One dealer told me its more expensive to order one. I thought this was false since they wouldnt have to spend any money...jus torder and thats it

whats the price difference between ordering and buying off the lot (here in jersey, Z's arent very plenitful, especially enthusiast models)

im looking most likely for the enthusiast...whats a good price (assuming ill be purchasing in say, march 04)

 

ussually they prefer to sell them off the lot. a spot on the lot is valuable real estate, one more car that they probably have tucked away in some maze of cars that they can finally display. move what you have now, worry about the future when it arrives.

 

if you can find one to your liking on a lot, negotiate. pretend you don't really like it, or it isn't a first choice. dealers are more willing to bend over backwards if the car is sitting there, because they pay interest on the car every day until it is sold.

 

In addition, although this is obvious, it is MUCH FASTER to buy off the lot. You can drive your new 350Z home today. If you order, it could take 3 months. Who wants to wait for some minor difference in equipment or color?

 

Just FYI, the reason "off the lot" is often cheaper is partially because of real estate (ie it is taking up room), but the main motivator is interest. Most dealerships are paying interest on every car in inventory.

If you really want a good deal buying off the lot go in near the end of the month. If the car sits there past the end of the month they owe another month's interest on it. That puts them in the mood to move cars.

There is no inherrent reason ordering a car costs more. (in other words it does not cost the dealer any more money). So if you want to order a car find a dealer who doesn't charge extra for it.

You _could_ go talk price on one on the lot, then switch to talking about ordering one because the one on the lot isn't quite right. Bait and switch works both ways you know. If they say ordering one costs more ask them WHY and be firm. Ordering a car does not cost them any more. (as far as I know)

AndyB

 

Yea, ordering will def. set you back at least 3 months - took me and my friend from august to november to get ours in - you will have much better luck with a car on the lot - because its an instant sale - you have more power to haggle down the price since the dealer will be making the sale right now instead of 3 months down the road.

 

Go to the Nissan.com site and build the "Z" you want from the wheels up. Do a search by Zip Code given how far you are willing to fly or drive to pick it up. The system will tell you how many each dealer has and the percentage of match against what you want and they have. You are doing all this without even communicating with the dealer. I found a 100% match in less than 45 days. I even had the VIN number. Then I started communicating with dealer. Once they knew I was serious, picked me up at the airport and refunded my airline ticket. The fun part was driving it home from Scottsdale, AZ.

 

If you don't want to wait, follow Mr. Keller's excellant advice above. I followed a similar path (though I paid an additional $250 to have the car delivered to my door). I got precisely the car I wanted when I wanted at the price I expected to pay (MSRP).

 

I've pretty much decided I am going to have to order and wait. The dealers within driving distance of Tampa seem to mostly have automatics in silver or red. Red in the Florida sun is just not a good idea. Last time I looked there was one manual tranny among the four local dealers. What's up with that?

I have heard some good things about carsdirect.com. Anyone had any dealings with them before?

 

theres a pretty good selection of cars up in the atlanta area, might be worth the drive. or you can have cars shipped to you for 250-500$ itll take far less time than ordering atleast.

if you really dont mind the wait tho. order, theres nothing wrong with that either.

 

Pick out Zip Codes in Northern Florida to include Pan Handle, Georgia and Alabama. You talk them into paying for your ticket when you close. Drive it home within the "break in" limits and you will enjoy the thrill of your "new" Z a lot sooner.

 

It "technically" should be cheaper to order one. Here's why. If you order a car, the dealer doesn't need the holdback, and might be persuaded to take it off the price of the car. Once a car is on the lot, time is chipping away at the holdback dollars the dealer receives from Nissan.

Dealers tend to be more motivated to SWAT, though. (Sell What's Available Today).