...and the negotiations begin...
 

Hey guys, just wanted to open a thread to share with all of you the experience of my attempt to negotiate the fairest deal possible for the purchase of a 370z Touring. Any comments suggestions are more than welcome, this forum has been a great help in building up my confidence and knowledge as to how to recognize a fair deal, thank you very much for that.


So step 1 has been to contact the dealers in my area, via their internet department. Below is the email I sent all of them:

Hello,

I'm currently in the market for a 370z Touring edition. I'm currently pursuing communicatinos with multiple dealers to reach the best deal possible and you are one of the dealers in my surrounding area.

Below are the specifics of what i'm looking for.

New 370z Touring 6 Speed
Exterior Color: Black
Interior Color: Gray

Package: Navigation

I know the inovice price for what i'm looking for and this is the total that i've reached:

Touring Model 6 speed manual: $31,919.00
U01 - Hard Drive-Based Navigation System: $1,605.00

That brings the total to: $33,524

I will be basing my decision on whomever gives me the best price from the total that I calculated above. I have a Nissan Pathfinder that the lease ends in July which I will be trading in. if you can please provide me the best deal you can give me for what i'm looking for in order to help me make my decision I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

Hopefully, this will get me the end result I'm hoping for. I'll keep you guys posted as to how this whole thing evolves. I hope to be doing this soon :ughdance:

Good luck - how many dealers have you contacted?

Maybe some other dealer will read this thread and give you a good offer.

I've contacted a total of three dealers, basically closest to where I live, if they can't provide me with a good deal then i'll start increasing my radius. By the way this is the "quote" that one of them just emailed me, needless to say I wrote him back and told him to get serious about dealing the car.

2009 Nissan 370Z Touring
MONTEREY BLUE
MSRP: $38,785.00
PRICE: $38,785.00

Alright guys, I got a quote from another dealer...this one is a little more reasonable. Here it goes for your review, any advice is welcome.

Vehicle Features

Trim:Touring (M6)
Engine:3.7L V6
Transmission:6 speed Manual
Doors:2
Exterior Color: Magnetic Black Metallic
Interior Color: Gray w/Leather Seat Trim

Options/Packages
50 State Emissions
Carpeted Floor Mats
Carpeted Trunk Mat
Navigation Package

Pricing

MSRP
$34,460
Options/Packages
$2,060
Destination Charge
$695
Total Price as Built*
$37,215


Internet Price*
$35,890

What are your opinions?

Based on the invoice pricing thread this is what I came up with:

Touring 6 Speed: $31,919
Navigation: $1,605
Floor Mats: $89
Trunk Mat: $65

Total (Invoice): $33,678
If we add the destination charge of $695 it will come out to $33,678+$695 = $34,373 he's offer of $35,890 it's $1,517 above invoice.

Walk, factory ordered mine for 500 bucks above invoice.

So do you guys think that I should change my communication with them and just plain out tell them that i'm willing to pay $500 above invoice?

I hate the whole car buying experience, trying to be smarter about purchasing this car than i've been in the past but man do I want this car :)

I think the best way to go into a car-buying situation is to have the number you want to spend in your head. If you are happy with $500 over invoice, go in there and say that. This is what I want, and this is what I want to spend. It's easy when you think of it that way. No haggling, no negotiation. If they won't agree, leave. They'll do whatever they can to make a sale.

Hang tough
 

500.00 over invoice is a fair price, dealer has to make some money on the deal. My dealer,once he saw the invoice, agreed immediately, and was generous in my trade in. He'll make most of his money on servicing your car. It's tough out there right now and if dealers won't work with you then their days are numbered.

I asked for either invoice or below. Anyone who offered me above or at MSRP I just repeated invoice or I go somewhere else. I really hate car shopping too. The pressure sales pitch is extremely annoying. Good luck with your search!

You've already told them that your baseline price is $33,524, so you can't be surprised if they try to lever you up a bit (which is what they're both doing). Reply to the lower of the two prices, saying that it's $33,524 or you're not interested, then sit back and see what happens.

ps., if you're the dealer reading this, give the guy a break - he really wants one!

u can't order the nav without the touring package. look at the invoice thread again. i think you have the base and touring prices mixed up.

I've always refused to pay the destination charges. Haven't had to pay them yet.
But anyway, I agree with the above post. If you tell them your price is, say, $32 k for example, they will try to get $34k out of you figuring you left in some wiggle room. My very last car negotiation went weeks over $300, but they eventually came down to my price.

I ordered mine loaded for $245 below dealer invoice. Go to the dealer with a print-out of Invoice and MSRP (you can get this on Edmunds or cars.com). Having these in a folder along with a couple car mags looks like you did a bunch of research. Tell them you've done research and know what invoice is and ask what their BEST deal is. Be nice and tell them you don't want to waste their time or yours. If their best deal is more then $500 over invoice, offer them $500 over invoice and tell them that's the most you'll pay. If they don't match this, walk away. With these economic times and dealers losing money, there are deals to be had. Don't listen to any 'BS' that this is a new car so you need to pay mark up, that's a bunch of crap.

Best of luck and let us know how it turns out!

^ true
i was able to acheive below invoice for a fully loaded one too that had to be ordered.

But is weeks of your time really worth $300?

^ I was in no rush, and it's not like I had to do anything. So I would say it was worth it. That's an intake :D
The point is, I went in an told them my price was "X." So why would I let them talk me into more than that?

at least invoice or no sale is my motto. I usually bargain to get less than invoice. Its a buyers market! I also see that when they are trying to meet their sales quota at the end of the month, it also gets better deals.

Hey guys, quick update...

The first dealer that I went to, where I test drove the car, contacted me and they have one coming in exactly as I want but the guy is selling it to me $1,300 over invoice. I sent him back an email offering him $500 over invoice and he said no.

Also, quick question. I'm going to be trading in my Nissan Pathfinder which the lease is up in July, I was hoping that Nissan had some type of "customer loyalty" program of sort so that the remaining payments of my lease could be "forgiven", but the salesman told me no and that the remaining payments would be rolled into the price of the Z. Do you guys know if usually when you trade your lease for another car of the same company they do anything like that?

One last thing, both dealers that i've gotten prices from have come in at about $1k+ over invoice. I wonder if the market that i'm in, South Florida, might be working against me in a way and preventing me from getting the $500 over invoice or invoice as some of you have gotten. I'm starting to wonder if $1,300 over invoice it's "fair" in my market, I would hate for the car to just pass my by while i'm here fighting for something that no dealer will abide by. Suggestions?

It's all up to you. If you're willing to pay the difference to get the car now versus later, do it.

However, it's my opinion, even here in South Florida, that the dealer will eventually match your price. Just be polite and tell them that you are ready to buy, but at your price. Once they're willing to meet you on it, you'll come in and sign the paperwork. If you don't hear back from them, contact them every other week and remind them about your offer.

Eventually they will bring you in to move the vehicle.

Again, it's all about how long you want to wait to get the price you want. The market isn't going to get any better (most likely worse) over the next year and that's going to work in your favor.

The 370 isn't flying off the lot, no matter where you're at. I've seen a total of two on the road in S. FL since they've been released.

I can't speak to the S FL market, but if you can, I'd wait until your lease is up in July and get a 370Z then. Whenever a dealer knows you are trading something in, they'll screw you one way or another. Either on the price of your new car, payments, interest rate, etc.

If you can wait, do so. Nothing gets to a dealer more than walking out, leaving your number, and telling them to call you once they get their 'stuff' together. Invoice should be attainable in these markets. I always feel the dealers need to make some profit besides their hold-back, and $500 on this car is more than reasonable, but I see many folks on this website getting it at invoice. Again, this is your personal choice on what you want to pay.

In Maryland, there is a CARMAX that is selling new 370Z's over $3,500 below MSRP, which equated to slightly below invoice. I printed this out and used it for negotiations at a local Nissan dealer and they matched the price plus another $100. Do some research on the internet and relax. Don't rush into anything that will give you buyer's remorse. The 370Z is a fabulous car, but it's not going anywhere. They'll be plenty of Z's on dealers lots in the coming months. Just my opinion of course.

Couple observations:

The market and price people are paying for their cars seems to be different depending on where in the country they live.....Most likely due to local economies.

My experience especially with the 370Z......the internet sales people are not the best sales people to work through. Going in to the dealerships and working the deals directly seems to produce better deals or lower prices. (This is only the case when you are able to walk away from a sales person.)

Good luck!

Also, I didn't catch if you were already preapproved for a loan. If you can walk in there with a check from Pentagon Credit Union or whatever, it's as good as cash for them, basically. It shows that you're a no-nonsense buyer who is ready to buy.

The money will be more appealing to them if they know you're serious and if you dangle it in front of them long enough. You'll get the price you want, it just may take a bit of persistence and patience on your part.

Good Price in S FL
 

As I noted in a posting last week, I bought my Touring model with Sports package and 6 speed manual transmission 10 days ago.

Price from the dealer in Ft. Lauderdale was $35,250+TTL. The dealer, who I would highly recommend, claimed that the deal was $300 below invoice. Let me know if you want dealer contact info.

650 miles on the car to date, and I'm extremely happy with it.

Good luck.

I don't care if it is on the lot or you would have to have it ordered for you. I wouldn't pay a dime over invoice. New model or not..with this economic climate the buyer is in complete control and there is no reason to pay over invoice. The reason it will be difficult to negotiate in some cases is that, despite the economy, dealers are still trying to maintain the same gross profit while sales are way lower than they have been in past years. So in essence they are trying to make the same profit but are selling less vehicles to do it, so thats why some dealers are being pricks. Just be patient.

The deal that I'm currently working on is with the dealer that I originally went in to test drive the car. The deal that they were offering me, at that time it was to lease the car, was not beneficial so I walked away. The salesman called me a couple days after that and I told him that I had decided to purchase the car and I gave him the specs of what I wanted. He called me a couple a days ago that there was a car with all my specifications on it's way and that he can have it delivered to his dealer, that's where the real negotiations started. So far i'm still at $1,300 over invoice.

I paid 40k flat for my fully loaded z with nav/sport/AT and that was a great deal on the island with all the markups etc.. $500 over invoice is probably the best deal you will ever find if you find it. 1300 over invoice is extremely reasonable I think but if you have time to hold out then that won't hurt since the "Recession" is now becoming a "depression" you will get that 500+invoice deal you are looking for if you wait til around June I would say. You have to remember a dealer isn't going to want to push a new "hot car" for 500 dollars because he is basically making 150-250 dollars on that deal...he would rather see it sit that extra week or 2 and push the car onto some bum for 2k over msrp lol. The people that are getting the 500$+invoice deals are finding dealers that are at rock bottom so it has some luck to do with it...just go with the price you think is fair in the time-frame at which you need the car!

That's good advice all around. Having a CARMAX nearby provides great leverage during negotiations as I have also found out. I went to the one near Dulles and got a quote down to about $200 over invoice for a Touring/Nav/AT.

Additionally, we are barely into March guys and by mid-May these prices are only going to be getting lower. Getting a 370Z for near invoice shouldn't be a big problem considering the current market we are in.

I totally agree. I saw an 06' z06 with 3k miles on it being sold for $40k with all warranties renewed! I ALMOST HIT THE GUARD RAIL!

Well new news...

I contacted a dealer and they are offering me the 370z Touring with sports package and nav and the mats and splash guards for $37,100. Out the door price is $40,060.

What do you guys think?

If you think it's his best price, tell him you want lots of other things. In the UK that would be things like a full tank of fuel, a free first service, road tax, a bunch of flowers for the wife, etc. :driving:

Good luck.

LOL...I think it's definitely a good price, about $655 over invoice, but I wasn't counting with the Sports Package when I did my numbers so that's throwing everything off, just too much to bite on...have to think this really through. I know that it would be nice to have it fully loaded but that monthly payment for the next 5 years it's hard to swallow. We'll see...

Why the LOL? I wasn't joking - this is business after all - do the best deal you possibly can and the 'feel good factor' will stay with you a lot longer. :tiphat:

...Sports package is well worth having, don't you think?

The LOL was because of the flowers for the wife part, that was funny :icon17:. The most important thing that the sports package offers in my view is the synchro rev match technology which it's not that big of a deal for me, would it be nice to have yes, but is it something that I must have no. That's what makes it difficult to rationalize the extra $$$...gotta think this through and see if it's worth it to have in the long run.

sports package for 3k is a great deal!

LOL - but what is even funnier is that it was actually an important part of the deal I did when I got my nice new beast in 2006 :tiphat:

IT IS DONE!!! :)

I took the deal that I was offered. Black\Black Touring with Nav and Sports package and all the other goodies (except illuminated kick plate) for $37,000

This is one fun car, I am happy that I finally have her seating pretty in my garage. Pictures to come....thank you all for your advice\suggestions this forum has been very helpful and I hope to return the favor.

Congrats on your new Z! We want a crap load of pics please. :D

Congrats - was that 37000 out the door? Or 37000 before TT?

No I wasn't that lucky :icon17:...37,000 plus tax, title and fees.

Impressive - what was your final bottom line price before TT fees?