Best way to find a good price on a Titan

[Coolhand]

Hello 70Boss, Gezon, and all you guys out there with dealer experience. Considering all the talk on this thread about how to get a good price, I have a question. Assuming I can find out what a dealer paid for a specific truck, or just going directly off of invoice, what percentage (or small range of percentages) over what he paid is a reasonable, fair deal? Obviously I'm like any other consumer, I want to get the best deal I can, but I'm aware that dealers are in business to make money and that the best situation is when both of us are happy. I'd like to be confident that when I make an offer, I know it's a fair one and that way I can respond fairly when the dealer accepts, declines, or counters. Now don't get all complicated on me and start saying how it's totally different depending on the local demographics, the dealers floor space, the demand, etc. There's gotta be a range out there where the dealer has to consider that he'd be making a fair profit on the deal, based on what he paid, regardless of outside market factors.

I'd really appreciate hearing what you guys think, thanks for all the other great posts.

Justin

[70boss]

I wont get complicated. Right now, on a XE King cab 4X4, I would sell at invoice $24421

SE, and LE I would want a minimum of 500-1500.

If the truck is a "Morphodite", my term for a Nissan Spec'ed truck that I was forced to take, that has an odd combination of options....I will blow it out near invoice.


All Nissan dealers are on a "turn and Earn" program....meaning if they don''t sell and turn over thier inventory, they wont get any new inventory....


Good Luck!!

[Coolhand]

Thank you sir, those are numbers I can work with.

Justin

[Sabre66]

Originally Posted by stevnmd

I commend the "good" sales guys on here, I really do. Customer service is unfortunately something that is VERY rare anymore, but it sounds to me that we have at least two salesmen who understand and apprecitate it here on this site.

As you might have guessed, I've sold cars in the past. (Chryslers and Plymounths YUCK)

I have no problem paying for customer service. I refer people to sales people whom I enjoyed doing business with. If you're looking for a Titan, Bob Jagger at Frederick Nissan in Frederick, MD is a great man to talk to! I bought my Titan from sleeze-balls. I bought it for the price though, not the friendly discussion, the chit chat, and the funny jokes. I knew I could get my truck below invoice where I did due to a connection I have. Period. Is a pleasant experience with the sales guy worth $1000 of my money to me? Nope... I am having some minor issues with my truck right now (scratch and pinging) and this dealer is promising to take care of me and are being very pleasant about it. That's a good thing... Luckily, the risk I took by going to the lowest price turned out to be okay. It could have just as easily gone horribly, with the dealer telling me the scratch must have happened after I took posession. So, I can appreciate both sides. Pay a little more to have a sales guy who will bend over backwards for you, or low ball a sleeze ball... Unfortunately, when it comes to service, it's completely up to the service department what gets done and how it gets done. The sales guy really doesn't have any pull...

Stevnmd,
I second everything you stated. In fact i also spoke with Bob Jagger (great guy) on several occasions when test driving Titans. As much as i would have liked to give him my business, i was able to get the deal i wanted at another dealer without much hassle. As for service, you can get good service at any dealership...doesn't have to be the one you bought from.

I say just find the best deal you can make within a reasonable driving distance and then find the best service department closest to your home and you'll be a happy motorist.

[jaxpd1050]

First of all, I wanted to say thanks to everyone for the great posts....it really helped with my buying experience. 2 weeks ago I had negotiated for a Titan XE King Cab with a Preffered Package, Mud Guard, and Floor Mats for $26380 (out the door). They told me that this would have power windows/locks included, but as everyone knows, King Cab XE's don't come with power windows/locks. They wanted to go to some electronic store to install these locks/windows and install them in a shoddy manner, but still get me out the door @ $26,380. I offered $26,000 for it and we couldn't agree so I walked.
As time went by, I saw more and more Titans on the road and would pull along side them and ask how much they paid and where the got it, etc... Well one day I pulled along side a Titan and happend to talk with the Sales Manager to another dealership and he gave me his card and told me "I'll take care of you" (Haven't we heard that before). A week later after reading these posts, I sent him an E-mail and told him that the best price I've seen on a Titan is $450 over invoice. He told me to come in and pick any Titan on his lot and he would go $300 over invoice. I saw a beautiful Smoke, SE Titan, King Cab, with Popular Captain and Utility Bed Package that I wanted. He printed out the invoice on the truck (the same that's on all these internet sites) and added his $300 plus $499 Document fees and tax, tag, title for $27,154 (out the door). I asked him if $27,100 was possible and he smiled and we shook hands. That other dealership has since called back 4 times begging me to take that XE off their hands for $26,000. Ha, for a $1100 more I get an SE, Popular Package with Captain Chairs, Utility Bed Package, and because I bought it on Valentines Day, the fiancee thinks it was for her =)

[CaliforniaTitan]

Very good deal Jax and of course those guys with the XE are gonna keep calling...Why? The XE model will be the one that most dealerships will be having a harder time getting rid of. When someone spends a nice shiny penny for a new full size truck, they normally aren't going to go with the 'base' model so to speak thus the SE and LE versions will move much quicker.

BTW...you guys fighting over the keys yet? Because if and once you guys get married......LOL

Chris

[jaxpd1050]

I'll give her the Valet key and after she cranks it for the 10th time and the car shuts off, she won't want to drive it anymore =)

[rrumaner]

Originally Posted by jaxpd1050

I'll give her the Valet key and after she cranks it for the 10th time and the car shuts off, she won't want to drive it anymore =)

Did I miss something in the manual about the valet key?

[outahere]

Originally Posted by 70boss

All Nissan dealers are on a "turn and Earn" program....meaning if they don''t sell and turn over thier inventory, they wont get any new inventory....

Based on this, wouldn't a dealer be much more motivated to sell near invoice on an "in-stock" Titan, than on a "special order" Titan?

[jaxpd1050]

Originally Posted by rrumaner

Did I miss something in the manual about the valet key?

I was told that the Valet Key not only prevents others from getting inside ur glove box/console, but if the Valet decides to steal the car then after so many cranks (I was told 10) then the engine won't start with that particular key anymore. Only a regular key can make the engine re-start....I haven't tried this yet, but this is what I was told.

[Nissan Junkie]

Originally Posted by GezonMotors

Frankly, you guys are going to crucify me for saying this because I sell them, but where do you get your numbers from? 3-400 above invoice!? If you don't like the Titan, just say so. I know I wouldn't walk around telling everyone my new truck is't worth even close to what they charge. Why not tell everyone it's a cheap piece of **** too? You guys are never happy. It's better in just about every way than the competiton, ALREADY COSTS LESS, and hold it's value MUCH BETTER and you're sying it's not worth what Nissan says it is? Come on. Get a good deal, but that figure is stupid. People that think that way are the reason a brand name loses value. If you're so cheap, why don't you go for the rebates of a domestic? Oh wait, it's because they aren't as good, they depreciate too fast and they start off over priced. Stop being silly and enjoy the Titan for the good truck it is.

As I too work in the automotive industry (I write the software that some of the dealerships use on the front end, desking, and F&I) there is one crucial part that is left out here, the dealer in like 98% of the cases makes money, lots of money, on the loan itself, as the dealer has a better credit rating than you, say you got a 60 month loan at 5.9% APR, well the dealer gets the same loan at say 2.4% so they are skimming 3.5% off the top and keeping it for themselves...

there is a lot of money in the automotive industry, and it is the most cut throat industry in the world.... but dealers selling for invoice is no skin off their nose, and then every dealer is different, typically the larger dealers, sell for 500-1000 over invoice, and are easily talked down to invoice or a small bit above, it is the small dealerships that fight for every penny and are less willing to deal, also if the car/truck/SUV is hot, they will charge through the nose, look at the PT cruiser when it came out you were lucky to find one that was under 35000, now they are dirt cheep, same went for the neon srt-4 the 300 z, the thunderbird.... etc..... etc....

now most of the above listed are hard to sell, (cept the 300z ), and you can pick up for bargain basement prices...

just my point of view, and it is a fairly wide one, as I have everything from KIA to Ferrari dealers (mostly benzo)...

[GezonMotors]

Originally Posted by 70boss

I wont get complicated. Right now, on a XE King cab 4X4, I would sell at invoice $24421

SE, and LE I would want a minimum of 500-1500.

If the truck is a "Morphodite", my term for a Nissan Spec'ed truck that I was forced to take, that has an odd combination of options....I will blow it out near invoice.


All Nissan dealers are on a "turn and Earn" program....meaning if they don''t sell and turn over thier inventory, they wont get any new inventory....


Good Luck!!

This sounds like the same area and principles we work within as well. I also appreciate the post 70Boss left on here regarding hold back. I agree. That money is there for reasons between the dealer and the manufacturer. Any customer that thinks that money belongs to them is being unrealistic about what a good deal really is. And another point that I would have to agree on is that Boss is right, the people that buy their vehicles for more, seem to be happier customers. They get a good price and that's it. After that they get a good nights sleep and enjoy their purchase. Good Posts Boss.

[GezonMotors]

Originally Posted by Nissan Junkie

As I too work in the automotive industry (I write the software that some of the dealerships use on the front end, desking, and F&I) there is one crucial part that is left out here, the dealer in like 98% of the cases makes money, lots of money, on the loan itself, as the dealer has a better credit rating than you, say you got a 60 month loan at 5.9% APR, well the dealer gets the same loan at say 2.4% so they are skimming 3.5% off the top and keeping it for themselves...

there is a lot of money in the automotive industry, and it is the most cut throat industry in the world.... but dealers selling for invoice is no skin off their nose, and then every dealer is different, typically the larger dealers, sell for 500-1000 over invoice, and are easily talked down to invoice or a small bit above, it is the small dealerships that fight for every penny and are less willing to deal, also if the car/truck/SUV is hot, they will charge through the nose, look at the PT cruiser when it came out you were lucky to find one that was under 35000, now they are dirt cheep, same went for the neon srt-4 the 300 z, the thunderbird.... etc..... etc....

now most of the above listed are hard to sell, (cept the 300z ), and you can pick up for bargain basement prices...

just my point of view, and it is a fairly wide one, as I have everything from KIA to Ferrari dealers (mostly benzo)...

In house financing you need to watch maybe, but there is a limit to what you can charge someone. I would highly suggest you know what your credit looks like (More than just the score) before you go into ANY loan type situation. But we don't hold our loans, other financial institutions are used and therefore we try to be as competitive on rate as we need to be. Again, shop the dealership as much as price. In my opinion, more than price. As long as the dealership is trustworthy, the deal will be fair... think about it...

One more thing...Funny how those 300Z's are huh? lol

[speed]

Originally Posted by GezonMotors

In house financing you need to watch maybe, but there is a limit to what you can charge someone. I would highly suggest you know what your credit looks like (More than just the score) before you go into ANY loan type situation. But we don't hold our loans, other financial institutions are used and therefore we try to be as competitive on rate as we need to be. Again, shop the dealership as much as price. In my opinion, more than price. As long as the dealership is trustworthy, the deal will be fair... think about it...

One more thing...Funny how those 300Z's are huh? lol

This is perhaps the best thread I have read about ANY auto issue in about 4 years. I was one of the first in NE to purchase an XTerra, and there was NO negotiating about price, but that was a timing issue, not a dealership issue. None of the dealers in Lincoln or Omaha were dealing then.

Holdbacks are probably none of our business as buyers. I run a computer consulting firm and we have a "relationship" with THE computer company (brown boxes with blue lettering that do not say IBM). I WILL NOT express in detail what those terms are, because that is breaking a trust with the manufacturer, whom in the end I need for quality name recognition. None of us would (or could) buy a new Titan from "Fred's Quality Used Cars and Porn Emporium". We would only buy from an authorized Nissan dealer, due to the know quality of their product. Sometimes I sell machines to good customers for a significant markup, and sometimes to bad customers for little to nothing. Same issue as GezonMotors stated above -- customers that are not ****ering over pennies will most likely return to buy more and are happier than those that get pissed off when you charge them a pittance for your services.

In the end, I also do not want to spend more than I have to, but there is more to this than just the "COST" of the truck.

[CaliforniaTitan]

I agree....great thread...lets sticky this up here for a while for the people looking to purchase this great truck!

Chris