My experience wasn't stereotypical at all. I was 18, and was helped right away. My salesman still doesn't recognize me though LOL.

I had qualifying credit and income and got 0% financing. So maybe all you salesman reading this thread should take a second to help everyone. I wouldn't have even wanted help if there was just a table with the paperwork on it and i could go sign it.

But i was there for a used '03 MR and walked away with a new '05 GSR, so i guess my salesman did get the best of me...

 

If the saleman convinced you that '03 was an MR then yes...he did get the best of you.

 

Here are the current rebates for the Lancer EVO

While there are currently no incentives or rebates on the 2006 IX's there are some available on the 2005 EVO VIII's!

Here is how it works:

Financing incentives (you can choose these over the customer cash or gas card):

0% = 36 months
1.9% = 48 months
2.9% = 60 months
3.9% = 72 months

*these rates are for well qualified buyers

OR:

$1,500 in customer cash rebates
$500 in owner loyalty


OR:

$1,700 Gas Card

The trick is that you have to pick one and can not use all of them!

Hope this helps!

P.S. I am the Internet Director for a dealership, so please do not post back that I do not know what I am talking about! Need proof...email me at msebby@gillmanauto.com

Best regards,

 

Not trying to question you about your job or anything, but if you are going to post the profit margin of a vehicle I would hope you had an invoice right in front of you!

Invoice on a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution RS is $28,035.83! MSRP is $29,744!

Im no math major but I think that is exactly $1,708.17 in markup!

Your comment about putting $750 - $1,000 in your salespersons pocket is BS as well. Folks the national average on sales commissions is $275 (per car sold). Most dealerships offer a salesperson a $30% commission off of front end gross (the $1,708.17 in markup is front end gross profit). That would equate to $512.45. You would have to have a customer pay over sticker another $1,000 to get the numbers that thaigurlygirl is coming up with!

Make sure you have correct information before you make it look like we are making more than we are! All you are doing is confusing and misinforming our Evolution community!People like you are the reason customers come in offering ridiculous money for these vehicles.

Thanks,

 

In addition, folks, do not forget that the dealership has to PDI (pre-delivery inspection) these vehicles and the technicians that do this charge for their time, so now you narrow that profit margin another $250 - $400. Otherwise your EVO would have no fuses, plastic on the seat, and if equipped with keyless entry you would have to pay for the programming. You would also have "raildust" (which is a mother to get off of these vehicles) all over your brand new EVO!

 

Where is this salesman! I want to hire him! LOL j/k

The worst thing you can do is lie to a customer! We have a zero tolerance policy at our dealership for this type of issue! You lie you walk!

Best regards,

 

I always stop by the evo(s) in the showroom when I need service for my lancer and one time a salesman came up to me (shocker since they usually ignore young people and i'm 22) and tried to sell me on it. I explain that I would love to own one, but have to wait till i'm out of school and all. Anyway, he continued to try to sell me on it, so I asked about the MR. He told me "you don't want that! its a lot more money and the only difference is the rims." I just looked him in the eyes and wanted to scream, but nothing came out .

That's my story anyway.

 

The EVO MR was not available until 2004, so if you were there for a used one , well... you know!....

 

I know that dealers are typically reluctant to discuss Holdback and Flooring, but shouldn't one also count them toward a full calculation of dealer profit? I concede that the salesperson's commission is based on the gross excluding Holdback and Flooring, but if we are really talking about how much money is in the deal for the average dealer, we should consider all sources, right?

 

You are right, but you are also wrong! The reason that we do not discuss or consider holdback (which is anywhere from $150 - $700 at least in Mitsubishi) is that it is not our (the dealerships) money to negotiate with. Holdback and Flooring were designed to protect the dealership and its principal from profit loss and overhead expenses. I would love to show you my light bill for one month! Not to mention the longer a vehicle is on the "floor" the more it costs us!

You are right, because generally speaking that is profit, but wrong because it is not considered dealership generated front end gross profit!

Great point!

Do you see where I am coming from?

Best regards,

 

Mark,

Thanks for the remarks, but I wasn't advocating that HB and FLR enter into any negotiation. I was merely suggesting that in order to get a complete picture of a dealer's gross profit potential on a vehicle, you should consider HB and FLR in the calculation.

In a perfect world, the dealer makes whatever gross he is going to make as a function of the transaction price (relative to invoice) plus HB and FLR. In the event that it has taken an inordinate amount of time to turn that inventory, you are absolutely right that HB and FLR would look like small consolation next to the ultimate carrying costs incurred.

Still, I would argue that I am right, though accounting for HB and FLR is much more complicated than simply accounting for the front end gross.

 

But that complication is the result of consumer advocate groups demanding that it be that way. They want everything disclosed, it can't just all be added in and the bottom line be cost vs. price. They want to see where the HB, flooring, advertising, S&H, blah blah blah, all that has to be broken out line by line because consumers' wanted it that way.

Otherwise people would say (and they do anyway) "Oh they're hiding something in that cost/invoice. They really don't pay that much for it."

 

Guys,

You both are very intelligent consumers who seem to know an awful lot about the car business. I applaud that intelligence and the fact that you have done your homework. People like yourselves make our job more pleasant.

An ignorant customer is a salespersons worst nightmare! Someone who can understand our end of the car deal is a rare find (someone who can really understand what all is involved).

It is true, consumers are going to push the car business into "one price" shopping within the next 10 - 20 years according to some industry experts. It could happen sooner if GM or FORD go under. If the American manufacturers lose their foothold on our own turf, then we will be faced with only Imports and the regulations and restricitions (not to mention how a vehicle is sold) will become obsolete (spelling?) will become a nightmare.

We are lucky to have the ability to negotiate our own deal and should embrace the fact that we can ask for a lower price.

What are your feelings on this issue?

Best regards,

 

If you were referring to me, I have been in the car business for five and half years.

Before that happens, I am sure there will be some tough backlash from the government that will force import prices higher to subsidize GM and Ford. That will cut into Toyota, Nissans and Hondas profits, but it might force Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Suzuki, Mazda and Subaru out of business. One price for new cars wouldn't bother me at all, the used car market would be that much more competitive though.

 

Couldnt agree with you more!

Bump for a fellow carman!