Okay, so I found a buyer for my old car, so I don't have to worry about financing any extra costs....

The dealer has some new 04's still in stock. They're listed at the normal MSRP, should I try to talk him down to invoice and then bring up the incentives? Or should I save the incentives for last...as in after discusing the APR and any other extras (like maybe an extended warranty, etc)

I appreciate any input. A lot of these salesmen make me feel like I'm going into battle rather than trying to buy a car.

 

If it's not at LEAST $6,000 off MSRP, you aren't getting a good deal. Some dealers are giving up to $7500 off MSRP. In austin, they are giving $6,000 any 04 RX8.

 

Invoice minus all rebates should be your maxiumum price. This is probably about the same as cratica's $6000 off MSRP price, but has documented basis (invoice). If they won't start at invoice, walk. Tell them you are going to another dealer. They'll probably call you back in a few days. The 04s are not moving. Just pretend not to care about the car too much. Once they know you are emotionally attached, they will never deal, since they figure they will wear you down.

 

That is how I played it when I got my 2004. I told them that there was an absolute line between what I would accept and what I would walk away from. I said that if they couldn't work the deal like I wanted it, there would be no hard feelings, but I would leave without the car. I just said that I would pay off some more of my trade, or I would save up some more money, or I would just look at a less expensive car, but that I would not give them a penny more than I said I would. They tried their games.....going to the manager and coming back with a price that was about $150 per month more than I said I would pay, and then about $75 more per month. The third time, they magically got it $1 per month less than what I said I would pay.

 

Jaguargod: You're my new hero. I always get suckered in to paying top dollar for my cars. I think they see me coming a mile away. I'm usually pretty conservative with my spending but I get too impulsive when it comes to cars that I really want.

I need some more tips on this and I'm sure that they'd help catatonic too.

 

You can get it waaaaaaay below invoice right now

People are payin like 25K for 32K MSRP cars

 

Like they said. You want to pay dealer cost (invoice) less all the rebates. This shouild be at least $3,250 off with MAC financing and probably more like $4,000 off.

Pay no attention to the window sticker. I could care less what it said. Don't be suckered by "xxx off MSRP". Who cares? Start at dealer cost always. On these left over cost, it had better be no more than dealer cost - rebates. Around $22.5-24k for just a sports pack car up to $26-27k for a GT.

You can use the current invoice prices from Edmunds or CarsDirect to figure what dealer cost is (if they will not show you the actual invoice). The 05 numbers are close to the 04 numbers.

Dennis

 

Remember to talk price, not payment.

 

Best advice yet, always deal for final cost, they can burry so many hidden costs into monthly payments and make it seem like your getting a great deal when your really paying $500 less than MSRP.

Also don't let them trick you with the rebates. Take them out of the deal until you reach a final price, then subract the rebates. They love to make it seem like they are giving you the rebate when it really has nothing to do with the dealership at all, it comes right from the factory. They'll tell you they can give you a 33K MSRP car for 30K after a $2,500 rebate. They'll act like they just gave you a ton of money off the car when they only gave you about $500 of sticker and the rest you'll get from the rebate which comes right from the factory meaning they profit $2,500 from the deal because in reality they sold the car for $32,500.

So negotiate on the cost before rebate then subract it out. That way they can't hide it from you and don't let them tell you that they are giving you the rebate so they can't go any lower on the price, that's total bullshit, the rebate comes right from the factory and takes no money away from the dealer.

As someone else said you should be able to get an 04 for 6-7K below MSRP. Sticker on mine was $33K I got it for $26K after rebates. This was just last month.

 

well, for the 05, i just got quoted 28k,
for a 6spd GT, i think thats pretty damn good,
if i can get an 05 for that price,
an 04 should definitely be way WAY WAY below that

 

Over here in Portland, OR I saw an ad for 2004 RX-8s with $8500 off MSRP last weekend.