Questions - Thinking about buying....

[65Plymouth]

Gentleman,

Just registered but have been lurking for a long time. Thinking about purchasing my first Ram. Specifically a 2500. I currently have a 2010 Chevy Silverado 1500 Regular cab, Short box, 4x4, 5.3L, 6 speed auto, with 35,000 on the clock. Life has changed in the last 2 years an the family is growing. The regular cab pickup sits in the driveway and is pretty much useless. It will be used as my trade in vehicle.

So.. I will try and keep this a short as possible..... but I have some questions.

I am looking for the following: 2016 2500 4x4 Crew Cab, Short bed with the 6.4L. Tradesman or SLT. If I go Tradesman, I want the Chrome Package and Popular Equipment Group. 4:10?? Anti Slip, Spray in bed liner and that is the extent of it. I am not looking for a luxury pickup, nor can I afford one. Not interested in a Plow package or 5th wheel prep. My idea truck would be a Power Wagon but I cant afford the price tag. Not interested in the CTD as I don't tow anything that would require a diesel.

When I visit the ram website and build my own, I am coming up with MSRP of $40,000 and $41,500 for the truck built the way I want it.

1) I have heard dealer names Like Dennis Dillon in Idaho offering unbeatable deals. I am wondering if anyone can recommend a good dealer in Michigan or the surrounding area? As much as I would Love to make a trip to Idaho, not in the cards right now.

2) How do you feel about the 4:10 / 6.4 combo? After reading many boards, everyone say to go with the 4:10 over the 3.73. I wont be towing a ton, but may add bigger tires which will change the ratio. Problem is there are VERY few 4:10 equipped trucks in my area. Literally, everything I am seeing has the 3.73. Thoughts?

3) Ordering vs. Buying off the lot. I would rather just order the truck that I want with the options that I want. I can get a "friends and family" discount a BUT, I think order would put me at a disadvantage when comes to possible negotiations with the dealer. True? False? Thoughts?

4) I will be ready to buy sometime in the next month and could realistically wait until the end of the year if I had to. No rush. Best time of the year to buy? Best time for dealer/manufacture incentives?

Anyway, I appreciate any and all opinions.
Thanks
Jeff

 

[opie]

:snip:

1) I have heard dealer names Like Dennis Dillon in Idaho offering unbeatable deals. I am wondering if anyone can recommend a good dealer in Michigan or the surrounding area? As much as I would Love to make a trip to Idaho, not in the cards right now.

Another option is to have it shipped to you.

I just purchased mine from Champion in Lansing. I did have a slightly better deal from a dealer in Chelsea, but I wasn't interested in the drive so I bit closer to home.

I wore this site out...

Dodge Dealership - Find a Dealer

Found the truck I wanted and had Champion got get it. It was in Freemont. Don't be afraid to ask your local dealer to see whats sitting on a lot somewhere and go get it. If you feel it is going to cost you leverage in negotiating, then contact the dealer direct and have them give you a "make me drive 3 hours and give you money" price.

A few years ago I found a 4runner sitting on a lot south of Detroit. They were asking $13,000. I called and offered $8000 cash OTD and picked it up the next day.

2) How do you feel about the 4:10 / 6.4 combo? After reading many boards, everyone say to go with the 4:10 over the 3.73. I wont be towing a ton, but may add bigger tires which will change the ratio. Problem is there are VERY few 4:10 equipped trucks in my area. Literally, everything I am seeing has the 3.73. Thoughts?

That is the one thing I would have done differently. I got 3:73 in the axles but the truck is geared well enough that 4:10 will fit the bill for even a daily driver. What I have will work for what I want the truck to do, with no problems. But if you want the 4:10, then hold out but dont let them be a point of contention. The 3:73 work great. 70mph and the engine settles in right around 1500 rpm.

3) Ordering vs. Buying off the lot. I would rather just order the truck that I want with the options that I want. I can get a "friends and family" discount a BUT, I think order would put me at a disadvantage when comes to possible negotiations with the dealer. True? False? Thoughts?

Ive always been of the mindset show up ready to buy and/or walk out. If you go in with the intention of ordering a truck, they know you are less likely to walk out. JMO.

4) I will be ready to buy sometime in the next month and could realistically wait until the end of the year if I had to. No rush. Best time of the year to buy? Best time for dealer/manufacture incentives?

Not sure on how dealer quotas work. And Ive never given it a thought. The single most important key to negotiating is being willing to get up and walk if they aren't working with you. Its a difficult thing to do if you really want what they are selling, but remember, they aren't the only ones selling what you want. I once had 3 Chevy dealers working against one another on a vehicle and it worked out very well in my favor.

 

[MADDOG]

1. Can't help ya with a dealer. I'm a ways away from Michigan.

2. I have 3.73's and tow a fifth wheel that comes right in at 10K. No problems whatsoever with the truck towing that load. If you don't need 4.10's to tow, go with the 3.73's as they are more plentiful and can be found easily enough, already in stock.

3. I'd buy off the lot. The dealer already has some cash sunk into inventory and is looking to move it, hence they will be more ready to negotiate so they can sell the truck and make the rest of their money for doing so. The option packages between Tradesman and SLT are pretty much engraved in stone so decide which package works best for you and go for it. One nice thing is that you may be able to negotiate enough off the price on a '15 that you can move up to the SLT package and get a few more options for the same price as an ordered '16 Tradesman.

4. End of month is the best time to buy and since we are now in the 2016 model year, I'd be on the search for a 2015. The best incentive is for a dealer to sell off the rest of his left over inventory.

Good luck with your search.

 

[65Plymouth]

Thanks Opie... Great advice right there. Never even knew that dealer/inventory locator existed. Guess I will start searching for a truck with my specifics. Would love to find one within the state and work with a local dealer that is willing to transfer/ship what I want. I would hate to order if I didn't have to and would also hate to try to work in my trade with a dealer that is several hours away.

I have looked at some of the Metro Detroit dealer websites and the online pricing is confusing. One dealer has trucks listed with a $10,000.00 discount right off the bat. Others list similar trucks with the standard $2500.00 incentive. Not sure how that really works. I am assuming the $10,000 discount applies to those that "qualify" for the best pricing (Ie. Chrysler employees) so not sure how realistic those prices are.

Regarding price, I guess I am asking what can I expect? Starting with MSRP, can i expect $10,000 off the sticker price? Is that Far fetched?? Is that considered a great deal made by an even better negotiator? What have others payed?

Thanks
Jeff

 

[65Plymouth]

Thanks Maddog... Yeah.. I have looked for some new 2015's and they are pretty much non-existent around here (As Far as I can tell anyway). I would even consider a slightly used 2015 for the right price. Decisions, decisions..

Good advice on the axle. For some reason I have my mind set on the 4:10. Not sure why and not sure that I can justify it for my use, but I really wanted a 4:10 for some reason. Maybe I have been reading too much on these boards. the 4:10 seems to be recommended with the 6.4 by quite a few people.

 

[opie]

Thanks Opie... Great advice right there. Never even knew that dealer/inventory locator existed. Guess I will start searching for a truck with my specifics. Would love to find one within the state and work with a local dealer that is willing to transfer/ship what I want. I would hate to order if I didn't have to and would also hate to try to work in my trade with a dealer that is several hours away.

I have looked at some of the Metro Detroit dealer websites and the online pricing is confusing. One dealer has trucks listed with a $10,000.00 discount right off the bat. Others list similar trucks with the standard $2500.00 incentive. Not sure how that really works. I am assuming the $10,000 discount applies to those that "qualify" for the best pricing (Ie. Chrysler employees) so not sure how realistic those prices are.

Regarding price, I guess I am asking what can I expect? Starting with MSRP, can i expect $10,000 off the sticker price? Is that Far fetched?? Is that considered a great deal made by an even better negotiator? What have others payed?

Thanks
Jeff

Almost every dealers website has the price including ALL discounts, whether you qualify for them or not. Up to an including Chrysler employee pricing. So expect to pay more than what you are seeing on the website, unless you get a hungry salesman. I was able to take advantage of Chrysler's "C" plan where they will honor other manufactures supplier discount, of which I had one from GM.

I didn't personally get as good a deal as others have gotten, my truck was stickered at just over $50,000 and out the door that's what I paid. It included an extended warranty to 7 years, 90,000 miles and turning the nav on.

I feel I tipped my hand during the negotiation though... I walked in there knowing exactly what I wanted, where it was and knew more about the truck than the salesman. So clearly I was invested in purchasing the truck. Ive never been one to beat up a salesman to bad since everyone needs to eat. But I have walked if I feel I'm getting ****** around.

 

[opie]

And don't sweat the 4:10.... The 3:73 work just fine. The 6.4 has more than enough power to turn them with a load.

 

[Rustycowl69]

If you're thinking of going to Idaho, the BIG dealer I'm aware of is Dave Smith Motors, out of Kellogg, Idaho.

 

[69GWC]

If you even think you might add bigger tires get the 4:10s the transmission is already geared to high and larger tires will make it worse.

 

[6.4 dude]

I ordered from Dennis Dillon for 20% off mrsp......

 

[65Plymouth]

If you're thinking of going to Idaho, the BIG dealer I'm aware of is Dave Smith Motors, out of Kellogg, Idaho.

Yeah... I wish I could find the deals listed at Dennis Dillon and Dave Smith around here, but that is not the case. Sure I haven't sat down and talked numbers with anyone, but I just don't think that is available in this area. I have heard really good stories about the Idaho dealers and would love to make a trip out there. Unfortunately for me, with a 6 month old son at home, just not going to happen.

I wonder if I emailed a dealer like Dennis Dillion and requested a quote in writing, if I could use that as a start for negotiations. I did this with my wife's VW. Emailed a dealer out of state that was know for offering great deals, got a great deal in writing, and presented it to my local dealer. He beat it by $200.00. Not bad.. Not sure if this was a fluke or this is something that is possible again.

Thanks for the advice. I am still hung up n the 4:10 though. I have larger, heavier tires on my Silverado. I HATE driving at highway speeds under load and having the truck constantly hunt for the right gear.. Stong headwind and that sucker is jumping back and forth. Cant stand that.

 

[68PowerWagon]

You sound like you are in the same position I was at purchase time. No hurry. Just as Opie said always be ready to walk. You can always get a better deal if you don't have to have something now.
You have to work a little harder to get the same deal on a vehicle that is on the lot compared to one that is ordered but it can be done. Of coarse if you see a 15' on the lot you can get a great deal, but it's probably still on the lot for a reason. Ugly color or weird option package. I ordered mine cause $40-50,000 is a lot of money for me so I made sure I got what I wanted.
Best way to start is to go to Ram's website, you can build the exact truck you want then select "search new inventory". Adjust it for a 250 mile radius as that is what most dealers are willing to get a vehicle moved for you. If you can't find it that way then you can always order as I did.
When I widen my search to 500mi. I seen a dealer in Traverse City MI. that had very good deals. Not sure if they are any where close to you but I actually printed off some of their truck prices to help make my deal.
It's better to go by a percentage rather than dollar amount. 15-20% off of MSRP is a really good deal.

 

[65Plymouth]

Thanks for the advice! Much appreciated. Yes, traverse city is a 4 hour drive north. Just checked and it looks like they have very few 2016's listed.

Ideally, I would like an out the door price of somewhere around $35k. 20% of $45k is 9k. So I need to find something (likely a tradesman) with a sticker pice less than 45k and hope for a good deal. Anything more than $35k otd and I would be getting into an uncomfortable financial situation. Maybe I need to give the 1500's a hard look. Just really like the 2500.

 

[65Plymouth]

Anyone have an idea what the "friends and family" discount will get me? I know I can't get the immediate family dicount because mine would be from my wife's uncle. So, I am assuming I get the worse of the two discounts offered.

I remember something along the lines of 1% less than invoice price. Not really sure how to figure out invoice price.

Thanks!
Jeff

 

[nukegm]

i recently ordered a 2016 ram and took possession of it on dec 20 last year. LOVE IT! i would recommend ordering your tradesman 2500. i was able to delete a lot of " fluff " options, and saved considerable money that way. ( thousands ) - and i was able to get the exact truck that i wanted. 6 weeks to the day it was delivered. for whatever reason, every stocked vehicle here in colorado is fully loaded and was out of my price range, and additionally, finding an 8 foot bed is near impossible. im a carpenter - 8 foot bed makes sense in my case.

 

[opie]

Thanks for the advice! Much appreciated. Yes, traverse city is a 4 hour drive north. Just checked and it looks like they have very few 2016's listed.

Ideally, I would like an out the door price of somewhere around $35k. 20% of $45k is 9k. So I need to find something (likely a tradesman) with a sticker pice less than 45k and hope for a good deal. Anything more than $35k otd and I would be getting into an uncomfortable financial situation. Maybe I need to give the 1500's a hard look. Just really like the 2500.

What are your realistic towing expectations? I went with a 2500 because we are going to purchase a travel trailer and I wanted to get a dump trailer.

I test drove a 2500 with the 5.7 in it and it wasn't a slouch. The 2500 doesn't net you a huge increase in towing ability over the 1500. The benefits, as I see them with going 3/4 is better brakes, solid front axle and the ability to get the 6.4.

BUT.... You probably wont find a better deal on a 1500. They are far more prevalent and desirable. I originally was looking at 1/2 tons and it made more financial sense to step up to a 3/4, for me. I price checked all of the Big Three as well as Toyota and Nissan.... They sell more 1/2 tons so there are better deals on 3/4

I think new, being OTD around $35 is going to be tough.

 

[opie]

Anyone have an idea what the "friends and family" discount will get me? I know I can't get the immediate family dicount because mine would be from my wife's uncle. So, I am assuming I get the worse of the two discounts offered.

I remember something along the lines of 1% less than invoice price. Not really sure how to figure out invoice price.

Thanks!
Jeff

Most of the prices you see on dealer websites include the F&F discount. I think it amounts to around $4000

 

[opie]

Look into going out of state and see what the cost to have it shipped to you is. For some reason $900 sticks in my head but I'm sure its dependent on distance.

 

[Steel Curtain]

I just looked here in MD and I can find tradesman's CC 4x4 6.4 for around 35k but they all have 3.73 gears. I paid 42k for my big horn and it has 3.73's in it. I too wanted 4.10 but was hard pressed to find one. They offer a great deal so I went with it. I tow a 9k camper all the time and have had no issues doing so. Like everyone else has said you are in no hurry so let that part work for you. Good luck.

 

[65Plymouth]

Thanks guys.....

Yeah... There may be travel travel plans in my future as well. I pull a fully loaded military cargo trailer (M101a2) 6 hours north several times during deer season. Trailer and load probably weight 5,000 lbs total. I dont need a 2500 for that as my 1/2 ton does just fine.

I am looking at the 2500 specifically for the following reasons:
- HD Brakes
- HD suspension
- Solid Front Axle (I really like this)
- 6.4 Hemi

I was looking at 1500's and there is really no reason to get a 1500. I "might" be able to save a bit of money, but nothing considerable. Why not have the HD parts, Solid front axle, the bigger engine etc..

Maybe I will just go to the local dealer, Toss down the truck I built on the website and tell him to either find one, or give me an OTD price quote on an ordered one. Or.. Maybe I will contact Dennis Dillon in Idaho and have him give me a quote on the truck I built and consider having it shipped. I hate to go through all that hassle, but if it saves me a few grand, why not.