I just bought a Frontier Crew Cab with supercharger package (my '88 hauling
van died so I had an excuse for the wife). A lot of dealers had hefty
markups on them, because of "demand". Here's how the conversation would go
(an actual conversation at Serramonte Nissan):
Me: "I see you've got an $8000 markup on this truck. What's it for?"
Them: "It's for the extras. These trucks are really hot."
Me: "Looking at the sticker I see where all the accessories are accounted
for in the MSRP, so what does the $8000 dealer markup actually go for?"
Them: "Uh, for some extra stuff."
Me: "Well, no way I would pay that. When you can come back and give me an
explanation for each one of those dollars only then might I consider doing
business with you."
Salesman excuses himself, comes back in less than 1 minute.
Them: "The manager says you can forget about the $8000 markup, we can give
it to you for MSRP."
Me: "Sorry, no longer interested."
After checking a bunch of dealers in California I found some who don't play
this markup game, and got my truck at a savings under MSRP along with some
extras like accessories at their cost for a year. They told me that markups
are ridiculous but people do fall for it.
BTW I really like the PT Cruiser but my wife hates them and forbid me from
considering one. One daughter likes retro, the other daughter doesn't.
Personally I wish the new Z was more retro, it looks too much like a
Porsche silohette and isn't unique. And like Marc I wish they sold the
Sylvia here. Sigh...
Fred - So.SF
_______________________ Reply Separator _______________________
>Subject: RE: Z Concept - OT
>Author: "Hall; Phillip" <Phillip.Hall@msfc.nasa.gov>
>Date: 1/9/2001 12:29 PM
>
>The way I see this price thing - every new car is always much cheaper at
>this stage of introduction. Remember the Miata was to be a 12,000 dollar
>car - hit the show rooms at 15K plus. The new Z will may be 29,999 at
>introduction, but well over 30K with any options and a year later will be
>around 35K. The marketing strategy is to get any possible potential buyer
>all excited (low price, sales pitch, ....) then when the car hits the show
>room people will not freak out over 2 to 4K more. If they do their job
>right people will walk into the show room and have to have one. Heck - Mom
>paid 20K (5K over list) for Miata #366 because she had to have it.
>
>Phil
|