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2008 Dodge Caravan Prices Paid and Buying Experience

137 messages,  Last post on Mar 08, 2011 at 10:36 PM

You are in the Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan Forum.

What is this discussion about? Dodge Caravan, Dodge Grand Caravan, Car Buying, Van

    

Messages Page 11 of 14

#98 of 137 Follow-Up GC SXT Colorado Springs Uconnect by cheekymonkey2

Jun 30, 2008 (12:09 pm)

Spoke with the sales manager re: the confusion on the website with the 25L package details and uconnect. Said he had spoken with his district manager and they found several errors on the dodge web-site (not the least of which is the misleading way the details of 25L make it look like the package contains Uconnect. They're supposed to be getting with the regional manager for Chrysler at the end of the week (what are the odds they'll throw in a uconnect to my vehicle? - not holding my breath:-) I will say that they seem to be decent guys, and I'm definitely feeling better about the deal I got - so much so that my hubby is looking for a journey from the same dealership.

#99 of 137 Not a very active forum... by heelntoe

Aug 13, 2008 (7:19 am)

I have been following the Odyssey forum for months as we'd pretty much decided on replace her leased Nissan Murano with a purchased minivan. Nearly every review ranks the Odyssey better than the GC. I've nothing against Mopar; I've owned a 1999 Dakota and 2003 Ram. It just seemed like the Hondas were the class of the field.
 
Before heading out this week to get really serious, I decided to check incentives one more time. With $4500 on the GC, it was back in the game but I wanted the 4.0L. These were impossible to find on the lot a few months ago but availability is better now. We drove an SXT with the 28N and *everything* but the sunroof (don't want anyways, especially at $895) and the engine block heater (don't need here in western PA). I also told the dealer about the add'l $400 cash listed on Edmunds.com but could find no reference on Dodge's site.
 
The first offer from the dealer was $31,703 which was their invoice after advertising + 1% - $4500. A pretty honest opening round on their part, I think. By contrast, the Honda dealer came in at $29,700 for an EX-L w/RES, which was equipped with far, far less. This despite my indicating to him that other buyers are having no problem getting into the 28s and that's what I expected to pay. We told the Dodge dealer we were going to drive the Honda. They were very low-pressure and indicated that, if after driving the Honda, we decided we wanted the GC and called them that day, they would either find the other $400 for us from Dodge or eat it themselves.
 
At the end of the day, for a difference of about $30 a month for the GC, we thought it had a lot more value than the Odyssey. We also got the trailer tow which would have been an add-on even on the loaded Odyssey Touring model. I called the dealer back and said we'd take the GC if they could do $920 on the 6 year/70K Chrysler Maximum Care warranty. I know these things are usually a sucker's bet but I was concered about all the power sliders, liftgates, third row, nav, etc. I'd found the $920 number on one of the discounter web sites.
 
So... Long story short, we bought the GC SXT with 28N and everything but the sunroof and engine block heater for $31,303 (MSRP was $38,950) and paid $920 for the 6/70 Maximum Care warranty. Combined with the incentives, you could also do 3.9% for 60 months or 4.9% for 72. I don't like to stretch out payments to six years but... at 4.9%, I figured I'd keep the payments low and pay it off early, as I did my 03 Ram in 3.5 years that I'd financed for 5 years.
 
We were 99% decided on the Odyssey before I checked the incentives one last time for heading out to test drive. I'm glad I did. When we told the Honda dealer we were going to go GC, all of a sudden, he's dropping to invoice and throwing in the trailer tow package. I still think for $3000 more, we got more than $3000 worth of van. Playing with the MyGIG was worth hours of entertainment value alone last night!

#100 of 137 Today's Big Purchase! by marc35

Aug 14, 2008 (10:03 pm)

I just drove home a new 2008 Grand Caravan SXT purchased in Folsom, California (Folsom Lake Dodge). The van was manufactured in March, 2008, and I responded to an internet sale advertisement (one day only). There were two vans for the same price. I chose the sandstone. The other van was silver. The window sticker states that the base price was $27,140. The sandstone paint was $150, customer preferred package 25k (window shades, premium floor console, light shale seats) was $495, destination charge states $770. Total MSRP was listed as $28,555.
 
We paid 22,070.63 OTD.
It breaks down as follows:
Cash price $24,495
Document fee $55.00
Sales Tax $1779.88
Total Cash price $26,329.88
License/registration $240.75
Subtotal $26,570.63
$2500 rebate
$2000 rebate for financing through Chrysler at 7.41 percent, 72 months (They said there was no prepayment penalty, so this seemed like a no brainer).
OTD $22,070.63
 
It was hard to decide between the silver and the sandstone. The reason we preferred the sandstone was that it had a beautiful interior with light shale seats, (off white seats, with black carpet). The silver was also attractive with matching carpet and upholstery (dark gray).
 
We paid the advertised price, which we thought was a fair price. We tried to bargain a lower price but only briefly because we were satisfied with the advertised price. It may have been discounted because the cars had not sold in 4 or 5 months on the lot, and they were motivated to move some inventory.
 
I didn’t buy the supplemental warranty or the prepaid maintenance that was offered to us, but may buy a bumper to bumper warranty later from someone else. I’ll look through this forum for information regarding the btb warranty.
 
This is the first new car I have ever bought in 38 years of driving! Everyone in the family seems to approve of this purchase, even the teenagers! My 8 year old was disappointed that it didn't have a DVD, but still likes the van. I hope to keep it for a long time.

#101 of 137 Re: Today's Big Purchase! [marc35] by marc35

Aug 15, 2008 (7:46 am)

Replying to: marc35 (Aug 14, 2008 10:03 pm)
Correction: the $495 was not for the 25k package. It was for the "Family Value Group."

#102 of 137 Price Paid for a GRand Caravan SXT 25K by abutcher

Aug 18, 2008 (6:43 pm)

Hello,
Sorry for reposting, I put this by mistake in the Chrysler forum first.
 
On August 4th I bought a new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT 25K, black, with the options:
  
Dual Screen DVD Entertainment System
Power Liftgate
  
for $23,400.00 out the door. I also bought the lifetime bumper to bumper warranty with a $100 deductible for an additional $1,650.00 and financing for 5 yrs at 4.9%. I am not a current Chrysler owner or an employee. I bought it at Szott Dodge in Highland, Michigan. My salesperson was very courteous.
  
Anthony

#104 of 137 Re: Not a very active forum... [heelntoe] by abair

Aug 18, 2008 (7:21 pm)

Replying to: heelntoe (Aug 13, 2008 7:19 am)
Can someone fill me in on what the Friends discount is??
 
I am looking at and 08 GC that is listed at 30,495 but is the older model (lower base price) has the mygig, family value pack.
I was quoted 27,500 before the $4500 in rebates.
Do you think I should ask for more off?

#105 of 137 Re: Price Paid for a GRand Caravan SXT 25K [abutcher] by abair

Aug 18, 2008 (7:23 pm)

Replying to: abutcher (Aug 18, 2008 6:43 pm)
What was your MSRP? How did you talk them down? THis is the first time I have bought a car so I need some advice on negoiating.

#106 of 137 Re: Not a very active forum... [abair] by tedebear

Aug 18, 2008 (8:55 pm)

Replying to: abair (Aug 18, 2008 7:21 pm)
Can someone fill me in on what the Friends discount is??
 
The Friends discount is available through any Chrysler employee. Each employee is permitted to give out up to 6 discount control numbers per year.
 
The Friends price is approximately 1% below invoice in addition to any rebates or other price incentives. With the current state of the economy you might be able to negotiate an even lower price than that.
 
Read this for more information: Chrysler Discounts

#107 of 137 Re: Not a very active forum... [tedebear] by marc35

Aug 19, 2008 (6:49 am)

Replying to: tedebear (Aug 18, 2008 8:55 pm)
Tedebear,
 
You said, "you might be able to negotiate an even lower price than that." Do you mean you can get a lower price without using the Friends discount, or do you mean you might be able to actually use the Friends discount to get an even lower price?

Messages Page 11 of 14

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