Good Price?

[solejean]

Hi - I've been reading all the posts and this is a great site - it really helped me to decide to buy the Vibe instead of the Matrix. I'm sorry if this has been gone over before, but I was just curious if I got ripped off. I bought a 2004 Fusion Orange with monotone appearance package and power package for $15,800 (after 2250 in rebates) (before tax/lic.) MSRP was 19090. $17,569 OTD w/ tax/license. It doesn't really matter - I love my vibe and the color is awesome - just curious what others are paying. Forgot I got automatic also

[cohocarl]

Were the monotone and power package your only options or were there others? Auto?, Moons & Tunes?, etc. I can see what the gm employee prices are if you really want to know....

[solejean]

Those were the only options that I got. Oh I forgot it's an automatic - I never think of that as an option. I probably got robbed, but I love my Orangemobile

[joatmon]

Sounds like a reasonable price to me, but I am definitely no car-deal haggling wizard. I'd rather have dental work than deal with car sales people.Congrats on the vibe and welcome to the site. Isn't your new governator supposed to repeal some part of the car tax?

[solejean]

Yep - should get a rebate in the mail. Who knows when, though

[MrRich]

WE WANT PICTURES!WE WANT PICTURES!Right Guys?O!And congrats!

[michaelgt]

That price was probably a pretty good price. The GM in the Driveway certificate may have saved you an additional $400.

[jake75]

I consider myself an amateur expert when it comes to car pricing. One of the things that has happened over the last ten or so years is that the spread between retail and wholesale has narrowed considerably. In addition to the wholesale price reported by KBB etc, there is usually an advertising fee approximateing $300 as well as a few other minor charges that the dealer has to pay. Taking those into consideration, I estimate that the spread on your car was only about $1.100 and you got a $1,040 discount. Essentially what the dealer made is his 3% holdback, about $550. Since the VIBE is popular, I doubt that there was any hidden money. I bought a $24,465 MSRP 2004 Chrysler T&C with a $3,000 rebate and a $2,965 discount on 10-31-03. There had to be some hidden money (dealer incentive) for them to make that deal. I have heard that a dealer may pocket an extra $500 a car if he makes a quota - so if he is close to quota the dealer will possibly be willing to sell under cost. Sell 99 cars get zero. Sell that 100th car and make quota get 100 x $500 = $50,000. Don't know how true that is.A couple of years ago Chevy dealer Marge Schott (former managing owner of the Cincinnatti Reds) got into trouble with GM as she was selling new cars to friends and family to make quota and then buying them back a week later, so I guess there is some truth to the quota story.