I'm looking at used pickups. I don't think I can make the $$$ work for new. I've found a 2003 Chevy 2500HD crew cab duramax/allison with 43,000 miles, equipped like I like it, including some bells and whistles I'd put on it if it didn't already have them, (bed liner, running boards, hard tonneau cover, brake controller), for $31,000. Nada says it should retail for somewhere around $35,000. Kelly is about in that range also. Now in today's Sunday paper, near Minneapolis, I see an ad for a new 2005 Dodge 4x4 quad cab diesel, and the ad says that with all the discounts and rebates known to man I could get this one for $30,400. I don't know if I qualify for all the Dodge rebates, but assuming I do, how foolish would I be if I passed it up just because I have my heart set on a a duramax/ally?
Can't answer on the main question. That's a matter only you can answer. However, in general, there are 2 ways I've seen those adds work out in my experience. 1) If it's well equipped, you will very unlikely to find that vehicle that was advertised. I never have. It was always "already sold" or whatever, even when I was there the minute it opened on the day the ad ran. The laws governing that stuff are VERY lax in most places and there are all kinds of games they play to keep from actually selling vehicles at the advertised prices while having a fall back that will keep them within the letter of the law. But they always have one "almost like it" but at a higher cost, and then "for a little more, you can get this"… and so it begins… If you stick to your guns and know your applicable laws, I am told you can generally make them produce a vehicle, but you will have to work for it. The guy who told me this apparently did so and they eventually realized there was a "mistake" and it was actually on the "storage lot" rather than sold. He claims to have bought it at the advertised price, though he had to "escalate" nearly to the owner and loudly threaten a law suit while quoting laws that made it clear he knew he was right and not making an idle threat. 2) The price is for "stripped" models and they may actually have one or two. But they are "hooks" to get you on the lot and may well sell quickly. They immediately start trying to "up sale" you and by the time they get through "running the numbers", they will make you feel like you would be a fool to get the one you came for. If you want a stripped version that is advertised, and your fortunate enough that they actually will produce it, and you can hold out on the hard up-sale, you could do ok. Frankly, I tell them one time that I know what I want and to stop the "refocus" effort. I make it clear that they are there for no reason other than getting me answers to the questions I ask, period. And if they don't, I walk away. Really ticks them off. Anyway, just my thoughts on the new option.
I talked to a guy one time about this very senerio, here is what happened, he said he got an "awesome" deal on a fully loaded truck, the Dealer kept telling him how it was the best deal of the week, for him. Well, a week later he was looking through the Sunday paper and noticed the same deal he got was listed in his dealers ad, then he noticed the stock number was his. Basicly, it looks like they let "one" person have a really great deal and then advertise that deal the next week so when you go in and ask for that stock number truck, it is of course sold already, and they are even telling the truth, it's a great way to bait you to come in as if that is the normal deal. I have called on deals like that before over the years, calling on a new Sunday ad when the Sunday paper comes out at 4PM on Sat and every single time the anwser is the same, "sorry we just sold that, but we have many others please come in and lets talk etc.." so it sounds like that kind of senero is what they are doing.
When I bough my C3500 I spent 6 hours to wear them down. Had everyone up to including the GM of the dealership trying to more money out me. Was talking to friend of mine yesterday, she said they, her and her husband, went into a dealer resently to buy a new car. They had done their homework and knew what they would pay max. Told the salesman that they would pay "X" amount for said car and he had 45 minutes to close the deal as stated or they were leaving. The saleman looked at her husband, asking with the look if she was serious. He said she was right and the clock was running. They got the car they wanted for their price and had everything done in less than 1 hour.
Along the same lines. 1. Find out exactly what you want to pay for a new car/truck that is both fair for you and the dealer, edmunds.com is a very good resource. 2. Get pre-approved for financing, this will speed things along. 3. Get a hold of all the fax numbers for the dealers in your area, say within a 100 mile radius of your home as an example. 4. Send a fax to "all" the dealers of the make that you are interested in stating that you are pre-approved for said amount and that you are looking for a certain make, model, color, options etc. and that you are sending this fax to "all" the dealers in your distance range and that the first one to respond gets the deal. **I did this with the last new car I bought (wifes) and got exactly the deal I was looking for. The wife wanted a silver car and the dealer that responded only had a red one, when I told him it was silver or nothing, he traded another dealer about 100 miles away for a silver one, we had to drive there to pick it up but it was a small price to pay to get exactly the car we wanted at exactly the price we wanted. waytogo New car buying tips: http://www.edmunds.com/advice/?tid=edmunds.g.home.header..4.*
I agree with the other posters on that whole low price scam, but no one has commented on the Chevy. Sounds like a great deal. The only issue you might ever have on an '03 is possibly injectors, but GM warrantys them for 200k now, doesn't matter if you're original owner or not. Sounds like a great deal to me. Is this a private party or a dealer? I would have a professional mechanic check it out and carfax it, but if it checks out, I say giterdone.
