Buy Now or wait?

[RammerJam]

Buy now. It isn't going to get any better, of that I am certain.

 

[endoscott]

Friend just closed the deal on a 2021 2500 Megacab, Laramie but not the Longhorn, pretty much all the other good options. Bedliner, electric sidesteps, 12" screen, sunroof and all that. He paid $77K plus tax and license, got about 10% off the sticker price. He said they were not dealing at all beyond 10% off and he had a hard time even finding the truck he wanted in the right color.

 

[MRoberts]

Wow, that's some pretty impressive wheeling and dealing right there! I was looking at one that stickered in the $68K range, the dealer had it marked down around $6800, but would not come down off that. No incentives currently for that truck, so that was all dealer discount. I remember being able to find MSRP and invoice price fairly easy back in the early 2000's, but all of the sites I've gone to now seem to just be lead generators for the dealers. You have to enter a name, phone number, and email to get anywhere and then there's just a barrage of phone calls, emails, and text messages. I signed up for a one month subscription to consumer reports, I think it's the same. You can price out a truck, but you have to enter a phone number and email to get to the special pricing info, but I didn't bother with it. Oh well, worth a shot.

There was a little bit more to it than just using the techniques I wrote about earlier. I stopped in at about 7:00 pm, they closed at 8:00 and I walked into the perfect storm. This is a good sized dealership and they had not sold a single vehicle that day! I did my negotiations and didn't really get anywhere with the sales manager, so I said thanks and walked out the door. As I was getting into my truck, a salesman comes running out and says the GM would like to speak to me. As I walk through the door, I can hear a guy yelling "What's it going to take to sell a gawd dam truck today!" It was the GM.

He met me in the lobby and asked what it would take, we had a little back and forth and he looks at the sales manager and says to write it up.

The next morning when I came in with my deposit, I walked passed the GM's office and said hello. He starts laughing and says that I wouldn't get the same deal today as they had already sold two trucks! I smiled and said thanks! Like I said, a perfect storm.

 

[SnoKing]

In 2015 I used Consumer Reports to get mine. I believe it cost around $15. Well worth it when I paid 53k for a truck with a window sticker of 66.5k!

What options were on your 2015 2500 that pushed the sticker to 66.5K.

My 2015 3500 4x4 CC SB Laramie
Base Price: $ 49,435
Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats $ 500
Protection Group $ 50
Transfer Case Skid Plate
Cold Weather Group $ 90
Engine Block Heater
Winter Front Grille Cover
Heavy Duty Snow Plow Prep Group $ 85
220-Amp Alternator
AISIN (865 lb-ft) 6-Speed Automatic Transmission $ 2,995
3.42 Rear Axle Ratio
6.7-Liter I6 Cummins® Turbo Diesel Engine $ 8,195
180-Amp Alternator
Ram Active Air(TM)
Selective Catalytic Reduction (UREADEF)
Keyless Enter 'n Go(TM) $ 150
Chrome Tubular Side Steps $ 525
Uconnect® 8.4AN AM/FM/SXM/HD/BT/ NAV $ 500
SiriusXM Traffic(TM) / 5-Year Traffic
Service
SiriusXM Travel Link(TM) / 5-Year
Subscription
GPS Navigation
LT275/70R18E OWl On/Off-Road Tires $ 200
Remote Start System (N/A Manual Transmission)$ 200
Spray-In Bedliner $ 475
DESTINATION CHARGE $ 1,195
TOTAL PRICE:* $ 64,595

I paid $53,545

 

[Cummins12V98]

My 15 LongHorn DRW sticker 73k and paid 66k. Rebates came off that, don't remember what they were.

 

[endoscott]

That's a good deal, not sure you can get that good right now. I tried the other day to get a quote on a 2021 from Dillon via their chat thing. They hung up on me. I wasn't even pressuring them. I asked a simple question "is the price on the website the actual price". In December 2013 when we bought our 2014 truck I did the whole thing by 2 phone calls and a few emails at Dave Smith. It was the best buying experience ever. I don't think they do it that way anymore. Always seemed fair to me to ask the dealer point blank whats the price. I tell them I am pricing it at 2 dealers, not using one dealers quote against the other, no BS, just what's your price. Seems honest to me. But the local dealer hated the idea. They never did give me a firm price. And I wanted to buy it there and do local business. What I didn't want was to "negotiate" with a professional negotiator.

 

[SnoKing]

That's a good deal, not sure you can get that good right now. I tried the other day to get a quote on a 2021 from Dillon via their chat thing. They hung up on me. I wasn't even pressuring them. I asked a simple question "is the price on the website the actual price". In December 2013 when we bought our 2014 truck I did the whole thing by 2 phone calls and a few emails at Dave Smith. It was the best buying experience ever. I don't think they do it that way anymore. Always seemed fair to me to ask the dealer point blank whats the price. I tell them I am pricing it at 2 dealers, not using one dealers quote against the other, no BS, just what's your price. Seems honest to me. But the local dealer hated the idea. They never did give me a firm price. And I wanted to buy it there and do local business. What I didn't want was to "negotiate" with a professional negotiator.

When we bought the 2015 John Elway's in Greeley, Co had three or four identical trucks except for color. We bought one on the phone and wired the money to them on a Friday, I was a lost leader at that price, the othera were price higher. We did not bother to ask for more that the 11,050 dollars off. We need a truck to get ready to go to Az after Christmas. We got on a plane Sunday and the internet gal picked us up at the airport motel in Denver Monday morning and drove us up to Greeley, we finished the paper work, bought the 5th wheel pucks and in bed 7 pin wiring, ask for full fuel and DEF. She helped link our phones to the 8.4 uconnect system, and trained us on features. We left the dealership at 12:25 and the trucks never been back(to that dealership). 48 hours later, 1350 miles and two motel receipts we were back home with the new truck in the driveway at 12:25 Wednesday. In route because of a post on this form someone agreed to by our 2001.5 RAM. Great adventure! We were on a bit of a roll, as we had closed on the boat earlier that Friday and had cash to buy the new RAM. We never left the bank when we closed on the boat, asking for a wire transfer persons help after they confirmed the funds were available in our account. We had enough air miles to fly to Denver first class. We high fived each other all the way back to NW Washington.

 

[bcbender]

I had a similar experience to Sno .. but I bought from the local "high volume dlr", Kernersville Dodge in NC. I was going to order one, but with delivery, COVID, and incentives unclear, did not want to hold our trip up, and at $11,047 off, I could not pass it up! Sticker was $84,715, and after 15k for my 04 (and another 5 I had laying around.. long story), we were out of there for around 57 all said and done. It was mostly all done over the phone / email, only was at the dealer for about 45min to sign some tag / DMV paperwork on off we went.. There are some deals out there if you are willing to wait...or take off the lot, the only thing I wouldve added was the 50gal tank

 

[MRoberts]

Here’s the window stickers off of my truck! Ridiculous dealer mark up.

 

[AnonEd]

You should see the markup on TRX...makes your $3nnn look like pocket change. One dealer near me has applied $50,000 to a launch edition, for around $140k+.

 

[Cummins12V98]

First thing I do if they have "additional dealer markup" I tell then to throw that out and start with what the factory sticker says.

 

[NonFord]

Its crazy times for sure. 100k trucks flying off the lots. Not sure what the heck is going on, but im trying to figure it out.. I bought my used 2016 Laramie loaded with a 75k sticker for 42 back in 2018...GladdI didnt wait!!!! Prices are nutz now....

 

[AH64ID]

Its crazy times for sure. 100k trucks flying off the lots. Not sure what the heck is going on, but im trying to figure it out.. I bought my used 2016 Laramie loaded with a 75k sticker for 42 back in 2018...GladdI didnt wait!!!! Prices are nutz now....

I did similar and glad I bought when I did, even thou my 2018 was only 3 months old when I bought it used.

What options are on your truck? My sticker was 70.3K, and all I can think of that it didn’t have was Nav, sunroof (can’t fit in a truck with one), cab clearance lights (been added), bed liner (been added), and a transfer case skid plate (also been added).

 

[NonFord]

I did similar and glad I bought when I did, even thou my 2018 was only 3 months old when I bought it used.

What options are on your truck? My sticker was 70.3K, and all I can think of that it didn’t have was Nav, sunroof (can’t fit in a truck with one), cab clearance lights (been added), bed liner (been added), and a transfer case skid plate (also been added).

I got everything except the rear window defogger option??? Love the auto level feature since I do carry a slide in camper.

 

[AH64ID]

I got everything except the rear window defogger option??? Love the auto level feature since I do carry a slide in camper.

The 3 major options I was not negotiable on were Aisin, Auto-Level, and white. It’s amazing how well the auto-level works.

 

[NonFord]

The 3 major options I was not negotiable on were Aisin, Auto-Level, and white. It’s amazing how well the auto-level works.

Not only the auto level, but that AISIN is some transmission, I really don't care for an Allison anymore....I might get beat up for that but, really, I love AISIN...Funny, those were my main 3 things too....

 

[bcbender]

I could've done w/o the sunroof and cab lights but everything else is good. Never had an auto so I am getting used to the AISIN but I like it better than the 68RFE in our 2012 shop truck. The only quirk im not used to is it seems to shift abruptly or odd? when at low speed like in parking lots.

 

[crispyboy]

Its crazy times for sure. 100k trucks flying off the lots. Not sure what the heck is going on, but im trying to figure it out.. I bought my used 2016 Laramie loaded with a 75k sticker for 42 back in 2018...GladdI didnt wait!!!! Prices are nutz now....

Cars are also going up in price.
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/average-new-car-price-2020/
Prices in the automotive world are very inflated. I think there is a lot of inflation in our economy not being reported (money is being printed by the truckload) plus all the nanny devices on new vehicles also driving up the prices. Those who have the money are buying.

 

[bcbender]

yeah.. Trucks have been going up every year for the past 4 or 5 yrs.. My dad bought a Furd and it was 85k two years ago... probably more now. Not sure where the celing is or going to be, but they do have alot going on that adds alot of cost as has been mentioned..

As far as "Nanny devices" go I am not a big fan but of all the new vehicles I have driven lately the RAM adaptive cruise control is hands down the best!! And you can still use normal if you want... many new cars only have adaptive and it sucks. As for the other stuff, I didn't want it but don't mind, it is orders of magnitude less intrusive than some I have been in lately and most of it you at least have the option to turn it OFF.

 

[MRoberts]

There are two things on my truck that I would change, one I can, the other I can't. I love the comforts of the Laramie except for the friggin' sunroof! I've relocated from Western WA, cold and wet, to Eastern WA, generally dry and hot in the summer. Hate it.

The other is the 3.42 gears, these will get changed, if I don't buy a new truck without a sunroof!