Upgrading to the P'dub

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Odin

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Hello fellow RamForum members and the future PW brotherhood. I am in search of some help and I believe one of you fine upstanding degenerates (that's a joke for anyone too PC) could be of assistance.

I'm currently working with my credit unions autobroker (who I've bought several vehicles through) to put together a good deal on a 2018 Power Wagon. It's booked at just over 57k and on "sale" for just over 48k.

Ive already talked to the dealership before getting the broker involved cause I like to haggle but know I get a better price through my credit union.

Anyways, the dealership said they are willing to take any part off the vehicle I don't want to try and make the deal work. Here is where I need your guys help to make sure I'm still not being charged for the parts. As follows is the breakdown of what I want taken off. If anyone could give me the price the dealership adds for these I'd appreciate it as they aren't listed on the window sticker:

Bedliner (cause I can buy it for $100 as a take off here in AZ and install)

Side steps (I hate them)

PW wheels and tires (dealership agreed to put the ones on my current 2500 on the PW cause they are only 2 months old and put the PW wheels on my 2500 at trade in)

Wheel locks (my wheels have a trim piece that's a pain to get off so nobody will steal my wheels)

Also, need your assistance in another area...

This truck didn't come from the dealership. They got it from another dealership and whatever dealership before had exhaust work done. They deleted the resonator which I'm fine with, but the shop took a silver rattle can to the exhaust piping (all of the piping) and its flaking off and there's a bunch of rust on the exhaust where it's flaking. How hard should I press the dealership on this?

They say the truck is new but it's got just shy of 1k miles (by just shy I we are talking like 30 miles) on it and in AZ I have a hard time believing rust on the exhaust would be there. Also, to me 1k miles is not new new. Depending on the state it seems a vehicle is only considered used when it's registered and is considered a demo at 1500 miles. I have a problem with 1k miles on a brand new truck. That's 1k miles I didn't put on it and I know they will discount if I push that issue. But what do you guys think is reasonable for them to take off?

Any help with all of the above is appreciated and looking forward to joining he PW brotherhood.

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EagleChief

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I can't help with the wheel situation. But, for reference, when we got our truck, the dealer was trying to charge $1200 for the Mopar steps and a drop-in bed liner. They took them off and dropped the price that amount to help with the price.

Now, as for the mileage. I agree with you and ran into the same situation at a previous dealer. Found the truck we liked and it was being sold as new. The morning of the day I was going to go get it, they sent me a bunch of pictures that I asked for. It had 1150 miles on it. Their story was it was bought, but the guy's bank loan didn't pan out. So, he brought it back. Supposedly only had possession for 4 or 5 days. I said "NOPE! If he can't get a loan, I have no idea how he treated that truck while he had it. I'm not taking it."

Now, who knows in your situation... Sometimes the manager drives them, sometimes they will loan them to help make a sale. I was offered a vehicle for the weekend to make sure I liked it. It may be ok. If you decide to get it, make sure the warranty starts at the current mileage.


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Odin

Odin

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Thank you for the insight sir and the price on the side steps and bedliner.

I know sometimes managers drive the vehicles but I've never heard of them loaning a vehicle for a weekend or any length of time to see if someone likes and wants to buy it. But almost 1k miles?

With that information I'm gonna push then to have it at a lesser price. Again, this truck came from a different dealership so who knows what they did with it. But yeah, just shy of 1k miles I'm gonna attack that cause idk how it was driven by anyone that wasn't a test drive.

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Grand Mesa

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In regards to the Power Wagon wheels those are different due to being bead lock. Your other truck's probably aren't. My 2016 Power Wagon that I purchased in Utah was sold new in Superstition Springs, AZ. There's a lot of rock and sand in the dirt roads in most of Arizona and it's quite nice to have bead lock wheels due to you can air down when rock crawling without worrying about the tires coming off the wheels. Most of the trails around here in Grand Junction are quite full of tons and tons of rocks and the 17 inch wheels gives more sidewall tire meat to run over the rocks. Especially so if one runs even larger tires on the 17 inch wheels, versus smashing the rim into the rocks with a 18 inch wheel or larger.
 
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Odin

Odin

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In regards to the Power Wagon wheels those are different due to being bead lock. Your other truck's probably aren't. My 2016 Power Wagon that I purchased in Utah was sold new in Superstition Springs, AZ. There's a lot of rock and sand in the dirt roads in most of Arizona and it's quite nice to have bead lock wheels due to you can air down when rock crawling without worrying about the tires coming off the wheels. Most of the trails around here in Grand Junction are quite full of tons and tons of rocks and the 17 inch wheels gives more sidewall tire meat to run over the rocks. Especially so if one runs even larger tires on the 17 inch wheels, versus smashing the rim into the rocks with a 18 inch wheel or larger.

I have AEV Satla HDs on my 2500 currently. They are 17s and if I remember correctly they have an internal beadlock same as the stock Power Wagon wheels.

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Low_Sky

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All wheels have the internal lips to retain the beads. I haven’t taken a depth caliper to mine to measure just how high they are, but they can’t be too high or you’d have hell seating the tire beads over them.

What makes PW wheels special today is that they’re a quality, forged 17” OEM wheel in a world where 18” and 20” has become the norm.

If a wheel isn’t retaining beads well enough at low pressure, a wrap or two of duct tape buys some extra room to air down.


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1pieceatatime

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Have you checked to see if your wheels were part of AEV’s Katla recall?

I wanted those wheels but had to settle for the Saltas due to recall and availability.
 

EagleChief

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Thank you for the insight sir and the price on the side steps and bedliner.

I know sometimes managers drive the vehicles but I've never heard of them loaning a vehicle for a weekend or any length of time to see if someone likes and wants to buy it. But almost 1k miles?

With that information I'm gonna push then to have it at a lesser price. Again, this truck came from a different dealership so who knows what they did with it. But yeah, just shy of 1k miles I'm gonna attack that cause idk how it was driven by anyone that wasn't a test drive.

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You could try and negotiate one of the upgraded warranties to make up for the mileage, also. That way you have some piece of mind with it. Make sure it's a MOPAR warranty and not one of these generic 3rd party things that have a lot of loopholes. I don't have one, but a bunch of members on here have them and can probably chime in.
 
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Odin

Odin

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Have you checked to see if your wheels were part of AEV’s Katla recall?

I wanted those wheels but had to settle for the Saltas due to recall and availability.
I missed typed when writing that or auto correct did its thing cause I've searched so many times for the Katla's... Not sure which. I def DON'T have the Katla. I have the Salta. Wanted Katla but you can only get them if you've got a Diesel and have to call AEV directly for purchase and that's also only if they aren't up fitting any vehicles.

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Odin

Odin

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You could try and negotiate one of the upgraded warranties to make up for the mileage, also. That way you have some piece of mind with it. Make sure it's a MOPAR warranty and not one of these generic 3rd party things that have a lot of loopholes. I don't have one, but a bunch of members on here have them and can probably chime in.
Didn't think of that. I'll try to see what can be done there. Appreciate the tip on that. Can never go wrong with a little extra protection.

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Sdreeser

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When I bought my truck they didnt have it at the dealership yet so they gave me a 2018 pw with only 30 miles on it to drive till mine came in. I drove it for 2 weeks and returned it with over 600 miles on it so that does happen sometimes
 

G-Ride990

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You should have no corrosion on the exhaust with an Az car and only 1k miles on the clock. Why they would paint it is beyond me. The driveshaft is a different story though. (PW have aluminum though right?)

Can you tell us what dealership you are working with? I have had some down right awful experiences with some in the valley.

I also agree that 1k miles is not new. But if it was never registered I guess it can be considered new? Don't loaner vehicles have registration and not a dealer plate?

Do you have a listing of the truck that you can share with us?
 
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Odin

Odin

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You should have no corrosion on the exhaust with an Az car and only 1k miles on the clock. Why they would paint it is beyond me. The driveshaft is a different story though. (PW have aluminum though right?)

Can you tell us what dealership you are working with? I have had some down right awful experiences with some in the valley.

I also agree that 1k miles is not new. But if it was never registered I guess it can be considered new? Don't loaner vehicles have registration and not a dealer plate?

Do you have a listing of the truck that you can share with us?
Yeah I can't understand painting the exhaust either and I've lived in AZ my entire life and rust has never really ever been a factor in any vehicle here. Unless wherever they took the truck for exhaust used crappy piping instead of what's normally used which could be why they painted it?

Its at Larry H Miller on Bell in Peoria.

And yeah, all my research says if it was never registered it can be sold as new and generally at 1500 miles the vehicle has to be considered as a demo and sold for less.

Dealership is trying to tell the auto broker through my credit union that because I've talked to someone at the dealership they won't work with him. Which is assanine because I talked to someone on my 1500 and 2500 at this same dealership and then went through the auto broker. Not to mention when I did the deal on my wife's Trailhawk and mom's Grand Cherokee, both from Larry H Miller dealerships, I did the same thing then too. Auto broker just told me he's gonna call the general sales manager now who did the deal on my 2500 cause the guy he's talking to is being as ass. We never had this issue in the other vehicles. But if that's how they wanna play I got no problem going somewhere else if they wanna turn away a customer and miss a sale. But we'll see how it shakes out.

Here's the listing:

https://www.larrymillerdodge.com/new/Ram/2018-Ram-2500-b02ba2f10a0e0adf48310795ef8f7d5e.htm

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G-Ride990

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Wow that is a nice truck with a ton of nice options! If they will work with you and take the parts off you don't want I agree, ditch those steps. Get a spray-in liner too.

Worst rust we ever see here is mild surface rust. Even aluminized steel tubing wouldn't rust that quickly. I just looked at a handful of trucks on their site for tail pipe issues. Quite a few appear to look pretty bad. The one on that PW you're looking at actually looks nice. Look at the tailpipe on this truck. https://www.larrymillerdodge.com/new/Ram/2018-Ram-2500-521d869d0a0e0ae85433d567480aa341.htm

I haven't actually dealt with those guys before. I have had really good experiences with Bill Luke and Earnhardt. If you ever (have to) make the trip out to Gilbert to go to Earnhardt, shoot me a PM. The finance director is my parent's neighbor. She cut me a really good deal! I still feel bad that I changed my mind and got something more in my budget. Being responsible sucks sometimes lol.

You would think that they would be way more reasonable being that you're a repeat customer. None of those vehicles you have purchased were cheap. I bet he will be able to make it work. Sounds like the broker is pretty good if they are willing to put up with that.
 
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Odin

Odin

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Yeah, the tailpipe on the one you posted doesn't look great. The areas I'm talking about on the PW would actually take you getting down on hands and knees to see. And only reason I did that cause when I test drove it I knew instantly it had exhaust work done to it. You won't see it from the stock photos. It's actually up underneath closer to the front of the bed/back of cab where it's all painted/flaking/and the rust.

I'm seriously wondering because of that if like someone mentioned before, it was sold to someone and the loan fell through but whoever bought it had exhaust work and tint done thinking they'd have it for a while. Cause if you look at the tint, dealerships don't do it that dark and don't do the front A1 line stripe unless requested by the customer.

I'm confident the broker can make it work. I've already sent him two other PW listings I'd be interested in if Larry Miller doesn't wanna deal. Pretty sure as soon as he gets a hold of the general sales manager though things will shake out. I've talked to him a bunch in person after I got my 2500 cause I had some issues and didn't wanna deal with the whole run around and small guy talk so just went straight to him.

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Odin

Odin

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Interesting turn of events. Get a call from the general sales manager a couple hours ago who was extremely apologetic about my experience when I first came in. He said he remembered me and asked if I had any recurring issues with my current 2500 asked how my wife was (by name). He asked what all happened when I came in and I told him. He asked what equipment I wanted removed. Told him and also expressed the point I didn't wanna pay for wheels and tires which were being removed from the truck and they never removed those from the price as far as I was aware. He stated he totally understood and none of my requests were unreasonable and should have been accommodated.

I brought up the exhaust and mileage concerns as well as pointed out the tint job was something they normally don't do. He told me he was gonna research the vehicle as the dealerships don't do resonator deletes, but they will install a full exhaust system (which is not what was done). He confirmed the vehicle came from another dealership and he thinks it was not a Larry Miller, or affiliate dealership, but wasn't exactly sure.

With regards to the mileage, he said their practice is they don't loan out specialty vehicles to customers. Ever. A manager can take a specialty vehicle for only 2 days but can't put excessive miles on it, can't race it, take it off road, or anything else in which would fall in those categories. He agreed almost 1k miles was extremely excessive for brand new specialty vehicle. He said he believes due to the exhaust mod and tint, the vehicle was sold from another dealership and then return or had to be brought back because a loan fell through. Said they may have acquired it in trade from the other dealership but was not certain which is why he wanted to do the research.

He asked what figure I was looking for and I gave him the amount out the door with gap. He asked what I was offered on my trade in and I told him.

He said he was confident they could make the deal happen with removing all equipment, loyalty discount, first responder discount, and possibly give me a little more on my trade in due to the experience. Said he isn't sure why his ppl wouldn't work with me on things more being a very loyal customer. Said he is gonna handle everything personally and there won't be anyone else I talk to and I'm to ask for him directly any time I come to the dealership with any issues what so ever.

So now I await his phone call. Gotta say, I'm pretty impressed with his responses.

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PatinAZ

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That's pretty decent service for him to call you back and offer you all that. If you feel comfortable with the deal, go for it. Try and get at least a discounted MOPAR Lifetime warranty on it, due mainly to the "high" miles on a brand new truck.
 
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Odin

Odin

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Goodbye Valkyrie on the right and hello Sleipnir (Odin's 8 legged horse) on the left.

Sales manager came through with a pretty good deal. There were a couple things that couldn't be done after all, mainly any type of credit for the wheels and tires, but overall I'm happy. Gotta drop it back off at the dealership on Monday for them to take off the sidesteps, remove the bedliner, and install the wheels and tires from my old truck.

The dealership I went to didn't have the Mopar lifetime warranty so that'll be something I look into separately.3ddf1f9b7c6551335ac585d3aa49b71b.jpg

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McBroom

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Interesting turn of events. Get a call from the general sales manager a couple hours ago who was extremely apologetic about my experience when I first came in. He said he remembered me and asked if I had any recurring issues with my current 2500 asked how my wife was (by name). He asked what all happened when I came in and I told him. He asked what equipment I wanted removed. Told him and also expressed the point I didn't wanna pay for wheels and tires which were being removed from the truck and they never removed those from the price as far as I was aware. He stated he totally understood and none of my requests were unreasonable and should have been accommodated.

I brought up the exhaust and mileage concerns as well as pointed out the tint job was something they normally don't do. He told me he was gonna research the vehicle as the dealerships don't do resonator deletes, but they will install a full exhaust system (which is not what was done). He confirmed the vehicle came from another dealership and he thinks it was not a Larry Miller, or affiliate dealership, but wasn't exactly sure.

With regards to the mileage, he said their practice is they don't loan out specialty vehicles to customers. Ever. A manager can take a specialty vehicle for only 2 days but can't put excessive miles on it, can't race it, take it off road, or anything else in which would fall in those categories. He agreed almost 1k miles was extremely excessive for brand new specialty vehicle. He said he believes due to the exhaust mod and tint, the vehicle was sold from another dealership and then return or had to be brought back because a loan fell through. Said they may have acquired it in trade from the other dealership but was not certain which is why he wanted to do the research.

He asked what figure I was looking for and I gave him the amount out the door with gap. He asked what I was offered on my trade in and I told him.

He said he was confident they could make the deal happen with removing all equipment, loyalty discount, first responder discount, and possibly give me a little more on my trade in due to the experience. Said he isn't sure why his ppl wouldn't work with me on things more being a very loyal customer. Said he is gonna handle everything personally and there won't be anyone else I talk to and I'm to ask for him directly any time I come to the dealership with any issues what so ever.

So now I await his phone call. Gotta say, I'm pretty impressed with his responses.

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That’s very impressive for the general sales manager to get involved like that. Never met him but would def shake his hand. Impressive!!


I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 Off Road. 6.4L. USMC (ret)
 
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