Comparing Dealer Costs, Options, Financing

[Carnut]

Hopefully this will become a sticky.

Once cars start getting delivered we should have a "database" of various dealer information such as:

Dealer offered financing rates
Cost of dealer installed options
Extended warranty
Panels
etc.

[jwight]

Good idea; still waiting for the FAQ sticky also. :woohoo

[SMART]

Hey guys, we are currently working on a public review system for users to share knowledge of each and every dealership. In the meantime, we are also just beginning to work with reps from some smart dealerships to learn more!

[lpingb]

I think it would be rather hard to compare financing rates. Generally the rate you receive at a dealership will be higher unless you negotiate it. At the dealership I worked at it was not uncommon to add one to two points to the rate. however I saw people get better rates than they would have gotten at the bank when they said...I can get x percent for x months from x bank.

[Carnut]

Originally Posted by lpingb

I think it would be rather hard to compare financing rates. Generally the rate you receive at a dealership will be higher unless you negotiate it. At the dealership I worked at it was not uncommon to add one to two points to the rate. however I saw people get better rates than they would have gotten at the bank when they said...I can get x percent for x months from x bank.

That's the reason for having this type of data, so we CAN negotiate. ;)

[SmartBob]

Yes, exactly, someone here may have a better idea where to go to shave off the points. For me AAA might be an option. I've been a member for several years. Or for some of us even AARP.

[meaux61]

Hi everyone,

Someone suggested on another thread that it would be interesting to know what each dealership is adding (or not adding) to what we are supposed to be paying for our smarts. According to Alex at smartusa, we are to pay:

*MSRP
*License
*Title
*Destination Charge (645.00)
*Tax (Varies by state)
*Pay for any accessories that we add.

There has been much talk about Florida and Louisville, for example, adding attrocious extra fees with various names. Some call them dealer fee, or doc fee, or prep fee.

Can anyone who has received an 08 451 please use this thread to post thier dealership and what excess fees they paid (if any) above and beyond what I have listed above. We need to have a way to applaud the dealerships that are being above board about this process and try to avoid the ones that are tacking on unneccesary profits.

PLEASE post your invoice experiences here!

Thank you,

Meaux

[jwight]

No invoice, but the Louisville fees are $499.25, per the smart brand manager.

[Carnut]

I knew that this was coming and posted a new thread 12/21/07 regarding comparisons of dealer chargfes, etc.

http://smartcarofamerica.com/forums/...ead.php?t=1900

[jwight]

OK, merged now in the smart car delivery section.