"Additional dealer markup"

[pwd72s]

http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/06/autos/challenger_over_sticker/index.htm?section=money_mostpopular

Maybe I don't want one...at least one of the first ones. I've never paid a dealer gouge in my life, and I'm not about to start now...

[Nathans_Dad]

For people with more dollars than sense...

When I bought my Mustang the Shelby Cobras were going for $20-30k over sticker...ridiculous.

[frogger]

Someone's always ready and willing to be raped by the car dealers.

[legion]

I remembered when this happened with the S2000, and the Solstice, and the Mini Cooper, and the PT Cruiser...

I tend to like to buy a new model at least a year after its debut: the price is usually rational and most of the initial kinks have been worked out. Of course, I broke that rule when I bought the Silverado, but I was also stranded out-of-state with a dead F150...

[the]

Not much of a muscle car fan, but if it ends up looking anything like the concept, puts out 425 hp, and stickers for only $37K, wow!

[Nathans_Dad]

There is no way I would spend $37k for a Dodge. Have you seen the Charger? It's all plastic inside. And not even nicely finished plastic either...

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by the

Not much of a muscle car fan, but if it ends up looking anything like the concept, puts out 425 hp, and stickers for only $37K, wow!

And consider...Mercedes designed independent rear suspension...but yeah, I'll let the suckers buy 'em. Year two of the model may be better anyway. I recall the gouge being placed on the 4 door wranglers when they first came out. Now new ones are being steeply discounted, offering 0% financing, etc.

[widebody911]

Some people are willing to cough up the cash to be first on the block. I know a chick who paid $31k for a New Beetle when they first came out; that's what, a $1500 car now?

[vash]

the markup stopped me cold with the mazdaspeed3. messed them up, because the new car excitement left me already. i got reaquainted with my pieceOcrap. now i dont even really want one.

[the]

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

There is no way I would spend $37k for a Dodge. Have you seen the Charger? It's all plastic inside. And not even nicely finished plastic either...

When you are paying $37K for a brand new 425hp car, I'd expect that it is not finished out like an AMG or something.

[Dixie]

The first year challengers are all automatics. Another reason to wait.

[strupgolf]

What P. T. Barnum said,still holds true today.

[pwd72s]

Exactly...I didn't say the dealers were being bad asses, I just said I wasn't going to pay, that I'll wait...as far as the Challenger itself? Well, I've seen the new style retro Mustangs...they leave me as cold as the waterpumper Porsche cars. It's all a taste thing, I guess.

[sjf911]

Come on guys, this is capitalism at its finest. Supply and demand.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

There is no way I would spend $37k for a Dodge. Have you seen the Charger? It's all plastic inside. And not even nicely finished plastic either...

Oh yeah. Dodge =poorly finished plasticky POS. I can't believe they get away with calling that a finished interior.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Oh yeah. Dodge =poorly finished plasticky POS. I can't believe they get away with calling that a finished interior.

And the retro mustang?????

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

And the retro mustang?????

Painted silver and flat surfaces inside...Reminiscent of hte cheap ghetto blaster stereos from the 70's and 80's.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Painted silver and flat surfaces inside...Reminiscent of hte cheap ghetto blaster stereos from the 70's and 80's.

"My plastic fantastic loiver" Jefferson Airplane..1960's

But of course, today's Porsches are "better"...

[gprsh924]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

"My plastic fantastic loiver" Jefferson Airplane..1960's

But of course, today's Porsches are "better"...

You're kidding right?

The difference in fit and finish between the stuff coming out of America and pretty much anything from Germany (or even Japan for that matter) is night and day. The new waterpumper Porsches that you continually rag on may not be your cup of tea, but you cannot deny that they are great cars. They are becoming increasingly reliable and well built.

The new Mustang is a pretty fun car to drive, but it still feels relatively cheap on the inside. That could be a product of my upbringing of cars though.

[speeder]

We had a brand new '67 Mustang 'till about 1970, the fit and finish on that thing was nothing to write home about either as I recall. And I recall correctly. Still, it was a fun/cool car.

Things haven't really changed much w/ American cars, except that they've gotten better in a lot of ways.

My 996, (an extremely early production '99, built in 02/98), is an OK modern car. Actually built pretty damn well, mine has 195k miles on the chassis, so it's a bit of an endurance test-mule. Compared to earlier 911s I've owned, I can tell you that the materials used in the interior do not compare with the old cars. The early cars were built to be almost indestructible, like all German cars of the era. Things like shifters and door openers were built to last a half million miles in those days, not so today.

Engineering and design-wise, there is no comparison between the cars. The new cars will destroy the old ones on the track w/o breaking a sweat. Also, the interiors have come a long way since '99, the new 997s are better by a mile and more beautiful as well as more faithful to traditional 911 interior styling. They are really stunning inside.

My only complaint about new Porsches is that they are so good that they've taken some of the sport out of going fast in them. Your grandma could turn a fast lap in a 997 with a little practice and some pointers.

Sorry for rambling; as for mark-ups, who gives a schit? If someone wants to pay it, go right ahead. What do you expect, that you'll have the first new Challenger or V-8 M3 on the block for sticker w/ no waiting??