Ordering-deposit?
 

So question for those that have ordered a Z (I've never ordered a car before).

Dealer just called and said "Nissan requires a 10% deposit to place a custom order". Huh? We're 6 months out from the car being delivered. And it's not like I'm ordering something they can't sell or is super-custom or anything-it's a commodity.

Do all Nissan dealers do it this way? I figured I'd plop down $500 or so to show I'm serious - Wasn't expecting a $4000 deposit.

I only gave the dealership $1K for a deposit on a (3 month wait) factory order. $4K is waaaayyyy toooooo much!!

$500 sounds about right...maybe I would go up to 1K. 4k??? WTF are they trying to pull?!?!?!

500-1000 is normal, things may be different due to the current shortage though

It's the dealer that requires that. Kind of a slimy tactic. Maybe rethink your choice of dealer.

Anyway, make sure the dealer actually has an allocation. Too often those guys will require a deposit from the 5 guys that are ordering when they're entire allocation for the year is three cars.

My dealer quoted me $500 down on a 2012. I opted to negotiate a deal for a couple hundred below invoice on a 2011.

^This.

Yeah...doesn't seem right to me - maybe like the dealer is just trying to up his cashflow a bit? I know when my wife was looking at ordering a Mini, they wanted $1000 down. There are thousands of different combinations on that car so you could really get a funky one that would be hard to sell, but crap, there are like 2 options on a 370Z! Not like they couldn't sell a red w/ grey interior touring / sport with nav, y'know?

I'm in sales and every once in a while I'll ask for a deposit - usually from a new client + overseas order - but I do products with custom logos on them - they're of no value to me if the client can't pay or goes under prior to delivery. That's why I ask for a deposit.

Think I might just walk in there with a check made out for $500 and see what they say.

Resolution:
After I asked if their F & I guy was stoned, we agreed on a $1000 deposit.

All the dealer required for me was a 1000 dollar deposit... and that is going towards the down payment. Ordered a PW12 in August

So just to update this. Dealer just cashed my check yesterday. Check was written on 9/14. I'm guessin' he didn't have an allocation until November and didn't want to cash the check until he had one and could actually place the order.

Sound about right?

sounds normal.... $1000 or less deposit to show you are a serious customer and the money comes off your down payment anyways.... all good.

$100 was all I needed. Mine was on a boat on its way to the US heading for a dealer in I think New Jersey. My dealer did whatever they needed to do to get it switched to my local dealer on LI.

Dealer asked me for $500 down at first than when I was sitting drawing up the paperwork with him he said he knew me well enough that no down was needed. I insisted that I put the $500 down. It was just going towards my down any way and it made me feel better knowing I had some $$ on it. Ordered it Oct 12th and they called me last week with a order #. ETA Jan 2012.

Yeah i had to put down 500 when i ordered mine.