Is anyone, or does anyone know a Jeep salesperson

[sroeser]

Looking for help in buying/leasing a 2006 Jeep Rubicon and I have a trade-in.

Here's what drove me to this -- excuse my rant and it's length.

My wife and I went back to the same dealer/salesguy this weekend where we both bought our Grand Cherokees 4 years ago.

I wanted to get a 2006 Rubicon (like the body style better) and the guy had located several in New England.

Here's the play by play:

So we arrive and after the pleasantries go for a test drive in a used 2005 (the new 2006 is at another dealer). Once we get back, we start discussing a deal.

As a car guy, I enjoy the process of buying a new car and I told the salesguy that this is a luxury for me and I don't need to get one.

We're planning on trading one of the Grand Cherokees so there are 3 areas of negotiation:
1) 2006 Rubicon price
2) Grand Cherokee trade-in value
3) Financing (lease vs buy)

This is where everything goes to *****.

He refuses to come down from the $30K+ MSRP for the Rubicon and undervalues the trade-in value.

I pull out the NADA guide printout I made with a higher trade-in value and he goes the the finance guy and suddenly my trade-in value goes up by $875.

I stop the conversation and say that I don't want to fight for every dollar and the fact that we bought 2 jeeps 4 years ago should matter -- since we came back to him. And that he's ruining the experience.

After he left to go back to the finance guy again, my wife sensed I was getting upset and suggested that we leave. As I got up, I saw him sitting back in a chair next to the finance guy.

He rushes out and I told him we're leaving. He asked what we could do to finalize the deal today and after telling him -- $6,000 off of the MSRP of the Rubicon and another $1,000 on the trade-in -- he scurried off.

My wife then pulled me aside and said that she knew I wouldn't buy the Rubicon sight unseen, so nothing could be finalized today anyway. So I asked for my keys and we left to the sight of two open mouths (sales- and finance guy).

Now my job is in marketing where I deal with "make goods" every day, and I'm only as good as my last project.

So I didn't think it was too much to expect a certain level of respect from a salesguy where I was a repeat customer.

I guess I was wrong, but what upsets me the most is that so many people (Pelicans excluded) have the mindset of if you're too stupid to know any better/negotiate then too bad for you.

If anyone has a contact at a Jeep dealer, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

[berettafan]

JGC's surely do have terrible resale. We considered trading our '01 on the redesign when it came out a year or two ago and were shocked to find out trade in values.

We were also fortunate as this past year with our '01 has shown us its true colors. Last Chrysler product for us that is for certain.

[Rot 911]

You are really between a rock and a hard spot trying to trade your GC for a Rubicon. All GC's have horrible resale value. Victims of too many rebates over the last few years. Now that the WK's have come out, the WJ values have plummeted. The Rubicons are in high demand right now and are commanding premium prices.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by sroeser
Looking for help in buying/leasing a 2006 Jeep Rubicon and I have a trade-in.

There are 3 areas of negotiation:
1) 2006 Rubicon price
2) Grand Cherokee trade-in value
3) Financing (lease vs buy)


Thanks.

What you don't understand? There is only ONE area of negotiation. That is, the amount your pocket will be lightened.

To your credit, at least ( I hope) you're past the "how much per month?" stage, where most don't even calculate how much impressing neighbors they don't really care about will cost them...

[Dantilla]

My wife's 1998 Wrangler is getting a bit tattered, and I've been looking at getting her a newer Rubicon. Not a very good selection out there right now.

I never trade in anything. I can sell the '98 pretty easily for more than the $1.38 or so the dealer would allow.

[David in VA]

These guys have a pretty good reputation on the Jeep boards.
http://jeepwarehouse.com/
In my opinion, the less human interaction with car salespeople the better.

[svandamme]

if i am a repeat customer anywhere, then i'll want the same sales folks that did me last time...

no rookie will look at you as a repeat anything and will simply follow the "how to sell a car routine"


i agree, the less human interaction with car sales people the better...

[pookie]

Just out of curiosity what did they offer for the GC trade in? My buddy was going to trade in his GC in the DC area and they lowballed him too. Like Dantilla, I've been considering getting rid of my 97 Wrangler, and the way GC WJ are dropping like rocks they are becoming very interesting.

The Rubi is a hot item right now. But it's weird you said they wouldn't deal on an 06. I've heard they aren't dealing much on the 07 with the new body style, but why would they be holding on to an 06?

I don't believe there is such thing as a "repeat customer" to a large dealership, which means there is no repeat customer treatment. All they view you as is another sucker who wants a new car. The running to the finance guy to get you that extra $875 is all part of the game.

If I was buying new (something I have only done once) I'd go in with a cashiers check for what I wanted to pay for the car, minus what I thought my trade in was worth. If they don't want my money fine, I find another _____ insert dealerhip that will. Sadly a lot of people get pushed around by the stealerships.

[sroeser]

The dealer initially offered $14,000 for a 2003 GC Overland and when I pulled out the NADA guide printout which showed an average trade-in value at $15,200, they bumped it to $14,875.

I'm less upset about the amount than I am about the fact that the guy refused to initially offer his best price.

The salesguy -- from whom we bought 2 GCs in 2003 and who's been doing this for 15+ years -- calls himself a "Your family car salesman," and totally promotes repeat business and loyalty.

And when I said that I don't NEED to buy a new car I WANT a new car, so don't ***** me around. He didn't listen.

The only possible hiccup could be that the 06 Rubicon was at another dealer, but I always thought that dealers trade vehicles like kids trade baseball cards.

My next approach is to have a service manager I know at another dealer nearby introduce me to his dealer's GM. If a deal can't be reached, then I jump back in time and get another CJ-7.

[svandamme]

no offence, but expecting a sales guy to drop his pants in his first offer is like expecting a girl to put out on the first date.