Well after doing all the lurking, surveillance, reconnaissance, and research I could stand I finally decided to go to a dealer just out of town and say "lets do this!"
Sat down with the sales guy I'd been talking to and worked through the order process. He told me he only had MSRP of the '06s so we could try to make a deal off that. So I informed him what the invoice was and said that was my offer After a little amicable back and forth he stated that $500 over invoice was a fair deal and the best he could do. I showed him 4 official quotes at $500 over invoice and named 2 dealers in Texas and one in Mississippi that also offered me +$500 straight up without negotiations. So since 500 seems to be the rule, I said whats you deal? He then offered me $400 over. So I told him $200 over invoice and I'll commit today, otherwise I'm going to have to shop my other prospects; and that seemed to resonate and we were agreed at 200 over.

I'm sure I could have shopped more and gotten invoice, but this was a reputable dealership with an accommodating sales guy so I didn't want to pinch pennies....didn't have to worry about any bogus fees either. They initially told me I'd have to put a $1,000 deposit, which became $500 since the credit card I brought only had a $500 dollar limit

Anyways. I ordered my '06 Enthusiast, Daytona blue MT! It was 28,096 after options, adjustment, and transport. After suck Louisiana 9% sales tax title, and license I'm out the door at 30813.64 Now I just have to wait

 

congrat and good job
how long do you have to wait?
oh and.. I envy your %9 tax.. I'd get touring if I had to pay 9% tax only
instead I'll be getting base and slowly mod it when I save $

 

Good work, you realy did do your homework on this one!

 

They said it would be around 2 months from factory to the dealer's lot. Which is fine; that gives me time to sell my Audi.

 

That's awesome! Congratulations!! Now, just watch out for the potholes! (La. native here)

 

Cool. You sound like a savvy negotiator. Some 350Z shoppers want a new 350Z for free: its not going to happen. If its the car that you want, and you're happy with the price then its a “good deal.” The wait will be worthwhile.

 

Congrats, sounds like you made out pretty well. Isn't waiting hell though?

 

I'm starting to feel like I'm sneaking around on my girlfriend...spending so much time in the Daytona Blue section of the gallery forum

No joke, 2 months is going to be hell. Going to feel like I should have just waited for the first ones to hit the lots...but then again, the dealer has instructions to not touch my car when it gets off the truck. So it'll be as new as new can be..still wrapped in plastic, maybe 2 miles on it. Just knowing it was never demo'd is enough justification actually lol

 

$200 over invoice is GREAT deal! good job! so is this dealership any closer to Houston? I might swing by and see if they can work out a deal with me

 

It's LeBlanc Nissan in Gonzales http://www.leblancnissan.com/

Conrad was the guy I delt with. Good service, very acomodating

 

I just did 100 over invoice for a 2006 as well up here in Dallas. My total was just under 28k before ttl. So I hopefully will be right around 30k with our moderate 6% sales tax. I tried to do the entire bid shopping through email, and that sucked for the most part. In the end I just called around and found a good sales guy.

xeinth

 

it will have at least 7 miles on it lets start a new thead and see who guesses