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Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Hyundai Sonata Prices Paid and Buying Experience
5168 messages, Last post on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:45 PM
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First, let me say thank you to all you knowledgable people who post here. I have been lurking and reading here for the last 4 days learning all I can since I decided to buy a Hyundai last week. I have learned quite a lot! Since Monday I have been working to get my best deal on a new Hyundai. It started with thinking I wanted a leftover '07 or an '08 Sonata GLS. By yesterday I was convinced I should go all the way to an '09 Sonata Limited. My husband called it "requirements creep", which apparently is a term used in his line of business. (Engineering) lol Anyway, after I had solicited offers from 3 local dealers, I read this thread and found that many people were finding deals that appeared to be a good bit better than what I had. I saw a reference to Fitzmall. Not knowing exactly what Fitzmall was, I went to check it out. I was floored at the difference in price! I was even more thrilled to learn that there is a location just a bit over 2 hours from me here in FL! I emailed and got an out-the-door price from Fitzmall that was at least $1,500 less than the deal I was about to take. Since I already had an appointment set up for tonight at that dealership, I decided to take Fitzmall's offer and ask them to match it. They basically told me NO dealership could sell an '09 Sonata Limited for that without losing money. They would only come down by a little under $300. They insisted the price will go up once I walk in Fitzmall's door, that they may have applied rebates I wouldn't be eligible for and then have to tack back on, etc. For an '09 Sonata Limited 4cyl my local dealer offered $21,500 (after rebate) plus taxes, tag & title. OTD price quoted $24,034. Fitzmall has the same '09 Sonata Limited 4 cyl listed for $20,765. (I'm assuming after rebate) OTD price quoted $22,798.75 That's a $1,235.25 difference, and one I'm willing to drive 2+ hours for. My questions are, has anyone actually purchased a car from Fitzmall for the prices they list them for on the internet, or do you all just use their listed prices to get your local dealers to match? I'd love to hear from people who have actually gotten those deals from Fitzmall before I make that trip. I really don't want to drive 2 hours just to find out there's more to it. I'm new at this, and inexperienced. Also, does anyone think I can do better than either of those two prices listed above? Is there any benefit to waiting, like a bigger rebate later, maybe after June 2 when te $1,500 one ends? Any chance they'll have a price increase? Anything else anyone can suggest that I do, or what to look out for if/when I head to the Clearwater Fitzmall? Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated! I just gotta add that I drove the '09 Limited tonght for the first time and I LOVE it! Can't wait to have my own. 
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Replying to: narek (May 08, 2008 9:03 pm) Now, your post. Your numbers don't add up. First you say that Fitzmall was "at least $1500 less than the deal I was about to take" and then the difference is $1235. Which is it? Also, are the dealers in different sales tax areas? There is about $500 extra dollars at the first dealer between selling price and "out the door" price. Maybe the diffence is dealer fees or something because I doubt that even a sales tax difference could account for anything approaching that amount. Lastly, dealers can sell cars for whatever they want to and there are many different reasons for this. They might be the only dealer for that car for a large area. It might be just the owner's policy. They don't have to match a price from a dealer 2 hrs away if they don't want to. Even in large metro areas where there is a lot of competition, some will just refuse to match another's offer and tell you to look elsewhere. If they all sold at the same price they would be Saturn dealers.
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Replying to: m6user (May 09, 2008 6:50 am) Regarding my numbers, I did mess that up. Alot. (It was late, and I've had a slew of numbers running through my head this week. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it! lol) The Fitzmall quote was intially $2,031.84 less than the quote I had from my local dealer. When I went in last night for my test drive, they dropped that price another $786.79 after I showed them the Fitzmall quote. $500 of that was the rebate. He originally applied only $1,000, and not the full $1,500 available. So after the $500 rebate correction, they only came down another $286.79. $786.79 total. Still $1245.05 more than the Fitzmall quote. The lower quote I got last night is the one I listed above. When I was putting the differences down I had already accounted for the difference in the rebate amount. I also messed up the Fitzmall quote. It's $22,789.75. I transposed the 8 and the 9. Yes, sales tax rates do vary by county here in FL. I was told the rate applied would be based on my county, which I supplied both dealers with when I asked for the quotes initially. I know no dealer is obligated to match any price I bring in. They have a choice, as do I. They are in it to make money, I do understand that. But I'm in this to SAVE money, so, for $1245.05 (If the deal is legit) I'm going to drive the 2+ hours to clearwater. Maybe I'll buy a new outfit to match my new Sonata with some of the savings. 
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Replying to: narek (May 08, 2008 9:03 pm) From what I have heard and seen on this forums, Fitzmall is a real deal and I used them as my baseline when dealing with local dealership. I have not sealed the deal yet so I do not want to post any numbers, but let me say that they are close to Fiztmall. I had send out 5 emails to dealers within my driving distance. One was very aggressive and right away matched the numbers with Fitzmall, BUT they charge $499 doc. fee. Others were slow to come down, but in the end they were within $250 of Fitzmall. If you are ready to purchase, go to you local dealership, make an offer within this range and tell them you will buy NOW if they agree. There is nothing more motivating to dealership than a ready buyer.
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Replying to: focus530 (May 09, 2008 7:31 am) I'm in Illinois and state law limits dealer doc fees to $150 and that's what they all charge. It just changed I believe as it used to be $75 or something like that for quite a few years. It must suck to not only have to negotiate the price of the car but then to have to negotiate different doc fees from dealer to dealer. |
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Replying to: narek (May 09, 2008 7:26 am) Sounds like a plan! That is pretty pathethic not including the whole rebate and only noticing their "mistake" after you had the quote from Fitzmall which showed it. I'd be leery of having them service the car as well.
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Anyone know of a "Dealin Dealer" within 500 miles of New Orleans? Hoping to find the right price for '09 GLS Auto I4 with Sunroof. Dealer 1,250 miles away quoted $2,000 less than 2 local dealers; a 3rd dealer in Baton Rouge was even higher. Getting frustrated! Might fly in to Newark, Chicago, or Tampa where the real deals "seem to be". The 3 "Dealin Dealers" I've been able to find are World, Towne, and Fitzmall.
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Replying to: focus530 (May 09, 2008 7:31 am) The dealer I sat down with last night just called and came down another $500. We're now just $745.05 off the Fitzmall quote. If they come within $200, I'll bite for sure. This saleman has worked hard and put up with a lot of questions from me without complaint, and always in a very timely manner. I can be very loyal when treated well, even spending more to give my business. (Within reason, of course) We'll see how it goes from here. |
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Replying to: m6user (May 09, 2008 7:55 am) We had a lengthly chat with the sales manager last night who was very nice and very knowledgable. He did, however, try to tell me that the $503 portion of the $23,503 invoice price was his cost for some dealer appearance package markup. This dealership rates very highly (they have some Hyundai Presidents customer service award) and they "say" the service dept is in the top 10. It is where I would have my Sonata serviced no matter where I bought. As I said in another post, they've already called me today and come down another $500 in price. I'm not ready to kick them to the curb just yet....
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Replying to: hickoryc (May 09, 2008 10:10 am)
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