Question for folks who pre-ordered the Altima Coupe

[Cali 2 Balti G]

I've seen here on the forum that many folks have paid sticker or sticker plus premium for their cars. Is this the same for pre-orders?

Seems to me like the pre-orders may have more leverage with regards to price negotiation. After all - you can pre-order and wait anywhere. So wouldn't it be to a dealer's advantage to give you more of a discount than say someone who is buying from existing inventory.

By the time some folks cars come in the supply may catch up to demand and the premiums above sticker will disappear.

[Miss_Lanaya]

I ordered in July and just picked mine up yesterday, I dont think my dealer would have budged on the sticker price....and what leverage would I have had??? If I dont pay full price...wellll theres plenty of others who would . I even asked if they would give me 1000$ for my trade in and they wouldnt give me more than 800$....how hard would it have been to take 200 of the sticker and make up the difference? But I did get a trip for 2 to vegas....theres some fine print but its still a decent trip.

[Vhernandez919]

To tell you the truth this was the ONLY thing that kinda made me uncomfortable to place an order for an A/C. The wait is 2-3 months, what if the supply increased meaning there was more of them so dealers would be more likely to negotiate on the price and I basically got screwed because i didn't wait. At some point this will happen, it could be when I go pick mine up or sometime next year. I decided to pay for it now to be one of the FEW to be riding in one, and I'm getting help from my parents as a college graduation gift.

But lucky for me a friend of a friend works at a near by Nissan and gave me a deal, (compared to the 20 others I have talked to) Paying sticker, with tax and license less then 30k, which other dealer's wouldn't go less then 32k with out tax and license!!! CRAZY!!!

Its been almost three weeks since I ordered my A/C and have not regret it, if anything I'm more excited and sure on my move.

[mikemart]

Yeah the wait kinda sucks. I was hoping to be the first in Cheyenne, but this weekend I saw a chica bonita driving a red 3.5--- oh well, hopefully I'll be the first Silver one!

Ordering/Waiting ensures that you'll get exactly what you want.As far as negotiating, I didn't have to (paying less than invoice)!

Vhernandez: Yeah--my dad is helping with A LOT of the price of my A/C for graduation!! Aren't parents great?!?!?

[Vhernandez919]

Vhernandez: Yeah--my dad is helping with A LOT of the price of my A/C for graduation!! Aren't parents great?!?!?

Yea They are. But again I deserve it! Four years in college with NO Summer Vacations!

And driving my dads old Dodge truck around for two years I am soooo in need for a new car of my own (my A/C will for sure turn heads!)

Cant wait! I just want to drive her around already!!!!

[Cali 2 Balti G]

I ordered in July and just picked mine up yesterday, I dont think my dealer would have budged on the sticker price....and what leverage would I have had??? If I dont pay full price...wellll theres plenty of others who would . I even asked if they would give me 1000$ for my trade in and they wouldnt give me more than 800$....how hard would it have been to take 200 of the sticker and make up the difference? But I did get a trip for 2 to vegas....theres some fine print but its still a decent trip.

I'm looking at it this way - if you are paying full price, and you have to order it - what is it about one dealer that keeps you there. Can't you pay full price and wait anywhere. This is where I would think you would have SOME leverage. Clearly there are some folks who have been able to get discounts - so not everybody is paying sticker or above.

Also since you are ordering - it is not like you are buying a car from the lot - so this is like an extra unit sold.

[Cali 2 Balti G]

Ordering/Waiting ensures that you'll get exactly what you want.As far as negotiating, I didn't have to (paying less than invoice)!

This is what I mean - Mike still had to shop around to get his deal - correct? You shopped around until you found someone to honor your VPP.

For me I would try to go in with the position of - if I have to wait and I preorder from your dealership - what can you offer me that I can't get from another dealer. I would think that pre-ordering is beneficial to the dealer because he gets to sell a car that is not even on his lot taking up space etc.

[LinkNuc]

Pre-Order usually means MSRP, I got mine for invoice (28,292)...no destination charge either. I'm a 3rd time Nissan owner. I never pay a destination charge if its on the lot, period.

[generic808]

Pre-Order usually means MSRP, I got mine for invoice (28,292)...no destination charge either. I'm a 3rd time Nissan owner. I never pay a destination charge if its on the lot, period.

You think you never paid destination, but you did. Trust me, it's worked into the deal already. The dealer had to pay someone to send the car to his lot, so of course, you're the one who gets stuck with that cost. So when you "don't" pay it, you think you're getting a deal. Bottom line is, the dealer needs to make money to pay for his overhead and expenses. My best friend is a manager at a big car dealership and you'd be suprised at what they do to pull deals. All the prices are flexible, of course they start from the top and you start from the bottom. That's what negotiation is for.

[mikemart]

Cali-- Yeah it was a pain to find the car I wanted at a dealer that would honor the program. I never did find one; so I ordered.

My father made a good point while we were ordering: the dealer would much rather sell you a car ON his lot, because it costs money to keep those cars. Also, the sooner they sell the A/C on their lot, the sooner they will get another!

My dealer has had the same red 3.5 coupe w/premium & blond on their lot for 2 months. They REALLY tried to get me to buy that one. The salesman thought I was some jerk because I wanted a specific color! He just didn't understand that this is my first new car and I was going to get exactly what I wanted---this is an advantage of ordering: you never feel like you "settled" for something close to what you wanted. Unless, that is, you found exactly what you wanted on the lot!( those of you who did, I envy you!)

[LinkNuc]

Nope I didn't its listed right on the sticker as 625 which \would make the invoice 28,917, never ever pay destination charges if the car is on the lot, it was going to be there regardless, and it is exactly 625 for delivery (destination)

[generic808]

Nope I didn't its listed right on the sticker as 625 which \would make the invoice 28,917, never ever pay destination charges if the car is on the lot, it was going to be there regardless, and it is exactly 625 for delivery (destination)

Yup, you did. What I mean is, the dealer had to pay the $625 to Nissan so he's going to get it back from you. Destination was not listed on your final sale price because they got you on the price of the car. It's already added into the mix. There is a big gap between invoice and MSRP. I know you didn't get it at invoice because the dealership would've lost money. That wouldn't be very smart business tactics to give money away. Think about it.

[LinkNuc]

Say what you want and look it up on Edmunds, kbb or cars.com I paid exactly invoice minus 625, I did trade my Titan in for it so they will make money on that as I traded for about 3000 less that private sale price

[flipr]

as my econ 101 professor preached TANSTAAFLThere aint no such thing as a free lunch.They 'gave' you no destination charge, and you left $3000 on the table for trade value. You are happy, they are happy. All is well.

[jasonMA]

Pre-Order usually means MSRP, I got mine for invoice (28,292)...no destination charge either. I'm a 3rd time Nissan owner. I never pay a destination charge if its on the lot, period.

is ur car full loaded??

[LinkNuc]

Yeah I'm happy, could I have got more for my truck, yes but then I 'd have to private sell, deal with paperwork, etc.... The matter of covience of just "swapping keys" is cool, they take care of paying my loan off etc. Again th3 3000 delta is based of trade in vs oprivate sale...anyway it doesn't matter I love the car, and yes my car is fully loaded minus moon roof delflector.

[altima coupe]

I pre-ordered back in April. I had to pay MRSP but I made the deal conditional on a few things. (Blind Spots, trunk space and rear seat room being satisfactory + my wife had to agree as well) I then went into the dealership when it arrived without my wife and said if they knocked off $500, I would sign and skip her approval. I used the story that I would go home and tell her they offered me a deal if I took it right then. They gave me $300 off and I drove it home that night. I picked it up back in late June with the 1st batch that made it to Canada. I had told me wife before I left that I was going to try this to get something off the car.

[GreyZone]

I preordered, delivery due for 11/7. My price is 1,000 under MSRP.

Dealers will generally "deal" more on a car that is on the lot...they are instant gratification motivated, and want to make a sale to you before you leave. It is rare to find a dealer who has any interest in "relationship building."

Plus, once they move the car they can then order another one. They want turn over and numbers. My price is fair. Sales for this car have softened a bit, they are staying on lots longer (at least in San Diego). SOme local dealers have even been talking to me about how much over invoice vs. how much under MSRP...however, I am not all that patient.

I test drove the 08 Honda Accord today and wasnt all that impressed.

[mikemart]

Talked to my dealer today. He said he is expecting my car "any day now". He also showed me their inventory lists. My car is listed and is annotated as IN TRANSIT. I won't get my hopes up until I see it on the lot. This old guy has been wrong about everything else---I know more about these cars than he does, and he's the one selling them!!!

[Vhernandez919]

Hope it comes in soon. I believe you ordered yours a week or two before me. Last I heard was it would be made mid October and arrive in November. Wow, Time sure has gone by fast. Not too happy that when i do get her it will be raining. HATE Driving in the rain

I dream about the new car smell!

[mikemart]

They told me that too. A gal here in town just got hers. My salesman said she ended up waiting about 6 weeks. I think she ordered Rosita's twin sister because I saw her driving it and for a second I thought: "hey that's VHernandez!"

You are right: the time has gone by quicker than I imagined. Watch, now that I've been told its in transit, the time will just drag by....

[nissantech06]

It's hard for me to believe you guys are having hard times getting these cars...we have at least 4 in our lot for sale.

I have never paid sticker for a car (especially since I am an employee now). You just have to use one special phrase, "Oh, I can go to (insert biggest and nearest competitor) and they will give me the price I want." They want to sell you a car and they will budge when you push them enough.

[LinkNuc]

See above posts I agree, I have a friend in the sales beezwax, biggest farce the extra 625 on the window sticker for "destination"...yeah ok, I am paying you to have the car put on your lot for me to look at, uh, yeah.

[joypunk]

It's hard for me to believe you guys are having hard times getting these cars...we have at least 4 in our lot for sale.

Well, there's only 1 coupe within a 100 miles of where I live. At least that's all I can find listed in the dealer's inventory on their websites. I need to go out about 150 miles to find any dealership that has a variety on the lot.

[mikemart]

Well, there's only 1 coupe within a 100 miles of where I live. At least that's all I can find listed in the dealer's inventory on their websites. I need to go out about 150 miles to find any dealership that has a variety on the lot.

Same with me. When I started looking, there was only one in my state!! Stupid Wyoming!

[Vhernandez919]

My twin! Thats too funny. I haven't heard too many Code reds out there. Glad to hear more of them on the road. Nice bright, eye catching color. It's Perfect for me.

I try not to get all excited over her arrival. Its hard though, Just hang in there. This Forum actually helps keep me sane in the mean time.

Thanks everyone who has there A/C , for all the great ideas and thoughts that u all share!

[MadBlackCoupe]

Come on down to Maryland. There are about 6 on the lot at the dealership I purchased mine from (Sheehy Nissan of Glenburnie).

If you do, please let me know.

There are also about 10 for sale online at CarMax.com in Whitemarsh, MD. CarMax sells new cars. I've heard it's painless. The only trick is they sell different makes in different states. They do Nissan in MD.

I tried searching inventory as well--trust me, inventory is quirky--CALL the dealerships--don't rely on inventory at the dealer's online site AND especially NissanUSA.com.

I started looking 100-200 miles from my home and winded up calling my closest dealer and found they had 5 of them...go figure?

They were also willing to special order one for me, which they said would take 3 weeks. No way, I quickly upgraded my thoughts to a Premium package and called it a night.

-MadBC

[Vhernandez919]

I actually have quite a few near me, Just the wrong Color/ interior color/ features/ price tag.

I fell in love with the code red and In California There was one 3.5 Se with blond interior, I have never been a big fan of blond interior for a Red car so I had to pass.

In California the majority of them are Silver (all 3 shades) black and White. I guess I just had to be difficult. But then again I am paying for her (some help from my dad) so why not get EXACTLY what I want. This way I'll be Happy!

[MadBlackCoupe]

I hear you V919 and I agree.

Good points. You are right. Luckily, the dealer had my color and interior, and like magic, 15 minutes down the road. They had the blue with the blond, and a nice red one...they are gone now.

No sense getting a color you don't want. I fell into that trap with Altima #1. I still have dreams of that dreadfull Pewter Blue--all for 500 bucks off that they probably made up somewhere else!

I vowed never again to fall into that trap. Give me <insert your color> with the <insert your color> interior, or give me death! Well, maybe not death--I'll just leave instead....yeah...no deal!

So, hang in there guys.

Mad BC

I actually have quite a few near me, Just the wrong Color/ interior color/ features/ price tag.

I fell in love with the code red and In California There was one 3.5 Se with blond interior, I have never been a big fan of blond interior for a Red car so I had to pass.

In California the majority of them are Silver (all 3 shades) black and White. I guess I just had to be difficult. But then again I am paying for her (some help from my dad) so why not get EXACTLY what I want. This way I'll be Happy!

[notaverage]

Pre-Order usually means MSRP, I got mine for invoice (28,292)...no destination charge either. I'm a 3rd time Nissan owner. I never pay a destination charge if its on the lot, period.

Wait, the invoice price for fully loaded 3.5 SE coupe was $28,917? I don't think so. I paid $74 under invoice and mine is fully loaded except for the moon roof deflector. My final purchase price was $29,382. The invoice they showed me was consistent with edmunds and kbb ($29,456). I'm still confused on where you got $28,917 to be invoice for that car.