'08 Charger shopping ?'s

[Ryster]

Hi!

Tomorrow morning I am going to be test driving an '08 Charger R/T. It is listed as used, has 5K miles on it, and is listed at a "no-haggle" price of $24.8K. A very good price based on KBB and compared to other used '07 and '08 R/Ts in my area. It is not at a Chrysler dealer, it is at one of those used car supercenters (think "Carmax"). They are a chain in this area and have a very high satisfaction rate among customers.

The dealer already provided me with an AutoCheck report which shows it to be a 1-owner car and previously leased. It was first leased on 3/5/08 with 4 miles on it, and then sent to auction on 5/19/08 with 5,000 miles. The only 2 records on the report are a fleet/lease/loan entry, and a lien/loan entry (which I assume is related to the other entry). No other records, and AutoCheck gives the car their highest rating.

It looks to have the standard "N" package (as Dodge calls it), bright silver exterior, black leather, and power sunroof. The pictures I have of it show it to be riding on Goodyear Assurance ComforTreds. Dodge shows these having Conti's as standard...did Dodge switch over at some point or did the previous owner switch them out? They look brand new. Any thoughts/concerns here?

Is there anything in particular I should look for when I check it out? I am assuming that with 5K miles on it, it should drive like new and have no major, glaring issues. I plan to check all fluid levels under the hood, make sure all of the accessories work, sight down the body, etc. It is hard to tell, but it doesn't look like it has chrome exhaust tips on it. Dodge's website shows an '08 Charger RT in the gallery with chrome tips. Were they standard or an accessory?

Also, since it is an '08, I assume I would get the balance of the 3/36 standard warranty. Would I also be able to transfer the Lifetime Powertrain warranty over to me? Is it $150 or so to do that?

Finally, I am in the very fortunate position to be able to buy the car outright. Am I safe in assuming that the dealer should have the title to the vehicle in hand, and in the event I buy the Charger will I receive the title immediately? If the dealer doesn't have the title and wants to "send it to me" should I be suspicious? Not sure how it works...I have always financed cars and have always just signed the title to the bank.

Any guidance you all can provide would be very much appreciated!

Thanks so much!!

[Ryster]

OK...did some more research on the tires. Looks like Dodge did use the ComforTreds as OEM for '08. Supposedly a decent tire. That is one less thing to worry about.

[Darius]

I don't know where you are but in Sacramento at either Folsom Lake Dodge or Elk Grove Dodge you can get a BRAND NEW loaded R/T for $24,800.00!

[Ryster]

I don't know where you are but in Sacramento at either Folsom Lake Dodge or Elk Grove Dodge you can get a BRAND NEW loaded R/T for $24,800.00!

I just looked at Folsom's site! That's insane...like $3000 under invoice even after the rebate! If I still lived out there I would be at the dealer tomorrow for the white RT.

I lived near Sacramento 20 years ago, but am now on the East Coast. It is difficult finding '08 RTs out here, and even when you do, the dealer will sell at about $400 over invoice, then take the $3500 rebate off, and get you out the door for around $28K. There is no way a dealer out here will sell a new '08 RT for $24.8K.

[done]

Hi!

Finally, I am in the very fortunate position to be able to buy the car outright. Am I safe in assuming that the dealer should have the title to the vehicle in hand, and in the event I buy the Charger will I receive the title immediately? If the dealer doesn't have the title and wants to "send it to me" should I be suspicious? Not sure how it works...I have always financed cars and have always just signed the title to the bank.

Any guidance you all can provide would be very much appreciated!

Thanks so much!!

The dealer will have the title and the title will go to the state along with the paperwork for your license paltes. This is a routine transaction. The state will then issue a new title in your name.

[ZMagnum]

The lifetime powertrain warranty is not transferrable but you can buy one and add it on.

[FJP]

An '08 Charger RT with the N pkg. is $32,500 sticker. You should be able to get at least $3,000 off sticker if not a little more. That puts you at $29,500. Now add the current $3500 rebate and your at $26,000 brand new. Find a large volume Dealer in your area with an RT in stock that you want (don't let them know you want it). Wait until the last 3 days of the month, go back and offer him what ever the sticker is less $4,000 (that's off the sticker only, does not including the rebate), tell him your paying cash and will take it home now. If he says no just get up and walk out. If he doesn't stop you go to another dealer and do the same. I got my '07 RT w/road and track pkg. at $4,500 off sticker plus a $2500 rebate on top and gas wasn't $4.00 a gallon then. Stick to your guns and you'll get a brand new RT for the close to same price as that used one.

[Ryster]

An '08 Charger RT with the N pkg. is $32,500 sticker. You should be able to get at least $3,000 off sticker if not a little more. That puts you at $29,500. Now add the current $3500 rebate and your at $26,000 brand new. Find a large volume Dealer in your area with an RT in stock that you want (don't let them know you want it). Wait until the last 3 days of the month, go back and offer him what ever the sticker is less $4,000 (that's off the sticker only, does not including the rebate), tell him your paying cash and will take it home now. If he says no just get up and walk out. If he doesn't stop you go to another dealer and do the same. I got my '07 RT w/road and track pkg. at $4,500 off sticker plus a $2500 rebate on top and gas wasn't $4.00 a gallon then. Stick to your guns and you'll get a brand new RT for the close to same price as that used one.

I checked the 2 largest volume dealers in this area, and neither one has any R/T's on the lot. The first one has 25 chargers...23 SE Plus's and 2 SRT's. The other has 37 Chargers...9 2009's(!) all V6, 25 '08 V6's and 3 SRT's. Some of the little, small town dealers within a 30 mile radius have a few highly-optioned R/T's and those have been in stock for literally months (I've been watching). Either they aren't dealing, or no one wants them. The first large volume dealer is advertising $936 dollars off sticker for all SE Plus's and $1200 off SRTs.

Offering a dealer sticker less $4,000 would put the dealer roughly $1900 under invoice to start with. Even with the holdback, they are still losing about $900 on the deal. I realize car dealers are reaching desperation, but that would be a really tough sell. Especially on a one-time deal with no prospect of repeat business, no opportunity for the finance department to "profit" on a bank loan, and no chance for the Service Department to make any money off the deal (the farther from home I buy, the less likely I am to use their service department.) I would basically be asking them to lose money just to clear inventory. Even car dealers deserve to make something...nothing extreme, but $300-$400 is reasonable.

I tried this almost 9 years ago on a leftover Accord V6 coupe at a high volume Honda dealer. We got within $300 of a deal, and I walked. Dealer never called me, and the car sat on the lot for another 3 weeks before it finally "disappeared".

I work for a huge, successful sales organization where our average transaction price is well above the price of a Charger (with similar margins to the auto industry), and we would never do a negative front-end deal, even before "holdbacks". The only time we ever do such deals is if it is the end of the month/quarter and that single deal puts us over our goals. Otherwise, no deal. I suspect the car business is very similar. The chance of being that one deal is so slim.

The one I am looking at has only 5K miles on it, and was only owned by someone for 2 months. Sure, they averaged 85 miles per day with it but that isn't so bad. I average 55 miles per day currently, so I know what that's like. Even though the dealer says "no-haggle" on the $24.8K, I may take the old "no-haggle, eh? Bummer...at $23K it would be a no-brainer" approach and see what happens. The price they have on it now, based on KBB supposedly, is slightly higher than KBB when I run it. They also purchased it at auction, and I would be willing to bet they didn't pay more than $18K for it. They would be crazy to walk away from a 21.7% margin deal on a V8 sedan when gas is $3.70 per gallon.

If tomorrow doesn't work out, I may send some "sticker minus $4000 before rebates" Email offers to some of the small town guys and see what kind of responses I get. Otherwise, I guess it just isn't meant to be

[Ryster]

Just to satisfy my curiosity, I just offered a small-town dealer $25,000 (including rebate) for a new '08 Charger R/T, Inferno Red, "N" package. No added options other than the paint. Sticker is $31,950, which means it has been around since before the increase as the same car would now be $32,540.

Can't wait to see their response. Their "Make us an offer" system said that all offers should be invoice or higher. $31,950 - $3500 is $28,450. Invoice is probably $29,500 - $3500 is $26,000. My offer is about $1,000 under invoice. I bet they counter with $26,300, to which I will counter with $25,500...final offer.

This is fun.

[FJP]

Just to satisfy my curiosity, I just offered a small-town dealer $25,000 (including rebate) for a new '08 Charger R/T, Inferno Red, "N" package. No added options other than the paint. Sticker is $31,950, which means it has been around since before the increase as the same car would now be $32,540.

Can't wait to see their response. Their "Make us an offer" system said that all offers should be invoice or higher. $31,950 - $3500 is $28,450. Invoice is probably $29,500 - $3500 is $26,000. My offer is about $1,000 under invoice. I bet they counter with $26,300, to which I will counter with $25,500...final offer.

This is fun.

You keep hitting them up! It only took me two tries before I had my price. Besides the hold back they are getting end of month volume and special incentive kick backs as well. Good luck!

[liquidice281]

An '08 Charger RT with the N pkg. is $32,500 sticker. You should be able to get at least $3,000 off sticker if not a little more. That puts you at $29,500. Now add the current $3500 rebate and your at $26,000 brand new.

IGNORE MSRP.

Invoice Price - Rebates = Your Price.

Anything uder this is icing on the cake.

<3 Liquid

[challenger_moe]

got mine at a ford dealer that didnt want anything non-ford on their lot. They made the mistake of letting me know that. told them what I would pay, and they came back twice with other offers. I said "I told you what I can afford and you are no where near that" went to stand up and the manager came out. 30 min of paper work later I was driving home in a new car.

[deejai35]

I would say keep looking. When I bought my Charger in July, I found a few R/Ts nicely equipped with less than 20K for under $20,000. Of course I am talking about 2006 and 2007 models, but there are deals out there. From what I have seen locally, the auctions are filled with R/T LXs and most dealers are (were) staying away from them.

[Ryster]

Well, I am still looking.

The used '08 didn't have the Protection Group which is a must for me. Between the less than stellar side impact rating for the Charger, and the fact that this would be my daily driver, I want the added protection.

The dealer to whom I offered $25K for the new one never made any efforts to contact me. Business must be good It really doesn't matter because that one doesn't have the Protection Group either.

The search continues.

[Dennis H]

On the Goodyear Assurance Comfort Tread tires: Junk. Egg-shaped garbage that refused to balance. I recommend avoiding them if possible. Michelins on the new R/T are sweet, smooth, and straight.