[mojogoat]

Any recommendations on which dealer for the best deal and service? I plan on driving to Id (Dave Smith motors) if I choose the Ram. Its a 13hr drive but I could make it a holiday trip. I would drive all day to save a few $K. I had to drive 300 miles to buy a Kia because our dealer are so small they aren't allocated any selection, couldn't locate and secure the model we wanted and won't deal on price because they are the only dealer for 250 miles. Same with all the other dealers here on the north coast of CA. Previous to the Kia I bought a new ford in Georgia because our tow car blew up. We saved on tax and license fees because we only had to report the price paid and not the rebates etc... I'm retired so I can go anywhere anytime.

 

[orton]

Any recommendations on which dealer for the best deal and service? I plan on driving to Id (Dave Smith motors) if I choose the Ram. Its a 13hr drive but I could make it a holiday trip. I would drive all day to save a few $K. I had to drive 300 miles to buy a Kia because our dealer are so small they aren't allocated any selection, couldn't locate and secure the model we wanted and won't deal on price because they are the only dealer for 250 miles. Same with all the other dealers here on the north coast of CA. Previous to the Kia I bought a new ford in Georgia because our tow car blew up. We saved on tax and license fees because we only had to report the price paid and not the rebates etc... I'm retired so I can go anywhere anytime.

Just spend enough time to figure out exactly what vehicle and options you want. Send the list of order codes to about 8 dealers and have them quote the vehicle. You have to wait to have it built but you get exactly what you want.

 

[tom]

Please try Las Vegas: Team Ford Lincoln. Use build option online and send it to only that location. My experience: after building my transit and sending it to all Las Vegas locations, only mentioned one was able to produce price quote, so I visited them and $500 deposit is all required to order. Now I am waiting for my vehicle to arrive - transit 15 passengers, low roof, basic engine.
All other local dealers are just sending junk mail.

 

[mojogoat]

Thanks, seems so far the Promaster Van is more of a value aside from its low points unless the pricing of the transit van is very inflated. I see $40K trucks selling for $30K with the rebates, dealer incentives, bed wetting discount etc… How do you know if you have gotten a fair price with the numbers being so convoluted? I would like to order one the way I want but it seems you will miss out on on the factory rebates and incentives. I have to count my pennies now since Obama care has "lowered" my insurance costs. I could have bought a new one just with the increase in my costs of healthcare.

 

[orton]

Thanks, seems so far the Promaster Van is more of a value aside from its low points unless the pricing of the transit van is very inflated. I see $40K trucks selling for $30K with the rebates, dealer incentives, bed wetting discount etc… How do you know if you have gotten a fair price with the numbers being so convoluted? I would like to order one the way I want but it seems you will miss out on on the factory rebates and incentives. I have to count my pennies now since Obama care has "lowered" my insurance costs. I could have bought a new one just with the increase in my costs of healthcare.

As I said before: Send an exact description with all the correct order codes to numerous dealers. Let them bid on your sale. Been buying vehicles this way for years. 2/3rds of the dealers will respond. You will find that generally smaller dealers some distance from your location will have the best price. Take the second lowest bid and call and tell them they are close. Ask if they would like to sharpen their pencil. They usually do. They call the original lowest bidder and do the same thing. I normally get two bids within $100 of each other.

 

[ted]

Screw Obama, but even more, screw the people that pull his strings, as much as we blame him there are people behind the scene's that decide. Getting those rebates really help

 

[mojogoat]

Thanks, Sounds like the plan, what I don't know is if the mfg dealer or customer rebates will be applicable at delivery? I plan on buying probably toward end of the year. I don't have a pressing need for it now, I can purchase whenever I want or when it is beneficial to do so as a purchaser.

 

[VanMan]

If you want any price breaks, you have to BUY what the dealer has already BOUGHT.
Dealers are required to BUY X amounts of vehicles from manufactures to keep there Dealership.
Ford,Dodge,GM etc. the vehicles you see in the LOT are already PAID for
THAT is why they deal,rebait, etc. (to get thier cars OFF thier lot)
The Transit I want will have to be Ordered and don't think I will get any breaks
DO AS other member has told, write down what you want, send it to dealers and somebody who has will sell it to you or SELL it to a dealer who will SELL it to you.
This is how the system works

 

[mojogoat]

Thanks for the info, sounds like I'll have to buy in stock to keep costs down so I can pay for my Obamacare. I live in CA so tax 9+% and license fees, a reoccurring cost which is quite high in this state. Funny, 90 miles north, Oregon, I would pay pocket change, here I will have to pay thousands.

 

[VanMan]

As I said before: Send an exact description with all the correct order codes to numerous dealers. Let them bid on your sale. Been buying vehicles this way for years. 2/3rds of the dealers will respond. You will find that generally smaller dealers some distance from your location will have the best price. Take the second lowest bid and call and tell them they are close. Ask if they would like to sharpen their pencil. They usually do. They call the original lowest bidder and do the same thing. I normally get two bids within $100 of each other.

Do what he is saying, and somebody will BITE. This is how (with what I said) big DEALERS move stuff

 

[orton]

Thanks for the info, sounds like I'll have to buy in stock to keep costs down so I can pay for my Obamacare. I live in CA so tax 9+% and license fees, a reoccurring cost which is quite high in this state. Funny, 90 miles north, Oregon, I would pay pocket change, here I will have to pay thousands.

Ordering exactly what you want is usually the least cost route. There are reasons for this statement.
1. Dealer has to pay money (flooring charge) to a bank to finance the vehicle that is sitting on the lot. When you order that cost is eliminated.
2. You do not have to pay for stuff on a lot van that you do not really want.
3. You put yourself on the offensive and put dealers on the defensive. You are being nice and letting them have the opportunity to bid on your vehicle. Let them beat each other up.
4. Buy it for cash. Either your cash or from a bank that you obtained a loan. Never trade a vehicle in. Trading just muddies the water. Offer your vehicle as a trade in after you have negotiated the cash price. That way you will know exactly what they are offering for your trade in.
5. Sometimes a dealer will sell a "house" car that he does not have to pay the flaky salesman out front a commission.

Investigate buying new in Oregon. Have a friend in Oregon buy the vehicle in their name. Then buy it from them 6 months later. Ca. sales tax will be based on the price paid for a used vehicle.

Never set foot in a car dealer while they are open. Go when they are closed to determine the options you want. Use internet. Never negotiate at a dealer. They hold all the cards and play games. Keep it clean and discuss price over the phone directly with the "man behind the curtain". The "man behind the curtain" is knowledgeable and not like the kid out in front that has worked there two months.

If you present an exact list of what you want the "man behind the curtain" will recognize that you know what you are doing and will treat you accordingly.

 

[VanMan]

I am going "orton"'s way in the respect that I "hold the Hammer", will get 100% what I want.

 

[Brad]

Agree with Dave. My 1999 F-150 truck and a chevy I no longer have were special ordered. Got exactly what I wanted AND a great deal. Downside was I had to wait about two months for the build and transport - no biggie. All handled over the internet pinging multiple dealers for the best deal for my configuration using option codes.

IIRC (it's been awhile) the F-150 deal was invoice for the truck and any options I wanted, plus $350. Seemed decent, though with more time I know I could have done a little better.