[tofferr]

I hope to buy a 2003 AWD SL, Sunroof, Premium Package, Super Black, Cloth interior tonight. :2:

Based on what I've read here I think I might be able to get invoice. Do you all agree? Should I start by asking for less than invoice, or just start there and say it is my final offer? (My first new car!)

One other question, I can't find the title on my trade. In IL it takes 1-2 weeks to get a new one. Do you think the dealer might take the trade and hold it until I get my new title? I have a friend who just bought a Honda Element, and his dealer made that accommodation.

Any other comments? I'm all ears.

Thanks,
Chris
(I'll be on AIM today, and checking back here often.)

 

[Mosh]

AIM

We're practically neighbors.
Contact me on AIM and I'll give you the full details of the deal I made just last night. I paid $400 below invoice on a 2004. I tried to AIM you but it said you weren't on.

You should be able to get way below invoice at this point.

 

[sebrex13]

Depends on how many 03's they have lft and how bad they want to move them. We are in the second day of our fax attack and so far we have been offered 03's for 1000 to 1200 under invoice and 04's for 500 over. There are quite a few 03's still on the lots in Washington so we might be in a better position. You can check the dealer stock on the Nissan website to get an idea if they might need to move them.

 

[Matrixnyc]

Also dont mention the trade until you have a price you are happy with on the Murano itself. than tell them once you have that price ($100 - $800 below Invoice, If not more on an 03) tell them you want to trade in your car. If you mention it before, you will probably get either a better price on the murano and less for the trade or vice versa.

Plus, try to see what deals they will give you for an 04

Dont let them know it is your first new car purchase

Dont let them know you love the car and wont leave without it

 

[sebrex13]

They can smell fear! Be ready to walk if you aren't getting the deal you want. Chances are they will call you up before you get home and want to deal with you. Good luck!

 

[Matrixnyc]

I had to go to 3 dealers before I found one that would deal.

I loved the look on their face when you tell them the price you want to pay and they say that's not possible or no way, and you thank them and turn to walk away. They look like deers caught in headlights. I guess they think not to many people do their homework before they buy a car and just believe everything they say.

They third place I went to, I told them the price I wanted to pay and the options I wanted, And located the Murano and had it the next day. Took about 30 minutes to complete the purchase of it

 

[rugiles]

I got my '03 MO Super Black SL FWD with premium package, Cafe Latte leather, HID lights, sunroof, cargo cover & nets, bose sound system for $1,600 below invoice in Sept. I found out one of my local dealers had this car on a back lot for a while. They wanted to move it before our famous car tax kicked in.:2:

 

[Mosh]

Tips

There are several ways dealerships try to screw you.

They can: Charge you too much for the car
You should: Know the invoice price of the model and options you want (www.carsdirect.com, www.edmunds.com)

They Can: Give you less for your trade in than its worth
You should: Know the value of your trade in (www.kbb.com)

They Can: Tack on extras (undercoating, pin striping, etc.) and charge you big money for small things
You should: Tell them you want only the options you want, nothing extra. If they say “we do that to all our cars”, go somewhere else.

They Can: Give you an interest rate on your loan that is way above what you deserve.
You should: Know your current credit rating and get some quotes from local banks or www.lendingtree.com

 

[Eric L.]

Personally I think buying a car in one day is a pretty bad idea. You will get the best price by calling or emailing different dealerships and talking to their Internet or Fleet Manager. They can usually swing lower prices that the lot salesman cannot. Take the price from one dealer, and ask competing dealers to beat that price. Go back and forth until you are satisfied with the price. I will note, doing this by phone and email is a lot easier - if you go to the lot they will use their wheeling and dealing tactics on you! I started asking for $500 over invoice, and eventually got mine for $1100 under invoice in June '03 through some very determined negotiations...all on the phone! When I went to the dealership, it took them about 45 minutes to prep the car, and 15 minutes for me to sign all the paperwork. And then I had a new Murano to drive home!

You will also need to make sure the dealer has the exact vehicle you want, this can be checked at Nissanusa.com and doing a vehicle search.

As for your missing title, I'm not sure its possible for them to buy the car from you if they are not certain you own it! Maybe your missing title is to your fortune, it gives you some extra time to find the perfect Murano.

It might take a few weeks to find the perfect Murano, but its well worth the money you will save and you will get the exact model you want.

 

[sebrex13]

I agree with Eric. We started our buying a MO on the first of November. We just sent out faxes yesterday (the 18th) and have been talking to 10 different dealers by phone only. So far we have a number of prices and will start calling them back to see who can give us the best deal. I only plan on spending about a half hour at the dealership when I pick up the car. We have done tons of homework on buying this car and feel very prepared this time. The hardest part has been waiting until the 18th to send out our faxes.

 

[Matrixnyc]

We sent out the faxes aswell, but i think the 18th may have been a little early in the month. We waited till the last monday of the month to send them out. And got a good return from them. Also be prepared for some dissapointments when you get to the dealers. they are a different creature once you walk in the door. They will tell you they dont have the car you want, try to sell you another one. tell you they can do the price they agreed to on the phone or fax due to the supply and demand BS.

While sending the faxes got some results, there are no better result than knowing the invoice price and working from there. trying to get as close to $1000 off from that price. Anything $1000 below invoice I would begin to wonder if the dealer is adding anything to the price else where.

 

[sebrex13]

For November the 18th is good. It is the last full week of the month. Next week is Thanksgiving so not a full week. Any other month and we would have waited another week. We are using James Bragg's tecnique from fightingchance.com. We were ready to go the first week and he suggested waiting until the 18th because of the holiday the last week of November. I've been really happy with his system so far.

 

[Matrixnyc]

I think with the Murano, it doesnt matter really what date you send it out on, being that nissan sales are not what they expected them to be

The fightingchance method is basic common sense, but it still makes for good reading and information. there are some good points in it if you plan to lease or trying to buy a car that is very popular and hard to come by.

what are the prices you have gotten so far and for what option or sticker/invoice price

 

[sebrex13]

There are a lot of 03's in the greater Seattle area and the 04's are starting to trickle in. So we put in our fax that we wanted an 04 AWD SL with touring package and splash gaurds or would take an 03 AWD SL with premium,leather,sunroof,and splashguards, if the price was right. Basically they are the same car. After the first round of call backs we have had offers of 500 over invoice on the 04 and 1200 under invoice on the 03. There are still a couple people we need to talk to that were out yesterday. Apparently there is some Nissan training seminar going on for the Washington dealerships yesterday and today and half of the people we need to talk to were at that and said they would talk to us today.

 

[tofferr]

Thanks for all the info. I am currently e-mailing dealers offering $1500 below invoice for the specific VINs that they have in stock.

I'll keep you all updated.

 

[tofferr]

So I offered $1500 under invoice to about a dozen dealers in Chicagoland. I said I'd buy today if they could meet it. These were all on 2003 Mos with AWD, cloth, Premium, and Sunroof.

2 responses so far. 1 said he wouldn't go below invoice. 1 said he would go $300 under invoice.

From the above thread I was hoping to get closer to $1000 under. Do I need to invest more time with them before I play hard ball? Maybe its too easy to shoot down someone you don't know.

Chris

 

[sashka]

[]

 

[Eric L.]

How do you locate a Fleet Manager? I tried searching the web but nothing comes up :3:

Easy...call the dealership. A secretary usually answers, just ask for the Internet or Fleet department.

 

[sashka]

Thanks, I'll try that

 

[tofferr]

Update: I bought did buy tonight. I received responses (so far) from 4 of about 12 dealers I offered $1500 under invoice. The best I got back from them was invoice (one was under, but upon further inspection said "plus fees").

My Mo is a '03, AWD, SL, Sunroof, Premium, Cloth, Super Black.

All I say is that I paid under invoice. Not a lot under, but under. I believe I could have done better, but, please don't make me feel bad about this. My time is worth money, and I'm very happy with my purchase.

BTW, my license plates transferred - they are TOF CAR # (# is a number). It was a play on my nick name, but some people used to think it meant tough car... with my Mo that finally makes sense! (My previous car was an Escort!)

Thanks for all the comments. I'm not going anywhere - now I have to figure out my after market customizations.

Chris