Negotiating with a dealer

Amanda Robin · 2005-07-22T04:03:47+00:00

Hi all--I will probably buy a BMW 3 series later this year. I have been doing my homework on the Internet and visited a dealer a couple of times. Exchanged some e-mails with the dealer in the next town over.I think I'm going to want an all-wheel-drive model. My question is, is it ever possible to order a car (not buy off the lot) and retain any ability to negotiate a good price? I'm pretty patient, but I doubt whether I will have many chances to find close to what I want on a lot. This is a pretty basic question, but I haven't seen it addressed on the car buying sites. I have just sort of assumed that you can only bargain well if you can convince them that you will walk away if you don't get a reasonable deal. (Do you have to pay something down when ordering a car, by the way?)You might be interested to know that when I requested one of those competitive quotes over the Internet (I think this one was from Kelly), the BMW dealer in a large city in TX quoted me exactly MSRP. Do they think people are dumb, or is an 06 Bimmer hot enough that it's non-negotiable right now?Thanks for any comments,Amanda

Jul 22, 2005 21 Replies

Rate this thread:

Kevin Oberle 20 years ago

"GRL" wrote in news:ywxEe.3109$ snipped-for-privacy@fe07.lga:

Yeah, for too long actually.

I loved the design of my '91 Honda Prelude, but eventually it got to look dated.

I love my '04 E46 coupe, I think it's one of the most beautiful cars ever built. But when I look at the E90, I can see that it has elements that are subtly more current IMHO (or maybe are setting the trend), and the E46 begins to look a little less current.

When the E46 was introduced, it was deemed ahead of its time, yet eventually most people accepted it. I wouldn't be surprised to see general tastes switching from the E46 to the E90 in the same way.

Kevin

Vote

Kevin Oberle 20 years ago

"Jeff Strickland" wrote in news:lbqdnSZQzJqQKn_fRVn- snipped-for-privacy@ez2.net:

I agree. I'm 6'0" and long in the torso to boot. My ability to sit up comfortably in the E46 was one of the justifications I was able to sell on my better half for affording the car.

I'd have preferred it without a sunroof, as the sunroof in the 3 Series is worthless to have open: depending on the open position, I find there's either too much wind noise, or air annoyingly blows straight down on one's head. My car came off the lot, so I took what I got.

The only other manual transmission coupe (another two of my criteria) in which I could sit comfortably at the time was a Toyota Solara, but I just couldn't get behind its appearance.

Kevin

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required