HELP!!! How do I get a new car at MSRP by next summer?

[ChrisStarrUSA]

Gang,

Hi. Anyone have a strategy for getting into an Elise by next summer at MSRP? My car the Elise would replace is going off lease in the spring. I'm already on a list, but I'm a high number (68) at a medium/low allocation dealership (Rothrock). An 18-24 month wait would suck. I will not do an ebay buy, and would prefer to pay MSRP or maybe a modest premium ($2.5-5k). I want a new car, not a flipped car. I want my options (HT/LSS/Touring) and color combo (StTi w/biscuit).

Any ideas?

Any new dealers with new lists to get on?

What to do?

Any and all help will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Chris

[palting]

I'd call around. So long as you are willing to go out of your way to eventually pick up the car, you should find one easy for MSRP for summer 2005 delivery.

Anyway, I have one for expected delivery July 2005, building maybe April/May. I'm reconsidering. If I change my mind, you can have my slot for free. I think this e-bay selling of slots is pure larceny. Just PM or e-mail me.

[Josepmamuric]

Originally posted by ChrisStarrUSA
Gang,

Hi. Anyone have a strategy for getting into an Elise by next summer at MSRP? My car the Elise would replace is going off lease in the spring. I'm already on a list, but I'm a high number (68) at a medium/low allocation dealership (Rothrock). An 18-24 month wait would suck. I will not do an ebay buy, and would prefer to pay MSRP or maybe a modest premium ($2.5-5k). I want a new car, not a flipped car. I want my options (HT/LSS/Touring) and color combo (StTi w/biscuit).

Any ideas?

Any new dealers with new lists to get on?

What to do?

Any and all help will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Chris

I just talked to my dealer at Mid Rivers Lotus, and they said that starting in January they will be delivering 6 cars a month, so in theory you could get one by late august, but if you want one before that, you will probably have to pay a premium.

[Sownman]

To get a car by next summer I would suggest you either put a deposit down last October or be in a position to pay $10k over sticker. Either one should work. People in hell want ice water, but without the scratch they get nowhere.

Good Luck

Steve

[palting]

Found this just cruising around e-bay, delivery end of this year December delivery .

If you stay calm, I predict you'll find several actual cars selling at or even below MSRP on e-bay by this time next year.

[Josepmamuric]

Originally posted by palting
Found this just cruising around e-bay, delivery end of this year December delivery .

If you stay calm, I predict you'll find several actual cars selling at or even below MSRP on e-bay by this time next year.

Not to sound to be a pessimist, but because there are people who have been waiting for so long, and the current owners know they can charge a premium, I highly doubt your claims of buying a car below MSRP

[zvezdah1]

You've got a shot at MSRP this time next year, also suspect they'll used cars available in small numbers as well. Don't know about discounted new cars tho, think that's a bit overoptimistic.
Chris

[palting]

You may be right, but certainly one of the things that have cropped up is that people on the list don't know the whole story of the Elise. On the day I test drove the car, the guy who drove it ahead of me had been on the waiting list several months. After his test drive, he took his deposit back. He simpy said it wasn't what he expected . I'm assuming he was looking for a daily driver. There were some disappointments on my test drive, but I still wanted the car. Add that to people who are double posting on different waitlists, people who are disappointed by the increased MSRP, followed by people who were lookong to sell their spots without really intending to buy the car, and I think that the wait lists will deflate within the next 6 months.

[zvezdah1]

Palting,
I agree with you completely on the wait list thing. But with something like 3000 deposits already even counting two slots for every person, that's still probably 1500 which will be lucky if they produce that many this year.

Certainly I see the inflated market price going away in the next few months, which is fine by me, I want the dirt bag speculators to get out of here so the enthusiasts can actually get the car they want.
Chris

[pianomaniac]

Originally posted by palting
You may be right, but certainly one of the things that have cropped up is that people on the list don't know the whole story of the Elise. On the day I test drove the car, the guy who drove it ahead of me had been on the waiting list several months. After his test drive, he took his deposit back. He simpy said it wasn't what he expected . I'm assuming he was looking for a daily driver. There were some disappointments on my test drive, but I still wanted the car. Add that to people who are double posting on different waitlists, people who are disappointed by the increased MSRP, followed by people who were lookong to sell their spots without really intending to buy the car, and I think that the wait lists will deflate within the next 6 months.

Palting.....I think you should just buy an S2 Elise and stop agonizing over it. BTW,Newport European is selling their black/touring/sport. I think this is the perfect car for you. :D

[palting]

Originally posted by pianomaniac
Palting.....I think you should just buy an S2 Elise and stop agonizing over it. BTW,Newport European is selling their black/touring/sport. I think this is the perfect car for you. :D

Heh-heh-heh . I thought about it. What makes the Federal Elise appealing to me is that it is street legal, though. OTOH, I can get a track ready 951 or older 911, plus tow vehicle plus enclosed trailer for the same money as the Fed Elise. We'll have to see next spring how I feel about it. In the meantime, in a perverse sort of way, I am actually having fun agonizing over it :D.

[ChrisStarrUSA]

Gang,

Thanks for all the info. I guess I really kicked off something here.

I don't mind waiting another 9 months, or even paying a small premium. It's just that I've already been waiting a while, and would prefer not to wait much longer than another 9 months and miss next summer (again!!!). Right now I just don't have a handle on how many cars my dealer expects each month (and they won't tell me). At number 68, it could be 22 months (3 cars per month) or 11 months (at 6 cars per month). At the shorter end, I don't have a problem with the wait, but getting out 18-24 months and missing next summer (again!!... sorry - sore point), would suck. Wouldn't be such a big deal, but here in Pennsylvania, our driving season is quite what it is in California... (given that I prefer not to drive sports cars in snow, slush, salt, etc.)

Thanks,

Chris

[ChrisStarrUSA]

err... should read: isn't quite what it is in California... victim of quick typing..

Chris