Went to the dealer tonight to test drive the red 08 SS that I've been eyeing up for weeks. Then went inside to work a deal. Their first offer was only $600 below MSRP, with the $2,250 rebates, and still allowing me to use my GM credit card dollars. I told him I wanted more off MSRP. He went back to his manager and pulled out another $500 in manufacturer incentives from his bag of tricks. They also matched the 5.14% interest rate I was going to get through AAA. SOLD!!

I'm going back Wednesday night to finish the paperwork and pick up the red rocket.

It's going to take a lot of getting used to driving this type of vehicle. It is so very different from my Grand Prix (upright driving position, no leather, spartan dash, etc). But man does that SS fly when you get on the gas. I should smiling along with the rest of you in a couple days.

 

I actually enjoy going to work lately (an hour drive each way).

 

alright another victory red driver lol! i got over 4,000 mi on mine and still have that smile on my face!

 

Exactly! same here. 35 mile each way commute and...

 

CONGRATS JERSSY!!! did you get the auto or 5speed??? i know since i got mine,which was in july,you have been patient and it paid off!!!

 

"Allowing" you to use your GM card dollars? That's BS. They don't lose ANY money on GM card transactions. The company sends the rebate money back to them for those transactions.

Another thing are the rebates. You are essentially giving them free money when you let them pack those into lowering the price of the car. That little bag of tricks? That's probably a little more holdback that they're giving you. They're essentially giving you $1,100 in holdback money that doesn't cost them ANYTHING in order to pocket your $2,250 in rebates plus whatever is coming to them from your GM card earnings!

Here's how you do it. First of all, it's a car. GM builds thousands of them and there's plenty out there all the same. Second, it's an '08. The '09s will be arriving by the lot full in the next few weeks. That means it's worth substantially less, and being a sports car it's almost out of season. Negotiate the price down to 80% of the sticker price, then add your rebates, GM card cash, and whatever other incentives they've offered, and THAT's the price you should be paying for that car. You know what "incentive" money they're giving you now, and there's no reason they can't honor those incentives once they give you the 80% MSRP. They're still making good money at that point and the incentives, rebates, and GM card cash are even more money in their pocket.

Don't be afraid to walk away. It's the end of the month and it's been a bad summer. They'll deal.

 

there is no way there're going to do 80% of MSRP.

The HHR's are in demand. I saw about 15 come in and sell within 2 weeks at my dealership and the SS's didn't last long at all.

I think before rebates and incentives the lowest they tend to go is about $100 above invoice, but they're not going to go below what they pay for the car, that's called horrible business practice. You don't sell something that is in demand for less then what you paid for it...

 

Congrats, hope you get to enjoy the behind the wheel experiecen soon!..

All hail Victory Red HHR SS's!!!

 

I got the auto, because of the fact that the wife won't drive a stick and I am constantly multitasking when driving....

The point I made about "letting" me use the GM credit card points was that if I went in with GM Supplier discount like I normally do, GM will not let you use the credit card points with the supplier discount. So I could either use the GMS price ($950 off MSRP) and not use my $825 in GM credit card earnings, or I could negotiate off MSRP and use the GM card earnings. I ended up getting a better deal negotiating off MSRP and using the GM card earnings, by about $250.

When all is said and done, I got a $25650 HHR for $21,400 (plus tax, tags, etc). So despite crafty's negative post, I feel pretty good about the deal as I ended up doing slightly better than I thought I would. I'm not the kind of person who's going to dick around for $50-$100. The salesman actually treated me with respect and it was not a stressful sales experience.

Oh - and I told the dealer I would be getting 5.14%/36 months financing through AAA. He asked if he could try to match that and he did. It saved me the hassle of going out and getting my own loan and having to wait a few more days to pick up the car.

 

That was a kickass deal.