Orphan w/ Dealer Options - Fine by me

[CruzinSusan]

Ahh, Barbarella... Snort. Even *she* can't defy gravity...

LoJak useless in Lincoln County, according to its paperwork, yet added to my smart the very day it was offered to me. $1000 for an 'option' no thinking person would add due to inflated price for no service in my area.

My 'pre-added' Tip to smart center Portland was $2189, including the profitable spray and the dreaded invisible bra. Of course we never recover retail, so This Practice is the 'insurance' for at least the 'gotta have it' consumers. Like me.

I asked if this 'add-on package' was indicative of the Orphan Add-On policy, and was given an affirmative on that. So, because I love the smart, and believe I bought a good car while being targeted for my enthusiasm, I ate the two grand the dealer got out of me.

At 6%.

Nice tip.

Anyway, isn't it an old adage that one forfeits the 'retail' of an automobile the moment one drives it off the lot?

But the 'Tip" that was generated by the Dealership at least puts the bucks back into the local economy. Or, we can but hope.

[2009Aveo5]

$17,302 plus tax for a Passion without any options (just add-ons) at Fairfield Smart and $20,XXX plus tax for a Cabrio without any manufacturer options, just add-ons. That's fine...they sold both of them. If you have the money and it's worth it to you then pay it, but for me I need to know the basics before I give my dealer the $1000 non-refundable deposit demanded which was to be given before they tell me the finance rate and before they tell me what my trade is worth and before I can see the car (it was in the warehouse...likely getting all the add-ons). So congratulations to the person who had the money. If either were a loaded Passion or Cabrio then I'd probably give the lady the $1000 deposit and get a loan from my credit union and just keep my current vehicle, but they were stripped models and really I don't want fabric protection, I want leather with heated seats, etc. But yes, you are right most dealers charge a premium for nothing called the market price. I think if Smart had asked for a $1000 non-refundable deposit during registration with forced add-ons during the Summer of 2007 when I reserved my Smart, then I would have second thought that decision. If the car is exactly what I want then I'll likely let them do it to me, but most orphans are a compromise and I'm not willing to compromise with a configuration that I really am not crazy about in the first place with such a risky financial situation of going into something $1000 down without any leverage for anything. Then again, if I were richer then I'd toss them a few grand and take the leftover.