Any Questions for a Car Dealer?

michaellno

...it's a matter of state law. Here in Colorado, we don't have a state DMV; each county issues it's own plates and assesses fees and taxes. When you buy a car, one of the questions asked is your zip code. That determines the sales tax you pay (or is worked into the lease payment) -- the tax rate can vary by 1-3% depending upon where you live!

When you purchase or lease a new car in Colorado, there isn't a line item on the contract for title and tags; you have to pay them separately to the county within 60 days of purchase. When we leased our Expedition and New Beetle within 30 days of one another back in late 1998, the fees to the county were over $1000!

im_brentwood

We usually get them within a week or so. We do have to go to the NJ DMV. Sellin, where's your store located?

masspector

I am sure it differs from state to state..In my state the plates go with the person, so if you trade in and get a new car the dealer takes the plate off your old car and puts it on the new one

masspector

I am even confusing myself now...I am going to drop it and get back to car only issues..is the new mustang restyle the 04 or 05 model?

sellinhonda

located in New York.

Same here too Mass. If they are trading their car or just transfering plates we do that too.

The only time we use temp tags is if they are from another state and then we just give them a temp tag and don't collect sales tax. They then go to DMV in their state and pay tax and then get new plates or transfer the ones they had.

tboner

In IL the Sec. of State branch offices in your county that do "Drivers Services" don't even have shiny new plates. You get a temp cardboard tag. Those are a bit better than the window stickers you had to clean off once your shiny new plates arrived.

I asked and they gave some of the same reasons, to deter fraud. I guess they have a system of checks and balances, so you don't have just one person handing out tags.

FWIW,

TB

robr2

...it's the same: your plate gets moved from car to car and you have 72 hours to transfer the registration IIRC.

If you want a new plate, I believe the dealers have them and do the paperwork on-line with the registry.

MA doesn't even have temporary paper tags.

lancerfixer

I grew up in Mass., and the plate stayed with the owner. When I got stationed in South Dakota in the AF, I found (the hard way) that the plates stay with the car. Oops.

xccoachlou

But you still get a window sticker, and the plates stay with the dealer until they get the registration from DMV.

Then again, NJ is probably the only state in the nation where it was a near impossibility to make people switch over to the new reflectorized plates.

I think if I had transferred the plates, inspection would still have been due in October.

I'd rather go to inspection in June. :)_

- Lou

isellhondas

Where have you been??

Yep, on the west coast the plates stay on the car.

xccoachlou

You mean that someone living in a West Coast state gets vanity plates for his car, and the plates go with the car, and not the owner?

- Lou

isellhondas

They can keep their vanity plates. there is a procedure involved though.

Vanity plates...another thing I'll never understand.

deville70

Any Ford dealers out there? I really like the new Thunderbird and sad to hear it's already going to get pulled. But dang, it's pricey. I looked at a couple today with sticker prices at $41,000 and $42,000; however, newspaper ads at the same time show you can buy new (or was it 02 models?) for $32,000. It may only be a certain stock number available at that price. $40,000, even $32,000, is a lot of money for a two-seat car. Is it possible to get one of these with say about 20,000 miles and one or two years warranty left for under $20,000?

A Colorado GM fan who likes this particular Ford.

masspector

Look in the paper for a private seller that is trying to get out from under one. I doubt you will find a dealer that will offer you that kinda a deal?

Landru, any comments?

Royce, any auction info?

babyb

Good luck trying to find one with 20,000 miles and for under $20,000. While my parents were looking for one earlier this year even the ones coming out of the auction that were a couple months old were in the $30k area. There was one or two that came up at the local Chevy dealer but it was still really high. They finally settled on a new 02 in teal with the Ford A/Z plan discount, so they got it for around $36k.

It might be something that you will have to wait for. Hard to say that with the limited production and them stopping production in a couple of years, the prices might not drop all that fast.

bretfraz

Nope. At auction these cars with miles in the teens are going for low $30's. Terry might have more up to date pricing than I but I don't think much has changed. So a purchase price on a Tbird with, say, 15,000 on the clock would be $33,000ish.

If you think $32K is a lot of money for a Tbird, I'd hate to know what you think about a Corvette. Want an inexpensive 2 seater? Look at used Mazda Miata's.

momstruck1

Looking to see if anyone knows if there are changes to the 2004 honda mini van? or will it be all done in 2005. any help is useful we really like the 2003 but like the 60/40 split seat in the Toyota . holding out hope that the honda will follow Toyota and split the third row bench. With three kids we need the room . Thanks

deville70

Bretfraz, what I think about the two-seater Corvette is, well of course yet a whole 'nother outer space price compared to Tbird, but it's a whole 'nother type of car, too.

And current Corvette design just not appealing to me...big wide rear and all around huge car for a "sports car?" What's a Corvette new, $55,000?

No, I just thought since a local dealer is advertising new 03 Tbirds at $32,000 (off the $41,000 list), there might be 02 models available for quite a bit less than that. Many dealers in my Colorado city are advertising new cars at typically about 20% off list, with all the various rebates etc. available. 2002 models are even more off. For example, I see '02 Chevy Impalas and Buick Centurys all over the paper every weekend for $13,000 - $14,000, sometimes '03 models now are being listed at $15,000 (obviously I'm rounding prices). These are cars dealers show with MSRPs at $22,000 - $25,000.

landru2

So you feel $6000 is a reasonable price walk from a 2002 Impala to a 2002 Thunderbird? Rest assured that most people that bought 2002 T-birds a year ago paid way more than $32,000. Many of them paid more than the $41,000 MSRP. I doubt you'll find many people selling them at a $20,000+ loss over 1 year.

rroyce10

...... Even with the winter as bad as it was all over the country, T-Birds aren't distressed merchandise .. the cheapest I have seen a TBird do with 25k was $27,0 .. they might be going away in a few years, but it's going to be awhile before you see a $20 grand Bird.

                 Terry.

isellhondas

Don't look for any changes in the 2004 Odyssey.

The 2005's will be totally revamped.

Not sure what they will do with the third seat but my guess is that it'll be split.

Funny...when one car builder adds some kind of a feature, people demand it even though nobody seemed to care before.

stickguy

it's not that they didn't care before, they just compromised. Many people found the 4 or 7 (take it or leave it) set up to be less than ideal, and in some cases a deal breaker. Not enough to make Honda care (since they still sold all they could make), but it was an issue.

Now, there are many more features (power liftgate?) that I put in that catagory, but YMMV.

momstruck1

I am in a current lease on a chevy . I am looking to go into a honda van either at the end of this lease or a little sooner. My lease ends in 2 years which leaves me in a delima. I could get a 2004 and get rid of my nissan and keep the lease or wait and get a 2004 or 2005 depending on when they are going to release them. So the deal is does anyone have an idea about when the 2005's will be out will it be an early release or a sept. release? early meaning april/may like the toyota. Really like the model as is the only problem is the rear seat which i like split it is split on the chevy but that seat is not a magic fold seat it doesn't fold into the bottom of the van.

maxmom

I'm looking for a dealer without a vested interest in my situation to give me an opinion.
 
I have a Chrysler Pacifica on order. Although I haven't received a call, the projected delivery date is late this week.

When I negotiated my best deal and ordered my car back in early May, there were no incentives and no plan to offer any on the Pacifica for 6-12 months. Now, just before mine arrives, Chrysler has added a $1,000 incentive.

Should I mention it? Should I let it go? Does the incentive come directly from the manufacturer or from the dealer?

My heart says be happy with the good deal which I negotiated. My head says don't leave a $1,000 on the table.

Any knowledgeable insight will be appreciated.

grandtotal

If an incentive offered when you placed the order disappeared before you took delivery you would have to find another $1000. Does that help you answer the question?

isellhondas

It just seems that buyers want EVERYTHING these days. If a feature of dubious merit shows up on one model, it's almost like the car is undrivable without it.

This is what drives competition and encourages innovation I suppose...

Still, some of these "must haves" seem pretty silly at least to me.

rivertown

The $1K is a manufacturer to customer rebate; so, I think you have a strong argument in asking for it. There's also new manufacturer to dealer support, according to Edmunds; so, the dealer is also getting a better deal than he/she negotiated.

Shucks, I'd think an honest dealer would be telling you about the $1K. "Hey Max, you got a price break!"

bretfraz

The only incentives I can find on a Pacifica is a Lease Loyalty incentive of $1000. The existing college grad incentive of $400 is there too, as always.

But if you are eligible for the $1000 I see no reason why you should not get it. You have an order, not a deal. You negotiated a price which should be valid. If Chrysler decided to toss in $1000 to sweeten the deal, good for you. The dealer has no control over this as the money comes from the mfr. You just need to make sure you are eligible.

maxmom

If you read the fine print, any auto owner is eligible whether they lease or purchase.

You guys have given me the incentive I needed.

I thought I had negotiated a pretty sweet deal to start, but this will make it even better. Now that I know it comes from the manufacturer and not directly from my dealer, I have no problem pushing for it.

Thanks for your responses.

rivertown

http://apps.edmunds.com/new/2004/chrysler/pacifica/100218686/incentives.html?
http://apps.edmunds.com/new/2004/chrysler/pacifica/100218687/incentives.html?

audia8q

as long as you qualify, you should have no problem getting the incentive...

I drove a Pacifica this past weekend...I was impressed....Nice to see Chrysler moving into a better world than the past.

dtwleungnyc

From two articles that I have read so far, the Pacifica is not selling well, at least numbers wise. As buyers are very reluctant to pay this much for a Chrysler product. Plus, Chrysler had also announced they are going to produce an "entry" level Pacifica with a lower price to attract buyers.

maxmom

I'm not particularly interested in how well it's selling.

It is the perfect car for our three person, and occasional one labrador, family. I hate SUV's and a minivan is overkill.

As for quality, I've encountered no one with major issues. I love the look, the level of comfort, the safety, and the utility.

It's not for everyone, that's why we don't all drive the same car or eat the same flavor ice cream.

isellhondas

Everyone should drive what they like.

Hopefully they have solved some of their problems.

dtwleungnyc

What I meant was, the dealer might be more willing to negotiate, if he sees his Pacifica inventory is going up instead of going down. I found its easier to negotiate on a slow seller than a hot seller. Of course, your mileage may vary.

maxmom

I actually did all of my negotiating up front and ordered my Pacifica through my local dealer that is such a low volume dealer they didn't even get a Pacifica alottment in the first round.

They actually ordered one for stock when they ordered mine.

I ordered the FWD (here in the South, I couldn't justify the extra money and weight on the AWD), cloth interior (I don't like leather, another ice cream scenario). The only option I added was a moonroof.

I guess I'm actually getting the so called entry level, but with a few bells and whistles that won't be available on the entry level when it comes out.

With the incentive, I'm in at $29,500 + a $75 doc fee and feeling okay about it.

A new Pacifica and a new Harry Potter book in the same week may be more than we country folks can handle!

lifesomtime

Congrats on your car and enjoy and who cant be happy that a Harry Potter fan gets bestowed with such good fortunes. :-)

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi maxmom. Since you ordered your Pacifica, you will be eligible for any incentives that are available on it when you physically take delivery of it. Whether or not the deal that you negotiated allows you deduct any available incentives from the price that you agreed to is between you and your dealer. I definitely would mention the new incentives to the dealer if I was in your situation. You don't have anything to lose by bringing them up and seeing what they will do for you. This money comes directly from DaimlerChrysler and not from them, so it doesn't cost them anything other than the loss of potential income to include them in your deal.

To help clarify the situation, DaimlerChrysler is currently providing $1,000 owner loyalty cash on the '04 Chrysler Pacifica to current owners and lessees of DaimlerChrysler products. They also are offering $1,000 conquest cash on this model to current owners of competitive products. The $500 dealer cash that a previous poster alluded to is DCX's $500 Trade-In Allowance program that provides $500 dealer cash on deals that consumers trade vehicles in on. This allowance was meant to help dealers offer consumers a little more money on their trades, thus increasing the chances of closing a deal.

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ravb

Not sure if this is the correct forum. I sat for 2 hours with a salesman and came down to a price for my car and trade in. I signed a "worksheet" and left for dinner while they detailed the car. When I got back the salesman said he could not do the deal because his used car buyer would not give me what was stated on this worksheet. The salesman said I didn't sign a contract so there was no deal. Why did I have to sign this worksheet for? Has anyone else heard of this and have advise. I ended up giving him $700 more than the original price.

jasmith52

RAVB: This sounds like a story to me. They worked you and got an extra $700 out of you.

If you had walked maybe they would have called you the next day to do the deal. But you'll never know.

Even if you had to pay the $700 more, wouldn't you have felt more comfortable going to another dealer to just see what kind of deal you could get.

sonjaab

Here in northern NY.........$33k sticker.........
Todays paper $ 29,995

rroyce10

.... It's your $1,000 rebate .. grab it and the new vehicle and enjoy both ..!

                      Terry.

maxmom

Thanks to all who posted replies regarding the Pacifica incentive.

My husband is very proud that I opened this line of questioning today and we are now confident that we will benefit from the incentive.

You're a great group in what I have found to be an invaluable forum. Having sold used cars for about five years back in the mid-90's (Yes, I admit it.), I find that I am much more informed thanks to forums such as this.

Best to all,

maxmom

m5power

The reason I asked this goofy question to begin with about GM's telling their salespeople how to act is based on this- we've been to several (4-5) lexus dealerships, and each salesperson has been very pleasant, professional, and informative. And Lexus has a reputation for #1 customer service, pre-and post sale.

But the 4 BMW dealerships I've been to (3 in chicago, 1 in Minneapolis), have all had less than stellar sales staff. I'm not talking about salespeople pandering to us; I'm talking about common courtesies, good attitudes, not being condescending, etc. So therefore, although it sounds far-fetched, could BMW dealerships really not care about the way their salespeople sell cars- because the cars sell themselves? The BMW messageboards are littered with accounts of bad salespeople, poor customer service, bad service departments, and on and on. Is this a coincidence?

zoompv

I just bought a new car with a $2000 mfr. rebate. Sales tax was assessed based on the price before the rebate. I recognize that this is standard practice. But I wonder - when the dealer pays his taxes each quarter, will he pass along the entire amount I paid in sales tax to the state, or will his accounting show that I only paid the after-rebate price for the car, resulting in a windfall of the sales tax on the $2000 to the dealer?

Assuming he must pass along the entire amount he charged me for sales tax, why wouldn't the mfr. and dealer structure the $2000 price reduction to come off before the sales price is determined, rather than after? After all, what business owner would want to add cost to his customer just to pay the tax man more?

Or on the other hand, if it's done as a subterfuge, shouldn't I be able to get back the money charged for tax on the rebate - or if it's too late after the sale, shouldn't I be able to refuse to pay tax on a rebate in the future?

bigorange30

How can the dealer not pay tax on a discount that he doesn't show in his accounting? If I pay the dealer $30K for a car and the manufacturer gives me $5K back, what is on the dealer's books? It is still $30K and that's what he has to pay taxes on. He never saw the $5K. Now, manufacturer to dealer incentives would be different.

masspector

I know it sounds wierd, but my auto pet peeve is exposed cup holders. I like for the cup holder to have a cover or be hidden somehow. I do not like seeing big holes in the console or back door handles.

I know, seems odd, like you said.

robr2

What you are suggesting is that a dealer may commit tax fraud wrt to accounting on the rebate. Most if not all dealers today use software to do all their accounting and bills of sale so it would require going around the system to defraud the state. Besides here in MA the "savings" on $2K would be $100. The dealer has too much to lose for that piddly sum.

Further, my last 2 vehicle purchases required that I bring the dealer multiple certified checks: one for them, one made out to the state for the sales tax, and one made out to the RMV for the the registration charges. No confusing who gets what.

keishahudson

I recently bought a used car from a nissan dealer ship in VA. I was told the I was approved and that I was able to take the car home. Three weeks later I started getting calls that I need to come back to the dealership to sign papers or they will come and repo the car. (Please note I haven't even had a payment yet) When I went to the dealership, I was told the loan was not approved because the car had too many miles for the term I wanted. They tried to talk me into another car but they were too expensive. When I initially brought the car, I had a trade-in that I was given $4200 on and I put $1000 down as well. They could not find my trade-in on the lot. Is the dealership obligated to give me the trade-in amount for my trade in cash since they do not have my car? I don't feel as though this dealership is being very honest with me about anything. They sent me home with my car and said they would find a way to get it financed. I don't trust it. What are my options? And what do you think is going on here?

raybear

That dealer has a problem!