dealer B found out that the one I wanted was Pearl White, but they couldn't get that one as they would not want to give it back.

Dealer A wants to sell me the car for the VPP price with $599 service fee

Dealer B wants to get me a Magnetic Black for 31,500 -- but not sure on the dealer service fee.

06-19-2009, 05:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bibimbap Base Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dania, FL Posts: 148 Drives: 04 S2000 Rep Power: 17	Some questions before pulling the trigger... Hey guys, I know I've been on and off on the forums and I am about to make the purchase very shortly. NISSAN 370Z BASE 6MT PEARL WHITE SPORTS PACKAGE PAINTED SPLASH GUARDS ILLUMINATED KICK PLATES CARPETED FLOOR MATS CARPETED TRUNK MAT MSRP: 34,280 DEALER PRICE: 31,716 Now, I don't believe this will be the final price as I'm hoping to get a deal for $31,200. Couple things that I noticed differently was that they were going to charge me an additional for dealer service fee ($599) and a appearance protection package ($399). The salesman I talked to mentioned that the protection package was a spray that they put on the car to prevent chips and interior (kind of iffy on that). My main objective is to avoid any hidden costs. Mainly I'm probably going to avoid the appearance package, but the cost of dealer fees seems a little high. I'd like to get some opinions on if this will be worth my while or if I should negotiate that price. Thanks guys. UPDATE: So I went back for round 2 and I pulled out the VPP plan on their **. The price with VPP came out to be 31,516 and this included mats and illuminated kick plates. I felt really nervous about the whole deal so I was wondering if this was a good price for the car. I did sign the buyer's agreement on that price, but I'm wondering if the price is still negotiable if it isn't any good -- I tried getting the $599 dealer's service fee off, but they said they could not take that off. Last edited by Bibimbap; 06-20-2009 at 06:05 PM.*

06-19-2009, 05:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
dad Grand Prix of Endurance Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 3,476 Drives: Mulsanne Straight Rep Power: 26	This may help you. Maintenance-Car bibles __________________ We can do without any article of luxury we have never had; but once obtained, it is not in human nature to surrender it voluntary.

06-19-2009, 06:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
dad Grand Prix of Endurance Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 3,476 Drives: Mulsanne Straight Rep Power: 26	dealer service fee ($599) What is^ that? __________________ We can do without any article of luxury we have never had; but once obtained, it is not in human nature to surrender it voluntary.

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06-19-2009, 05:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	As someone who has purchased ~25 vehicles between me and my girl, I can tell you that there are only two things you can't negotiate on, taxes and license fees. You can get them to reduce or eliminate those stupid fees you discussed, you just have to make sure they don't jack something else up on the other end, like the interest rate.

06-19-2009, 05:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bibimbap Base Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dania, FL Posts: 148 Drives: 04 S2000 Rep Power: 17	Heh, it'd be hard for them to do say seeing as how it's going be paid in full.

06-19-2009, 05:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
edeeZee Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: s. cali, los angeles Posts: 627 Drives: 09 370z plat 6 speed Rep Power: 266	Here's practical advice if you choose to take it: tactfully tell the dealer will not pay for those 2 aforementioned add-ons. Don't get confrontational-sounding nor angry. Just say in a calm voice something like, "I went to several Nissan stores and they didn't have these fees." And if they keep pulling your leg, then leave and go to another Nissan store. I used to be a car salesman for a few years, and I know what goes on as an insider. What Frost was saying about things like "interest rate" are back-end profit. If a new car dealer doesn't make their money on the front-end i.e. the diffference between MSRP and invoice, then they go for it on the back-end. I won't burst people's bubbles on this forum, but I'm certain a lot of people who frolic with the hackneyed "I scored invoice!!!" don't realize they probably got raped on the back-end. Yeah, you can take your financing to another lending institute other then the one the finance & insurance guy wrote you up for. But when the dealer added $400 wheel locks which de facto retail for under $50 at most Nissan parts dept.,then the dealer is laughing all the way to the bank.

06-19-2009, 06:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	I helped my mother purchase a car a year or so ago. They had a dealer service fee of around $400, dealer markup because the car was "popular," tint fee of $300, some paint protection fee, and the (now normal) dealer destination fee. I got everything knocked off for her except the destination fee which they reduced.

06-20-2009, 06:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bibimbap Base Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dania, FL Posts: 148 Drives: 04 S2000 Rep Power: 17	So I went back for round 2 and I pulled out the VPP plan on their ***. The price with VPP came out to be 31,516 and this included mats and illuminated kick plates. I felt really nervous about the whole deal so I was wondering if this was a good price for the car. I did sign the buyer's agreement on that price, but I'm wondering if the price is still negotiable if it isn't any good -- I tried getting the $599 dealer's service fee off, but they said they could not take that off.

06-20-2009, 08:09 PM	#13 (permalink)
Bibimbap Base Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dania, FL Posts: 148 Drives: 04 S2000 Rep Power: 17	Any suggestions on how I can get them to get rid of that?

06-20-2009, 08:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	Well, generally if they let you walk off the lot and don't call you within a couple days, they aren't going to negotiate on removing the fee. Generally you would have to go to another dealer at that point, but I don't know what your options are.

06-20-2009, 08:32 PM	#15 (permalink)
Bibimbap Base Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dania, FL Posts: 148 Drives: 04 S2000 Rep Power: 17	Well... Here's the issue. Dealer A is the one I'm talking to currently. Dealer B is the one I've been talking with before, but decided to go with A. Dealer A found that I wanted a Pearl White and got it towed to the dealership. Dealer B found out that the one I wanted was Pearl White, but they couldn't get that one as they would not want to give it back. Dealer A wants to sell me the car for the VPP price with $599 service fee Dealer B wants to get me a Magnetic Black for 31,500 -- but not sure on the dealer service fee.