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I don't remember how OH did it when I lived there.
Sales taxes are so confusing that it's best not to add them in when discussing amounts paid. In Missouri it's net after discounts and trade-ins. It's not paid to the dealer but to a tag agent within thirty days of purchase. If you sell the car yourself you still discount the difference. I think rates are 7-8% depending on municipality. Tags are transferrable and travel with the owner not the car. Still more reason to ignore all of this stuff in discussing price paid.
I paid right at $16 grand for my Maxx, not counting sales tax. I didn't have a GM card but got an auto-show discount. I'm not even sure how all the discounts added up, only that once I said I had the employee (drive-way?) discount, everyone quoted exactly the same price.
I think these changing discounts hurt GM but once you start it it's kind of hard to quit. Hyundai plays by the same game. There's not much of a discount on the new Sonata but I think most Hyundai buyers will wait for bigger stuff down the pike. Kind of like all those Saturns that used to be sold as used with 100 miles so that they could discount off the fixed new price.
So, yes, I think it is negotiable. I'm not sure if the dealer needs to get creative with the paperwork.
Our deal did NOT involve any trade-in.
We're happy with the car and for less than 18,000 I think a good value.
Thanks for an awesome forum.
Just curious how you got the car for $1000 under GMS price? Was it a demo? Did you have a trade-in? What was the dealer fee?
Regards - Damon
As I understand it, the GM reimbursment on GMS price to the dealer is about 1100 here. Add in the quarterly holdback of about 600 and my estimate was that they have around 1700 wiggle room on the GMS price, so 1000 under shoudl still give them several hundred profit.
So far we're very happy with the car. Both my wife and I love driving it, and feel so safe and comfortable.
Thanks everyone!
So the earlier posting that hypothesized a $1700 wiggle room seems right on the money.
Thanks everyone and enjoy your Malibus!
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I tried one more dealer who seemed more than willing to deal. The MSRP on a maxx LT 1SB was $26,350, the price after employee discount and rebates was $21,448. We bought it $21,170 which on the drive home I realized I could have done better because when dealing, I signed a statement saying I would buy it for $21,000. The salesman took the statement to his manager. During this time we saw someone charging the battery on the maxx (the only one on the lot which had sat there for some time) and I did not think anything of this at the time. The salesman comes back, to the cubical and makes a counter offer of $21,170 which took. On the drive home is when I realized that they were charging the battery because they had a signed paper from me saying I would buy it at $21,000. They preping of the car because it was leaving the lot that day no matter what. How much better I could have done? I don't know.
-Loren
Something similar is happening on the Sonata threads where dealers are asking (and sometimes getting) little or no discount on MSRP. Although I think the Sonata (and Malibu) are equal in quality to the Camcords, I would take neither without a fairly large discount.
I have very little alliance to any brand, although GM's dealers seem a stronger bunch than Hyundai's --- or Toyotas for that matter. It's mostly about money. There's plenty of good cars out there. I wish a few more had a hatch.
Chevy Malibu Maxx LS Package 1SB Dark Blue Metallic
+23360 MSRP
-600 haggling
-2560 GMS discount (tax applies here, of course)
-2000 rebate
-3500 gm card rebate
-1300 trade-in (10 yr old buick, did very well IMHO)
+1200 tax
-------
14600 cash
Not everyone wants to buy an Accord. They have had their share of transmission problems as of late. Mazdas continue to have poor resale value. There are many Mazda 6's and also Mazda 3's on used car lots already. The 3's have had many reliability issues as well. Of all the cars you mentioned, none has the utility of the Maxx. Altimas are hitting the used car lots as "off rentals", these are good buys but it is affecting resale.
You guys can keep comparing our Chevy's to CamCords all you want. I think I got the best 5 passenger car for the money and I supported U.S. auto workers, working for a U.S. bottom line... Many of the foreign brand cars are tempting, but I do what right for my local and U.S economy. Plus I like the looks of my Maxx over all the cars mentioned... I would have liked a 5-6 speed gear box though...
The mid-sized import comparison thread irks me. I strongly believe that the Maxx can compete with any of the cars out there, but it hasn't been invited to the party.
It is pretty simple csandste.......It's lonely at the top. Toyota doesn't build anything like the Maxx. The Prius would be the closest design. Honda does build something close in design to the Maxx (Accord Wagon) but are afraid of exporting it to the US in fear of it cutting into their SUV profits. The Maxx simply stands alone in versatility. As a car, it does so much more than any other car out there. I bought an extended warranty to make sure it gets me through this pathetic SUV phase as gas creeps towards $4. Hopefully by the 120k mile mark, there will be a another car company who will be smart enough to build a car that is more than a grocery getter. GM certainly did this time around.
If the comparison is sedans only then stick in the 'Bu sedan and all of the upcoming Ford triplets. There are good American cars out there. Defining anything as domestic or import is confusing in this world economy.
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Can anyone tell me what GM conquest incentive is all about?
My colleague at School told me she got an extra discount call "conquest incentive" on her Maxx purchase a few days ago because she traded a Honda Accord for this deal.
If such an incentive exist, must I trade in a vehicle in order to receve it?
Thanks
Mary
According to GM's website, only Vibe has conquest incentive. Sorry, but Malibu is out of the question.
I have asked my dealer to sell a Maxx at $500 below GMS price, but he said that is out of the question. However, he did stated that he would give me a higher than normal trade in for any vehicle I bring in for this purchase.
I already own a Maxx LS with 1SB; it is a wonderful vehicle. No major complains. I get about 24miles/gallon combine, close to 30 on hwy travel---NYC to DC.
My sister has a Toyota Camry, and that is the reason I had asked about conquest incentive. My colleague at school had correct information, but wrong car. I will have to drag my sister down to my local Chevy dealer to have her Camry appraised.
Hope that help, and good luck.
First of all, chevy is more reliable than toyota, and has benn for about 2 years now. Its only then overall toyota with lexus vs ALL OF GM that the reliablility is different. Second of all, didn't the Malibu do much better in all the quality rankings as of late? This is a very reliable car with a bulletproof powertrain and 35mpg on the hyway.
Also, i agree that the 2000 malibu is not like the 2004, but there are many 2004's out there you can get a killer deal on.
Malibu Sedan LS
MSRP $21,265 plus the sports appearance package & side-air bags package (1SB) which brought the total sticker price up to $24,180.
Dealer originally offered a price of $22,245 without me even asking. Through several rounds of negotiation (all done via the phone), final price was $20,429 (16% off of sticker & $1,123 under Edmund's TVM pricing). Throw on top of this the $3,250 cash-back GM is offering on '05s and my GM Card points and I'm driving it off the lot just a shade above $15,100 plus tax.
Looks like dealers are eager to get rid of their '05s NOW.
Delivery Fee? What are you having the vehicle delivered to your house? It's called the DESTINATION FEE and is included on every vehicle, GM, Ford Employee what have you. This deal is over - thank god.
Per last post: You got the GM employee price plus possible some dealer cash, maybe up to $1000 late last month. Where did you get the $3250 in rebates? So you bought a $24,180 Malibu for a tad over $15K?
I'll call you on this and say you are lying. Sorry - but my friend is a Chevy dealer and we looked, there was no programs like that. Where I live there are practically no Malibu's all sold out. Besides, a 2006 Malibu LS now lists for $17,998 and with rebate the car is yours for Under $15K, and that is with NO GM discount.
Take TMV pricing with a grain of salt, as it's not very accurate, in some cases high, and others low and should be considered like a wild @ss guess.
I'd apologize for calling the previous poster a liar!
When I took it out for a test drive, my first impression was that it had a great balance between ride comfort and handling agility---easily the best of any vehicle I've ever driven. GM has come a long way in its chassis engineering during the last eight years (my Dad used to own a '98 Malibu). They've also done a great job improving the fit, finish, and materials quality of their interiors, as this car's interior is just as nice and as well put together as the interior of my Dad's '03 Toyota Camry. Ditto the fit and finish of the exterior body panels---the tolerances are as tight as the Toyota's.
If this Malibu proves as reliable after almost three years as my Dad's Camry has so far, then GM is definitely back in the big leagues.
In response to your claim that I'm lying, I beg to differ. Here's how the deal broke down:
MSRP: $24,180 (base price of $21,265, $2,290 in options, & $625 destination charge)
Negotiatied price: $20,249
GM Cash Back: $3,250 (check the recent 2005 northeast incentives on GMBuypower.com)
Price before GM Card points: $16,999
GM Card Point: $1,831 (I have the "old" card that doesn't limit how much you can use)
Final price: $15,168
Of course I'm not including tax & title as that varies by state so it's not fair to include it hear as it'll vary from place to place & out of our control. But everything else above was available through either incentives, GM Card point, or good old negotiation. What can I say, I'm a good negotiator. The dealer was eager to move the car off of his lot and was willing to do it at an attractive price to get it out of the way. So that is how I got my 2005 Malibu LS for just a shade above $15K. I'll take your apology when you are ready.
It's getting cleaned tonight and I can't wait to pick it up!
Thanks a lot.
Or 05 STD with 12,000 miles same equip as above but with 4 cyl engine.
Thanks in advance
I bought a used '05 LS with 11,000 miles (as you describe minus the spoiler) for $14K before tax, title, and extended warranty. I was able to haggle with the dealer and he came down $1000 on the price. Edmund's appraised the TMV (True Market Value) of this used car at $16,500 dealer retail. I think I got a great deal in part because I purchased on Dec. 29 (end of month/year). Try using Edmund's website to get the TMV for the used car you're looking at.
Good luck.