Just so you know, they may be asking "over" MSRP but that doesn't mean you can't make a deal happen @MSRP. Here in Albuquerque, NM Thunderbird Harley has been asking $4k above MSRP. They have also been topping it off with outrageous dealer preparation and documentation fees. I worked a deal with their satellite store, Duke City HD, @ MSRP and got the 2+5 ESP. They got their prep/doc fees but worked them back out of the ESP cost to make a deal comparable to other MSRP dealers in the state.
Suggestion: Call around the country to both MSRP and "over" dealers. Find the bike you want in the color you want.
Get a complete breakdown of cost out the door.
MSRP
Market Markup/Discount
Freight
Preparation
Sales Tax
Title Fee
License Fee
ESP (your desired term) make sure to use the 2+ ESP language. Some will see you a 5yr as 2+3 when you really want 5 MORE Years.
Order and Delivery Date Projections
Once you get 5 or 6 quotes, you have a good idea of ranges and what you can find acceptable.
Suggestions on MSRP Dealers to talk to;
Holstein's HD - Omaha, NE
Knoxville HD - Knoxville, NE
Barnett's HD - El Paso, TX ( I have been told they are not MSRP but they quoted me MSRP and then rolled up big $$$ for ESP, point of comparison)
Your Local Dealer
Dealer with "Your Dream Bike" in stock or delivered within 4 weeks.
Other consideration: How soon do you "need" that bike? Are you willing to pay a little more for one that's on the floor or scheduled for deliver in 2-3 weeks?
Best of Luck.
DesertHOG aka Simon
Excellent advice DesertHog,
I took it and did almost exactly as you advised, I looked at websites advertising 2015 HDs (cycle trader, chopper exchange, HD Dealers, etc), and contacted every dealer in the lower 48 advertising 15 SERGU/s at MSRP and asked for 'out the door quotes'. I did not bother contacting 'ask for price' or higher than MSRP. There appeared to be literally several hundred SERGUs for sale. 15 dealers came back with quotes of MSRP and a variety of approaches to padding the price out or not (what I would call fair deals). I made my contacts by email so I was not bombarded with phone calls from folks looking to run their sales patter by me. This also gave me the advantage of having an offer in black and white. They then either have to improve the deal or decline.
Whilst this thread my be about current locations/prices etc a bit of 'Caveat Emptor' seems appropriate. I will stay away from trading v selling previous ride which is a different subject.
One of the dealers I went to had given me a way over initial price ($49k+ was their starting quote) so I only went there to look at and compare the three colours as they were not far from where I live. Told them I would not buy as anything over MSRP is overpriced and they were the dearest quote I had received. They then offered me a discount of $3.5k of original price. I told them I can get one for MSRP from 15 other dealers which meant they were not competitive for my business and they then came down to MSRP because they wanted my business. The point here is just because they start out over MSRP it doesn't mean they will stay there. They were actually right on with tax, title, license etc as per state requirements and recommended freight prep of $500+ with no padding, unlike many others who had slid in up to $1800+ on top.
When visiting dealerships be aware they will try and keep you in their shop and preferably in one spot by asking for your id and then holding it or getting information or prices for you and so on. They have a script they run to and like to keep you on it as it puts them in the power seat when negotiating. Its about pressure, they want you to sign up straight away and not walk out and have time to consider or compare. Bottom line is there is no hurry, so shop around & do not accept any deal over MSRP, check for hidden costs slid in as something else such as 'dealer prep'. Be sure to let the dealer know that you are shopping around and that they are competing for the privilege of your business rather than allowing you to 'join their family' .......blah, blah, blah. You also need to be aware that they will look to roll in everything from ESP, insurance, parts, future servicing and so on into a purchase. Find out what each item is, decide if you need/want it and shop around to decide if you want to get it from the same dealer as the bike. You should do this before buying a bike as it lets you make a fully informed decision.
My advice is do your homework, compare different dealers and don't tell the sales folk that you love the bike and just have to have it. Don't sit there at their mercy, move about, go somewhere else, make them chase you, and insist on them providing hardcopy quotes for you to take away and consider. Let them know you are seriously shopping around and looking at all options before making a considered decision. All of the pressure should be on them not you. After all buying a new motorcycle should be a wonderful experience, should it not?
Thanks Desert Hog you made my acquisition a lot easier than if I had 'gone in blind'.
Cheers Major Tom
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Topic: 2015 CVO HARLEYS---WHERE ARE THEY AND WHAT DO THEY COST? (Read 27947 times)