Guys if you aren't getting your truck at invoice or below then you need to try harder. I bought my last two trucks (98 F150 XLT and 2000 F150 Lariat) at $300 and $350 under invoice and recent shopping for another one for my son has several dealers bidding at $500 under invoice. The secret in a nutshell is shop over the phone. Sure, go to the dealers and window shop, decide exactly what you want, but when its time to buy, get on the phone and talk to the sales manager, or
even the General manager. Cut through all the haggling and tell him what you want and that you can get it at another dealer at $300 under invoice, and what can he do, etc. This works every time and not only for trucks. Of course the more knowledgeable you are, the better. Know your truck, options, pricing, financing options, trade in value, etc. Remember a great price and bad financing means the dealer still took you to the cleaners. I spent less than an hour at the dealer when I picked up my two trucks, since the whole deal was done over the phone. If you are in the Austin or San Antonio, Texas, area and want the dealers names that will sell under invoice please email me at kms333@netzero.net. Good luck!
Way to go; I agree !! What you can get a truck for does depend on the sales/market conditions when you buy it. I had a simple time getting them down to dealer cost. It took several days and techniques to get them down to $566 under.
I have always refused to pay the doc fees etc. If they have to collect them they reduce their difference price for the amount of the fees after we have made our deal. Usually I have to tell them that those fees are a deal breaker unless they reduce their price to accomodate the fee amount.
I got quotes from several dealers via e-mail. The lowest quote included a $85 "processing fee" and nothing else (or so he says). The next lowest said they charge no fees at all. So I would say that all fees are negotiable. Otherwise, they would all have to charge them. By the way, on a Supercrew, the best quote was $250 under without the $85 processing fee and the next lowest was $100 under invoice with no fees.
I know the point of this thread is to tell everyone what a great deal you got but sometimes all is not what it seems. Yes, it is important to negotiate but you don't get something for nothing. Invoice pricing is a big joke these days. We know it and the dealers know it.
In my case, I paid about $100 over invoice plus some doc fee's, maybe another $100 bucks.
I feel it was a small price to pay for ordering from a dealer with an "01" priority who had my truck on the lot in 4 weeks. Also, what I got was FREE scheduled maintanance during the warranty period which I know is cheap at dealer costs but I don't have to get my hands dirty and who actually rotates their tires themself. Also, my salesman gave me a lift back and forth from my office which is only 10 minutes away. Just thought I would mention that the best "deal" isn't always measured in $$$$.
Location: Sierra Vista, AZ (Bye, bye Bella Napoli)
Vehicle: 2002 Ford F-150
Posts: 973
Great info and advice. I got my 00 HD F-150 for $27,300. Don't know what that means as far as invoice, but it seems better than what most paid :-) But, now I'll be better prepared when it's time to get that L ;-)
JDF made a good point...but dollars is the common denominator. Put a value on the "free" service you're getting during the warrantee period and you'll quickly know how good a deal you're getting. My dealer displays a pricing schedule for scheduled maintenance and other work. As with buying, etc. figure that their cost is about 85% of that pricing. "Free" scheduled maintenance for about three years, at the recommended intervals works out to about $1000 (if they don't convince you to spend unnecessarily on any other repairs along the way). No deal is a good deal if you can't drive out of the dealership and be repair free for 75,000 miles.
Not to mention some people like to do their own maintenance, and have for years. Rotating tires is a hobby to some, so is making sure the job is done right without grease everywhere.
We bought our 96 explorer (w/o wilderness AT's I may add) and have always done my own maintenace from tire rotation, brakes, fluid changes etc. In Connecticut doing it yourself does not void any warranty. And I don't have the inconvience of going back and fourth or waiting for my truck....plus I can drink beer at home vs their lousy coffee.....
OK, forget the free maintanance part.
I paid a few extra bucks and got the truck FAST.
For the past 30 years, I have always done my own maintanance from oil changes to brakes to water pumps, etc. For better or worse, I have more money than time these days.
Hey you guys have any SPECIFIC info regarding purchasing a F250? Also, has anyone found good deals with online auto dealers? If so, which ones? Thanks! :Þ
-SmegZ
Buy Under Invoice Price
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