Sometime the end of this week or beginning of next week I should get a call from my dealer asking what kind of customization I want done. (My TL gets it's VIN on June 1 or so and delievered 10 - 15 days after.)

Heres the facts: I ordered the car with $1000 down, and the price signed away for MSRP minus a minimal Costco discount. So my current cost for 6spd / nav, no frills is 38,100 or so. (Tax in WA is 9.1%.) My question for you master negotiators out there:

What can I (or *can* I) do to get some of the extras thrown in for cheaper or even free? This comes with nothing at this point beyond the car. I want the protection package, and would love a deck lid spoiler. I'm not sure about the warranty, but if I can get them to throw that in cheap I wouldn't be against it.

I suck at negotiating; since I've already ordered the car at MSRP, did I miss my chance to get them give me some love?

Thanks!

-Dan

Yep, you missed it. Once you sign you arew at the mercy of the dealer. They "might" throw in the protection package. IF your deposit is a refundable type you may have more leverage but it would require that you act as though (and be willing to accept) the fact that you don't really need/want the car that badly.

The deposit is non-refundable. I COULD threaten to drop the deal and buy the car from Portland (OR tax is 0%.) However, I dont even know if i could do that and what loopholes I'd have to jump through. But were I to do that, I'd still save money since tax accounts for about 4000 of that price. I'd "only" be saving 3k. So if thats possible, that could be the argument.

The worst part of that option is I'd have to wait AGAIN. MORE. Can't.... wait.... anymore......

FYI...not sure if buying the car in OR would work. I know here in CA, you get the tax rate for your county of residence as opposed to the county in which you purchase the car.

its going to be difficult to get more options thrown in when you already signed for the car and the deposit is non-refundable. you really have no leverage since the dealer already has at least $1K from you so even if you don't take the car they just made a $1K off you for doing basically nothing. it wouldn't hurt to ask for protection package as the items for that are very cheap to the dealer and if he/she was nice and wanted you business next time would probably not give you a hard time about it.

This'll be my 3rd car from them and I'm paying straight cash. I wonder if I can get some kind of sympathy for being loyal and easy sell. Bleh...

if they want you back i am sure they would be willing to deal. if not then go elsewhere next time. things like wheel locks, all weather mats, and trunk tray cost the dealer next to nothing.

No deposit is non-refundable. The car is not officially yours until the second you drive off the lot with it. Everything up until that point in time is voidable.

Well, the check IS cashed... if thats not non-refundable, it would probably take a whole lot of effort to get them to cut me a check for 1k back.

You decide not to buy the car from them, and they will, without a lot of effort on your part. Just may take a week or two to get into your mailbox.