Good price on an 04 Marauder.

[KraziKid]

So my father is looking to trade his car in for a 2004 DTR Marauder. The dealer quoted my father $33,800 for the DTR with heated seats, and 6 CD changer. And $19,000 for his Blue Marauder with 12k miles. And $3500 in various rebates. Now, I remember reading about people getting $4500 in rebates. Also, does anyone think that price quoted on his car is fair? It is in mint condition, with just the normal everyday knicks from rocks on the road. Does anyone know of any dealers in the Nassau/Suffolk County area of NY that is willing to offer a better deal? Thanks in advance for the help.

[sailsmen]

He is making a standard mark up on both the trade in and the new car, i.e. you are paying full retail.

You can do $5-$8K better!

[KraziKid]

Originally posted by sailsmen
He is making a standard mark up on both the trade in and the new car, i.e. you are paying full retail.

You can do $5-$8K better!

Can you help me on it? I am trying to get my father the best deal he can. Can you direct me in the right way to get the $5-$8k better?

[RCSignals]

Looks like he is offering the '04 at full retail but only offering a low wholesale on the trade.
It's a win for the dealer

[KraziKid]

Originally posted by RCSignals
Looks like he is offering the '04 at full retail but only offering a low wholesale on the trade.
It's a win for the dealer

So how can I get it in my fathers favor? Try another dealer? Anyone on the boards know of a dealer in Nassau or Suffolk county NY that offer good deals?

[RedMM]

KraziKid-check your pms RedMM

[KraziKid]

Originally posted by RedMM
KraziKid-check your pms RedMM

Thanks. never checked them before, and missed a few messages. I sent a reply btw.

[junehhan]

Unfortunately, unless you privately sell the vehicle, you may not be able to do much better when trading in the 03 Marauder. Ever since 9/11, all of the rebates and incentives being offered have literally killed the used car market making their values very soft. Anytime any type of incentive is offered on a new car, it lowers the value of the similar used cars by just about that same amount, as now the used car market has the adjust it's values to compensate. The dealer realizes this, and is not going to put themselves in a position in which they may somehow end up losing money on that vehicle...............

[FordNut]

Best to sell the blue one privately. You should be able to get 20 or 21 for it, maybe evan a little more. Then get the new one at full discount for about 27. The only real loss is in taxes, as you generally don't pay sales tax on the trade-in difference. This should be a bottom line of about 6,000 + tax on about 31,000 (you have to pay tax on the value BEFORE rebates).

Your deal is about 33800 - 3500 (or 4500) -19000 = 11,300 (or 10,300) + tax on about 14,000.

[joflewbyu2]

I seen several 03 MM being sold for 20,000 to 20,500 which is still 1,000 under "average" black book southern edition price. I don't understand why any seller would take such a loss. Clean book is 22,275. Obviously, the Mercury dealership knows all the rebates and incentives on the new ones so they will appraise the car for the least. If you were buying a different make yopu might have better luck with some other dealer taking a chance and stretching to a price just to get a unique trade in good condition. I know several GMs being in the car business for years and been offered clean against a great deal close to cost. Lets do #s just for the heck. Invoive on new 04 is 31,810 if I remember correctly. $3,000 rebate, $500 loyalty, $500 AARP = $27,810. Trade value of bsouthern black book average value of 21,275 leaves an approxitmate difference of 6,500. It is close to the end of the month (only Friday and Saturday left) and give them that offer if you feel comfortable with it. Tell them you are going to the next dealer if you can not come to an agreement at that # or something extremely close to that. Be nice and curteous and bend a little if you like the way you are treated.

[jgc61sr2002]

Kid - Never trade in at the dealer. The give you a low ball price and will sell for quite a larger sum. Selling it privately and for more than 21 or 22 K is the way to go. 19K plus the sales tax difference will almost be 21 K. Example- Buy a car for 30K and trade one worth 20K, you only pay tax on 10K. Good luck.

[Directedby]

1. I think you can sell the Blue MM for $21,000 real fast. List it in paper and on this site.

2. Never look at sticker or MSRP when buying a car. Work from invoice. Invoice on the care is around $31,500. Considering dealers are having a hard time selling htis car, you should be able to call around and find a dealer willing to sell for invoice. If not try to get it for $200 over invoice then $500 over invoice. NEVER, NEVEr pay more than $1,000 over invoice for any car, unless it is so rare and you are so rich that you don't give a ****.

My 2c.

[b4z]

Is the car your father is trying to buy on the lot or does he have to order it?
If it is on the lot I would do what some of the others suggested and start at invoice.
You might be able to find a dealer who will sell it to you below invoice if you look hard enough.
Then try to get him up on the trade. Kind of hard now because most dealer's aren't even offering black book wholesale anymore.
He will make plenty of money on the trade.
Mercury's sell for more at a Mercury dealership then they do at a Chevrolet dealership.
Ever been to a Lexus dealership to buy a used Lexus?
2-4K more, period.

[SILVERMARAUDER]

Originally posted by jgc61sr2002
Kid - Never trade in at the dealer. The give you a low ball price and will sell for quite a larger sum. Selling it privately and for more than 21 or 22 K is the way to go. 19K plus the sales tax difference will almost be 21 K. Example- Buy a car for 30K and trade one worth 20K, you only pay tax on 10K. Good luck.

I GOT D-PLAN ON MY 03 MM APPROX 27K AND GOT 8K TRADE IN OFF THAT FOR MY 97 GM WITH HPP PKG WITH 66K SO IT DOES PAY SOMETIMES TO TRADE!

[junehhan]

If you can find a private seller that wouldn't mind driving to your dealership to pick up the car, another option that some dealers offer, is that they allow you to trade the car to them, which they then sell to your buyer at the price that you guys negotiated. There are 2 dealers in Cincinnati that I know of that do this, of which I know my Mercury dealer does this along with this Honda dealer by where I work. The Mercury dealer charges $500 for this, and the Honda dealer charges $300 for this. That way, you officially trade the vehicle in to the dealer which means you get the tax savings, and they sell the car to your private buyer. Some dealerships will offer this option, but many dealers won't....................

[jgc61sr2002]

junehhan - Is that legit. The state doesn't take kindly to the loss of tax revenue. Thats the way to go if it's legal.

[junehhan]

I believe that's why there arn't more dealers offering that as it appears to be a grey issue although it does lean towards being legal. That type of territory does appear to be murky. However, if the vehicle is sold to the dealership, and the dealer sells the vehicle to the 3rd party after the dealership has been fully transferred the title of ownership on that vehicle, I do believe that's legal since it's their vehicle now and they can sell it for as much money as they want. It may vary from state to state, but the 2 dealerships I know that offer it here in my area have said it's 100% legal which I tend to go along with since these are both huge dealership chains that probably have their own legal department.

[jgc61sr2002]

As long as the dealer puts the vehicle in its inventory and then sells it, the buyer ( of the new and old ) doesn't have a problem. That's a win win situation. IMO.

[gilby04]

jgc61sr2002,

I'm curious...
In your example, buying a new one for 30K, trading in one worth 20K, you only pay state sales tax on the net difference of 10K ?
Does this method apply to NY residents, or anyone ?
As a comparison, I bought my DTR for $30089 "A" plan, less $3000 factory rebate, less $500 AARP rebate, less $500 dealer rebate, less $1000 cash down payment rebate (for $5000 total rebate), but paid 6% state sales tax on $30089.
The only thing better than a MM...is TWO MMs !

[junehhan]

I believe that may also vary from state to state depending on how their sales tax laws are set up for cars. In many states, if you trade in a car to buy a new car, you only pay the sales tax on the difference. Therefore, at least in OH, if you buy a 04 Marauder which never arrived for $33000, and trade in your Discovery for $29500, you only pay sales tax on the $3500 difference between the 2 vehicles which is now 7% here..................

[gilby04]

junehhan,

What $$$ amount would the sales tax be based on if the purchase price was $33000 with $29500 CASH down (instead of a $29500 trade-in value), leaving the same $3500 balance as in your example ?

[junehhan]

Gilbey, the tax would be based on the entire purchase price if you arn't trading anything in. Therefore, even if you put $29500 cash down leaving a balance of $3500, you still owe tax on the entire purchase price of $33k. I guess that's the one beautiful thing about trading a vehicle in, is that's how you get the tax savings............

I hope my explanation is clear enough.

[jgc61sr2002]

Originally posted by gilby04
jgc61sr2002,

I'm curious...
In your example, buying a new one for 30K, trading in one worth 20K, you only pay state sales tax on the net difference of 10K ?
Does this method apply to NY residents, or anyone ?
As a comparison, I bought my DTR for $30089 "A" plan, less $3000 factory rebate, less $500 AARP rebate, less $500 dealer rebate, less $1000 cash down payment rebate (for $5000 total rebate), but paid 6% state sales tax on $30089.
The only thing better than a MM...is TWO MMs ! That is the NYS tax law. Not sure about anywhere else. But in NYS you must pay sales tax on the rebates.:(

[b4z]

We have a $300 maximum sales tax in SC.
But then we pay property taxes on our vehicles.

[jgc61sr2002]

Originally posted by b4z
We have a $300 maximum sales tax in SC.
But then we pay property taxes on our vehicles. That's great. We pay 8 3/4 % on the total price. That is almost 3K $ on a marauder. That's it nothing else. I guess that's enough.:(