After checking the inventory of dealers within 500 miles of home, I cannot find the Z that I want. That pretty much leaves me with the option of ordering one from a local dealer. Never having done that, I have a few questions.

1) Do you order a car then are forced to buy it at sticker price when it arrives?

2) Do you try to cut a deal on the price of the car when ordering it?

3) Do you try and cut a deal on the car after it arrives and walk away from it if you don't like the deal?

4) What is the standard commitment to buy if you do order it? Will I lose my deposit if I don't take it when it arrives, etc?


Appreciate hearing any stories or advice that ya'll would like to share on this subject. Is there anything I need to be on the lookout for?

Thanks,
Dave

BTW - looking for a DB Performance, 6MT ...

 

1. No, the price is still negotiable. You are not bound to purchase the car. This is true in CA, please verify it in your location as well.

2. Depends, some dealers will try to negotiate prior. Just try to negotiate a little, but save your strength for after the car arrives, that's when the real negotiating will begin.

3. Yes, even if you've settled on a prior price, let them know that you've found the car elsewhere for less. Threaten to walk and more often than not, they will try to earn your business back.

4. In CA, we have to put a $1000 fully refundable deposit down. This is to let the dealer know you're serious. This binds you to nothing however. You can walk away any time you like.

Here's a story that might help:
I had my deposit down at dealership A. They were ******** most of the time, but I really wanted the car and they were willing to go a little under MSRP. A few weeks later, I find the car for much less at dealership B. So I go to B and hammer out a deal. I go to A the following day and ask for my deposit back. They start scrambling, trying to do whatever they can to earn my business back. I told A what I was offered at the other dealership and they try to beat it.

Once they have the car in, they basically are expecting to sell it immediately to you. If you threaten to walk, they'll most likely do what they can to make you happy.

 

Dave,

When I ordered my Z, I agreed on a price with my dealer, before giving them a $1000 refundable deposit on my credit card ($1000 over invoice)

I would keep searching, as their is new cars being delivered all the time.
Not sure how far you want to travel, but I was willing to fly, and drive back, if I found what I wanted. I lucked out, and the dealer I found out of state, also had a dealer next town from me, and put it on thier truck down to me.

I was a NissanUSA checking different Zip codes everyday, so I remember seeing a DB Performance, 6MT in Miami
Try zip code 33135

Let us know how you make out

 

Thanks guys for the insight into ordering. I hate going into something unprepared...

Hopefully, the dealer can find what I want somewhere else and get it transferred here rather than me having to travel half way across the country. I'm prepared for the worse-case of having to wait 3 more months to order one.

Thanks again,
Dave

 

I just odered my car two weeks ago.

agreee on the price before you order it. Remember you are saving him money by ordering a car because it's not going to be sitting on his lot and wasting space for more than a day or two until you get down there to pick it up. You are also saving him money by not having to waste their time to test drive the car. If you can, avoid salesmen and go straight to the owner with the list of options you want...it'll only take him like 10-15 minutes to write it up and he can avoid salesmen fees and charge you less. Always let him make an offer first. When I went in I had a number in my head and the owner gave me the car for $1500 less than what I wanted to spend. I'm glad I didn't open my big mouth before that!

But put everything you want in writing. I had him write down that he wasn't going to wash the car, he wasn't going to let anyone test drive it, he would not put any front license plate in, he would not put any dealer logos or stickers in. That was all I could really think of at the time but i'm glad I got it in writing because some of those things are standard practice for them and they might forget in a few months when my car comes in.

Seems to me if you waited for the car to actually get there, you have less negotiating power because he'll know you waited so long and you really want the car.

 

I guess it can work both ways, negotiate first or negotiate after, but look at it like this.. the salesman knows you want the car and they want to sell it to you. If you order the car, then walk away from the deal, the salesman will have to start all over on selling the car to a new customer. Instead of wasting their time on someone else, most likely they'll be willing to budge on their price some.

These salesmen have quotas to meet and if you walk away form a deal, they don't know when the car will sell. They'd rather make a deal now! This is why you will have leverage after the car comes in. They don't want another new car sitting on their lot that they weren't expecting.

But what drgenefish said is true too. If you can get a good deal off the bat, then go for it. Do what you can to get a good price. If they're not willing to budge, then you can still put a refundable deposit down and negotiate after the car comes in.

If you settle on a price before you order the car, it will be a safer bet. You know how much you are going to pay and it is agreed on already.

If you try to negotiate after the car comes in, you have to be willing to walk! That might mean no car for you.

The best bet would be to do this: put down deposits at 2 (maybe 3) dealerships. When your car is close to coming in, go to each dealership and tell them you have the car coming in from another dealership and that you want to withdraw your deposit. If they don't try to negotiate a better deal, then pull your money. No loss either way and you still end up getting the car from the other dealership.