Online dealer recommendations?

[Troubleshooter]

So after the "4th Gen Thoughts" thread and the continuing problems with my '01 I'm seriously considering purchase of a lightly-used 2018. Went to a couple of online sites and found a candidate within an hour or so of me. Also looked at the buyer's service website through my bank and found what appear to be good deals on 2018s with <100 miles. Supposedly they would convey as "new" with the full warranty coverage.

Have any of you had any dealings with either "Steve's Hometown Motors" in Weiser ID or "Vroom" in Houston? Prices look good, specs look good, but the online reviews from other purchasers are decidedly mixed.

Thanks in advance.

 

[AH64ID]

Weiser is only an hour or so from me and I’ve heard good things about them, but I’ve never dealt with them.

I bought a lightly used 18 myself.

A vehicle is considered new if it has never been titled. I’ve seen “new” rigs nearing 1000 miles. The dealers sell them like they have 2 miles on them as the titleing is the legal part.

 

[jhenderson]

Google Indy truck champion.

 

[Jim W]

Make sure it is a not a Canadian vehicle since there is no US warranty.

 

[Troubleshooter]

AH64ID: Thanks, that is how it was explained to me also.

jhenderson: I went to that site. The "Inventory" page has headers for 1500, 2500, and 3500 series trucks. I click on them and they do nothing. Not sure whether those are dead links or if something else is going on.

JimW: Thanks, I'll look into that as I find more trucks for sale that meet my criteria.

 

[OLEJOE]

I got a new 18’ in September from a dealer in Ar. Brand new with 11 miles, full warranty. The sales manager told me he started with 64 units and had 12 left when I bought mine. Started the bartering at 15K off of sticker. It was on the Ram Truck site under 2500 then 18’ or 19’. I was really surprised to see that many 18 models sitting on dealer lots.

 

[Timd32]

Even if I just start making up zip codes still lots if '18 left.

Really good options to get a decent buy out there.

Filtered for CTD if course, there are about 60 per almost any zipcode for any powertrain 2500.

I think that's Elk Grove IL out side Chicago. Spent a few years out that way.

 

[jhenderson]

I found the same problem as you. He lists his email on the home page. Give that a try. I’ve never heard anything but good about doing business with Ken.
Disclaimer: I’ve never bought anything from him. I’m just relaying what I’ve read here and elsewhere.

 

[Wiredawg]

I purchased my 09 4500 4x4 on Ebay from James O'Neil Dodge, NW of Atlanta. It was the BEST deal I ever made. Bought the truck, tow body, and hitch on the new truck out the door for less than the MSRP. They are one of the biggest Internet and Ebay sales in the country. They monitor and respond quickly for Internet and Ebay inquiries. Another point was they did not have an SLT 4x4 CC 84CA in the ENTIRE state of TX.

When I was purchasing my 2017 Ram 5500, I had already picked the truck and been watching it online at Bluebonnet Dodge in New Braunfels. Like before, this truck had a top end $7.5K CM ER bed on it. When I came to look at the truck, they offered me to take it home and show the wife and bring it back the next day. When I sat down to discuss purchase, I told them I wanted to buy from them, but they had to beat Internet sales. I showed them comparable truck on Ebay. Then I asked what is the lowest out the door cost for their $79K truck, and came back with $74K... ALWAYS work the purchase BEFORE working the trade. So, I said I have a trade 09 4500 with tow body and 70K miles, and said I want $30K for it. We made the deal in about 30minutes.

Anyway, this time I figured out how to work the deal with my local dealer. Buying where you're going to have it serviced is an incentive too. Take your best Internet deal to your dealer and see if they can do it.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Timd32]

Same on the work the deal, then the trade.

Otherwise sometimes they like to play games with the trade, if your in a good $ position with the trade that is.... I'm amazed but not surprised how much folks keep rolling into deals over and over and get stuck in these really bad deals for many years.

 

[jetmechabq]

Look at Dave Smith and Dennis Dillion both in Idaho I used Dennis for my new 2018.

 

[jray]

I bought a used vehicle from Steve’s two years ago. I drove to their lot and dealt with them in person. Everything went well as far as the purchase. Very happy with the vehicle.

Typical dealer nonsense of attempting to up-sell or add-on at the end (gap insurance, extended warranty, and a higher interest rate loan). Didn’t want or need any of it.

I second the recommendation of Dennis Dillion in Caldwell. I ordered my 2018 3500 through them after a mishap with Dave Smith.

 

[Troubleshooter]

Thanks, gents. I looked at the websites for Dillon and Dave Smith; nice trucks but all they have listed are the higher-end models which are priced way above what I am willing to spend. Too many bells and whistles that I neither need nor want. Not planning to do a trade-in, so those negotiations won't enter the picture. I already have financing covered, so just looking for a straightforward transaction.

Steve's still owes me a price quote with the MaxCare extended warranty and delivery charge. In the meantime I'm on the trail of a possible located at Gulf Auto Direct in Mississippi. They're listing a Tradesman which has all the features I want, only a few of the ones I don't care about, and supposedly <20 miles on the odometer.

Timd32: Thanks for the link, I looked at the website with a couple of different zip codes but didn't see any deals on the configuration I want. It would be nice if they offered the option for a nationwide search.

 

[Wiredawg]

Have you done a truck search on ebay?

 

[gsbrockman]

What city and state are you in, @Troubleshooter ?

 

[OLEJOE]

They had a couple of Tradesmans in Jackson when I got mine. Would have been my next move. Widen your search mileage. They were scattered all over. Didn’t go through my local dealer because they are douches and they didn’t have what I wanted.

 

[Troubleshooter]

Wiredawg: No, I really hadn't considered eBay. Was just looking at the bank's vehicle locator (TrueCar) which appears to search nationwide. Have also started searching on the Ram website based on OldJoe's and Timd32's comments.

OldJoe: I had the search area on the Ram website set to its max level.

 

[OLEJOE]

Maybe put in a different zip?

 

[Wiredawg]

I'm going to suggest something else: build the truck you want on Ram website, save pdf file, email it to several deal dealers and request their best price.

I'm in a large city that has several fleet sales dealers. Hundreds of Tradesmans. You can buy on the fleet side too... I bought my 5500 on the fleet side.

And I'll repeat, Ebay is easy peasie. Doesn't cost anything too look.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Timd32]

What area are you looking for?