Moosetrek
Cheyenne, WY
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Joined: 07/23/2007
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Just to encourage anyone still on the fence about buying now-
Per our previous posts we had found an 07 Ram 3500 new, but the dealer changed his mind at the last minute and lowered the offer on the trade. Just for grins I called a couple local dealers to ask about 08 prices. Let me preface by saying my wife and I are not good car shoppers. We get a little fiesty and don't care for games at all. We're happy to pay a fair price, but expect fair dealing back. Our first brand new car buying involved 7 salesmen at one dealer over the course of 6 hours - one even got so mad he threw his papers on the floor and stormed out. We got a deal, but will never go back there!
I called Magnusson Dodge, an hour away in Auburn CA. They said expect a call back shortly from the salesman. Sure enough, he called about 15 mins. later and asked what we were looking for. I told him a quad cab long bed 4X4, stripped is fine, as long as it fits our price limit ($29K). I said what Carmax had offered for our trade (truck in sig), and that we needed that price. He asked if we would do the deal if they could get that price for us. I said sure, he said let me ask my manager.
OK, I've heard that before... He called back in 15 minutes and said OK we'll do it, he had one that “just came off the truck”. Step One - Get Customer in the Door! Now driving our Chevy an hour away for a trade-in appraisal involves enough gas for us to have stopped at the local steakhouse, so we were plenty skeptical. We were expecting a lowball trade once they had "looked it over" and saw the dents, chipped windshield, etc. - anything to justify a lower trade.
It was a big shiny showroom, where you expect lots of pressure... But it was pretty quiet, no one came over and pestered us. The salesman came over and introduced himself, we gave him the keys, and headed out to look at the truck. As a bonus, it had the 6-spd auto (the 07 had manual – which I guess is detuned to lower HP and TQ in the 6.7 vs the auto), cruise (the only option we really wanted). We went for a test good 15 mile test drive, and as we were headed back to the dealership he said “here comes the high-pressure sales – will this truck work for you?”. We both said yes, went inside, and he went to check with his boss about the trade appraisal. We’re thinking “OK, here we go – get ready for battle”.
He came back in, said OK. We said “OK, what?”. “OK, we’re all set, what day do you want to take delivery. We said “huh?”. Everything was fantastic. We asked about the Dodge $500 military discount, and he took that off too. We made arrangements to take delivery two days later, since we’re moving out of CA we have to take delivery across the state lines or pay CA sales tax, there was no additional delivery charge. As we’re in the finance office, I thought the total seemed a tiny bit higher than I had calculated, but the salesman and I had looked it over and figured it must be the difference in the payoff on our trade. Finance guy looked and said hang on, this looks off. Came back and said the wrong rebate code was in there, he caught it and saved us from overpaying by $500. As we were leaving, I asked if we could get a few gallons of gas since it just had the little from shipping (it really had just come off the truck that morning). They said we’ll fill it, don’t worry. So when we took delivery, we stopped and they let us fill the truck at their station!
This is a little long, but we were so impressed with the experience I wanted to share. This was the easiest, and friendliest, car-buying experience we’ve had; and I highly recommend Magnusson Dodge, in Auburn CA. Our salesman was Jeremy, and was polite, humorous, and very helpful. Now I have to motivate myself to drill holes in the bed of truck with 250 miles on it for the 5th wheel hitch!
Silver 2008 Dodge CTD 2500 4X4 QC
Still got the 5th Wheel Camper
Cute farm girl next to me
Dogs in the back seat
Back in the land of cattle, horses, and trucks!
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coolbreeze01
Redding, Ca
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Joined: 08/24/2006
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Congrats, you're gonna love that new Dodge. Again, have a smooth move to WY, I'll be there Oct. 1 out in the grass lands 
2008 Dodge 3500 CTD LB SRW 4X4 6-Speed Auto
P3 Blue Ox Sway Pro
2007 Komfort 212
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Tvov
CT
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Joined: 07/19/2003
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Excellent! One thing I tell people when car buying... DO NOT close a deal, or even put down a deposit, the same day you walk in. Give yourself at least a day to think about it. Also make up some financing "scenarios" for yourself, using different amounts, interest rate, length of loan, and take them with you in a folder. This allows you to be a little more confident when the "finance guy" starts throwing numbers at you.
I had a bit more trouble with my 2008 F250... one dealership was the classic experience -- confused numbers, low price for trade in, different numbers when actually sitting down to deal, suddenly "forgotten" things were added, etc.
Second dealership was about 99% better. Much better trade in, more solid numbers. I still found a few things going through the Ford website that the dealership supposedly didn't know about, but it all worked in the end.
I wanted to buy from the second dealership originally, but I had gotten no response from them by email. The first dealership responded instantly. As the salesperson (lady) from the first dealership said, a lot of the "old guard" salesmen don't really like the "new" internet for making sales. The second dealership finally got back to me after a friend who works in the shop there asked the manager why they had not responded to me.
Also, the second dealership has a great repair shop, both mechanical and body. They charge alot, but at least make you feel good when paying, lol.
_________________________________________________________
2008 F-250 CrewCab 5.4L,
2004 21' Forest River Surveyor
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jasona33xj
Montrose, CO, USA
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Joined: 05/16/2004
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Great stuff. Thanks for sharing!
I'd Rather be in Moab!
Jason A.
'09 Thor Vortex 314
'08 Dodge Ram 3500 MEGA CAB 6.7 Cummins
'98 Jeep XJ
'05 Arctic Cat 400 LE & '07 Yamaha Rhino 450 & '07 Yamaha Grizzly 450 & '06 Arctic Cat 90 & '07 Suzuki Z90
Our Pictures
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Moosetrek
Cheyenne, WY
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Joined: 07/23/2007
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Best thing I did for research is to use a calculator. On Vehix.com, there's an auto calculator that lets you see every part of the deal; interest, down, trade, fees, etc. You can enter it all, then print and take it in with you. Or if the dealer changes numbers, ask to use the internet and run it right there - I bought once by putting it all in, showing the screen, and saying "there's the offer" - rules out the shell game with trades, financing, etc.
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surveyorjp
Missouri
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Joined: 09/05/2005
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Excellent post Moosetrek.
But I would have to disagree with one part of your comment. You say that you and your wife are not good car shoppers, but I would have to disagree. It looks to me like you are actually quite good and have done your homework in order to get the best deal. Congrats to you on a job well done, and it sounds like the dealership and salesman did a fine job as well!
2005 Surveyor SV-291 Tows smooth as silk!
1995 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie SLT 4x4 5.9L V8 low miles, It ain't pretty, but it's paid for!
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CTD2003
Arizona
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Joined: 01/24/2006
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You didn’t mention it but I hope you know it also has an exhaust brake! You are going to love that feature a lot crossing the mountains. Use the exhaust brake every time you start the engine and you should not get those pesky cell problems that some have, it will not use more fuel as some believe. I have 20K on mine and am still so impressed every time I pull out of my driveway with the power, the fuel mileage was not the best but now is running 19 to 19.5 empty. Enjoy your new investment.
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ladymc53
Canyon Lake, Texas
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Joined: 04/20/2007
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When we bought our 2008 Dodge 3500, we found it $3,000 cheaper at Heber Springs, AR, 2 hrs. away from Hot Springs. They said they'd beat ANYONE's prices and I believe it. They were great! The HS Dodge salesman said "You mean to tell me you're going to drive all the way over there to save JUST $3,000?"...I told him..."You mean to tell me YOU wouldn't drive TWO HOURS to save $3,000?" DUH!!!!That man tried to shame me for driving there and tried to intimidate me into buying from him. I'll NEVER use that dealership again...besides, I'm in Texas now...hee,hee,hee...
Bill & Linda
Ladymc & Shuttlebird
2008 Silver Dodge Diesel Dually 3500 - "The Silver Bullet"
Towing 1998 35 ft. Newmar 5th wheel
20K Husky Hitch & Blue Ox Bedsaver
Handheld Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS AND Sat. in dash mounted GPS in the truck
READY TO ROLL!
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Tarantula
Saint John, IN
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Joined: 11/05/2007
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 These methods are all well and good if you're satisfied with whatever the dealer has on his lot and is trying to peddle. I want my vehicle to conform to me so we order ours. I want white, 3/4 ton long bed, Cummins auto 4X2 quad cab, cab lights, limited slip differential and camper/tow package & mirrors. There is no financing hassles 'cause it is paid for when it leaves. The only vehicles we've bought off the lot in the last 8 years was an '03 Montana, an '06 Montana and an '06 Lexus out of the showroom, and all were paid for when we left the dealers.
Our Unit: '05 Dodge 2500 SLT Bighorn Quadcab 4X2. Cummins, Auto, 3.73. Reese 15k 5th wheel. '06 Montana 3000RK.
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mtlogger
Montana/Guatemala
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Joined: 05/26/2008
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"Finally escaping the Republik of Kalifornia
9/8/08 we go back to civilization in Wyoming"
You should have told them to make the papers out for your home in Wyoming which has a lower sales tax.
Matt J - 1956 416 Unimog w/32ft Jamco and two mules in MT;
- Unimog 1750L camper in Guatemala
Bert - '08 Dakota 4.7, 19ft Airstream
My best friend Wolf died in Panama - 16 Nov
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