I test drove a Touring 350Z and want to order a 2004. The particulars on the car I want: Touring with NAV, kick plates, and both front and trunk carpeted mats. The total invoice for this vehicle is $32888 while the MSRP is $36060. The dealer would only knock about $1K off of MSRP - $35037 (actually subracted $1000 from the Edmunds.com "true market value" price).

I am in the Raleigh area (Cary actually) of North Carolina. I was hoping to be able to work off of invoice (invoice plus some amount) knowing that the dealer gets a 3% holdback (I think?) even off the invoice price. Are my expectations unreasonable? Is $1000 off of MSRP reasonable for the car I outlined above?

I don't mind paying working off of MSRP if that is the going rate. I currently drive a 2001 MR2 Spyder for which I paid MSRP. $2159 over invoice just seemed a tad high to me for a car with a high production rate (they did have 6 2003 models on the lot).

They say they can't actually place the order until the first week of August with a delivery predicted by mid October and potentially as early as the end of September.

Thanks for any input,
Todd

 

Id say that sounds pretty good.... for a 2003, you might be high in the current market, but your looking for the 2004, and seem to really want it, you could probably get 3000 under MSRP if you look the 2003 model. not a whole lot changing... but thats up to you, it people that want a 2004 and not a 2003 that make the difference in price even when the actual difference doesnt really account for it.

 

I guess at least part of my thinking in going with a 2004 was that some, if not all, of the TSB issues would be no longer be there. I know that all of the issues have been/will be fixed under warranty, but I'd rather not have to deal with the problems at all if it can be helped.

As excited as I am about the Z, my history has shown that I don't keep a car any longer than 2-3 years so I was also considering the depreciation difference between an 03 and 04 (this was a very minimal consideration though as I am not planning on getting rid of the car, but I wasn't planning on getting rid of the MR2 when I purchased it either).

Though the changes were small, I like all 3 of the additions. I'll probably add an XM radio at some point; I like the fact that the DVD door will be powered; I really like the sound of the knee pads (especially during long trips).

Finally, I honestly wondered what the chances were that they would find the exact car that I wanted, that hadn't been used as a demo (I drove one so I know how they can be treated), and had not had the front bumper drilled (if it were obtained from a dealer in a state that requires front tags).

After all of these considerations, I decided the 04 was what I was looking for. It just may be that the price of getting an 04 as opposed to an 03 could explain the price differential.

 

well, that's a pretty good price for a new Z, good luck!!