First post-About to order

[BSkinner]

I'm just about to order a 2500 Quad Cab Cummins HO Laramie 4x4 with 6 speed, anti-spin 3. 73 diff. , folding trailer tow mirrors, heated seats and LT 265/70R17E OWL on/off road tires. Did I forget anything? Judging by the price, evidently not <G>

My local dealer (40 miles away) is $500 over invoice. I know I can do better on price but their service department has a good reputation and it's close. The next nearest dealer is 70 miles away (the downside of living in north central Wyoming. )

I'm going to use the 0%/3 year option. The dealer said I could also use the $500 Farm Bureau rebate and will sell and install the Jacob's e-brake at cost.

Does anyone know what cost is on these and how much the normal labor charge would be for install?

I will also order the hood protection shield to protect the paint on the hood. Good idea or not? Can I remove the shield and not have any exposed holes?



Thanks,



Bob

 

[Prairie Dog]

Welcome Bob! sounds like you've got her dressed up nicely. Does the Laramie automatically come with tow hooks and key-less entry? Those are the only other things I can think of that I wouldn't do without.



Scotty

 

[BSkinner]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

Welcome Bob! sounds like you've got her dressed up nicely. Does the Laramie automatically come with tow hooks and key-less entry? Those are the only other things I can think of that I wouldn't do without.



Scotty

Yes it does, Scotty. Thanks for the welcome!

Anyone who has words of comfort for a guy about to spend this much money on a pickup is welcome. <G> Hopefully, this will be the last truck I buy for a long time. The 2001, 1500 GMC with 5. 3 and auto just isn't cutting it anymore. 14 mpg, rough shifting automatic transmission and poor performance are the reason I'm going with the Dodge Cummins. I drove a friend's 2001 HO 6 speed and that did it for me. Of course, he had a Bank's turbo but it was nice to be able do drive up the mountain (empty) and not even have to downshift! With my rig, I have to downshift to 2nd and stand on the accelerator to go up the same road. I'll bet that will change.



Bob

 

[DBVZ]

Shop and buy from a dealer that will sell at or below invoice. You can still go to the local dealer you like for service. $500 over invoice is an off-the-lot price.

 

[JStieger]

Sounds like a nice truck you got your eye on! Once I test drove a '03 I was hooked also. My old truck was a 351W Ford and like you said - night and day difference!



I would go back to that original dealer and really try to sell them on the fact that you'd be bringing the truck in for service there. It's well known that most dealers make the most money on the service and trade-in end of the business. Also, remember that they will want to sell you a truck more than you want to buy it - especially towards the end of the last week of any month to meet their secret sales targets and incentives. Last, if they're well known for customer service that you also have first or secondhand knowledge of, that in my mind is easily worth $500 (less headaches and grief for you).



Of course I tried this at my local dealer, but they're service just plain stinks anyway and they're just small potatoes in the grand scheme of DC dealerships.



Hope this helps - you just may luck out at that dealer!

 

[BSkinner]

Originally posted by DBVZ

Shop and buy from a dealer that will sell at or below invoice. You can still go to the local dealer you like for service. $500 over invoice is an off-the-lot price.

Thanks for the reply, DBVZ.

Yeah, $500 over isn't the best deal in the world. I know I can drive 10 hours and buy one cheaper in Utah. I guess I wonder a bit about the service being as good for a rig purchased elsewhere. Still thinkin' on it.



Bob

 

[BSkinner]

Originally posted by JStieger



I would go back to that original dealer and really try to sell them on the fact that you'd be bringing the truck in for service there. It's well known that most dealers make the most money on the service and trade-in end of the business. Also, remember that they will want to sell you a truck more than you want to buy it - especially towards the end of the last week of any month to meet their secret sales targets and incentives. Last, if they're well known for customer service that you also have first or secondhand knowledge of, that in my mind is easily worth $500 (less headaches and grief for you).

I've played one dealer against the other. My local dealer knows I can go out of state and buy the same thing for $500 under. A guy can do a little driving for $1000. I would take it for service locally put there's always part of me that will worry that maybe I wouldn't get as good of service. There is also the danger of travelling a long distance and having a deal fall apart. (Been there. )



Thanks,



Bob

 

[DBVZ]

I don't think the service department cares where the truck was purchased. They make their reputation and income on their own end of the operation, and often the service side does not get along real well with the sales side anyway. I once bought a Honda, and the selling dealer actually recommended another dealer for service because they were set up better for it. I never had a problem with the dealer we used for service. They were making money on everything they did, and wanted to keep me coming back for each 30k service. The dealer is paid for warranty work from the corporation, after all. If they do a great job with service, they may get a chance at selling the next vehicle. In any case, repair work is subject to warranty returns, and doing shoddy work will not be good for any dealership. If they have a good reputation for service, they will protect that reputation by doing the same quality work on any vehicle that passes through their doors IMHO.

 

[wyosteve]

BSkinner, you don't say where you're at in north central Wyo. , but the dealers in Wheatland and Cheyenne will sell at or below invoice on an ordered truck. Not as far a drive as out of state. I can guess you may be dealing with Fremont Motors. I bought my current truck from them. Did not get a great deal, but they had what I wanted at the time. They did good work when my VP went out in Cody last summer though.

 

[BSkinner]

Originally posted by wyosteve

BSkinner, you don't say where you're at in north central Wyo. , but the dealers in Wheatland and Cheyenne will sell at or below invoice on an ordered truck. Not as far a drive as out of state. I can guess you may be dealing with Fremont Motors. I bought my current truck from them. Did not get a great deal, but they had what I wanted at the time. They did good work when my VP went out in Cody last summer though.

I'm in Buffalo.



I'm dealing with Poll Motors in Sheridan. I tried Fremont a few years ago and got hooked up with one of the wierdest salesman I've ever encountered so would have a hard time doing business with them.



I might give the southern dealers a try if I can't work out something here. Thanks for the tip.



Bob

 

[stevencarroll]

J Stieger

I didnt buy mine at Dale White either. I bought a car from them once and i know what they are all about.

 

[Prairie Dog]

These may not be words of comfort but, try not to pick on new fords on any of those two lane on-ramps. It's just not nice to toy with them at 90 MPH. You know, like accelerating beyond them, then backing off and hitting the gas again all the while a strong gray haze of heat is emanating from their pipe.

Also try not to spank them going up hills where their more than 70 ft lb disadvantage really shines.

Just smile and tell them you like the fords. . OK i'm searching here... ... . um. . uh... . oh ya, you like their larger back doors!

 

[JStieger]

stevencarrol:



There's a few guys at work that want to buy the new Rams (gas or diesel), but the only thing holding them back is dealing with the service end of Dale White or else face the 2 hr trip to Twin Falls or 3-4 hr trip to Salt Lake or Reno. Some of them ended up buying Fords instead because of this! I ended up buying mine out-of-state. Hey, I think I've seen your truck running around town - pretty nice!



Prairie Dog:



I don't think most of us haven't had a chance to do this yet because it's pretty hard to find any of the new Ford's DRIVING on the road.



Actually I've only seen one, which was a contractor's new King Ranch rig. He's racked up 10,000 trouble free miles so far and his only complaints were lower-than expected towing mileage and his darn dog wiping its butt on his leather seats! :--) I must admit - his truck was pretty nice and quiet.

 

[Prairie Dog]

The seat thing is the s#!ts !

I had a chance to park my truck next to a new 6. 0 at a local dyno event a while back. Mine was more quiet, idled smoother and transmitted less vibration to the body of the truck. The dyno results have been beaten into the ground but it's still strikes me as funny how the dealer that brought the truck just got in and drove away after his run w/o saying a word to anyone!

 

[lynnbrown]

New Truck

Bob, I sent you a pm.

Wyolaramie.