Fair price for '04 2500 Quad Cab, 4x4? Dealers high, or am I out of line?

[Mawgie]

Folks -



I am in the hunt for an '03. 5 (want the H. O. + 48RE) - '04, 2500, Quad Cab, 4x4, SLT, 6. 5' box, automatic transmission, Cummins (of course). After a fair amount of searching, I found, negotiated, then did not buy the following two trucks:



1) utterly, absolutely, mint, black '04 SLT, 28,000 miles: they would not budge off of $30,995;

2) excellent, but not utterly mint, a solid B+ truck, silver '04 SLT, 35,000 miles (no fog lights or fold flat option, which the black truck had): would not budge off of $30,995.



I wanted to buy the black truck for $28,000, and was probably pushing my luck a little. Still, I walked when the salesman sarcastically informed me that the black truck "will do $30,995 at Manheaim all day. " (Manheim is a dealer auction in Manheim, PA, frewuented by many of the dealers in Central NY where I live. )



Am I nuts to hold out and try to buy a 35k or less miles truck, in excellent condition, meeting the above year and feature description, for around $28,000?



I hope not, but ought to know, either way... ...



Thanks - Mawgie

 

[Mawgie]

I should have mentioned that the trucks were from two completely different dealers. Also, I found two early '03s. One was beat, and I didn't seriously consider it. The other was super clean, a charcoal grey model with fogs, fold flat, and the other above cited options, 30k. They were asking $30,995, and came a tumbling right down to 28k, but I passed, because I want the add'l torque in the H. O. engine.

 

[nps]

Sounds like you could get the 03 and put a box on it to bring it up to the HO output. Otherwise, an 04 for $3K more than an 03 sounds reasonable considering that all the prices seem to be consistent in that area. Have you looked at Kelly ?

 

[fkovalski]

I would hold off for little while longer. With diesel prices going up, dealers are going to be hungry. It will be a buyers market. Last weeks paper up here had a new 3500 SLT QCab diesel going for $31,700! (using the financing thru DC. ) It seems as if new ones are not much more than those you were looking at.

 

[KennethS]

I think that a bit high

Wholesale that most dealers would not have more then 24 wholesale. retail 26 to 28 I would say. Most late model trucks they are low balling.

 

[Mawgie]

I would hold off for little while longer. With diesel prices going up, dealers are going to be hungry. It will be a buyers market. Last weeks paper up here had a new 3500 SLT QCab diesel going for $31,700! (using the financing thru DC. ) It seems as if new ones are not much more than those you were looking at.



I hadn't looked at it that way. Here in Central NY, 87 octane gasoline is $2. 99 per gallon, and Diesel is $3. 03. I figured that when gas hits $4. 00 per gallon, people will be dumping their Hemis and overpaying for Cummins-equipped rigs. Maybe not.



Also, I did check www.kbb.com. The trucks can be made to look like they should sell for even higher than the $30,995 asking price.



Finally, in the course of my search, last week a dealer offered to sell me a Laramie 2500 Cummins quad cab, every option but rear DVD: $37,000. sounds like a great deal, but just more $$ than I want to spend.

 

[MRaynor]

Don't believe him about the auction price. I take care of the phone system at one of their huge auction houses here in SC and they are selling trucks for pennies on the dollar. Just as an example I was watching one day and an 04 fully loaded Excursion with a diesel and 24k miles in mint cond. went for $6500. 00. Even though I don't like Ford I would have paid that. So I know he was full of S***. Also check edmunds.com and KBB.com to check the values too. KBB is easier to use but with both together it might help you out. Mike

Folks -



I am in the hunt for an '03. 5 (want the H. O. + 48RE) - '04, 2500, Quad Cab, 4x4, SLT, 6. 5' box, automatic transmission, Cummins (of course). After a fair amount of searching, I found, negotiated, then did not buy the following two trucks:



1) utterly, absolutely, mint, black '04 SLT, 28,000 miles: they would not budge off of $30,995;

2) excellent, but not utterly mint, a solid B+ truck, silver '04 SLT, 35,000 miles (no fog lights or fold flat option, which the black truck had): would not budge off of $30,995.



I wanted to buy the black truck for $28,000, and was probably pushing my luck a little. Still, I walked when the salesman sarcastically informed me that the black truck "will do $30,995 at Manheaim all day. " (Manheim is a dealer auction in Manheim, PA, frewuented by many of the dealers in Central NY where I live. )



Am I nuts to hold out and try to buy a 35k or less miles truck, in excellent condition, meeting the above year and feature description, for around $28,000?



I hope not, but ought to know, either way... ...



Thanks - Mawgie

 

[gitchesum]

I bought my 04 2500 2WD last month with 84K miles on it for $21,000. It's the sport model with the adjustable pedals, fold flat floors, HO/48RE.



They are out there, but you have to look hard.

 

[rjohnson916]

I would hold off for little while longer. With diesel prices going up, dealers are going to be hungry. It will be a buyers market. Last weeks paper up here had a new 3500 SLT QCab diesel going for $31,700! (using the financing thru DC. ) It seems as if new ones are not much more than those you were looking at.

I don’t know about this logic? The Dodge dealer I work for is selling all the diesels we can get, there is a drastic movement of shoppers dumping their 2-4 year old Hemi 5. 7, 5. 4 Tritons & Silverado 1500 & 2500 powered trucks for Diesel efficiency. Back on topic, most people are getting around $28K for trade in value for 2003-2004 2500/3500 Cummins Diesel Trucks, short box, long box 2wd/ 4wd, so it doesn’t sound too far from reality. I would consider this a deal as the dealer likely isn’t going to lose money on both ends of a deal, chances are they sold the new truck to the guy at a “fleet” price and over allowed to $28K for the trade. Let me guess they were asking around $33-$34K and came down to $30,995? That sounds like a smoking deal, also makes all of us feel good about our resale values.



-Ryan

 

[Mawgie]

I tend to agree with rjohnson. In my view, the Cummins (and for that matter, Powerstroke and Duramax) trucks are going to get harder, not easier to come by, as gas prices dramatically increase in the next eight weeks.



Still, I really don't want to pay much more than 28k for the truck I have specified. If necessary, I can wait until Fall, or early winter. By then, I am hopefulk that diesel sales will slacken some, and possibly open up a deal for me.

 

[dodgecwby]

Folks -



I am in the hunt for an '03. 5 (want the H. O. + 48RE) - '04, 2500, Quad Cab, 4x4, SLT, 6. 5' box, automatic transmission, Cummins (of course). After a fair amount of searching, I found, negotiated, then did not buy the following two trucks:



1) utterly, absolutely, mint, black '04 SLT, 28,000 miles: they would not budge off of $30,995;

2) excellent, but not utterly mint, a solid B+ truck, silver '04 SLT, 35,000 miles (no fog lights or fold flat option, which the black truck had): would not budge off of $30,995.



I wanted to buy the black truck for $28,000, and was probably pushing my luck a little. Still, I walked when the salesman sarcastically informed me that the black truck "will do $30,995 at Manheaim all day. " (Manheim is a dealer auction in Manheim, PA, frewuented by many of the dealers in Central NY where I live. )



Am I nuts to hold out and try to buy a 35k or less miles truck, in excellent condition, meeting the above year and feature description, for around $28,000?



I hope not, but ought to know, either way... ...



Thanks - Mawgie

I am a salesman for Saitta Trudeau in pahrump Nevada and I recently joined TDR because of may madness being held here, the people are great. Just thought i'd let you know the salesman had some good points but was really full of it. we had an black 05 with the same specs and low mileage and we sold it for 30. keep looking pard their are honest salesman out there and im sure you will find what you are looking for. Any questions? contact me pardner.

Dodge Cowboy

 

[MarkStevenson]

truck price

If i had to pay $31000 for a 03. 5 or 04 i would pay an other 1000 or so and buy a new one. I payed 30995 for my 2004 2500 slt in oct of 03 i just bought

2006 mega cab 3500 3 weeks ago and payed $36000 i know you could get

a new 2006 QC for $31000 or 32000. But thats just my thoughts on it

good luck with it.

 

[MarkStevenson]

truck price

one more thing i sold my 2004 2500 QC slt for $29500 it had 27900 mi on it

 

[Mawgie]

Thanks Mark. Obviously, you did extremely well with your '04.



I know that Dodge has a promotion going right now, but I believe it requires one to use Chrysler Financial Services for some of the financing. From what I understand, their rates are not great. Still, if you could get away with onloy financing a small amount of the truck through Chrysler, and get the deal, then that is a good thing.



I just don't want to spend any more than 28k for a low mileage Quad Cab, low mileage, SLT. And I certainly agree that to do so doesn't make much sense, given the potential for a brand new one in the range of $32,000.

 

[edgerat]

I bought my 03 SO a month ago with 24k on it and its loaded except for leather, I walked with it for 29k plus tax. They had it marked at 32 but I hit them late in the day on Sunday when they had not done much business so they were easy to deal with. One word of advice, hold out for an HO truck. It really makes life easier as you start to build power later on. I find myself having to stack boxes and buy a modified CP3 in order to match then HP for HP.

 

[MFalkinham]

Mawgie, I don't think your price expectations are unreasonable. When I was searching for a late '03/early '04 2wd last year, I ran across several 4wd trucks within your price range. I even considered buying one of them; an early '04 QC, long-bed, FULLY loaded Laramie 4wd with 32k miles for $28,500. It was in Las Vegas, but I would have been willing to fly there and buy it had my current truck not come along.

The early 3rd gens will hold their value very well due to the tightening emissions standards, but $30k is still too much. If you are willing to travel, the right truck is out there waiting for you. PM me if you would like some Internet search hints.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

This is not a smokeing deal!!! as someone said, almost 31k is an absolute rip off!!!!!! buying a 1,2 or 3 year old diesel truck makes no sense money wise!!!! especially paying 31k for a used truck with 30k on it, your warranty is almost gone, the truck is used, AND YOU ARE PAYING more than new for it!!!! People of the TDR board do your home work, stop walking into the dealership and makeing the salesmen feel like that just got another sucker!! here are some cold hard #'s that will work on any new truck. The new truck I want to order is as follows



it has an MSRP or 42,035, 4x4, SLT auto, quad, and a few other small options, pretty much your basic SLT



Take 10. 5% off this gives you the phoney dealer invoice that they show you.



37621 is the invoice price

-3500, dodge incentive at the moment, should have placed order in april, Dang

-500, farm beareu discount

-500 for a business

=33121, Dave smith motors claims to offer another $1500 off this so that brings us to $31,621, for brand spankin new truck, noone has owned before, smells new, HAS NEW TIRES, has ALL the Warranty, and last but not least costs me less because I get a better deal financing. So I ask you again what is so great about an '04 for $30,900, I Wouldn't even pay 28k for the 04.

 

[JasonBrown]

I "only" paid 33k for my 2005 SLT QC 4x4 short box Automatic truck in August last year. Sticker was $40,800. That was employee pricing.



"Only", like I had that in my sock drawer.

 

[barleysoda]

This is not a smokeing deal!!! as someone said, almost 31k is an absolute rip off!!!!!! buying a 1,2 or 3 year old diesel truck makes no sense money wise!!!! especially paying 31k for a used truck with 30k on it, your warranty is almost gone, the truck is used, AND YOU ARE PAYING more than new for it!!!! People of the TDR board do your home work, stop walking into the dealership and makeing the salesmen feel like that just got another sucker!! here are some cold hard #'s that will work on any new truck. The new truck I want to order is as follows

it has an MSRP or 42,035, 4x4, SLT auto, quad, and a few other small options, pretty much your basic SLT

Take 10. 5% off this gives you the phoney dealer invoice that they show you.

37621 is the invoice price
-3500, dodge incentive at the moment, should have placed order in april, Dang
-500, farm beareu discount
-500 for a business
=33121, Dave smith motors claims to offer another $1500 off this so that brings us to $31,621, for brand spankin new truck, noone has owned before, smells new, HAS NEW TIRES, has ALL the Warranty, and last but not least costs me less because I get a better deal financing. So I ask you again what is so great about an '04 for $30,900, I Wouldn't even pay 28k for the 04.

I dont agree with all this. first of all whats the incentive at the moment? May not April. Who's getting a farm and business discount? How many people are actually going to go to Dave smith?
I think I would end up paying closer to 40 for a new one in reality.
Now the new tires suck... so those are coming off just as soon as you pull out of the parking lot. By the time you get it home it smells like diesel and oil inside and out just like one that is used so forget about the new car smell... save that for luxury cars.
Warranty is better on a slightly used one then new in my opinion. I got 8/80. with a new one you get 7/70.
I paid 30,000 for my 04. 5 4x4 SLT, it had 15,000 miles on it with bed liner, fold flat, adjustable pedals and not one scratch or blemish anywhere. I cant even figure out how they put 15,000 on it unless they just drove it around in circles in a parking lot. This truck WAS brand new in my opinion and I saved about $5,000. I put 2 grand back into an extended warranty to cover EVERYTHING until 8/80 not just the drive train. Heck even my aftermarket tires are covered no matter what they are and who I bought them from.
You can save some money on a slighty used truck and find one in brand new condition.

 

[guava]

If i had to pay $31000 for a 03. 5 or 04 i would pay an other 1000 or so and buy a new one. I payed 30995 for my 2004 2500 slt in oct of 03 i just bought

2006 mega cab 3500 3 weeks ago and payed $36000 i know you could get

a new 2006 QC for $31000 or 32000. But thats just my thoughts on it

good luck with it.

The sales figures are really regional too. Manheim is national and the dealers pay for access to their reports. When I was looking for an 01 or 02, I was thinking the same way. I've got access to the Manheim reports showing what the trucks were going for at auction and for another grand, I could get brand new. So, I got the 04.



Sure doesn't make sense to me. If dealers are set on a prices because of Manheim then ask them to print out the report. It will show the details of similar trucks sold at any manheim auction in the country. If they are honest, they will do it. If they won't, then definately walk.