[CaptMoe]

Well, kind of.
Here's my situation: I am shopping for a 2014 Durango R/T.
I got it narrowed down to 2 dealers. Went to one because they're offering a lifetime engine warranty with their vehicles.

Got down to numbers, they provided an estimated monthly payment because I am ordering the vehicle and the financing will not be done until I accept delivery of the vehicle.

They provided a sales order but it was filled out with hand written notes because they were having computer issues. On it she wrote the MSRP and included a note stating price was as per the invoice, and had me sign a copy of the invoice that had a written note on it stating the agreed price "with rebates" next to it and the offer for my trade in.

My question is this: shouldn't my sales order have been completely written, showing the actual sale price of the car, sales tax, registration fee and any other fees? I was told the sales order wouldn't be written up until the car arrived at the showroom but that seems a bit strange to me. However, this is my first experience ordering a vehicle from the factory and I'm not sure what the process is. But I'm trying to avoid a situation where I show up, and they tell me oh, the price is now this and this because you don't qualify for any of these rebates. Should I demand a printed out sales order?

The other issue is, I am going to trade-in my truck now to lock in the offer. They told me when I come back in 4-6 weeks, the offer will be lower. Should I hold on to '09 Durango and roll the dice on the trade-in value in 6 weeks or just take their offer now?

Thanks in advance!!!

Moe

 

[CaptMoe]

Hey Moe

The price quoted early on is really a guideline as the actual invoice isn't calculated until the car is completed for some reason...price you pay is determined the day you take delivery. I was told that if the incentives from Chrysler are not as good at the time of delivery I would get the incentives that were available when I ordered. So for me we ordered in October and take delivery in a couple weeks. Hopefully year end incentives will be solid!

Trade-in is always a crap shoot...have you tried selling it locally or better yet taken it to carmax?? They'll buy on the spot and their price is good for 7 days. They offered me 7k vs 5k from the dealer...remember they'll tell you that you save more by trading in because you don't pay tax on the value of the trade...well, if they're giving me 5k and the tax savings on that is 300, then any offer over 5300 puts me ahead... I think ill take the straight up sale!!

Good luck with the transaction, and definitely shop your car around first before trading it...oh, by the way check in w any large volume quality used car guys - many times they'll buy your car too and in fact my best offer came from those guys (currently pending a private sale anyway)...have fun with the new ride when it arrives!

So did you receive a completed sales order when you placed the order?

 

[CaptMoe]

That's odd. I received a print out listing the options and prices of everything save for tax, registration, trade-in, rebates, and discounts. That's a little shady, IMO--they had you sign something handwritten. I didn't have to sign anything or even pay a deposit (but the latter is probably because we've ordered a car with the dealership at the beginning of the year). Sounds like the dealership would cover their ass better by not giving a definite price right then and there because of how discounts/rebates can expire.

I got the same print out, Belinda. It appears that this is a common Chrysler practice then. And that's really what I'm trying to determine.
The hand written notes were on a sales order.

When you ordered the other car earlier in the year, did you have any issues with the agreed price and what was stated on the invoice when the car arrived at the dealer?

My other concern now is my trade-in. I just think I'm gonna be better off holding on to my '09 until the '14 comes in and this way, if there are any issues, I can still drive away in my truck.

 

[CaptMoe]

I have a document that shows all the options, etc but nothing that is a "sales agreement"...I'm ordering thru a friend so we didn't do anything formal in advance, though the car that's currently on a train somewhere does have our name on it.

I just find it so weird that Chrysler does it that way but, if that's the procedure then I'm not too concerned.
Both you and Belinda seem to be in a slightly different situation than mine. I'm dealing with a dealer I've never dealt with before even though they have a good reputation. You're dealing with a friend and Belinda with a dealer she has a history with so I doubt you guys will have any issues when you take delivery. I hope I don't have any either but, I'm going to hang on to my truck as a safeguard and then check out some other options, like CarMax, to sell it...

 

[CaptMoe]

No, no sales agreement when we ordered the first one. We pretty much knew what the price was going to be before tax/title, etc. Plus there was no trade-in on that one. When we ordered the Durango, they asked if we wanted them to appraise the Charger. I forget how long their offer lasts on those, but it's not much longer than a month. But we declined because we're taking the extra stuff like the intake, exhaust, and SRT replica rims off to sell separately. I pretty much have an idea of what the price is going to be before trade-in, rebates/cash back offer, and taxes because I know for sure that I get the 1% Below Factory Invoice (not MSRP) through the Chrysler Affiliate Discount.

Any sales agreement before the car is on the lot still sounds awful shady to me. Either you're going to get a great deal because your trade-in value may decline (ie maybe someone keys your car between now and then) or, more likely, they're going to save themselves the trouble of you trying to negotiate the price of the Durango or your trade-in when the car gets to the lot because you already agreed to the price beforehand.

Well, what happened in my case was, they gave me a price based on specs. When they tried to locate one, they couldn't locate it exactly how I wanted it. The closest one was an R/T in PA that had the polished wheels, which I don't care for. So, they told me it would have to be ordered. So, it'll save me some time when the car arrives but, I'm still a bit leery which is why I have decided to hold on to my truck until the '14 arrives...

 

[CaptMoe]

Thanks Tom.
I also received one of these but, what had me concerned was that she wrote the MSRP on it and that as it. No sales tax or any other fees. No deposit.
I had her write the agreed sale price on it before I left...

 

[CaptMoe]

Don't worry about it until the vehicle arrives and you are sitting with the finance guy. You can back out between now and then. I am always worried about getting screwed...but many times that is not the case.

- Danny

Thanks Danny. That is my concern as well.
Like I told the saleswoman, it's a $5k difference between the sale price and the MSRP. That's a lot of money. But I won't stress over it until delivery day arrives. Hopefully in 5 weeks...

 

[CaptMoe]

Got my first email today.
Vehicle is scheduled for production...

 

[CaptMoe]

One dealer today told me they can order me a vehicle but to save a few weeks delivery time they would alter a vehicle already in production. Is there really a chance of that?

My dealer told me it would be less than 8 weeks because the owner sits on the board at Chrysler. Whatever. I'm mentally prepared to wait the 8 weeks...

 

[CaptMoe]

How long was it from the time you ordered to the time of your first email? (I had dealer order my R/T on 12/10)

It took about a week...

 

[CaptMoe]

I have the Rear Entertainment option, which a lot of people were saying had a restriction on it. But when I ordered, it wasn't showing it as being restricted. I did order in the middle of the month, so production didn't start until this month (I'm not exactly sure when because when I got the next email after production being scheduled, it was already in "paint" so I missed the "frame" stage). I'm not at all surprised about the delay, some people gift vehicles for Christmas and I'm sure they're rushing on working to get those out. I'd rather they take their time on mine, to be honest.

I heard the same thing about the rear DVD system, Belinda. But I was still able to include it in my order...

 

[CaptMoe]

Got an email today saying my truck was being built.
Went on the VOTS and it says my truck is being shipped.
I'm so confused. I hope they finished building it before they shipped it...

 

[CaptMoe]

Is that Important MOE? You didn't get the Revell option did you?
STEVE

I don't remember seeing that option offered...

 

[CaptMoe]

What date did you order yours?

I was at the dealer Nov 30th, a Saturday. Not sure if they sent it in that day or Monday Dec 2nd. I got my first email update on Dec 5th...

Moe

 

[CaptMoe]

Got a phone call today from my saleswoman: my truck is on the train bound for PA. Estimated arrival at the dealer is Jan 2nd...

 

[CaptMoe]

I only got a few emails. It went from scheduled for production to finished to shipped.

I have to agree about the push for customer ordered cars. It isn't the first time I've heard of this. I also read where extra shifts had been added by Chrysler to deal with an increase in Durango orders this past month...

 

[CaptMoe]

I can say I'm irked. This makes the second Dodge vehicle we've ordered where people who have ordered theirs after we did still got theirs sooner (this happened with the Dart). Mine is still in Final Inspection, where it has been for eleven days now.

Well, I haven't received mine yet.
Have you called your dealer?

 

[CaptMoe]

I mean, mine hasn't even been shipped yet; still no delivery date. I did email my salesman because he has been told twice now by his team at Dodge that it would have been built and shipped by the end of the year, and here we're at the 31st. But I didn't get a reply so he was probably out today.

I would try calling. Sometimes if they get busy they might not check their emails until it's late in the day...

 

[CaptMoe]

VOTS updated early this morning to Shipment status. I wouldn't have known had I not checked; I didn't get an email from Dodge about the update. That AWD would've come in handy today; we got some snow/ice and I've been spinning and sliding in my Charger.

EDIT: My salesman just emailed me what he received from Dodge. The Durango should reach Nashville on the 7th and then be delivered on the 13th... Almost a week to be delivered from 110 miles away?? That just blows my mind.

Well, at least it's on its way. With this storm my delivery has been delayed...

 

[CaptMoe]

Hey guys, picked up the R/T Wednesday night. Was dark out by the time the paperwork was done and then had a very busy day at work yesterday so I do not have any pics yet. Will post them as soon as I can take them...