I've seen the ads stating 5% over invoice, 0.9% financing, and tax-free leasing through June.

On every other car I've purchased, 5% over invoice is about 3.5-4% too much. This car's not in high enough demand (especially with the fact that the 05s will be out shortly) to justify that much.

Or is it? Is that the best the dealers are going right now?

 

Depends where you are. In Houston, when I bought my car, of the 3 dealerships at the time, the best I could do was 4% over invoice. One dealership offered me 3%, but when the salesmanager found out, they told me the car was "SOLD". Sons of It Itches!

I've read that some ppl got theirs for $500 over invoice and there were rare cases when ppl got thiers under invoice. But those were specific stiutations so unless you know their circumstances, you might have a hard time getting thier price.

GL

 

What dealerships did you deal with? I'm in Houston as well. West Houston is the closest to me, but Southwest seems to have a better inventory.

How long ago did you purchase?

I'm planning on taking a trip to West Houston later this week to figure out exactly what I want, then coming home and handling the negociations over phone/email and putting the dealerships up against one another if I don't like the prices I'm seeing from West Houston.

 

You can definitely do better than 5%. It also depends if you are buying a sedan or Coupe. When I bought my sedan i got it for $300 over invoice. When i asked if i could get the same deal for the Coupe the sales person said no way, they were selling like hot cakes at the time whereas the sedans were not selling at the same rate at that time. The areas affect that too, some are more affluent than others. Personally I think you can do way better that 5% since in a few months the 05s will be available. I'm in SoCal by the way. Bottom line, keep fighting and be firm on what you want and what you are not willing to spend for that car. Eventually they will give in because they know you are interested you just won't give in to their price.

G35sedan03
03.5 BS, 6MT, premium, 19" Kaizer wheels, Skyline badges, PIAA HID upgrade, Racing pedals, clear lenses, 35% tint, 7-wire ground, TEIN basics, side mirror blinkers

 

Looking at a pretty vanilla sedan.

Premium package and possibly the sport suspension.

As you said, with the newly announced '05, I figure they're going to deal on these things...even with the specials they're running right now they can't be selling the hell out of the sedans.

 

I paid $100 over invoice at Scottsdale Infiniti.....got a smoking deal!!

Tony B.
2003.5 G35 Caribbean Blue Sedan

 

You should do way better thna 5% then. The sedan i got has premium, 6MT which automatically adds the sport suspension. The only true option I didn't get was the Navi which I will do an aftermarket one. Based on all this you should be able to get a similar deal like I got of the other poster for $100 over invoice. Just be persistent but don't budge on your price.

G35sedan03
03.5 BS, 6MT, premium, 19" Kaizer wheels, Skyline badges, PIAA HID upgrade, Racing pedals, clear lenses, 35% tint, 7-wire ground, TEIN basics, side mirror blinkers

 

In my experience you get a little more leverage when the new model hits the showroom floor. Old stock tends to get you a better deal. If you don't get the deal you want now just wait few months and try again.

2003.5 Garnet Fire 5AT

 

In L.A. you can get it for about $250-350 over invoice, especially the Van Nuys Infiniti dealership.

Gurgen

 

Dude...the coupe are hard to find~most of the time they are out of stock

 

That's true, when I bought my '04, I could have gotten a super deal on a '03, but they only had one left, and the color combination wasn't to my liking, BS with Willow interior, I like some contrast in color!


Brilliant Silver/Graphite/Chrome Wheels '04 Sedan/5AT

 

Paul,
I bought my car from Southwest. West was the dealership that screwed me. I think maybe the reason they were unreasonable was perhaps when I bought my car, there were only 3 dealerships (Woodlands doesnt really count tho)....but now there are 4. You might get a good deal, but if your looking for an 05, you're going to really have to neg.

Like I said, there ARE ppl that got GREAT deals on thier cars, but non of them are from Houston (that I know of). Maybe its our area, but my brother and I busted our ***** to get the best deal possible. Let me just say that we went as far as talking to a salesman from each dealership and their internet department (6 salesmans!). Non of them would touch my offer of 2% over invoice and basically told me to go for other car when we told them that the other dealership was going to give it to us for 1.5% over invoice. They knew we were lying, hence we decided to accept the offer. They were so tight that they wouldn't even make it an even 34000 (drive out)...so I ended up paying (34450 drive out). I did however get them to give me an extra year of oil changes which is like $100, but that was the absolute best I could do. BTW, I got 5AT, Black/Black leather, premium, spoiler. Things may have changed now or maybe I suck at neg, but there is not a single day I regret this car!!!

 

Thanks again. Ended up getting it for around 4% over invoice from West Houston. Not the outstanding deals I'm used to getting from domestic models, but the price seemed to be in line with what I was quoted from other dealerships in the area.

I guess you never leave a car dealership without wishing they would throw a tube of KY in with the purchase. With $1100 pure profit and another $1000 to the dealership by way of holdbacks, you'd think they would use more of that wiggle room they have.

But I'm sure I'll be happy with the car. The 2 years of free maintenance and 0.9% financing took the edge off.

 

On the 6M/T sedan, which my wife leased on Monday, she got $200 UNDER dealer invoice, and with incentives available till the end of this month she leased with premium, aero, and XM for just under $400, including tax!. That's almost half what we were paying to lease our 2001 540i 6-speed. It was too good a deal to pass up. Apparently, if you want an AWD, the deals aren't as good, because they're selling well. Supposedly, at least here in the NY area, the 6M/T's aren't moving, and the deals on them are great. Our garage looks great now, with my CB '03 6M/T coupe, and her DG '04 6M/T sedan.

 

Congrat to the both of you. As I mentioned, it must be a Houston thing because 4% is about the best you can do here. Maybe all of the dealerships said, lets not all screw ourselves and just stick firm with 4%, that way one of them will get the business and make a GOOD profit. BTW Paul, if you haven't already though of doing so....HIGHLY recommend an Intake & Filter and Z-Tube combo...you wont be sorry.