Topic: GM incentives and pricing.

[gtt]

Am looking at 2004 and 2005 Chev impala Base model 1WF19. The dealer tells me the 04 has GM incentives of $3500 ($2500 for a cash deal and $1000 for the old model year) plus the onstar deal minimum $1000. for a total of $4500. The 05's I'm told have the $2500 cash purchase rebate plus $500 for onstar promo for $3000.

These figures seem out of wack to me especially the 04 of only $1000 for the previous model year.
Can anyone help out on the GM incentives total rebates from experience or tell me where to verify

Also can somebody give me a ballpark on what they are prepared to reduce from the list price. The MSRP for the 05 is about $27500. Is their a % or a dollar amount. The salesman suggested they could do about $800 off either year. Anyone with an idea what a fair amount is. I have no idea what dealer cost is. I would think GM must give the dealers a decent rebate to move the 04's

They also break out some charges that the salesman says are not negotiable, Documentation fee - $150 and protector Plus - $149. Anyone familiar with these and wheteher they ever get waived?

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Those figures seem accurate there Gtt.

Those are factory to dealer incentives you're listing. The dealer's gross over invoice still remains intact. I'd think somewhere around $2,200+ or so worth of it, but don't know off the top of my head.

Besides freight, PDI, Air Tax, and other federal and provincial taxes, the dealer sets their admin fees. It costs money to employ people and process things like your licencing, hence the fees. It's up to them whether to bill you or offer you a break. I'll just niggle with total cost as a whole and try and work to the best value.

[barrie1]

Well stated Siraquaman64. I give you a 5 for that. Welcome to the Forum as well Gtt. You are looking at a very nice car.  

[gtt]

Thanks Guys  
Am looking for basic good comfortable transportation at this stage in my life and my wife is hard to please on the comfort side of cars. We took this out for a major ride and found the Impala quiet with a smooth ride and enough pep for what I need. My better half really felt the basic bench seats were the most comfortable of the last few cars we have had. I felt like I was sitting in my easy chair.  Was actually going to go back to a Camry but they offered me $2000 less for my Intrigue and didn't seem to want to budge on list by more than $700. One dealership Pickering Toyota wouldn't even go to the wholesalers to get a price. Salesman wanted me to place a firm order and they would sell mine on a best efforts basis. Right, they will never see me again and thats where I bought my last Toyota.

Anyone else have any thoughts on the Impala good or bad?

[maritime_storm]

The numbers sound accurate, the Toyota "friendly" retailer experience sounds accurate, the Impala's a nice{I prefer the Epica myself, less pep but better fit & finish, I6, etc}. If they're offering a better interest rate on the '04 go that way. The '05 is the same car with a different price.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Hey Gtt, you're in my area! I'm from Ajax but am working (or pretending to) in Pickering today! My step-bro used to work in the service dept at Pickering Toyota, which is a good place for service but a horribly bad place to deal with for sales. Whitby is better from what I've heard, or even making a drive to a place like Ken Shaw Lexus Toyota in mid-west-central Toronto. I dealt with Ken Shaw when I worked at Toyota Canada and they were very pleasant, bought a Celica for my mom through them, and they also handle the Automobile Protection Association's (APA's) customers too if I remember correctly.

I happen to like the Epica too - and at a $17,500 cash price vs $25K MSRP, they're a great deal. Unfortunately, I think the seats are more foreign small than what you're looking for and raving about in the Impala. Impala is a value-oriented, larger-if-somewhat-uninspiring car, with a roomy interior and decent power, and plays that role well. An all-new Impala goes into production for '06MY, but that's aways off - and there's nothing wrong with today's model.    

I'll have a look at dealer invoice on the '04 and '05 Impala tomorrow to see if I'm off base from what I typed above as I was pretty surprised by the mark-up on a Malibu MAXX (though it's not for everyone, think it's a neat combo of flexible interior room and unique look) when I had a look.

[gtt]

Actually I had zeroed in on the Epica because of price. Don't know whether I could have got them down to $17,500 but possibly close to that number. I actaully got one on Friday for a long test run. Took it from Scarborough down the 401 and Parkway to pick up my wife at Jarvis/Bloor and back along Danforth Kingston Rd. I was impressed by how quiet the ride was, reasonable pep but found it lacking for seat comfort and knee room. I am 6ft and my wife is not dainty. Dropped the car back to the dealer and immediately took the Impala out for a run on 401 to Whites and then back into Scarborough hitting some streets I know are bad for potholes. Totally better ride both comfort and smooth. Car is obviously heavier and would probably be best with the larger v6 as in the LS or SS but it was no slouch. It just didn't knock you back when you hit the gas.

I am actually thinking about looking at a second hand base modela Impala with say less than 25,000 km. There seems to be quite a few around and I probably could get one for under $17,000.

Any readers got some hints on how to price a second hand car like the 04 Impala from say a major dealership?

[barrie1]

I would make sure that they have the 3.8 engine which will dress them up some what. The 3.8 is a exceptelly good engine that has been around since 1976 in the Buick Grand National. It will give more then enough power and very good fuel milage as well. I would deal like it was any dealer and offer them a lot less then they are asking to start. You can go up and they can come down.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

MSRP over dealer invoice is as follows:
Impala - $2,600
Impala LS - $3,000
Impala SS - $3,700
Beyond manufacturer to dealer/consumer incentives, this is what the dealer has to work with.  

As for a pre-owned Impala, I'd simply pick-up an Auto Trader or search their online site http://www.trader.ca/search/default.asp?category=1&categoryid=1&CAT=1

Happy hunting!

[saint_satan]

Spend the money and get the 3.8 - its 10x better than the 3.4 (more power and reliability).  You'll thank me later...