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Kia Sorento Prices Paid and Buying Experience
Have you recently purchased or do you plan on purchasing a Sorento? What did you pay? How did you negotiate?
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I didn't negotiate much. I spent most of the time on dealer price quote via internet. That was the lowest price that I found.
The buying experience was your typical high volume dealer affair. They were VERY friendly (but aren’t they always) but in your heart you know that they are constantly maneuvering to stick it to you every chance they get. After three trips to the sales manger we settle on the price of $23750. At this point you’re tired and feel relived that the buying game is over. But it’s not over, you’ve just come to the half-time show (the time you spend be entertained by the sales staff while you wait to enter the lions den, aka the finance manager). The selling of a car is sometimes referred to as the “front end” of the deal and the financing of the vehicle is known as the “back end” of the deal. There are many times when a dealership makes a lot more money on the “back end” of the deal. So watch your rear when you enter the finance zone of a dealership. The negotiation of what you’re really going to be paying for the ride isn’t over until you’re out of finance. Our finance person was the exact opposite of our salesman. He was calm, soft-spoken and very smooth (it was almost like being hypnotized) as he presented the extended warranty sale as if it was a part of the original deal. He also pulled the old “hide the exorbitantly high APR while only showing the monthly payment routine”. His initial quote was 6.9% over 60 months with the hidden extended warranty to boot. As soon as I mentioned we could get 4.75% from local a community credit union, he dropped his rate to 4.5%. Can you imagine how much the dealership would have made pocketing the difference between what the bank charges them and the 6.9% they were going to charge us? A LOT OF PROFIT.
So in the end I would say my Kia buy experience was no different than any other vehicle I’ve ever bought, it’s buyer beware. Negotiating for a new auto can be fun if you do your homework, shop multiple dealers, stay on your toes for the whole game, be patience and keep a good attitude.
Maybe next time I can talk about the condition known as BRS buyers remorse syndrome, as I always get a bad case after every purchase.
I negoatited over internet and followed up with one phone call. I visited the dealership and did the deal in one day. It was great.
One of the best parts is I did a lot of research at Edmunds and several of the folks who post in the Sorento forum (such as lok888:-) pushed me off the fence to buy with their comments about the Sorento.
Just bought my Sorento LX yesterday from a local Kia dealer. A friend of mine bought my camry (has 105K on it) and I did not have too much time to shop.
It was used with 5300 miles on it and never registerd with DMV. The General Manager of the dealership said his boss drove the car for a while and he is selling to me as a NEW car and that warranty would start yesterday (date wise) and last till 100K powertrain. After $1000 rebate and all I paid roughly $16900 + tax and license for the car. It is going to be a commute car so I did not go for the Leather and all although I really wanted it. Oh, I did pay $950 extra for extended warranty 10 yr/100K bumper to bumper and alarm system. This alarm system will let me remotely unlock the car over the phone in case I locked myself out.
I think it is a ok deal as I did not have much time to look. I do plan on driving the car to more than 100K miles if it lets me.
Oh, one question though. The Sorento did not have ABS, is this an option I can add. The dealer said no but I find it really odd. Is this true ?
Thanks a lot.
Benjamin
Sorry for the late, late reply. I got the alarm from a company called ADS ( Advance dealer service ) or something like that. It is very similar to one found here www.satronics.com but my model is WL504. It can do the standard function like arm/disarm and gate (the glass portion) release. It also let you arm and disarm using a touch tone phone.
I think it is basically a pager. You key in your code and command from the phone and the system send the command to your car for the desired action. I tried it and it works. There is a 2 minute delay or so after you key in the command.
Oh. Since I don't have the factory FOB so there isn't much issue for me.
Let me know if there is any question.
Benjamin
The option i would like to have with the sorento(4WD EX) are luxuary package and ABS. How much is gona be a good deal at least? Can i pay under 25,000 to own it with 1000 rebate?
Steve, Host
We paid $33,655.00 CAD for our EX. That price includes a 7% federal sales tax called the GST - goods and service or gouge and screw tax. The dealer/bank financing was 60 months with an interest rate of 3.9%.
This was the best vehicle purchase experience I have had. The deal was "wrapped up" in 3 hours which included a trade-in of worn out 1998 Ford Windstar.
I live in Longmont Colorado...and I can give some advice here. DO NOT, and I mean DO NOT...consider using Kia Cowboy Corral in Longmont. I purchased my Sorento from these jokers...and though they gave me a smoking deal, everything from that point on has been an absolute nightmare! There service department is a joke! So I would not recommend these guys in anyway. Trust me.
I did not get much help in the whealing and dealing part of negotiating with the Tynan's Nissan and Kia in Ft. Colliins. Nice guys, but they really don't want to sell you a car unless your an idiot and aren't very educated in the true costs...etc.
I have been using Grand Kia in Westminster. Its a ways from where your moving, but they have been great with me. They have treated me very well and their service department is fantastic. Now...I don't know about buying there. So thats up for debate. But I'm sure they will work with you. Just come with your guns loaded...so to speak.
Anyway...I hope that helps. If you have any other questions, just address them to me here.
Good luck.
Mark
Hope this helps.
From yahoo, the number certainly does not look good: 8451
Anybody bought a sorento in the Silicon Valley bay area? Do not see much around town. Actually only saw 2 thus far.
I'm not sure where you got your information. But from last November (2002) to this September (2003, Kia has sold over 31,000 Sorentos in the USA.
Check link above to see current sales figures based on the 1st of 2003 thru September 2003.
How do you like your sorento? Is it major-problem free?
Duncan
I called my local sales guy I had been dealing with (I previously offered $26K out the door for the same package as above), informed him about the new cash back rebate, sent him the Excel spread sheet I created and the following URL's below and told him to make me a deal. Needless to say my sales guy came back with an out the door price of $26,273. Not only did he beat out the internet price by $367, but he included the Luxury Pkg valued at $1500 rather than the $900 Leather Pkg I originally wanted. Bottom line, I came out $967 ahead of the internet deal.
When determining what to offer, keep in mind that at dealer invoice, the dealer is still making approximately $600 in hold-back from the manufacturer plus some profit from any options not to mention any other manufacturer incentives (SPIFFS) for total monthly sales. If you do your home work, you can save yourself a fair amount of money. Helpful tools would be the links below and the spread sheet I created. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at the address listed in my profile.
If you would like a copy of the Excel Spread Sheet to help determine the price to pay for your 2004 Sorento do the following steps.
1. Click on the following URL.
http://www.yahoo.com
2. Under Organize, Select; Briefcase
3. Log-in: Yahoo ID = soreneto_friends
Yahoo PW = townhall
4. Select the Sorento folder
5. Copy the Excel file.
By the way, if you're interested in last years 2003 Sorento's, they have a $2000 cash back. My dealer has basic 4x2 LX models with roof rack & alloys for $19,995 out the door.
Below are the links I previously mentioned:
MSRP & DEALER INVOICE
http://www.autobytel.com/content/research/detail/Kia/Kia-Sorento.
2004 SORENTO CASH BACK
http://kia.com/clearance/index.php
This car was sold to me by a Kia Exec for $17,900 and had 18,000 miles. This is my third Kia-my first was a 95 Sportage that left this life in a driving rainstorm on the Hollywood Freeway. That one had 104,000 miles-had spent a couple years in Mexico and at it's demise still had the original clutch, battery and not an oil leak. I still miss it. Then a 2000 Sportage-a little fancier by then with the rack and spare tire on the back and a flashy red. This one was just as solid but has had some weird problems-like a catalytic converter just replaced at 52,000 miles(in warranty) and some other emission things.
I am sold on my dealer-I have the best service ever and just can't conceive of starting over with another dealer-though my family thinks I am nuts and has tried, without any success to at least look at the Hondas or Toyotas. Nah!!!
Though I must say-the review numbers have plunged from a 9+ to mid 7s since I bought my Sorento a month or so ago-as I may not have been so eager to take on another "first year" model. So far - so good. This feels and drives like a real car-a whole lot "meatier" then the Sportage. I am a thoroughly happy Kia driver.
Here's a good place to start your car buying saga:
Buying Tips. Check out the Confessions link there too - it's a real eye-opener.
Steve, Host
I've been negotiating with a few dealers in the Sacramento area for a 04 EX 4WD with luxury package, ABS, and spoiler. So far the lowest quote I have is $25,515 after rebate.
How does that sound?
I actually had Cars Direct searching for one for me, but they couldn't find one in a color I like. My price was $1,000 under theirs.
I think I got a pretty good deal. I was trying to get the price down to $25,100, but the dealers started dropping like flies at that price.
So, you purchased your car online?
I would never buy a car until I have driven it myself. That's just me. I play guitar too, and I will never buy a guitar on ebay or online. I have to play one, like it, before I buy it.
I ended up negotiating a better price myself using information from Cars Direct, Edmunds, and several other car buying websites. One web site in particular has some fantastic information, but I don't want to advertise the web page. If anyone is interested they can email me.
sleong - it doesn't look like your email address is public in your profile.
sonnyrocker - I agree with you. But there is nothing to lose with this approach. You don't order or sign for anything unless you see it. This actually saved me a lot of time if travel to different dealers and negoiate. And it is interesting to see how much you can beat the dealer. Of course, they are always the winners.
Off topic - outrageous deal is on the Optima. They have it for something like $10k (about $7k off)!
This is at Quirk Kia in MA. They are the largest dealer in the country so get "extra" incentives.
We bought at Gettel Kia in Sarasota, Florida. The salesman, sales manager and business manager could not have been any better - it was worth the 1.5 hour drive!
Val
Duncan