[PIMPaLiCiOuS]

I may be back in the market to finally get the truck of my dreams. I have yet to buy a "brand new" vehicle yet. Got my Hardbody below used, and the wife's Civic used as well.

My questions are: What month/months of the year is the best time to buy? What time during that month is the best opportunity to rob the stealership of all they have?
:twisted:

 

[StormNISMO]

From personal experience, The very end of the model year on the very last saturday night of the last week of the month. I usually go to a dealership that is known for selling a high volume of cars, these dealerships are always out to meet the year-end or month-end sales quotas.
I've bought a couple a cars under these circumstances and all were pretty good deals of on, or really close to invoice. Also the dealerships like to get the paper work done quicker under these circumstances.

 

[05_NISMO_4X4]

I agree, if you can find a new 05 still on the lot someplace, you can probably get an awesome deal right now! But regardless if you go 05 or 06, Storm gave some very sound advice! The last Saturday evening of the month, or the last day of the month, has always netted me the best deals as well! Gotta love sales quotas!

 

[PIMPaLiCiOuS]

Wow, that's an exact answer I was looking for if there ever was one. That would be perfect if I wanted to settle for the Frontiers on the dealer lot.

I guess I should say that I'm very specific when it comes to the exact model of Frontier I want. From the looks of it, I will have to get it ordered to match my specifications.

With that said, how should I go about buying?

 

[StormNISMO]

I was pretty specific with the truck I wanted as well. If you look on Nissan's website and build your truck, there is a dealership locater that tells what dealerships in your area have the closest match to the truck you want. I was lucky enough to find the exact truck I wanted using this method. I went to the dealership that had this truck (at the end of the month) and asked for a price (haggled a bit). They met the pricing I wanted so I bought it.
I also should say I waited about 2 months before any dealership had the truck I wanted.

 

[05_NISMO_4X4]

I would think the same would apply to a point. I don't know how a ordered truck would work, as I've never gone that route. I guess it they consider it sold when you place the order, the same advice would apply, but if it's considered sold when the paperwork is finally signed after it's delivered it may not. I was just at my dealership getting the Trailer Tow recall done and was talking to the sales manager who said the Frontiers aren't selling as well as they thought in this area. So, if that's the case and they have incentives to the dealership based on the model sold, it may still apply to some degree. You'll have to check with the dealers in your area and see. It's been my experience that you will usually get a better deal on something on the dealer's lot than if they have to order one. You can try having them search the surrounding area and do a swap with another dealership as well. They were going to do that for me with a Red SE, but after looking at the Red NISMO they had on their lot, I got that one and saved more by doing so. Also, I'm glad I did now because the NISMO is awesome!

 

[PIMPaLiCiOuS]

Damn, I wish I wasn't so stubborn. You guys make the perfect arguments, the same ones my sensible side has been saying to me this whole time. I just feel like if I'm going to spend an excess of $20K on something, I should get it exactly the way I want. I actually haven't talked to the dealership I went to almost 5 months ago when I thought I was going to get the Frontier. I just want to get as much insider info as I can before I even talk to someone on the phone, let alone see them in person.

Storm, I've tried what you've said about searching, but no luck. I might be able to gain more ground by letting the dealership do some leg work. I think I'll go back on the website again and see what I come up with.

 

[StormNISMO]

Storm, I've tried what you've said about searching, but no luck. I might be able to gain more ground by letting the dealership do some leg work. I think I'll go back on the website again and see what I come up with.

You're absolutly correct!! That's what the dealership is for. I did this for my girlfriends 06 Murano, and the dealership found us exactly what we wanted (after about 3 weeks) from another dealer.

 

[PIMPaLiCiOuS]

The closest dealership to my ZIP has the EXACT same specs as the truck I want, down to the color, except its AUTOMATIC!!!! Damnit! Out of all the things to be different. I don't know if I can bite the bullet on this one. . .I really want the 6-spd.

 

[05_NISMO_4X4]

I've got the automatic and love it! I too wanted the 6-Speed but there were none to be had at the time of my purchase. With my daily commute though, I'm now glad I went with the auto. You may want to take it for a test drive, the 5 speed auto is a sweet transmission! Automatics tend to have a higher resale value as well!

 

[05FRONTY]

Hey PIMPaLiCiOuS

I just noticed your username and also saw your post on NissanMinis.com about selling your truck.

Good luck on selling as well as buying a Frontier.

For buying in Canada I used www.carcostcanada.com. There is probably something similiar for the USA.

 

[PIMPaLiCiOuS]

Awesome. Didn't realize there were NM peeps over here. Yah, its not official yet, but I'm hoping I can sell it once the time does come. Still keeping it in the Nissan family though, as you can see. . .

 

[Random]

My brother saved over $10,000 on a Subaru Tribecca becasue he went during a snow-storm. The sales team just wanted to tell the owner they actually sold something before closing up early for the day. So, last hour of last Saturday of the month..during a snowstorm, and bring your smelly clothes and make sure you tell your kids (if you have any) the more they fuss, the more ice cream they're going to get.



Random

 

[bluegrass]

I haven't found the end of the month thing to really have an effect on what final price a dealer will give you but it's definetly the right time of year to buy! And remember if you have a trade and you get a great price on the new truck, they will screw you on the trade pretty much no matter what. They've gotta make money somewhere so if you do it might be best to sell yourself. Also if you are having trouble negotiating then find a vehicle a couple of hundred miles away that meets your standards and tell the subborn dealer that you are going to go test drive that one, it's a trick that will usually get the ball rolling a bit faster! I also thought I was 100% sold on getting a 6speed until I test drove an auto, it's super smooth and you should at least try one even if you don't think it's for you... I ended up with an auto myself!

 

[OkieScot]

I have an '05 LE KC automatic. I drove standard shifts all my life until I retired in 2000.
I had a 2000 XE KC with an automatic for 5 years with no problems. I traded it in on
the '05 LE KC solely because the 4 cylinder with the automatic did not have enough
power for me. I did haul a pretty good load fairly often.

I enjoyed the automatic so much that I got my second one when I purchasd my current
truck. I would try the automatic since it is everything else you want. With the traffic
we have in the OKC area an automatic is very handy for me. And like was said, you
will get back some of your money when you sell it. Most people want automatics, a
larger market.

Good luck,

OkieScot

 

[Nismo54]

I've had two sales managers tell me the last week of the month they are trying to meet their quotas, they get kickbacks from Nissan if they sale so many cars that month. Like $400 per car if they sale over 100. Once they go over that quota then they may not be willing to deal as much. I special ordered my Frontier and they gave me the same deal as if it was on the lot (propably trying to meet that quota). I got it for invoice plus got the rebate too. They told me it could take 3 months for it to arrive but came in 5 weeks just as I had ordered. That way you are guaranteed to get what you want and no miles, think mine had 5 miles. Most dealers want to sale you one on the lot or find one close by, special ordering is a hassle for them. You can also get your best deal at one dealership and go to another and see if they can beat it, usally they will. Anyway, this has been my experience. Good luck.

 

[PIMPaLiCiOuS]

Thanks for the info guys, especially about special ordering. Check my other post in Offroad about Auto vs. 6-spd. They sold me on the automatic (and I think all of you were in that post as well!). I'm already talking to a dealership (Internet only for now) about the truck and I'll let you guys know what happens. You'll all be my little negotiators!!!!!!!

Like I said in the other post, keep your eyes peeled in the "General" section!!!

 

[bluegrass]

If anything special ordering should get you an even better deal because they incur no costs of advertising, don't dip into the holdback and don't have another vehicle taking up space on the lot! I got my Fronty a month ago (mid month) within about 200 bucks of invoice plus two grand in rebates. I think the end of the month thing is just one of the lines they feed you out of their giant bag of annoying tricks! Good luck man enjoy the hunt!