After two weeks of hard negotiations with about 5-7 dealers I've narrowed it down to one, and maybe after I tell you this you won't have to go through what I did.

I went to Edmunds.com and sent out quote requests to 6 dealers. Most still wanted me to come in and I refused and they ended up sending me a quotes after telling them no.

I wanted quotes without rebates because when the car comes in, who knows what the rebates will be? The options are White, grey/black, RPD, LSD, and radio upgrade.

The best deals were $23474, $23099, and $22960
The worst deals were $25,000 by a brother of a friend and $30K by a dealer who said it's a custom order. with the other dealers coming in at around $24K


Now the $22960 guy only had the radio as an option and forgot to add the other two options. that brought it up to $23500


The $23099 I almost went with, but in today's conversation he said there's a $2k deposit because they've had people back out when the car comes in and the invoice is higher than what they quoted. I said wait so when this car shows up you can just say the invoice is now $25K and I have to pay it because I gave you a $2k non-refundable down payment? He said well I'm just telling you the truth and don't want you to be upset if it happens. I said no thanks. I just felt a scam brewing

I'm going with the $23474 guy and confirmed that this is the price I will pay when the car comes in minus rebates offered at the time and he is putting that in writing, and also a $500 deposit. This is the absolute best price I can get on a car being ordered. I asked two dealers to match the $23099 and the both said it's below invoice and they would only get a $100 on hold back. so no they wouldn't do it. so if the $23747 car would come in today with current rebates it would cost me $20974 +T&L. ($1500 rebate +1000 for GM car owner)

So I don't know how some of you are getting below that, but all the dealers around here are a lot higher, and I went 40 miles out in my search.

 

some people might be getting 08 inventory thats left over? ar just not the RPD and upgraded radio, which are both going to add to the price.

 

I got my 08 SS/TC for 21,500 with everything.

I think you need to be a little more aggresive with the dealers. Put out a price (such as $21,500) and tell them, if you can do this price, I'll buy it today. If they can't match it, just walk. You also have to be willing to search a bit of distance for one willing to give it to you for the desired price.

I bought mine 125 miles from home and it saved me a few thousand bucks.

 

Yeah....but he's custom ordering. You can almost always do a better deal buying something from inventory. The stealership is paying interest on all their stock, and thus is incentiveized (sp) to move those units first.

...one reason the sales dudes always ask "what can I do to get you to buy today?"

You're doing good requesting quotes from several dealers. You'd do better finding one with "your" car already in stock, and showing up ready to buy (like with a bank draft ready-to-go). They won't let you leave!!!

 

i got mine. 20,900 OTD with TTL

2500 TRade in.

 

Invoice price for a 2009 Cobalt SS with the options you listed is $23,942 if you include the $670 destination charge. I would almost bet they didn't add in the destination charge in your quotes. If not, add another $670, also usually most dealerships add at least $100 for admin fees (they often don't tell you that until you're ready to sign the papers). I'd say you got some fairly reasonable quotes for a special order.

 

I did tell three of the dealers that I was being offered $23099 and they told me to take it because they can't do that good so yeah I was fairly aggressive, and like it was said I'm ordering it not buying it off the lot, they told me they couldn't go lower unless I got one already on the lot.

As far as finding one on the lot, there are no white SS/TC's within 1000 miles All the dealers didn't believe me and each did their own search.

 

So, you have your heart set on white? Can you settle for a black SS? Biddle Chevrolet in Bothell, WA has a black 09 with all the options you want plus sunroof for only $22,427.

 

Yep, it has to be white I have plans in place but it will only work with a white one. But thanks for looking out for me.

 

Well it's a done deal I signed, and I asked about the destination charge and they said it's included in that price (got in writing). The only extra besides T&L is a $50 service fee. But to my surprise they told me although that price won't go up, it might go down tomorrow when they place the actual order. So far, I'm a happy camper. They also told me they looked into it today and as far as they could tell there are no holds on cars with the RPD, but won't be able to give me an actual build date for about 2-3 weeks. But whatever happens I'm ok with, I have no problem waiting for months if need be. In fact the week I get it I plan to take off work to get "things" done to it.

I already have Sportline springs and I plan on dropping it off at a place to have the windows tinted and a full clear bra put on, then to top that off I will stop by my exhaust shop and remove the muffler. Then after that, it will just be parked in the garage until I sell my current car. In April 2003 I bought my Focus and parked it for two months until my other car was sold. Everyone kept asking how I could wait that long. It might be a little harder to wait with this car.

BTW I also asked about swapping trunk lids with a new one on the lot without the spoiler and the said yes, Although that's not in writing so we'll see when it comes in.

 

you financeing?
monthly payment?

 

what dealer?

 

Not sure yet, how I'm going to finance. I have a few options I can do

Pay off wife's 2007 Caliber and put no money down on the Cobalt at least one car we would be free and clear on and about $500 a month

put all of that money down on the Cobalt and have about a double car payment of $about $600

Or partial pay off and partial down payment but have a monthly payment of about $700

I have to talk with the bank to ask what they recommend

Auburn Chev

 

first of all, always make your down payment on credit card if possiible (preferable amex due to their grievance policies). second of all read your contracts. you can always refuse delivery of vehicle if you are not happy with the final deal. the auto industry is beggng for business and should bend over backwards and beyond for your sale, make sure you are happy with your purchase before completng a sale. i was guaranteed an 08 ss/tc for 21K out the door but i couldn't wait for the car to leave lordstown due to my car's condition.

 

why would you want to put a down payment on a credit card?

 

So you could protest the charge if the deal fell apart. If you give them a check or debit card they have your money and it's a lot harder to get it back.

 

Sounds like you got a good deal, congrats.

 

not trying to dog but I think you kinda got raped , and those other guys WERE DEFF SCAMMING YOU! BEWARE! ive seen that too many times ...omfg. anyways you should have gotten one for no higher than 23k all optioned out..... right now GM is trying to GIVE them away because of the amount of stock dealers have and they arent selling good bc it came out at a bad time and not too many people know its turbo yet. that has still yet to latch on. It may have to do with where your from though.....

 

Well, I was looking for about a month before I recently bought my SS/TC and I can tell you at least here in the midwest, the dealers and GM are not giving cars away. If anything, they are hunkering down and praying things get better.

Anytime you can buy a car below invoice price and then get an additional $2,500 incentives off is a decent deal. Especially on a special order car. Think we've already established a better deal could of been obtained if he bought a car off the lot instead of ordering one. But, that's a moot point.

I still think Mr84monte got a good deal under the circumstances. The sweet thing is he's getting exactly what he wants too.

 

Geez, I am in Canada and paid $21,xxx for my car but I had taxes ontop and dealer fee's so you should be able to get a much better deal considering the car is almost $10 k more in Canada

 

I paid 21 800 Canadian with everything but RPD and high rise.

 

Getting a good "price" for the car alone literally means jack, unless you walk in the dealer with a case of cash. I don't work for a dealer and even I know multiple ways you can get screwed from bank kickbacks and trade in's.

 

umm yep i work in the midwest , right in the middle actually not far from you. and here , wede be lucky to get 21k for our SS right now , weve had it for 3-4 months and noone has even looked at it/ test drive it besides employees...... and its not like we got a base SS in silver or yellow or something like that we have the most desired colors.....red , white and black.....even got a white 4 door , from what Im told not too many of those white ones got made period be-it coupe or 4 doors. and nada one person has ever asked about them.... we seriously talk all the time about how its dissapointing to see a car that nice just sit there.

 

They were selling ones in my area that supposedly had hail damage but we couldn't find anything wrong with them. They only wanted 17 or 18K for them.

 

Right, I bought a program car for $18,990 with all the options except the high wing and it only had 107 miles. But again, these are cars already on the lot. It's not the same as a special order.