"new" '08 Durango?

On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:07:59 -0700, Kristi >
wrote:

>(First-time poster, if the way I write my message doesn't give it away . .
>.)
>
>I've searched the internet for a couple of days now and can't find
>anywhere on Edmund's, etc., that addresses my situation very well at all.
>I hope y'all don't mind me asking for advice. I have no clue. I'm
>including all the information I can think about that might be important.
>If I'm leaving out important facts, please tell me.
>
>I've been looking to buy a relatively new, low-mileage Durango. Finally
>went to dealership yesterday, they're able to locate a "new" Durango
>within my budget. The "new" ones they're finding for me are '08s,
>though. Still cool, though, since it would mean that many more miles I
>can put on it myself instead of worrying about who had it before me.
>Also, this would give me a lifetime limited powertrain warranty, which
>would be good. I want to keep a vehicle and use it for many years until I
>feel like I've really gotten my money's worth, so if it'll last me
>100-150k miles for a reasonable price, I'm fine with that.
>
>The question I'm having is how such a vehicle should be priced. I can
>find all kinds of comparisons on "new" vehicles that are '09s or '10s, but
>nothing on am '08 that a dealer just didn't sell. I asked them why such a
>vehicle would still be on a dealer's lot (and there are quite a few of
>them like that), and most of them are there because either they're V6s
>that weren't very desirable or they just ordered too many new '08s back
>before the price of gas went way up and the economy tanked. Or so they
>said, at least.
>
>We're now talking about a deal on an '08 Durango with the V8 upgrade,
>third-row seats (not the split, 3-person kind, though), running boards,
>18" wheels instead of 17" . . . basically it's the SXT "D" upgrade package
>that comes with the V8. It's "new" MSRP is $30,775, it's base price
>before the 26D (I think that's what it's called, I'm not looking at the
>printout) upgrade was $26,875.
>
>My trade-in is a 2002 Explorer SLT that has 135k miles on it, unrepaired
>(pretty substantial) hail damage, needs new tires badly and the interior
>looks like my two kids have ridden in it for a million miles since they
>were babies. Which, of course, they have. It runs fine, though, and I
>keep wondering if I should even mess with trading it in at all, but . . .
>I'm afraid it's on borrowed time, and I have a little cash to use for
>bargaining right now, which isn't always the case.
>
>The deal they quoted me was, after my trade-in (which they have not seen),
>$24,000. TT&L on top of that.
>
>Now, this whole process upsets me and makes me want to go and hide
>somewhere, but the most confusing part of it to me is . . . even though
>this car is "new" and I'll be the first owner, it is still a 2008. Seems
>like they'd be more ready to get rid of it than that. Of course, it isn't
>on MY dealer's inventory . . . they're going to have to go all the way
> from smack in the middle of Texas to somewhere in Oklahoma to pick it up.
>If it were just sitting around their own lot, I'm sure they'd be more
>ready to deal.
>
>What I really want is 3 rows of seats, AC for the back row, V8, and the
>security of knowing that it's got plenty of time left for me to put a
>zillion miles on it over the next 7-10 years. Personally, I don't care
>about whether it's an '08 or an '09. I just don't want to get screwed on
>the deal and have to stew about it for the next four years while I'm
>paying for it AND every day when I get into it to go to work.
>
>??? If you don't have time to answer, I'd be happy if you sent me to a
>website that addresses the situation of a previous model year Durango
>still being "new" on a dealer's lot, and how that should affect its price.
>
>Thank you for reading through all this.
>
>--Kristi

wrt to model year "left-overs": in June 2006 I bought a fully loaded 2005
Durango Limited that was still sitting in the dealer's lot. The dealer was so
keen to move that beast that he told me my first offer was too high and to
come back with a much lower offer. Freakin' embarrassing to say the least ;-)

The truck, btw, has been simply magnificent. Incredibly comfortable, perfect
reliability, zero defects to date, drags my boats through the White Mountains
with aplomb (I have the 5.7l Hemi) and it is the go-to vehicle when we need to
carry six adults (which has happened surprisingly often).

The obvious difference in my situation from yours is, the dealer you're
working with doesn't hold the paper on that Durango. If he was still paying a
monthly tab on that truck, I bet he'd be a lot more motivated.

And it doesn't help that your Explorer has almost no resale value.

Under those two circumstances, a $31K truck for $24K may not be all that bad a
deal. Bottom line, if you want to do better, is to find a truck that meets
your needs/wants already sitting on a dealer lot...

I not sure if there is usch a website. You probably not going to get much
more off thevehicle sicne they will eb purchasing the vehicle from the other
dealership. If you are happy with theprice then buy it. As far as your
trade what you have is a wholesale trade in. They not going to give you
hardly anything for it and will sell this vehicle to a whole sale lot.

(First-time poster, if the way I write my message doesn't give it away . .
..)

I've searched the internet for a couple of days now and can't find
anywhere on Edmund's, etc., that addresses my situation very well at all.
I hope y'all don't mind me asking for advice. I have no clue. I'm
including all the information I can think about that might be important.
If I'm leaving out important facts, please tell me.

I've been looking to buy a relatively new, low-mileage Durango. Finally
went to dealership yesterday, they're able to locate a "new" Durango
within my budget. The "new" ones they're finding for me are '08s,
though. Still cool, though, since it would mean that many more miles I
can put on it myself instead of worrying about who had it before me.
Also, this would give me a lifetime limited powertrain warranty, which
would be good. I want to keep a vehicle and use it for many years until I
feel like I've really gotten my money's worth, so if it'll last me
100-150k miles for a reasonable price, I'm fine with that.

The question I'm having is how such a vehicle should be priced. I can
find all kinds of comparisons on "new" vehicles that are '09s or '10s, but
nothing on am '08 that a dealer just didn't sell. I asked them why such a
vehicle would still be on a dealer's lot (and there are quite a few of
them like that), and most of them are there because either they're V6s
that weren't very desirable or they just ordered too many new '08s back
before the price of gas went way up and the economy tanked. Or so they
said, at least.

We're now talking about a deal on an '08 Durango with the V8 upgrade,
third-row seats (not the split, 3-person kind, though), running boards,
18" wheels instead of 17" . . . basically it's the SXT "D" upgrade package
that comes with the V8. It's "new" MSRP is $30,775, it's base price
before the 26D (I think that's what it's called, I'm not looking at the
printout) upgrade was $26,875.

My trade-in is a 2002 Explorer SLT that has 135k miles on it, unrepaired
(pretty substantial) hail damage, needs new tires badly and the interior
looks like my two kids have ridden in it for a million miles since they
were babies. Which, of course, they have. It runs fine, though, and I
keep wondering if I should even mess with trading it in at all, but . . .
I'm afraid it's on borrowed time, and I have a little cash to use for
bargaining right now, which isn't always the case.

The deal they quoted me was, after my trade-in (which they have not seen),
$24,000. TT&L on top of that.

Now, this whole process upsets me and makes me want to go and hide
somewhere, but the most confusing part of it to me is . . . even though
this car is "new" and I'll be the first owner, it is still a 2008. Seems
like they'd be more ready to get rid of it than that. Of course, it isn't
on MY dealer's inventory . . . they're going to have to go all the way
from smack in the middle of Texas to somewhere in Oklahoma to pick it up.
If it were just sitting around their own lot, I'm sure they'd be more
ready to deal.

What I really want is 3 rows of seats, AC for the back row, V8, and the
security of knowing that it's got plenty of time left for me to put a
zillion miles on it over the next 7-10 years. Personally, I don't care
about whether it's an '08 or an '09. I just don't want to get screwed on
the deal and have to stew about it for the next four years while I'm
paying for it AND every day when I get into it to go to work.

??? If you don't have time to answer, I'd be happy if you sent me to a
website that addresses the situation of a previous model year Durango
still being "new" on a dealer's lot, and how that should affect its price.

Thank you for reading through all this.

--Kristi

Kristi wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:13:52 -0700, Licker > wrote:
>
>> I not sure if there is usch a website. You probably not going to get
>> much
>> more off thevehicle sicne they will eb purchasing the vehicle from the
>> other
>> dealership. If you are happy with theprice then buy it. As far as your
>> trade what you have is a wholesale trade in. They not going to give you
>> hardly anything for it and will sell this vehicle to a whole sale lot.
>
> Low trade-in kind of makes me want to go ahead and go through with this
> deal ASAP, because I may be getting more than mine is worth as it is. I
> may not want to push my luck.
>
> I just don't know anything at all about how being new BUT a year older
> affects the price of a vehicle. Never really thought about it before.
> Shoot, the '10s are going to be out soon, and there are still '08s
> sitting around, new and unsold? Wondering if my bank will still
> consider it "new" for loan purposes.

You never "get more than it's worth". It simply means they take less off
the new one and make it appear they are paying big bucks for your trade.
Sell the Explorer privately.

On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:08:12 -0700, daytripper
> wrote:

> On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:07:59 -0700, Kristi >
> wrote:

[snip my inquiry about leftover "new" vehicles]

> wrt to model year "left-overs": in June 2006 I bought a fully loaded 2005
> Durango Limited that was still sitting in the dealer's lot. The dealer
> was so
> keen to move that beast that he told me my first offer was too high and
> to
> come back with a much lower offer. Freakin' embarrassing to say the
> least ;-)

I low-balled one offer . . . $20,000 . . . and he responded with $24,000.
Down from where he started at 28k. Looking around, though, I keep seeing
the same vehicle at around $20,000. Again, problem is that it's on some
other lot, miles and miles away.

> The truck, btw, has been simply magnificent. Incredibly comfortable,
> perfect
> reliability, zero defects to date, drags my boats through the White
> Mountains
> with aplomb (I have the 5.7l Hemi) and it is the go-to vehicle when we
> need to
> carry six adults (which has happened surprisingly often).

Husband's truck, Ram 2500, same exact thing. His was a year old w/16,000
miles on it, though.

> The obvious difference in my situation from yours is, the dealer you're
> working with doesn't hold the paper on that Durango. If he was still
> paying a
> monthly tab on that truck, I bet he'd be a lot more motivated.

Just wondering how much that motivation would save me, if it's worth it.

> And it doesn't help that your Explorer has almost no resale value.

Yep. And by the time I'm through with the new one, it won't either. I
figure that's the only way to do it in my circumstances . . . buy it and
use all the value. That's why I'm not completely averse to going ahead
with the deal.

> Under those two circumstances, a $31K truck for $24K may not be all that
> bad a
> deal. Bottom line, if you want to do better, is to find a truck that
> meets
> your needs/wants already sitting on a dealer lot...

Closest one is still 250 miles away. Plenty of 2008 4X4 Durangos around,
but I don't need or want 4X4.

On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:13:52 -0700, Licker > wrote:

> I not sure if there is usch a website. You probably not going to get
> much
> more off thevehicle sicne they will eb purchasing the vehicle from the
> other
> dealership. If you are happy with theprice then buy it. As far as your
> trade what you have is a wholesale trade in. They not going to give you
> hardly anything for it and will sell this vehicle to a whole sale lot.

Low trade-in kind of makes me want to go ahead and go through with this
deal ASAP, because I may be getting more than mine is worth as it is. I
may not want to push my luck.

I just don't know anything at all about how being new BUT a year older
affects the price of a vehicle. Never really thought about it before.
Shoot, the '10s are going to be out soon, and there are still '08s sitting
around, new and unsold? Wondering if my bank will still consider it "new"
for loan purposes.

On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:02:10 -0700, Tony D. > wrote:

> Kristi wrote:
>> On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:13:52 -0700, Licker >
>> wrote:

[snip my "reasoning" about deal, including trade-in]

> You never "get more than it's worth". It simply means they take less off
> the new one and make it appear they are paying big bucks for your trade.
> Sell the Explorer privately.

It's in pretty rough shape. Very rough, actually. It's safe to say that
I've used up all the value and it probably isn't worth more than a couple
thousand dollars (according to Edmunds, at least). "Still running" is
about all it has going for it. What I mean is that they've played with
their numbers until they've given me more credit for my trade-in than they
would have if they'd already SEEN it. I know they can do whatever they
want with their numbers, but . . . I think if they'd actually seen it they
might not even have gone as far down as they did. Does that make any
sense?

Kristi wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:02:10 -0700, Tony D. > wrote:
>
>> Kristi wrote:
>>> On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:13:52 -0700, Licker >
>>> wrote:
>
> [snip my "reasoning" about deal, including trade-in]
>
>> You never "get more than it's worth". It simply means they take less
>> off the new one and make it appear they are paying big bucks for your
>> trade. Sell the Explorer privately.
>
> It's in pretty rough shape. Very rough, actually. It's safe to say
> that I've used up all the value and it probably isn't worth more than a
> couple thousand dollars (according to Edmunds, at least). "Still
> running" is about all it has going for it. What I mean is that they've
> played with their numbers until they've given me more credit for my
> trade-in than they would have if they'd already SEEN it. I know they
> can do whatever they want with their numbers, but . . . I think if
> they'd actually seen it they might not even have gone as far down as
> they did. Does that make any sense?

So when you get there, they will sit you there for 30-40 min and then
say: "hey wait, we gave you a quote based on a real truck...." and give
you a higher price. You will protest (they're hoping not) and they'll
say, "let me check with the manager..". You'll wait another 30-60
minutes.. (You are supposed to be thinking "what if I don't get it what
if I don't get it...) and they say "he wouldn't go for it, we're losing
too much already"

Before any of this theater starts just walk out and wait for them to
call you at home or just go somewhere else. The market is worse than you
can imagine.

On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:37:57 -0700, Tony D > wrote:

> So when you get there, they will sit you there for 30-40 min and then
> say: "hey wait, we gave you a quote based on a real truck...." and give
> you a higher price. You will protest (they're hoping not) and they'll
> say, "let me check with the manager..". You'll wait another 30-60
> minutes.. (You are supposed to be thinking "what if I don't get it what
> if I don't get it...) and they say "he wouldn't go for it, we're losing
> too much already"
>
> Before any of this theater starts just walk out and wait for them to
> call you at home or just go somewhere else. The market is worse than you
> can imagine.

Not going to protest. I described it accurately, left nothing out. I
just didn't look forward to having to horse trade with people based on
them having SEEN my vehicle. They're going to give me whatever they're
going to give me, pretty much no matter what. I just enjoyed not having
to go through the whole psychological drama of "What Will We Give You for
Your Junker?" If there is a stink, I'm just going to say, "OK. I'll keep
my paid-for car that runs." Then we'll leave.

Hopefully this won't be that painful an issue. They've already sent the
paperwork to my bank (hometown bank where we actually do business . . . if
I have to pay interest, at least I like these people and am kindly
disposed toward the thought of helping put their kids through college),
and by the time I get there Thursday they're supposed to already have the
"draft order" or whatever it's called. If they start changing numbers
now, especially after having gone somewhere between 300 and 500 miles to
pick it up, they will have to cope with losing the deal entirely. And at
that point we will walk away and leave them with it on their inventory.

Kristi wrote:

> Closest one is still 250 miles away. Plenty of 2008 4X4 Durangos
> around, but I don't need or want 4X4.

Even if you don't live in snow or dirt roads the 4x4 is nice on highway.
My 2004 Durango has full time AWD so it's always in 4x4 mode. It
greatly improves handling on the highway especially when towing or when
it rains.