Mossy Nissan has 1000 off msrp for the 04 performance. Anyone know if i can get a better deal than that down here in San diego?

 

You are better off getting dealership numbers in LA from Nissan's web site. Mossy is pretty freaking harsh with their negotiating tactics. Here is what you should do ...

1) Get phone numbers from the Nissan website.

2) Call each of them and ask if they have a fleet manager. If no fleet, then ask for the general manager. Avoid all sales weenies. Get his name and a fax number where you can send him information.

3) Create a generic fax cover page and list all the information about the kind of Z you want. List options that are absolutely necessary to you and anything else that they could essentially find something else with or without that option. List two colors if color is not that important. The hardest colors to find in SoCal are DB and SB. On this fax page, ask the dealer to make you an offer. Never fall for this "how much do you want your monthly payment to be" crap. All you care about is a price, IN WRITING.

4) Fax (hopefully at least 15-20 numbers) the sheets to the manager you asked for in step 2 to each dealership.

5) If they are serious, they will send you a fax, or if you do not have a fax, the number you provide to call you, and let you know what offer they are willing to go with. Write down the options and price of the Performance they are offering you. Make a list with this info.

6) Thank the general manager for his time and let him know that you will call him back within a day at the most. Tell him you have other offers pending.

7) Hopefully, you receive at least 6-7 offers. Sort them according to your own priorities. Some may have higher prices, but all the options you want.

8) Call the dealer with the highest offer and tell him that you have an offer for $$$. Tell him the price on the lowest offer obviously. Ask if he can match that. If not, thank him and hang up.

9) Work your way down the list. If an offer is made that beats your lowest offer, tell him thanks, you will let him know in a few hours or what not, and use THAT offer as your lowest offer for the remaining dealers. Before you tell everyone to **** off after selecting the offer you want, GET THAT OFFER IN WRITING. Make sure they provide you with a VIN as well. It is ok to get as many offers in writing as you like. Have some backups.

10) Usually, you will parse through the list twice at the most. It becomes really rude and offers will start dropping if you annoy them too much.

11) Now, the best part, call up Mossy and tell them you can get this car, with options, at whatever price you ended up with. It will definitely be lower than the $1k Mossy is giving you. Tell them, that if they can beat your offer you will be there that day. Also inform them that since you live in San Diego, you will primarily take you car there for maintenance. Dealerships make more money off of maintenance than selling cars. If you have to tell them that, do it. Don't pull punches. This does not necessarily mean that you HAVE to take it there, but it is a good negotiating tactic. If Mossy is smart, they will cave and accept; otherwise inform the winning bid you will take it.

There is some leeway in this process, but if you follow this outline, you will most likely get the best deal you can. Also, if you are financing, ARRANGE IT BEFORE YOU GO. California Coast Credit Union has some real good deals right now. Look into it. www.calcoastcu.com ... there new loans for 60 months are at 4.49% right now. 3.99% for 48 months.

Anyway, I hope this helps. I wish you luck on your purchase and we all look forward to welcoming you to the Z club.

 

Thanks MOnkeyBoy!!! this is some great info! Did you go through this process to get yours? What model/options did you get at what price? Thanks man. As soon as i figure out my financing ( thanks for the link) im going to try this out.

 

Come up to Quality Nissan in Temecula and ask for me, Dave. I will take care of you on any Z you want!

I'll be there this Saturday. 909-676-6601

www.qualitynissan.com

 

Actually, for the Z, no. I did on some of my previous auto purchases before I discovered the process. When I got the Z, it had just came out, so there were not all that many deals to be had. Good luck on your purchase!

Will (likes to give advice)

 

For a performace, you should probably be able to get one about $500 over invoice if you follow the process. I got everything except NAV and the spoiler on mine. Total price was $31k, which was still pretty good considering most dealers were not going below MSRP. I honestly do not remember what the invoice price is, but if you go to www.fightingchance.com and order the package on the 350Z, it will tell you all the manufacturer to dealer incentives (if any) and all the invoice prices for the options and the car itself. Have fun!

Will (thinks putting things in parentheses like Pete is cool)

 

Damn, it kills me to hear how much cheaper they are now, but then again, I think at how quick my Chevy was depreciating and I think I'm still ahead.

I went to Mossy only cause I knew their CFO, and while they wouldn't deal on the MSRP one bit for my enthus, I did get a smokin deal on my trade, and got financing through California Coast (even tho my own credit union shot me down cause of something 5 years old on my credit.. those idiots...)

 

aight MonkeyBoy im gonna try out your suggestion next week. I searched most of soCal's inventory and there are only two Zs that match the model and color i want ( LS) so that may limit me. Im gonna look up north too cuz my parents are up there and if i got it up there the drive back to sd would be great. When i call the dealerships should i just ask for the name of the manager and their fax number? Im assuming if i ask for them they are going to try to say come in and we will talk like every other sales guy? also does this thing i fax out have to be all that? thanks for your help man

 

Pretty much ask for the fleet manager's name and fax number. When you call the main line, you will get a receptionist. Most of them will readily hand out the name and number of the fleet manager if you ask, without the need to transfer. At least, this is what happened when I was looking at the G35 Coupe. Not sure how the Nissan dealerships will act though. Have fun! Just do not jump the gun. That is what salespeople are always out to do is get the people WANTING to make an impulse buy.

The reason to use a fax is to essentially take YOU out of the equation. People generally tend to acquiesce whenever options are handed to them. Generally, ALL dealerships are going to screw you one way or another. Best bet is to leave emotion at home, with your fax machine. When I did this process, I faxed everything from work and had them call me back at a number where I could be reached. That made it easier.

 

not true at all

 

Ibeg to disagree. And it is not meant in a bad way. You are out to make money, like any business in a capitalistic economy should be doing. If there is a way to squeeze a cent out of customer, it will be done. Whether it be on devaluing a trade in, not getting the car near invoice, or financing at a high interest rate, it is going to be done. It usually takes the savvy consumer to work a deal; most people have no experience to do this.

This is not a bad thing by any stretch of the means. It is what makes America great. Maybe my terminology is not quite PC, but in all honesty, the interaction of haggling is a contest for some, WAR for others. All in all, it is competition. And with competition, there are winners and losers. Very rarely is there a tie.

 

Very useful advice.

Most of the Dealers around here have Internet managers. I am sort of assuming that using this would achieve the same effect?

An I would sort of disagree about not having 2 winners. If they make a sale and a profit and you get a good deal then both have won.

Perhaps they would like a bigger win but they are not going to sell to me at a loss unless they have no other options.

 

Pretty much, the internet manager/fleet manager/general manager is always better than the average salesman working on commission.