I did it! I will own one in 6-8 weeks.

[debi5475]

Ok, read all kinds of stuff at Edmund's and the Jeff quy's website. ScaryWent to dealer. Bought car.Vibe AWD, Moonstone, Graphite LeatherPremium MonotoneMoon and TunesPower GroupAir Bags, Seat Mounted SideXM SataliteRear Bumper ProtectorCargo MatWith the $560 Destination Charge, 23,456.67. $544 over invoice. That includes their $344 ad fee. They are throwing in two coats of a good quaility wax and a 3rd key, programmed (for in the dash in the aftermarket alarm). I will get mudflaps. The auto stereo place will do the alarm, and add the window rain deflectors, and have Mr. tinty come out. All at the same day. Their document fee is $190. That seems reasonable. Plus tax, etc. I brought my mini tape recorder. I tape recorded it all. I am a bad Debi. What are they going to do, have me arrested. It was in my purse. On the whole time. They wanted to give me $500 for my 1993 saturn wagon. I pulled out Edmunds sheet I had printed, with the $891 on it, gave it to him, said , I want this. They gave it to me. It isn't much, but really?So in 6-8 weeks, I will own a vibe. I have a tube of touch up paint on order also. Anything else I need? Did I do ok? Plus if there is an incentive when I pick it up? And my $2000 GM dollars.

[jake75]

"Plus if there is an incentive when I pick it up? And my $2,000 GM dollars."At present it is my understanding that there is a $1,000 rebate on the 2005 and that should be on your paperwork as a deduction. If it is more than the $1,000 when you take delivery it is my understanding you would get that. Also I assume if it is less you lose. I hope their deal didn't include them keeping the rebate.As far as the GM rabate dollars, they usually call that in to GM to see your exact current available rebate balance when you purchase the car. My experience ion using the GM Rebate (3 times) is buying off the lot so I don't know when they do this on an ordered car. Ask your dealer. Maybe you can go on a shopping spree with your GM Card and increase your GM Card rebate amount.

[Jahntassa]

Quote, originally posted by debi5475 »They are throwing in two coats of a good quaility wax and a 3rd key, programmed (for in the dash in the aftermarket alarm). Third key..? Wow...that'd suck if they changed out the 05's to have a passive anti-lock..the 03'-04' didn't.. But at least they'll provide it if needed!Congrats!

[debi5475]

The current rebate ends 8/2. Hopefully GM will have another one by time the car comes in. The price I have is pre rebate, GM dollars or trade-in. I wish I could add more GM dollars, but that is it for this year. My yearly date is October 29th. I don't think they will take that long to make my car. If they do, however?

[Mavrik]

you sneeky person you recording the deal discussions HAHA.Sounds like you'll have fun with this car for sure.

[kostby]

Quote, originally posted by debi5475 »$544 over invoice. That includes their $344 ad fee.Ouch! They should give you and your new Vibe your own full-page ad!Congrats on your purchase. Sounds like you did everything right!

[debi5475]

I think I did ok. What a bear it is. Well I will put the tape in drawer, just in case. Used my Discover card, which I never use, for the deposit. Encase I have to contest it. I don't want problems, but am prepared. I thought of it because I will be judging a web page making contest (as press), at Macworld in Boston on Wednesday. And I need to take verbal notes, so I can write about it later. Hence the tape player. The salesman was not bad. Did not push all that junk, like fabric protector. Etc. Course the fact that I could tell him what day production would begin on the two-tone models, probably helped. And my folder of papers. You want info. I had it. Now I have a brain full of unneeded info.The reason I wanted the 3rd key, is the remote person said he could use it to make the system work easier. Or program a box he installed, with would cost $50. He said, if they would give me a 3rd programmed key, it would save me the money. So, since I had not yet discussed price, I asked for one. If I don't need it, I can save it for the kid. He just turned 15. I suspect I will have the car past the time he gets a liscense?

[joatmon]

Congratulations. What is "the Jeff guy's website" ?

[ragingfish]

What exactly is an "ad fee?"

[debi5475]

http://www.carbuyingtips.com/ The jeff guy's websiteConsumer Advice Editor Phil Reed responds: If the advertising fee appeared on the invoice, it was an actual cost that the dealer paid and therefore a legitimate expense. Since ad fees are regional, we have difficulty tracking them and posting them on our Web site. However, sometimes dealers write in their own ad fees on the sales contract which we do not recommend paying. Car makers charge dealers for regional and national advertising campaigns. These charges are reflected on the invoice and are a legitimate cost of doing business.Mine were on the invoice, and the amount over invoice was low enought, that I wasn't going to fight it.

[ragingfish]

Interesting!Never heard of an "ad fee' before...

[debi5475]

You won't see a legit one, unless they let you see the real invoice from GM. It is invisible on the MSRP. As he said, if it is written in on the sales contract, it is just padding. God, what am I going to do with all this useless info I absorbed. My husbands Regal is only 4 and in perfect health.

[jake75]

I think the ad fees are etched in stone. Several years ago the Toyota dealers got nabbed in a Class action lawsuit involving this issue. They were advertising at $xxx over invoice and that invoice included the adv fees. However, the region did not spend all the money so rebated it back to the dealers. So - that made their ad claim "false". Personally I thought it was a cheap shot on the part of some greedy lawyers and I am a lawyer.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by debi5475 »The current rebate ends 8/2. Hopefully GM will have another one by time the car comes in. The price I have is pre rebate, GM dollars or trade-in. I wish I could add more GM dollars, but that is it for this year. My yearly date is October 29th. I don't think they will take that long to make my car. If they do, however? Have you read the latest sales figures? I think the rebates have nowhere to go but up. The MSRP of a n identically equipped 2005 Vibe is about $1,000 more than my '03 so they giveth with the right hand and taketh away with the left.

[jake75]

On the invoice for my 2004 Chrysleer T&C there was a $8 fee for an extra 5 gal of gas and a fee of $20 for "D/C Customer Loyalty Mail" so they are charging you for their surveys. promotional magazine etc. That's about as bad as China charging the family for the bullets used to execute their kin.

[NY Pete]

Quote, originally posted by debi5475 »With the $560 Destination Charge, 23,456.67. $544 over invoice. That includes their $344 ad fee. Anything else I need? Did I do ok? Oh good god, $23.5k for a Vibe? No way... walk away, no RUN away, or find one a year used for $14k or so. Seriously... they shouldn't be allowed to sell anyone a 23 thousand dollar Corolla... Pete

[debi5475]

Now PETE, don't panic.. I did that to myself. I ordered it with everything including leather.And remember, that is before the trade-in, rebate, and gm dollars. So it will be 20k. But it is my own fault. I wanted power everything. and leather, xm, and so on.

[robodog61]

I looked at the GM card website, and the max dollars you can use towards purchase of a Vibe is $1000, not the $2000 you have available.

[NY Pete]

Yah, don't get me wrong, you WILL like the Vibe, it's a great vehicle (I had a base 5-speed, my mom has a AWD), but I'm always looking at what is comparable for the same $. Seeing as dealers are selling base Vibes off the lot for $14k plus change brand new, I just couldn't justify that much more $ for options. But I'm sure you'll be happy if "getting a deal" isn't part of your happiness equation. Taken on its own merits, the Vibe is a GREAT vehicle... Pete

[debi5475]

I have the old blue card. I can use up to 3500. If I had them. I can earn 500 a year towards any gm car. Not a saturn. Up to 7 years. This is why I did not change when they offered me the new card. It was a way for them to keep me from getting to use all my dollars, I could see that down the road. I was right. "Today's GM Card Earnings are the fastest way to get into a new car, truck or SUV from Chevrolet,® Cadillac,® Pontiac,® Buick,® GMC,® Oldsmobile® or HUMMER® (exluding HUMMER H1).Your GM Card rewards you with 5% Earnings on all your credit card purchases-up to $500 in Earnings per Account Year for seven years. "I expect that someday they will take away the blue card from us. But they will have to wrench it from my dying hand.

[jake75]

You are right - the original card (not necessarily "blue") has different terms - max $500 ayear and 7 years = $3,500 though I heard with the proper timing it can get to $4,000. Don't know about that. I'm not into Vibes costing $23,500 but it would be hard to get a new 2005 Vibe off the lot for $14K and change as invoice for base is $16,375 plus ad fees etc. of approx 325. With $1,000 rebate maybe $15,700.

[Atomb]

a bank manager friend of mine once said: "nobody ever gets a bad deal". If you think about it, he's right. If you were about to get a 'bad deal' you'd just walk away. So anytime you accept a deal, you're happy and it's a 'good deal'!So the point is, if you are happy and you're walking away after signing feeling like you 'got a good deal', then you did, because you signed!confusing but very logically true!