drpepper

I just bought a CPO 06 430 with 42k miles for $37k and was curious what other deals are closing at. Any recent experiences?

I internet shopped/researched for about 2 months and shopped at the dealers for about 3 weeks. I was being patient and holding my ground, until the end. I ended up spending more than my (err...wife's) limit, as I had started off in the market for an 06 300 or 05-06 Acura RL. The 430 wasn't on my radar until I took one out just for kicks.

I had thought that the overall market would allow me to name my own "reasonable" price - KBB trade-in plus what I consider fair profit, but I found that the dealerships (better at sticking to their guns than me) were really holding fast near KBB retail. A friend at a Saturn dealer told me that the used luxury market isn't in the same trouble as the rest of the market.

At the end, I was working between two dealerships on pretty much identical cars. They weren't really allowing themselves to be played off against each other, they were playing against other listed "retail prices." Anyway the one I didn't buy had a sticker price of $41,900 and an "Internet Special" price of $39,000. I left off dealing with them at $37,900 and at two weeks and that being their 4th offer, they really did seem that they weren't going to go any lower. They were willing to lose the deal.

I can't know exactly what these specific cars cost, but with an absolute max KBB trade-in of $31,000, how much could the dealerships have into these cars to be holding on to the prices they're trying to get? I understand that eventually there might even be someone to come along and pay that $41,900 that's in the window, but they could sell that one to me today for less and sell another one to the person willing to pay sticker tomorrow and be completing their second profitable deal rather than their first.

The G Man

First of all congrats on the new GS. Did you look at the 07 GS350 at all, you could have probably gotten thart for about the same price or maybe even a little less. The dealers have a maintain a profit margin, even if it is a used car. It all comes down to how much they can wholesale the car for. If the car sits for too long, they will just wholesale it out and it might end up in one of those fly by night used car dealership in the street corner.

drpepper

Thanks, G Man.

This has the feeling of joining a club, like when I had my Corvette - 'cept better The web resources are great.

I didn't really look at the 350s available in this area. The 06 300s were the most abundant, then 350s, then 430s, and one 450h. Anyway the Internet prices on the 350s were all above $40,000 and one with 9k miles was "Call."

I had started with a target of $32,000 to $34,000, and had actually completely settled on the RL.

rwdds

Back in January, I found and negotiated for an '06 300 that was, in my opinion, a mint/practically new, loaded Nav/Lev GS w/ 10,600 mi. The dealer was huge (Ray Catena in NJ) and they had so many other cars, but NO '07 350's and only 3 300's. I picked mine up for 37,600 and for this area at that time, I think I did ok. You got a good deal also on a great car. Enjoy it. Now you can begin the mod frenzy like all of us other nut cases on this forum.

slow_3.0

Anyone considering a used luxury car should check out Auto Lenders. 3 locations in New Jersey with tons of off-lease inventory. They have more used G's than anyone. About a month ago I got a mint off-lease '06 GS 300 AWD with 20k. Every option except Radar Cruise/pre-collision and parking sensors. Paid $35,500.

Yes, it's 'slow' compared to the 350 / 430 / 460 but I'm getting 21 in the worst stop and go and 26 combined. I don't think the 350 will do that real world, and the v8 is a gas hog.
Got exactly the color combo I wanted too.

Only issue, as I noted in another thread, are all the dashboard creaks. which of course you never hear on the test drive. but sounds like most of the new ones do that too, and I am trying to get it fixed under warranty. Otherwise it's flawless.

slow_3.0

Hey rwdds, we have almost the exact same car, options and all. Only diff is mine is "BLACK SAPPHIRE PEARL" which is really a very deep blue. I love the tan interior, it's awesome with the huge moonroof.

slow_3.0

btw who the hell buys these things new? Even my 'lowball' G 300 stickered out at over $50k new with the Nav / Mark L. etc.

Imagine losing $15,000 in value in less than 2 years on a purchase.

Gotcha350

Well someone has to buy/lease a new one so that people can buy a used one. You paid 37K for an 06 430 and I paid 46K for a 08 350 fully loaded with a sticker of 52K so I don't think I did too bad. You always have more negotiating room on a new car than a used one.

slow_3.0

No, I paid $35,500 for an '06 GS 300 AWD, with 20k. Half the miles, but obviously the 430 was a much more expensive car.

Note that it makes a huge diff with these cars if they have nav/ ML. I used Edmunds TMV to price before i bought.

I know someone has to buy/lease (i think 90% of these things must be leased) it's just amazing that so many do. The lots are jammed with 2 year old luxury cars.

always feels like you should be able to really drive a harder bargain, just look at how many unsold cars they have.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

I did because I can.
I paid $47K on a $52460 sticker.
By your purchase number,I may lose about $10K in two years.
For me it's well worth the thrill of having a fresh new car.
Guess what...you'll lose $10K or more in two years too.

slow_3.0

You talked the dealer down $5 off sticker? Did you buy outright? Or finance? OR lease? I find that difficult to believe your numbers until you post up the final bill of sale.

I too could have bought new, but would prefer to let someone else take the largest depreciation hit.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

$500 over invoice or less will buy you any GS in my area.The dealer had to locate my car option and color combo.
I could have bought an in stock GS for probably invoice.They were begging me to take an in stock Starfire/Cashmere.I wanted black interior.

Gotcha350

I don't think anyone on this forum paid sticker price. Most of us probably got our cars (new) around 5k off of the sticker price with a lease or finance. I'm not getting rid of my car in the next 3 yrs so the initial depreciation hit doesn't bother me.

flipside909

The first few 3GS owners back in Feburary 05 definitely paid sticker or more for their cars.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

My dealer is getting $5K over sticker for the LX 570.
Not too many available and it's popular somehow at $82K.