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stupid dealer or was I unreasonable

P

pjsmith67

New member
Hi, newbie here... I was just wondering... last night I was all prepared to buy my first Grand Prix, a stock 1999 GT, 79,000 miles, fully loaded with leather seats, new tires, etc.

The problem was that the dealer wanted $8999 for it, which I felt was too high. After much negotiation and dealing with a really rude sales manager, I got them down to $6900 minus $2400 for my crappy Ford Focus (don't laugh, please). I still thought that was a bit high, but the car was in immaculate condition and I was ready to accept it until I saw a $185 "admin fee" tacked onto the sales contract. I was told it was to cover the cost of doing business. Well, I didn't like that and told him to remove it. He refused so I walked out.

Would this had been a decent price for it? Aside from the really rude sales manager was the dealer being unreasonable or was I?

As you can probably tell, I'm not too keen on car negotiations.
 


Being in Iowa, the market shouldn't be that much different. About three years ago, I helped my aunt buy an 00 Regal LS (same car as the GP GT) with 64K on it for $6200, but it had virtually no options. I know the whole cash for clunkers crap screwed up the used car market, but it still seems high to me for a ten year old car.
 
that's actually a pretty low admin fee for $185.... I'll usually find a place to take $4-800 from me for "dealer fees"...just one of the things that you will pay for when buying from a deler.

-Jesse
 
03GTPLE said:
that's actually a pretty low admin fee for $185.... I'll usually find a place to take $4-800 from me for "dealer fees"...just one of the things that you will pay for when buying from a deler.

-Jesse
Click to expand...

+1

When i found out there was a $400 fee from the dealer i bought mine from we told them to take it off and they said they couldn't so i had to go with it
 
There supposed to make money on the car, and then tack on a stupid admin fee?
Good for you on walking out, and that was too much for a 10 year old car too, I feel.
I always keep one thought in mind when buying a used car, "I am always willing to turn away", and have on past purchases, and sales on my own used cars.
 


go somewhere else you can look in auto trader or some other car book or website/paper and find one cheaper.
 
i hear you on the warranty, but from the dealer 7000 and from a private sale 2500, i dont care WHAT warranty exists, its not worth the extra 4500 IMHO
 


According to my research, book value is somewhere between 5200-6500 depending on which service you believe in... Edmunds, Kelly, NADA.

Anyway, the dealer's chief sales manager just called me groveling for my business. He apologized for how I was treated and then offered me it to me for $4,000 + my crappy Ford Focus which puts it at about $6500. They also took off the admin fee. He tried to explain to me that the cash for clunkers deal did drive up the price for used cars.

I'm thinking about it, but still not sure. I did like the car, a lot.

Phil
 


JayGTP02 said:
get it man. its a decent deal and ur getting out of that damn ford! buy it and do a top swap :) blower!
Click to expand...

:th_biggrin2: Hehehehe... I'm not mechanically inclined at all. I just really like the Grand Prix. Every one I've tested so far has driven real nice and I love the feel of that 3800 V6 engine.

The Focus is really not *that* bad. Ok, well maybe it is compared to a Grand Prix.
 
That car should only be about 3500 after your trade in. As mentioned before, 9000 should be the price of an 04+ gen, not a 99.
 
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