>>>I've also noticed that V8/5 speed combinations seem to be very
>>>rare-except on this mailing list.
>> They were rare out in the field once I started looking for my
>>'95. We ended up issuing a factory order (and paying accordingly).
>What do do you mean by "and paying accordingly"? Ordering a vehicle directly
>from the factory is actually cheaper for the dealer.
Perhaps. By "paying accordingly" I meant that in my experience,
dealers are NOT as willing to bargain on the price of a factory
order as they are on the price of an existing in-stock vehicle.
YMMV.
>They do not have any
>dollars invested in inventory costs and only act as a clearing house for you.
Factory orders seem to be limited in some fashion by the factory (my
guess is that dealerships who turn over > X vehicles per year get preference
in special orders). When we were shopping for our '95 Dakota, only one or
two dealers were up front that they had "allowance" to issue factory orders,
and came up with almost identical prices. Other dealers were hesitant to
talk to us about factory orders. Still others were completely unwilling
to talk about factory orders, and said if it isn't in-stock or within the
state, they couldn't help us.
>The only time buying off the lot is cheaper is if there's an incentive program
>(ie; rebate) that is pushing existing inventory.
Factory-to-dealer or consumer rebates aren't the only factor that
affects dealer willingness-to-bargain. There are also intra-dealership
quotas and salesdroid competitions, competition for factory kudos (not
every dealership gets to park a Viper on their front lot), etc.
>I am very particular when i purchase a new vehicle and will not accept
>something unless it is exactly what I want. I have never bought off the lot
I agree 100%. This is why we were willing to settle for what I considered
to be a less-than-optimal (but not bad) deal. We got exactly what we
wanted ('95 SLT/V8/5sp/2000#/towing pkg/Predators/monocolor/bedliner).
Ron
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