The Dealership Wants My EX35

[NJGuy]

Every once in a while, I've received mailers and postcards from various dealerships telling me that they 'want' my car. I know that the used car market has heated up since the market for new vehicles (and pretty much everything else) took a dive a few years back, and dealers were looking for late model cars in good shape. I also figured that the dealerships make more profit per vehicle on their used models on the lot in comparison to the new ones.

I never really took the dealer offers seriously, and always thought that it was a ploy to get me to buy and drive home a new model that's been sitting on their lot for a while. I also thought that the trade values they listed on the mailers were pretty optimistic and were just bait for me to come and visit the showroom.

I know that I've gotten at least 2 separate mailings over the past year from my Infiniti dealership regarding interest in my EX35. But what happened recently has surprised me. One of the salesmen at the dealer has called me a few times about the car. He indicated in his voice messages that they are looking for low mileage EX models that are well optioned (navigation), and my car fit the bill.

-The EX has been a low volume seller as a new, so I guess that makes it that much harder to find used models. The dealer doesn't have any pre-owned EXs in inventory, so I think that's one of the reasons they took the time to call me.
-I'm guessing that the sales guys have the service department keep an eye out for models in good shape that are in demand or that they are short on.

My wife and I have no plans on giving up the EX35 in the near future, as she's attached to the car. And I didn't see any vehicles in their pre-owned inventory that I was really interested in at this time. I do feel a bit flattered though since my EX35 is a 'coveted' model .

[XIS]

they don't want your car as much as they want you to buy something else they have.

[NJGuy]

Well, the guy called me again last night and left me another message. I thought it was funny because my wife went there for an oil change yesterday; she said that if that salesman had the chance to talk to her while she was browsing the showroom, she might have come home with a different vehicle .

they don't want your car as much as they want you to buy something else they have.

I really do think they want my car, as they don't have any pre-owned EXs in stock and they could probably make a good profit off of mine. But at the same time, I don't doubt your opinion that they want me to buy something else they have; car sales do tend to slow during the fall/winter months. And if they can potenially earn more money off of me, I don't see why they wouldn't try?

If he calls again, I might actually answer or call him back and either:
1) tell him I'm not interested; or
2) make some offer that's ridiculously in my favor, where I upgrade from my EX to something else while putting little to no extra money into the deal.
I'll probably just be polite and go with the first option though .

[QXFiddy]

I think you're both right. Recently I became the owner of a brand new QX50. I wanted a certified preowned vehicle but was alarmed to find in a metropolitan area of over 4M people there were only 3 Journey models available (and one was sold when I called in) within 3 model year s old. I was also shocked to find the pricing not much different than new (when you factor years/mileage) - despite the drop in the QX-50's list price (which should've exerted downward price pressure on the preowned stock but didn't).
One dealer told me the demand for these is such that there will always be someone willing to buy an EX at these prices. In other words, someone will waltz in without having done the math and think they've got a deal. So I think that XIS is right - they do want a new car sale.

I also, think they really want your EX as I suspect they will make a tonne more margin on it given the market demand decribed above. That said, I think you'd be in the drivers seat with respect to negotiating a good trade-in value and purchase a new QX if you so desire. Why not give it a shot..Option 2! You can always say no..

[XIS]

It's not like I don't think they want our car, but they would "want" almost anything you are driving at the moment as long as you are trading it in for something else on their lot.