Overcharging?

[ACDCTNT]

I'm looking to buy a new '08/'09 and because there's a limited number left, it seems like dealers are overcharging for them. I can understand charging a little bit more for an '09 (especially since there's only 1 within a 100 mile radius) but '08s are still going for sticker or above prices.

I test drove the '09 on Friday. It's a silver 4WD AT with:

• Convenience pkg
• Upgrade 2 pkg
• Roof rack
• Tow hitch
• DRL
• All-weather floor mats
• Wheel locks.

It's going for MSRP, which is $32,000+ and comes out to about $35,000 OTD. My other options for '09s are about 3 hours away.

There's also some '08s that a different dealer says they can get for me.
One was a blue MAN with:

• Convenience pkg
• Upgrade 2 pkg
• Might also have skid plates

It might also have more but the salesman was listing the individual options included in both packages so I wasn't listening. I just tried to get glimpses of the sheets (which he wouldn't let me look at) and saw skid plates. He said the dealer's invoice was $27,000, so I would probably be looking at $29-30,000 before taxes, comes out to about $32,000 OTD.

The other '08 was blue with:

• Convenience pkg
• Off-road pkg

It also could've had more options too. This ones' MSRP was at $27,000.

Do these sound like rip-offs? Since I've seen some posters on here mention that they bought their '08s for about $24,000 OTD back when the rebate was available, it doesn't feel right to pay MSRP for an '08 (especially when the '09 has been out for so long and has already stopped production;and the '10 is coming out).

Also, what are the prices you guys paid for your new FJ's (before taxes and OTD) and when?

[Layonnn]

what in the heck dealership are you going to that is trying to over charge for a vehicle that gets bad gas mileage and is being discontinued??? Try a different dealership. Down here, none of the dealerships even want one on their lot.

[dj313]

Yes, I think they are over-charging. If you look here, you can get a low mile used FJ for $6-10k less than what you are seeing in NJ. You might have to fly out / drive back, but you're still way ahead. If you have to have new, you can still fly out / drive back and save a ton of dough if you get the right deal. All it will cost you is a bazillion phone calls talking to car salesmen...

[FJJB]

Hi ACDCTNT - I bought a truck a couple of months ago in your region. I dropped you a PM with my thoughts. Good luck!

[mongoose2231]

overcharging, that is exactly what i've encountered here in ny
and they say i'm wrong

[ironranger]

Even if you get it below invoice, it's overcharging. Dump the upgrades, and just try to get it as stock as you can, as long as it's 4x4 and locking diff enabled. You can purchase everything else cheaper/better aftermarket. Heck, even some of the same OEM options are available cheaper aftermarket than at dealer invoice.

[Jaytil]

Ask that bonehead at the dealership if you were trading in an FJ would they give you the same amount for an 08 vs an 09 with the same equipment/mileage/condition? Of course not...

They would tell you that the 08 was a model year older and therefore had depreciated and they suck gas and they're being discontinued, and those upgrades you did make it worth less because the mall cruisers won't want it and it's the wrong color and blah, blah, blah.

Take the advise others have posted...find a good used one (there are LOTS available) or stretch out your range for dealers on a new one and you'll find a good deal from a good dealer. They are out there.

Just hurry up and buy something...the government desperately needs the taxes.

Good luck.

[ACDCTNT]

layonnn previously said:

what in the heck dealership are you going to that is trying to over charge for a vehicle that gets bad gas mileage and is being discontinued??? Try a different dealership. Down here, none of the dealerships even want one on their lot.

Because it's being discontinued, they're trying to pin it as a "collector's item".

dj313 previously said:

Yes, I think they are over-charging. If you look here, you can get a low mile used FJ for $6-10k less than what you are seeing in NJ. You might have to fly out / drive back, but you're still way ahead. If you have to have new, you can still fly out / drive back and save a ton of dough if you get the right deal. All it will cost you is a bazillion phone calls talking to car salesmen...

I found a dealer in MA (next closest dealer with an '09) and it's about 3 hours away and only about $2-3K cheaper. And I agree about the phone calls.

FJJB previously said:

Hi ACDCTNT - I bought a truck a couple of months ago in your region. I dropped you a PM with my thoughts. Good luck!

I replied. Thanks for helping.

mongoose2231 previously said:

overcharging, that is exactly what i've encountered here in ny
and they say i'm wrong

I agree. I've checked out a couple of dealers in NY too.

ironranger previously said:

Even if you get it below invoice, it's overcharging. Dump the upgrades, and just try to get it as stock as you can, as long as it's 4x4 and locking diff enabled. You can purchase everything else cheaper/better aftermarket. Heck, even some of the same OEM options are available cheaper aftermarket than at dealer invoice.

Well, the problem is all the FJ's that the dealers do have already have the options installed on them. It's not like I can order one with my specifications.

Jaytil previously said:

Ask that bonehead at the dealership if you were trading in an FJ would they give you the same amount for an 08 vs an 09 with the same equipment/mileage/condition? Of course not...

They would tell you that the 08 was a model year older and therefore had depreciated and they suck gas and they're being discontinued, and those upgrades you did make it worth less because the mall cruisers won't want it and it's the wrong color and blah, blah, blah.

Take the advise others have posted...find a good used one (there are LOTS available) or stretch out your range for dealers on a new one and you'll find a good deal from a good dealer. They are out there.

Just hurry up and buy something...the government desperately needs the taxes.

Good luck.

The dealers are looking at it differently because the one with the '09 doesn't have any new '08s and the one with the new '08s doesn't have any '09s. So it's not like I can say, "Why is your '08 costing as much as your '09?". I can only say, "Why is your '08 almost as much as an '09 from that other dealer?".

[1911]

Is that price too much (in my opinion)? Yes.

Is it overcharging? Not if someone (stupid) is willing to pay that for it. If no one is willing to pay that for it, then the price will eventually come down. How long it will take for the price to come down depends on how long the dealer will wait, hoping someone stupid will come in and pay their asking price.

Every dealer is different. Earlier this year I went back to the Toyota dealer I bought my FJC from, to buy a car for my daughter. They had a clean Toyota Matrix that I really liked, I made them a cash offer on the spot (way lower than their asking price but still on the low end of fair, I did my homework), and they turned it down cold. So I asked them to make a counter offer, and they refused! Asking price or nothing! And I was the only potential customer in that whole dealership for two days in a row when I was there. I politely told them they had wasted my time, and walked out.

When I got home 30 minutes later, there was a message from the salesperson on my voice mail, asking me to come back in and talk. I waited a day, called her back, and said "look, it took me half an hour to drive to your dealership and half an hour to drive home, two days in a row, plus the time to test drive the car and attempt to negotiate with you. I'll only come back if you tell me what your rock-bottom price is over the phone first."

Meanwhile, I found a just-as-nice Honda CR-V with less miles on it at the next-closest Toyota dealer. We went there, drove it, made a way low-ball cash offer which they accepted, wrote a check, and drove it home.

Oh, and I'm still waiting for the first dealer to call me back with their price on that Matrix. I guess they may have found someone willing to pay their full asking price, but I doubt it.

Moral of the story: some dealers want to move cars, and some dealers don't care if they do or don't. Don't waste your time at one that won't budge on a price in a market like we have now.

[madmac]

way too much. go elsewhere...walk.