Buying a new car: how much wiggle room is there from MSRP?

Surprisingly, there is not much of a mark-up on the new cars at MSRP.

CW

 

While I have never bought a new Ferrari, on my daily driver BMW, Audi, and Benz, ect, I always pay Dealer Invoice or less.

 

Outside Ferrari, I always put out 5 Internet bid requests within 100 miles from home. Marque does not matter. The difference between the high and the one from whom I buy is never less than $3,000. I make sure I have the same car with exactly the same options. One of them wants my business. The others are kidding themselves.

 

Outside of fcars. I ask to see the dealer cost or "tissue" and then discuss the profit to be made. If they dont like it there are many other dealers to purchase from. If they have to go to talk to the manager I leave. If they want my business it has to be an all upfront communication.

 

On new, I would say zero.

 

Don't buy a new car. There are plenty of second hand cars out there. Some of them with minimum miles on the clock. If you want to save more money get a pre-sale inspection report done.

 

Ordering a new Ferrari the way you want is one of the great pleasures you can have in car ownership.

It's not about the money. If it was, there would be no new car sales.

If you're going to spend $200K+ on a car, don't you want it the way you want it?

 

A-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y

+1 etc!

I bought a used 348, then a slightly less used 355 and ordered my 360 at that time. I waited two years. Then she arrived and I honestly thought "I love the 355, time to do the much talked about "flip" and make some $".....

Then I saw her..... *My* specs, *my* car.

The 355 stayed on the lot

Cheers,
Ian

 

Oh, btw, meant to say - I simply paid the price on the sticker [Which, along with all the BS California warning stickers was never affixed to the car. My choice ]

To do otherwise after two years seemed, well, a little rude to me......

Cheers,
Ian

 

When I purchased the 430 I had asked the same question to the dealer about new cars. He said whatever the sticker says you're paying.

So if the car is 250k, you're paying 250k. Not sure if every dealer is the same, but I think it would be safe to assume so.

 

Probably sticker unless a car's been sitting for a long while. New vs. old is the age old dilemma. Apparently Caleefornia's are selling quite well so there may not be that much difference over used?

 

For Ferrari's is pretty much always sticker. I can think of two potential exceptions:

1) A car ordered by another person shows up at the dealer and the original buyer doesn't want it.

2) An order slot is open for a car and the dealer doesn't have a buyer "in line". The "discount" here is likely minimal or free accessories/clearbra type stuff.

I realize this may upset some Cali owners, but I have first hand knowledge (meaning I was the would would be buyer) of 1 example of each of those recently with California's. The dealer was open to discussing a lower than sticker price. I decided I didn't want a Cali and thus didn't get into it with them. They sold the #1 scenario car the next day and I'm certain that buyer got it for less than sticker. Of course, it wasn't their spec either!

For me, its as simple as this. I am willing to pay (and the market requires) sticker for a car I spec. OTOH, if a new car arrives based on someone elses spec, then a discount may be possible, likley on a Cali over a 458 though...

 

^ Well said.

LA is a tough market too. Lots of customers. Demand a discount and you might find your on very long waiting list.

I think it's OK to ask. Negotiation is always good. But, you're not dealing from the side of strength.

 

I bought a new 430 Scuderia for 45K under msrp. from a dealer.

 

Most manufacturers have a rebate program that offers an anual rebate to the dealer on all new car purchases, total parts purchases and the all important CSI. This is all factored into the total rebate givent to the dealer annually.

CSI is the customer satisfaction index and is calculated by the customer response to the factory on the customers sales expierence satisfaction, then the customer is questioned on the service department and how the dealer handled both customer concerns and warranty issues. The dealer must keep his warranty costs down to a preset level percentage level.

So at the end of the sales year, the factory will calulate all the above and pay the dealer that amount. This is called in the trade "trunk money". That is money paid to the dealer long after they sold and got paid for your new car purchase.

So if they tell you they make no money on the sale of a new car, they are not being totaly honest. The fact is they get the rebate for every car they sell, if they keep all the above in perspective. So when they tell you they can't drop the price, tell them they can lower the price by the amount of trunk money they will recieve at the end of the sales year.

Howard Musolf
1981 308gtsi
1982 400i Cabriolet
1988 Lotus Esprit Turbo

 

1) That was you

2) That was a Scud. A lot of Scud's were sold under MSRP, which is why the resale crashed in 2010/11. The one thing FNA wants is to go back to holding resale values again. Look at CA's vs Maserati Granturismo's and you can see it's working.

You have to compare apples to oranges. Expecting a first time buyer in LA to get a new California for 45 grand off isn't likely. I think it's better to give him a realistic look at his situation.

 

I saw scuds under sticker also in 2009. Times were different then. Plus, Ferrari really reached for the moon on MSRP for scuds. Bad timing.

Dave

 

I think my local dealer sells all new Ferraris for MSRP +1000.

 

Look at the number of used Calif's for sale. Look at how the price is falling. Look at the cars at the dealers LOADED with extra's.

Wait until Spain defaults.

My guess FF's 75K under, Calif's 30 under 458 coupes 20 under, 458 spyders list.

We shall see.

 

Blasphemy.

The decision to order red and tan is a highly individual one. The last thing I want is someone else's red car with 1,600 miles on it.

I agree, the European market plus ripple effect doesn't bode well for marked-up new cars.

 

Now, now Jim... look at how the Cali has fallen compared to a similar Scud. It's not even close. The CA is holding up much, much better than the Fchat police thought -- much to their chagrin.

Spain defaulting doesn't worry me. Now, the US defaulting... ( ! )

I didn't say it wasn't OK to ask for something off MRSP. But, the new improved CA is here (which will bump sales) and it's still a seller's market. What's wrong is to put the impression in a new buyers mind that if they don't get a discount, they are being screwed and should walk away.

Ask yes. Walk away if the answer is no -- I don't think so.

 

I walk away every day.

 

But then you built your own, LOL.