Dealers...

"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei)
08/16/2017 at 09:16 • Filed to: None

So I’ve stumbled into niche car land with this: A 2018 Camaro SS 1LE. Apparently it’s more difficult for a dealer to find one of these than a ZL1 (No, I don’t want a ZL1's price tag.) I suspect it’s that dealers cannot be bothered to find a car not in their inventory, or just don’t want to sell cars. More after the break.

So I started out at dealer A, who really wasn’t interested in selling much of anything that wasn’t a new Silverado. They didn’t even have a 1SS Coupe with a manual on the lot (not all that shocking), but they did have the convertible. I drove that, it was good enough, and the coupe should be even stiffer.

I’ve had another dealer, dealer B, (Who *had* a single SS 1LE on the lot) ask me what it would take to get me to buy that particular one he had.

“The entire color space of the universe will need to shift, such that Nightfall Gray Metallic becomes Hyper Blue Metallic.”

I’ll give him credit, he actually wanted to sell a car...

I have yet another dealer, dealer C, offering me an allocation slot to special order to my exact specification for $5000, non-refundable, but applicable to the purchase price when delivered. The proposed purchase price is $900 under GM invoice (but they still get their holdbacks and ad fees in the deal). Interestingly, their holdbacks and margin on this model only add up to about $3500.

So I’m calling dealer B back (who had the gray 1LE) to see if he can either get a car on a dealer to dealer trade (which he thought they could get worked out, but now it’s not too sure), or if they are willing to offer an allocation slot (They have more volume, so that shouldn’t be an issue for them).

What happened to “What can we do to sell you a car today? Can we order with the factory if we don’t have what you want?”

A car is generally the second largest purchase you make. Why wouldn’t you want to get exactly what you want?

DISCUSSION (42)

WilliamsSW > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 09:22

I’m surprised by this in several ways. First, I would think that a SS 1LE would be something that they would stock?

Second, I’ve ordered a number of cars, and it’s always been a fairly easy process - if anything, I would have thought a car built in North America would be very straightforward. And F**CK non-refundable deposits. If you wanted a COPO Malibu with a Volt powertrain, manual transmission, in hot pink, I could see that - but a car that they could easily sell to someone else? No effing way.

chaozbandit > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 09:22

Hyper Blue Metallic, you say

Kinja'd!!!

xyzabc > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 09:30

Anytime a Dealer says “non-refundable” just walk out the door.

Anyone can sell you a car. You just have to find the right Dealer willing to build a relationship with the customers.

Milky > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 09:32

A blue, SS 1LE you say?

Kinja'd!!!

A buddy from school just got one. Granted he works for GM so it was probably easier for him.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Milky
08/16/2017 at 09:36

As I said, these dealers are probably being lazy and not wanting to look for one.

At least ordering is a possibility....

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > WilliamsSW
08/16/2017 at 09:41

The main thing is that the take rate of manual transmission cars is stupidly low in the US (about 6%). Even for sports cars, you have a take rate of less than 25% (The Corvette only has a take rate of 22% on the manual, for a total of 9,249 units in 2016)

Basically while they could sell this to someone, it’s likely to take up an inventory slot for them *and* they have to pay carrying costs to GMAC until it’s sold.

That’s likely the reason for the non-refundable deposit. But if another dealer is willing to make the deposit refundable, then I’d likely go with them.

Nerd-Vol > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 09:43

$3500 margin! I would have killed for something like that at Mazda. The top model CX-9 barely has $2000 if I recall correctly.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > xyzabc
08/16/2017 at 09:44

I told him that I’d have to think about it and make some calls. I’m hoping that another dealer is willing to be a bit more open for deposit refundability.

If another dealer is willing to work with me, then I’d rather have a refundable deposit down.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Nerd-Vol
08/16/2017 at 09:46

Their MSRP is about $45,600, and invoice is $44,500. Without holdbacks and regional ad fees etc, it’s $42K and change.

Arrivederci > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 09:46

You made me just go to the Chevy site and build one - $46k MSRP for a 1SS 1LE and a couple small add-ons. What is invoice on one of these? If it could be gotten close to or under $40k, that’s a lotta car for the money.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Arrivederci
08/16/2017 at 10:06

Invoice on GM’s sheet is not that open, the way the trucks are. Even if a dealer gave up their holdback, it’s still at $42K and change.

http://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=479606

NunchuckWoolery > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 10:17

These things are very tough to get right now, just doing a search in our GM locate service I’ve only found within 500 miles of my location (Detroit) so not saying the dealers you’ve talked to aren’t trying, but maybe you’re not understanding what the availability of the car actually is. All of my incoming are spoken for too. If someone is offering an order option it’s likely the only way you’re going to get it. And if they’re offering you that kind of discount it sounds like a good deal too coming from someone that knows how the pricing on these things really work.

Sweet Trav > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 10:18

Yamahog had to special order her 5th gen. Bright yellow, 1SS, Recaro seats and dual mode exhaust. Nothing else, nothing more.

The dealer we went to was awesome. The second he knew that she knew what she wanted, he just shut up and processed the paperwork.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > NunchuckWoolery
08/16/2017 at 10:23

Correct. I was told that it would be easier to find a ZL1 equipped to my liking instead of the 1SS with 1LE package.

I don’t like the non-refundable deposit idea, but that really is only an issue if I’m on the fence about buying the car.

And I do know that the pricing on the Camaros is absolutely nothing like what happens on the more mainstream volume models. You really aren’t going to get that much off of sticker, simply because there isn’t that much to give.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 10:31

My parents finally got a dealer to order them a 2018 Camaro after about of a month. But that was more the fact the sales associate sucked and my parents refused to go to a different dealer like I suggested.

Shift24 > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 10:42

There is a white and red one at under the same dealer name, Rick Hendrick. (white one linked below) I am assuming the grey one is in Duluth but the others are in Charlotte. Try and get one of them shipped down to Georgia and check it out. (knew you were in Georgia from previous comments) For dealers that big, a sale is a sale so they will do anything for it. Thats what happened for my Silverado, they shipped it up from a dealer south of me that was under the same corporation.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/709160557/overview/

Moves-Like-Senna > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 10:50

Is this in the GTA? I’ve struggled with Chevy dealerships in the GTA in the past month so much that I’m actually straying away from the brand and looking elsewhere.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 10:51

There are so many ways to change the colors and protect the paint via vinyl or plastidip or that autoflex stuff. Maybe the bird in the hand kinda thing? I know when I bought my Dakota in intense blue, it was the second to last color I wanted, but it sure grew on me over the years. And nowadays with the temporary coatings out there, you can have whatever color you want for anywhere from $800 -$4000 depending on how you do it, and you protect the paint in the meantime. Not a bad deal for a hard to get vehicle.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Shift24
08/16/2017 at 10:52

Just saying: Hyper Blue or GTFAC.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Moves-Like-Senna
08/16/2017 at 10:53

Unlike what my username would suggest, I’m down south in Georgia.

Shift24 > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 10:54

Missed that. Saw it need to be something other than a dark color but missed the blue

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Shift24
08/16/2017 at 10:59

The Duluth location is the closest thing to my office. Allegedly there is a dealer in Lawrenceville with a Blue 1LE with the PDR.

Moves-Like-Senna > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 11:02

Apparently it’s a chevy dealership issue. Last truck I bought I drove 500 miles to grab. Local dealership was terrible, and literally double the price.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Moves-Like-Senna
08/16/2017 at 11:06

Would not be shocking in the slightest.

The only dealer that’s even expressed interest in my purchase was the one that was ready to place the order. Since I’m not likely to cancel the order, refundability of the deposit isn’t as much of a concern to me as for some others.

WilliamsSW > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 11:57

I hear you. Sad that the manual take rate is so low, but I guess I thought it would be higher for an SS.

If you go that route, I would just make sure that the dealer had to deliver exactly what you want, at your agreed price, within a reasonable time frame, or they do have to give you your $ back.

Good luck - want to see some pix when you get it, will be an awesome car!

CaptDale - is secretly British > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 12:00

Yes Hyper Blue is proper

Kinja'd!!!

Shift24 > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 12:15

Id go look at it asap if its exactly what you want. I did notice too like you said, I can find ZL1s everywhere but maybe 2 or 3 SS 1LEs. Which to be honest I would rather have period even if the price were similar. Its the same thing as with the HellCat when am I going to use all 650+hp? And if I do poke the bear on a track and im not a race car driver, will I end up in a wall? I think 450hp is plenty enough and adding lightness and improving suspension bits makes it even easier choice.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Shift24
08/16/2017 at 13:13

I did go look at the one listed by my office. It’s actually in transit, and the dealer rep was right on form when I first walked in, before we established it was in transit.

“If I have it, will you buy it today?”

“That’s a ridiculous question. You don’t even know if it’s here, and I haven’t seen a quote yet. So how would I know if the numbers are in order?”

I dislike dealers like that.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 14:28

So, this car really intrigues me. It’s performance can not be ignored... Are the times its been able to put down purely because of how good it is dynamically, or are the tires it comes with made from unicorn tendons?

As much as I’m impresses with the car, it’s just really not my style, and as a dad with 3 kids, 4 doors make much more sense. What I really want is a new SS 1LE sedan - all the goodies from the Camaro in a sedan package!

NunchuckWoolery > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 14:35

Actually the pricing situation is pretty similar, as far as things like supplier or GM employee discount goes. The only place they are different is in the incentive department. Especially at this time of year on an 18. If they were taking 3,500 off that’s about what employee would be. Really not too bad. Why he’d want a non refundable is the bummer part, because it’s not like that’s a car he’d be stuck with or anything.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/16/2017 at 14:38

Supposedly MagneRide does the same trick on the 1LE as it does on the Vettes and the ZL1. It also gains the standard ZL1 wheels and tires, and the electronic LSD from the ZL1 with 3.73 gears.

It’s like how the Corvette Grand Sport is a Z06 minus the monster engine. The 1SS 1LE is a ZL1 minus the supercharger.

And sad to say, the SS sedan is history after MY2017.

Shift24 > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 14:38

I agree it can be shady when they try to pull that but i feel like the answer the dealer normally gets is yes. Cars can very well be an impulse buy and if he gets you to commit he will focus his attention on the sale he has, not the one he might have.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > NunchuckWoolery
08/16/2017 at 14:42

I may tell him that I’ll order from him and bring him the deposit if he makes the deposit refundable.

It’s pretty darn close to employee pricing, and a little bit under supplier pricing. That’s what I’m hearing, anyway. (I used to work for a GM supplier until May this year).

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Shift24
08/16/2017 at 14:43

But you can’t answer the question until you can form the answer.

Get me a quote to form the answer, and I will tell you. :)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 14:43

Chevy is killing it these days.

I know the Holden SS is dead, but I’m holding out hope for a new one on the Alpha chassis.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/16/2017 at 14:48

The closest you would get is a Cadillac ATS-V in a stick, and a CTS-V if you want one of the LT engines (LT4 supercharged)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 15:06

But I want a manual AND the V8, Kusabi!

Much like you, I want what I want.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/16/2017 at 15:29

Then you will need to convince GM to powertrain swap the CTS-V.

The difference is when Wedge wants want GM wants.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 15:51

And honestly, I think I’d prefer a good-old NA V8. I want a new SS sedan, dammit! The market is there at the right price point - look at how many damn Chargers Dodge sells!

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/16/2017 at 16:03

But the Charger has no manual transmission option.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 16:18

I know, and most of the SS sedans they sold (and will sell, pleasepleaseplease) were automatics, but hopefully Chevy would still make the manual available.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
08/16/2017 at 16:19

The SS was the very last RWD, V8, manual sedan for sale in the U.S.

I just don’t want that to never be a thing again.