For first-year E46 M3 buyers who were on a waiting list

[Jon97]

Hi all,

I have some questions for all the folks who waited on waiting lists for E46 M3 delivery. I'm currently on a waiting list for a Lotus Elise. The first cars off the production line should arrive in the States during May/June. My list position might have me see my car in August/September.

The consumer interest in this car is off the charts. The entire first year of production was accounted for by deposit holders on waiting lists long ago. Big dealers (like mine) have waiting lists into the 100s. Some dealers (like mine) are "promising" MSRP, writing the word MSRP on the deposit document. Other dealers are explaining right from the get-go that they'll be charging a premium ($5,000 seems the norm).

Sounds familiar, right? When the E46 launched, I observed a lot of forum discussions, and I know waiting list buyers went through a lot of anguish: vague list positions, dropped list positions, and tons of hassles regarding actual costs.

So here are my questions:

- For E46 M3 wait-listers who were promised MSRP, did your salesmen eventually honor that original MSRP quote? If not, how did you handle the situation when he changed the price?

- For wait-listers who were promised MSRP and eventually received MSRP, did your salemen try to squeeze in any bogus charges in order to compensate for their decision not to charge a premium? If so, how did you handle the last-minute trickery?

- Any advice for me in the event MSRP is suddenly *NOT* honored, or the salesman tries other tactics to increase his profit? As we all know, I could walk away -- but with wait lists stretching well into 2005, that would mean no car essentially. I mean, we on these wait lists have essentially no cards to play--the salesmen are in the driver's seat.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Personal anecdotes?

[johndddd]

Originally posted by Jon97
Hi all,

I have some questions for all the folks who waited on waiting lists for E46 M3 delivery. I'm currently on a waiting list for a Lotus Elise. The first cars off the production line should arrive in the States during May/June. My list position might have me see my car in August/September.

The consumer interest in this car is off the charts. The entire first year of production was accounted for by deposit holders on waiting lists long ago. Big dealers (like mine) have waiting lists into the 100s. Some dealers (like mine) are "promising" MSRP, writing the word MSRP on the deposit document. Other dealers are explaining right from the get-go that they'll be charging a premium ($5,000 seems the norm).

Sounds familiar, right? When the E46 launched, I observed a lot of forum discussions, and I know waiting list buyers went through a lot of anguish: vague list positions, dropped list positions, and tons of hassles regarding actual costs.

So here are my questions:

- For E46 M3 wait-listers who were promised MSRP, did your salesmen eventually honor that original MSRP quote? If not, how did you handle the situation when he changed the price?

- For wait-listers who were promised MSRP and eventually received MSRP, did your salemen try to squeeze in any bogus charges in order to compensate for their decision not to charge a premium? If so, how did you handle the last-minute trickery?

- Any advice for me in the event MSRP is suddenly *NOT* honored, or the salesman tries other tactics to increase his profit? As we all know, I could walk away -- but with wait lists stretching well into 2005, that would mean no car essentially. I mean, we on these wait lists have essentially no cards to play--the salesmen are in the driver's seat.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Personal anecdotes?

i went to one dealer and the salesman told me they were selling the car at a 10,000 premium. so i told him i would let him know.

then i went to another dealership and asked about the premium fee and he flat out said and i quote "WE DON"T DO THAT HERE"
i gave him 1,000 dollars and i was put on a list. i recieved the car 13 months later at sticker price. and yes the pink copy of the invoice stated sticker price .

[Ced]

MSRP...there is worksheet that you get from the dealer and it should says MSRP on it, plus I got a copy of my deposit chk..MSRP was honored..I was #5 on the list...Different dealers have different rules... Some dealers keep MSRP for local customers..rules vary...it's the dealer's decision...

[m3brad]

I paid MSRP and that was the understanding with the dealer before the order was placed.

I'd always walk away from any dealer that wants anything over MSRP. They're not thinking long-term.

Screw the dealer that gets so greedy that they won't take their full profit plus the bonus of warranty and service work in the future.

Just a thought, what Lotus dealer is going to be capable of servicing a higher production car in their little service areas. I would think there would be long waits for service issues. Our local dealer is not only Lotus, but Ferrari and Maserati too. Of those owners, who do you think is going to get the most attention:az:

[Jon97]

RE, Lotus service. You're right, it will be an issue. My dealer will probably get 100 cars for the first year's production. That could overwhelm the shop, especially considering the fact that this is first-year car, and techs won't have a lot of experience with it. That said, they probably won't sell as many Ferraris and Aston Martins in the same time frame, so that will help, and many issues should be much easier to work on with the Elise (Toyota drive train afterall).

[whitee46m3]

as for 04 M3, most dealer will have an average of 3000 USD mark up, but some will still sell it for MSRP, l got mine MSRP in Las Vegas, Nevada, waited 3 month. Very nice dealership.
:clap:

[DINANISR3]

Dealers in LA were asking 10K over.. even still i have seen dealers with markups anywhere from 1500-5000..

[John H]

My local dealer told me last weekend they are discounting M3's (this is in Silicon Valley, no less). They've got a lot on their lot that they're trying to move.

In fact, I was there looking at the 330i performance package, and didn't talk hard numbers but the sales guy told me "very close to invoice".

This is a very different car shopping experience for any of us who live in the Palo Alto/San Francisco areas... How times have changed....

- John
also on waiting list for '05 Elise at SVAG. Ready to walk if it's not MSRP.

[Jon97]

Ah, John H... you and I emailed way back when I put down my Elise depsoit. If you haven'y yet seen it, I have started a SVAG thread at elisetalk:

The thread (http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2126)

[John H]

Yeah, I've been lurking at Elisetalk.com for months. I suppose I actually have to think of a more creative screen name than "John H" and actually step up and make an account :).

For productivity reasons, I try to minimize the number of car forums that I'm actually subscribed to, since I know if I can't post, I'll invariably spend less time there.

Not to drag this totally OT, but have you gotten a color chip set from the dealer, or signed up for a test drive in March?

I guess I should PM you or email you privately.

Best,
John