Deal or no deal? I got cold feet looking at Patriot

ICXC_Nika · 12-11-2011, 01:28 AM

My wife and 3 little girls stood by me for 5 hours last night working a deal on a Patriot. I have to preface this with I do not know how to buy a car from the dealer, I think they expect you to haggle a bit and ask for xtras but I don't know how far to go, how much of their and our time to waste.

We ended up walking out after 5 hours because I was exausted and didn't feel right making a deal. It seemed that everytime we were satisfied with the deal, they offered a must have option that raised our already maxed payment level. The deal breaker was the finance guy suggesting that we need a 6 year/100000 mile warranty for only $20 a month more because of the computer stuff that can go wrong. My thought is that if I need to worry about this failing before it is paid off then I am looking at the wrong vehicle. They said they would throw it in but I was done at this point, I needed food.

The offer on the table to be revisited Monday is for a 2012 Deep cherry red crystal pearl Patriot Sport 4x4, 2.4l with:
Power Value Group
Freedom Drive II Off-Road Group (IRSmart suggests against this - any thoughts?)
Continuously Var. Trans with Off-Road Crawl Ratio
Air Conditioning
MSRP $22975

Final total with interest, taxes, trade-in and all is $24,120
They are throwing in an Ipad2 and remote start
I want them to include the Cloth/undercarriage/paint protection package, the clear bra and sound deadening as well as the 6 year/100000 mile bumper to bumper and a dozen oil changes.

The trade is a $1000 honda that they are writing up as $2850

Someone mentioned the Tread Lightly 1% below invoice discount so I will bring it up to our sales lady in the next round.

I have owned a lot of cars in my life including a few jeeps but I don't think the combined total of them all exceeds this by much so I am procceeding with caution and looking for any advice I can on making the right moves here. I am going to be paying for this for a long time, the cheaper I can get it the better.

Thanks a ton for reading this long winded message, I will be spending the next several hours pouring through the Jeep Buying threads - Thanks for being out here!

**Jason** · 12-11-2011, 07:51 AM

What portion of that total amount goes to taxes and interest? $20 per month for the extended warranty for how many months? That sounds like ALOT.

For Tread Lightly, you join for $60, get the discount of 1% below invoice. It's a good option if you don't like to haggle. http://www.treadlightly.org/page.php/chrysler_discount

jrmandryck · 12-11-2011, 12:44 PM

Ditto on the treard lightly being a good option for non-hagglers, and not to sound like an *** but the dealer never throws anything in. they are getting their money for whatever they give you IMO

robplumm · 12-11-2011, 01:37 PM

Just using Truecar in your area...with those options, the price is $21,530....which is a little more than 3% below invoice. Just for comparison

Imagine you could shave a few dollars below that, but probably not much.

RogueSpear2023 · 12-11-2011, 03:06 PM

I agree dealers don't throw anything in, and the Ipad2 crap shows that, what does that have to do with car, it's teaser, to get you in the door, but trust me the Ipad2 costs you at least twice what they paid for it. If you don't like to haggle then the tread lightly is a good way to go.

ICXC_Nika · 12-11-2011, 06:17 PM

Thanks for the replies. It's hard to say what is what because they only want to work with a monthly number, they throw all kind of other numbers around and minupulate them to their liking. They said they would write me a check for $700 for half the taxes (out of advertising money) so that would make the taxable price $20,000.

I secured financing through my bank before I went to the dealer but theirs sounded better at the time. I think when I talk to them tomorrow (if they call) I will ask how much I need to make a check out for so I can get the final price. I will also try to get a couple camparison bids and see what happens there.

Thanks again - Any thoughts on the Trail Rated Package? Can I be confident in thick snow without it?

robplumm · 12-11-2011, 07:50 PM

If they only want to talk monthly numbers...you're getting screwed. I'd not only walk away from them...I'd run away from them and find another dealer. But that's just me. I can't imagine Omaha and the surrounding area doesn't have several dealers to choose from. Good luck, man.

And Freedom Drive 1 would most likely cover what you need snow wise. The FDII system appears to be for more rigorous off road situations.

Hmm...replace all the *'s with jeep patriot (no spaces). Good overview of both systems.

http://www.***********.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-407.html

IRSmart · 12-12-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICXC_Nika

Thanks again - Any thoughts on the Trail Rated Package? Can I be confident in thick snow without it?

my reasoning for steering people away from the FD-II is because for the average jeep customer, it hurts your MPG. you go from 26 hwy to 23 hwy. the FD-I is still very capable in the snow, you just lose the 4WD LOW ability. it's not that the FD-II is bad, it's just that to the average patriot customer, it's unneccesary, which is why i tend not to order my jeeps with it at all.

ICXC_Nika · 12-13-2011, 05:08 AM

@RobPlumm - Thanks for the link
@IRSmart - I appreciate you pointing this out, as much as I don't want to get stuck going to work, fuel economy is very important with a 70 mile round trip commute. This may be blasphemy but the only time I imagine being off road is if it were unintentional and if that happens I just want to be able to find my way back to the paved stuff. Snow and ice are my concerns and this is only for a couple months a year and it sound like the FDI is very capable.

Well I emailed our offer yesrterday, $20,000 out the door with all fee's and such included as well as the extras. including the overpriced IPad and a Rubber Ball with the Dodge logo on it. I thought that was too cool.

I stopped at a different dealer at lunch yesterday, they took my car keys to grab the VIN and milleage and apparently take the trade in for a test drive without mentioning anything to me. Then they were holding my keys hostage because they wanted to give me some numbers while I was in the building. I had to demand my keys back a couple times before he gave them to me. The sales guy ended up sending me numbers that were 3% below sticker when I am looking at 15% below at this other dealer. I made it clear that he needs to provide his best deal but I guess it doesn't work that way.

Thanks for all your help and the great forums!

robplumm · 12-13-2011, 05:14 AM

Ahh...sneaky tactics by a sketchy dealer. First rule of buying a car...don't tell them you intend to trade in before you have a sales price on the vehicle you want. Should be two completely separate events/prices. Otherwise your "great deal" on the new car will most likely include a very lowball trade in value.

ICXC_Nika · 12-13-2011, 06:37 PM

So we bought it!!! Although I am driving a loaner because there was some sensor light on and it will take a few day to get the part. I hope that is not a sign of what's to come

Final Price for a 2012 Patriot Latitude FD1 $20,300 including tax, title and licensing. Sticker was $23,755 so I feel like I did alright, . The $300 on the end is the IPad2, I had to have an Xmas gift for the wife since I am getting the Jeep! I didn't get any of the protections or extended warranties.

The Owners Manual in the loaner is wrapped in plastic, does anyone know if there is one available online? I would like to learn how to use some of this stuff, my next newest car is a 99.

robplumm · 12-13-2011, 06:44 PM

http://www.jeep.com/download/pdf/ug/...iot-UG-1st.pdf

And nice...guess the guy did come down a few dollars

Have fun with her...look like fun little vehicles.

**Jason** · 12-13-2011, 06:46 PM

http://www.jeep.com/en/owners/manuals/

Congrats.

ICXC_Nika · 12-14-2011, 04:32 AM

Thank you! I can't believe I am saying this but I can't wait for the snow coming this week! This is only my 5th winter in a snowy place and will be my first with a 4wd! Not to mention heated seats, that is a new sensation. Oh, and the remote start, No more getting dressed before my shower to warm it up!!! Heated mirrors, I don't know what it is like to see behind me on those cold wet days.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...