My buying experience, 2004 350Z

[PalmerWMD]

Last thursday, I decided on a whim to buy a new Z.

I always liked them, had just ridden a lot in Jezter's 350 and was impressed by the performance/handling/control.

I had a <lot> of money to put down and even more coming in, in the next month or so, so I figured ,what the hey, I know I'll get financed for the remainder, even with my marginal credit (always late on my college loans cuz I am always out of town, when they are due, I know, no exuse but...)

Plus being single, I didnt have to consult anyone..

I called my good friend Dane aka Jezter, an active member of the local Z club and another Nico Moderator ( for Z section and Nico Meets section).

I told him ,what I was in the mood to do and he figured I should stop by a local Nissan dealer, who sponsors our local Z car meets.

I believe in giving back to Sponsors (as I do, when I buy from Nico sponsors) , so I knew I wanted to buy from them in my mind.

Loyalty deserves Loyalty.

So I arrive, I get greeted by Tom (sales Manager who was called by Dane to expect me) and Tom quickly assigned Alex as my salesman, to be my guide thru the inventory.

It wasnt a hard sales job for Alex, because he didnt have to convince me of anything and I already knew the car.

The unspoken deal was basically, " I show up and am pre-decided to buy from your invetory and you dont give me a song and dance or excessive mark-ups."

So after looking at their selection for about 15 minutes (6 Z's in assorted colors, 4 of which are the 6 speeds) I pickone out:.. a gorgeous 2004 Daytona Blue (actually kinda wanted the sandstone), whose color is well complemented by a set of Nismo wheels, which accentuate the cars muscular stance.

We talk numbers and the deal looks good, its thursday afternoon and I am hopeful I can take the car with me when I go to the Nopi Nationals the next morning.Its late enough in the day that only the basic Nissan financing is available, which promptly rejects me, at least for any reasonable rate.

No biggie,I figure, I pick the car up on Monday ,after I am back.By then they would have me financed I am sure.

they call me while I am at Nopi, (see my "Nico at Nopi thread "in General Chat!) and after some extra info I am financed with great conditions IMO (good job James, Finanace Manager).

While I am at Nopi, I keep thinking about the deal.

I look at a lot of Z's and like them a lot,, always wondering though wether I should go with the G35 Coupe instead , as women like its looks more (I canvassed quite a few) has 2 extra seats, a longer warranty and better service than Nissan, with free loaners as well...

Hmm, did I make a mistake?

But then I think about the approx 230 lbs less, the Z weighs, over the G and performance is very important to me.Plus its about $4000 cheaper than the G and if I heavily Mod it (which I likely will) I will lose the powertrain warranty anyway...

So I am satisfied with my choice and the car is just gorgeous with those Nismo wheels.

But something else bothers me about the deal, I cant quite put my fingers on it.

Then I realize it.What about the stock wheels?I am getting a great price on those Nismos to be sure, but dont they still owe me my stockers ,I can use as winter wheels or sell?

After all ,brand new, 17 inch, Z wheels, with brand new, high end z-rated performance tires, represent a substantial value..., I am sure many 240SX'ers here would probaly give me real $$ for them...

So I call one of our Nico showroom Moderators, Andy aka repoman, currently the finance manager at Caddilac Hummer of Indianapolis and a former car salesman himself.

He feels as long the price of the Nismo wheels wasnt written up as an exchange price, they still owe me the stock wheels.

After all I am buying the car (which includes obviously the wheels) PLUS I am buying the Nismo wheels for an additional price.

Even if I get a good deal on the Nismos, I am not getting them for under cost, which would reflect a credit for my stock wheels.

So I figure I ask for a credit for my stock wheels, or for an extra set of stock wheels.

I come in on Monday, financing is ok, but I grab my salesman about the wheels.

He appears shocked, I could want the stock wheels as extra, or a credit for them.

According to him, they put them on a different car a long time ago, when they put the Nismos on the Blue Z.

Thats all nice and good I say, but if they removed that value from my car that doesnt change that they owe me a set of stock wheels or a dioscount on the ,now dimished, car.

After he storms out I get to talk to another gentleman the assistant Sales Manager, who shall remain unnamed.

He tries to obfuscate the issue by giving anecdotes about other deals, that have nothing to do with this one and telling me how long he has done this, and the whole song&dance.

Gets an attitude too, w/o dane there (who showed up for moral support) I probably would have walked out right then and there and driven to SamSwope Infiniti (15 minutes away), Huffman Nissan (15 Minutes away) etc.

But I stay.

The finance manager also talks to me, and even though he is more respectful and reasonable, also tries to convince me of the error of my ways.

Involving again, lenghty anecdotes of all the other deals he's had etc etc, were no credit was given or asked, etc etc.

Still none of this changes the fact that I can buy the Z as a complete car with the stcok wheels, for the non-Nismo-wheel price we negotiated (there or elsewhere) then buy Nismo wheels for almost retail and be only $1000 over what I am paying in this deal and have an extra set of stock wheels (which I suspect their invoice is almost 2k on them, with tires, as their retail price for the bone stockers, is not much less than the Nismo wheels)

Also during my conversation with James I make him describe the process of how the stock wheels came off that car and then from a previous one, its slips out that when they put the Nismo wheels on the first car there they gave the stock wheels "back to the parts dept"

So I go "Aha! so Sales got a credit from Parts then?" "yes" says he. "How big was that credit? "Silence ...and then another anecdote how its just not done this way and that parts sent the wheels back to Nissan a long time a go.So I fo "SO Nissan gave your dealership a credit for those...?"No direct answer.

Either way, he admitted to what I had been certain of.

The 1000 above invoice price (plus $250 doc fee ,so really $1250), was offered w/o big haggling, only thru this credit bolstering that cars margin substantially, I feel

As was getting closer to leaving again, the assistent sales manger ( main manager is on vacation) comes out and after trying to bully me some, agreed to write up the deal with the original 1000+doc fee on the car, as it sits w/o the wheels.

I drive off satisfied, with my new car.

Even though, I know they could have sold, the Nismo wheels to me, if they had been willing to knock off something close to the credit I knew they had received from Nissan, or even less, cuz those are hot wheels.

I will just buy a very nice set of hardcore hi end wheels, come spring with the money saved.In the meantime, I get to put miles on my stock wheels.

Fred..

PS: love my Z and thank Collins anyway, still got a good deal and they got to sell a car, alls well that ends well.PS#2 Thanks for all the help Dane..

[SDRonEbay]

Man, those guys need to take a course in "Don't Try to Jack an Educated Customer 101".

That's exactly the kind of experience that could turn a potential repeat buyer into a...bad story on the internet...wait a sec...

Anyway, I'm glad you came out on top of that one. After reading this and doing some calculations...you drove off in stock wheels because they didn't want to lose the $2-3k they made on the deal. Those wheels, for all intensive purposes, are free. Because like you said, when you buy a car the stockers come with it. But, the Nismo wheels are still less expensive than the stock wheels when it comes to the dealer. So, instead of giving up that credit PLUS buying you a set of stock, they'd rather lose whatever they had on those Nismos. Smart dealing on both parts I'd say.

[UncleBen]

Definately glad that you persistance paid off. Congrats on the purchase!

[Altiman94]

Nice buy fred. Youll be much happier with this car than your s13 ill bet. Congrats

[jEzTeR]

Well they had Fred sold on the wheels that Thursday night.

*Remember that their job is to sell you a car "right now" for as much money as they can.

The whole trick with adding aftermarket parts to dealer cars to be sold is that they get you interested in the car. They make a larger profit margin on the sale if you pick the dressed up version.

Lets face it those wheels look awesome on the car.

Most of the time you can get the aftermarket parts cheaper if you get them yourself and always get to keep you OEM parts.

I have been through the New car buying experience a few times and look at it in a different light than most.

Fred you have a great car and will love it more and more each day!

You will see how much attention it gets at the Car Show Sat.

Then there will be the day it's "Broke IN"!

[jdmfreak]

Good job man. Pics?

[evildky]

I think I am the only person on the planet that actually likes negotiating with salesmen, it does help to be a cash buyer or at least an A+ credit buyer, with lesser credit they have a greater risk and so they need to build in more proffit even though they are gonna make more on the financing, and I never did get around to driving tom's 350z so I could mark that one off my list

[Repo Man]

Kudos to you Fred for having the stones to make those guys be straight-up. Maybe this teaches them a lesson that the Nismo wheel price, based on OEM exchange, should be in writing on the purchase agreement. This would eliminate the type of situation that you and they were in. There isn't any reason why a deal should get blown over a damned set of wheels.

[PalmerWMD]

Good job man. Pics?

Here you go:http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=3573585093

Fred...

[maxhopper]

Way to go Fred!..way to play the game. Beautiful car, I hope to see you out tonight with Cullen. I'll probably bring the video camera as well.

[NissanS14Kid]

nice job on the 350.