Car buying Advice

[buster]

Guys help me out here....as you know I'm looking at buying a new car/truck. I really want to try and get the Dodge Ram short bed/Hemi.

Right now Dodge is offering huge rebates up to $4,500 with low financing. They are trying to get rid of the 2004's. I had them down to I think $22.5k a month or so ago. I'm not quite in the position yet to buy one but didn't want to miss out on these deals. Are their better times to buy a new car? I always thought end of summer early fall before the next year model comes out was the best time to buy.

I just don't want to miss out on the great deals and low financing that is going on now. If I have to make a move I will but I'd rather wait until late fall/early spring. I don't think I'd be able to get a 2005 for the same amount. No changes are being made to the 2005 Rams but the 2006's are going to have that 4cyl shut off that increases MPG. Any advice would be appreciated. Thx.

 

[needtoknow]

First I would not pay any attention to so called
MSRP. That's an inflated price that the dealership never really expects to sell at and is calculated by the Mfg'r to fool the buyer. Try to research Dealer Invoice and start your negotiation from there. Do not consider Mfg'r rebates when negotiating with dealer. Dealers get all sorts of kick backs and rebates that are not part of the original price so there's plenty of profit to negotiate from. I would go at near closing time at the end of the month and make sure your offer brings back the salesmen with a counter. If they accept your first offer you bid too high. Be prepared to walk out and even start to to see if they try to stop you. You can always use one dealer to test and use that info on the next.

 

[dropitby]

Your right this is the time of year to buy the 2004. I was in a Nissan dealer and the 04 SE-R I have is not available in fact they had none. Perhaps someone else did but its your call but don't let them know you have to have a Dodge cause the competition is fierce. Good Luck

 

[mikep]

I too always thought Sept. timeframe was the best time to buy given the new models being just around the corner. Like Needtoknow said, use web tools to research invoice prices and start from there or even a few hundred dollars under without factoring in any available rebates.

It helps to pick a model that is plentiful. Trying this with a model that is flying off the lot and in short supply is almost never successful. For instance, try and get a Honda Odysey (sp?)or Toyota Cienna mini-van for more than $500.00 below sticker price and you are basically wasting your time. Try it on a new CRown Vic or Focus and you are in charge. Not sure how the Rams are selling but if they are offering that much in terms of rebates/incentives my guess is they are willing to deal on them.

 

[like a rock]

I would sit tight and not purchase one until the cold winter months when times are slow for vehicle sales. The rebates will be around for a good while plus they might even increase.

Better yet hold on to your hard earned cash. Though a new vehicle is nice, with the monthly payments and the average monthly insurance costs and the drive off depreciation they are poor investments. I know as you get older your priorites change to less expensive purchases especially if you are starting a family.

 

[buster]

like a rock, I agree with you. However, I am definitely buying a new vehicle sometime between now and next year. I drive a lot and want this. I have no kids and the timeing is great.

The question I have is if the rebates and incentives go through the winter? Don't truck sales increase in the winter?

 

[like a rock]

Sales can increase during the winter of 4 wheel drive trucks unless two things happen. One would be that America is so maxed out on credit that big ticket purchased slow down this winter or the winter is so hard that itself would slow down sales.

Studies are showing that big purchased are going to take a hit soon due to the election and possible interest rates on the up swing. Better yet consider purchasing your new dodge at a more rural dealer. I know around my home the dodge dealership is not moving many rigs because we do not have the driving economy to spur these purchase. They are looking to deal especially during the winter months. Good luck

I purchased a 04 dakota four wheel drive last december and love it. Not a single problem to date.

 

[427Z06]

Do you research on Edmunds, KBB etc. Remember, that even at invoice, the dealer still has other incentives and things like hold-back.

Last few days of the month are the best time to deal, and before the new models come out or during slow sales of winter months.

Consider anything out of a saleman mouth a lie, or at least not the whole truth, double for the sales manager. They like to play the good cop, bad cop routine between the two.

The place they generally like to try to take you now, if your sharp, is on the dealer installed accessories. Know what accessories you want, how much they cost, and refuse to pay for anything you don't want. Anything they install, you can buy off the internet and install for at least 1/4 the price.

If you finance with them be especially careful they don't sneak one past you if they didn't take you during the sale. Be careful of everything you sign. I take a calculator and can calculate payments given the interest to keep them in check.

Go to every dealer in your area, and compare prices. They all get get vehicles from other dealers from several hundred miles away.

 

[JohnBrowning]

I get a supplier discount to GM,DC,Audi,Ford, Mitsu and Volkswagen. A lot of places will just give us the full employee discount instead of the supplier discout. A guy I work with got a Dodge Ram 4x4 Quad Cab Hemi loaded for $25,000 before financeing. This was 3-4 months ago. Just to give you some idea of how much more you can go.

 

[benjamming]

Late December is a good time to buy b/c of year-end inventory clearance. It's slow around Christmas b/c not many people put new vehicles under the Christmas tree (no matter what the Lexus commercial tells us).

http://carbuyingtips.com is a good place to use with his spreadsheet, but you may already know that.

I read on the CAr & Driver website the other day (can't find link) where they thought the good deals are to stay & possibly get better until at least the end of the year.

 

[Amkeer]

Going from a Toyota to Dodge......Good luck!

Here is some ebay listings for 2004's. Not to easy to sell them when you want to dump em!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2486535488&category=31831

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2486470103&category=31831

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2486516012&category=31831

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2486623850&category=31831

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2486451049&category=31831

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2486458108&category=31831

There is a ton of them for sale.


Daily Drives:
-2003 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner XtraCab, 2.7 Liter , Mobil 1 Synthetic SS 5w30.
ODO 9800 Miles.
-1995 Toyota 4-Runner 3.0 V6, Mobil 1 Synthetic SS 10w30.
ODO 91800 Miles.
http://community.webshots.com/user/amkeer

[ August 08, 2004, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: Amkeer ]

 

[buster]

quote:

---

Going from a Toyota to Dodge......Good luck!

---

I will always be a huge Toyota fan. For reliability/resale value and practicality they are the best. But sometimes looks and power over take your senses.

For $23,500 I can get a 5.7L 345 HP 379lbs Tq V8. How can you beat that? You can't. I give Dodge credit the Hemi is awesome.

 

[labman]

If saving every last nickle on buying the truck is that important, perhaps you should consider where the price of gas may be going before you have the truck paid off.

 

[rocky37]

You can get a very good deal on vehicles that are hot sellers. I run a car buying service on the side. I got quite a few customers who want a Toyota Sienna minivan for about $800 over invoice. The best he could get was $500 off MSRP. There are dealers that are willing to sell at a deep discount you just have to shop and play the game. It is a very time consumer game, but you can surely get a good deal. The Ram is a very nice truck, but also remember in the winter esp. if it is a bad winter, the 4x4 will be high demand.

 

[buster]

I'm in a tough spot right now. I'm being told that the 04's are on their way out, which is true. How bad is it to go with a 72 month loan but one where you can prepay on the pricipal? I've always been told don't go over 60 months.

 

[SSDude]

quote:

---

Originally posted by needtoknow:
First I would not pay any attention to so called
MSRP. That's an inflated price that the dealership never really expects to sell at and is calculated by the Mfg'r to fool the buyer. Try to research Dealer Invoice and start your negotiation from there. Do not consider Mfg'r rebates when negotiating with dealer. Dealers get all sorts of kick backs and rebates that are not part of the original price so there's plenty of profit to negotiate from. I would go at near closing time at the end of the month and make sure your offer brings back the salesmen with a counter. If they accept your first offer you bid too high. Be prepared to walk out and even start to to see if they try to stop you. You can always use one dealer to test and use that info on the next.

---

Great advice above. You can also look online and find out how much the deal hold backs are. In addition you can also go to various forums online and find out about additional discounts. Good luck.

 

[Scooby]

Saw the first real pics of the new Tacoma. If I hadn'e bought my 2004 4wd Double cab in April, I would buy one of these. If these pics had been out in April, I would have waited. Has the 4.0 V6 from the 4Runner, 5 speed auto or 6 speed manual. SWEET.

 

[buster]

Nice! Thanks for posting this and making my decision even more tough. Any others? Where did you get that pic from? How is the 4.0L holding up so far? I'm sure it's a good engine.

[ August 09, 2004, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: buster ]

 

[Amkeer]

Buster not to beat a dead horse here, but if you plan on driving lots of miles I would get the Yota. The Dodge depreciation combined with problems you will have will mean that you will be stuck upside down in the vehicle if you wanted out! Nobody will want the vehicle! There are a ton of repoed 2004 Dodges for sale and private party owners looking to dump these rigs and you can save thousands if you go that route.

 

[Scooby]

Got the pics from TTORA. Toyota had a few of these at Takeover, and everyone was for the most part impressed.

The 4.0 seems to be holding up very well. It is pretty much the same front end as the 4Runner. Meaning, even though Toyota has said that the 4.7 V8 won't be an option, I wouldn't be surprised if it is an option in the future.

We are buying a new Sienna next year. In about 3-4 years, after seeing the new Tacoma I will most likely sell my 04 to buy one of these. To me, it is the best looking small truck out there. It's now more of a midsized, which is better for me. My 04 double cab is better than my 2002 Ext cab in regards to room, but the new Tacom is longer and wider. I really like this truck.