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[ccr]

Why would a dealer care about interest rate on a loan?  I know they can get a kickback if they are the referer of a loan to a particular company, but when we have pulled out a rate that we can get any day of the week from Pentagon Federal Credit Union, we've found that a vehicle dealer is willing to find someone somewhere to beat - not match - the rate.  I don't understand, I am just asking?

[Midnight Rider]

The "regular" 105th colors are what I'd call a Duracell...the CVO anni is not even in the same ballpark, IMO.  The regular anniversary color is FUGLY...local dealer here has at least a dozen of different models sitting on the showroom floor.  They've also got a CVO RK, Springer, and Dyna in the 105 colors (beautiful bikes), plus an 07 CVO Dyna left over.  They have a LOT of bikes on the floor.  I've got a feeling that a great many dealers are hurting right now, with large inventory, and no buyers.

The CVO 105 color is a really pretty bike...I would have no problem owning one in that color, were I in the market for a new bike.  I cannot imagine even the MOCO, who seems to be dumber than a box of rocks at times, would be stupid enough to change a special paint color for a CVO bike during mid year, and make it look like "any other" 105 Anni bike...butt ugly.  The only color that is more ugly is that baby chit green they have out...looks like something that came from Linda Blair's mouth in the Exorsist...they sit on the showroom floor also...

No offense intended to those who might own the colors I just got through bashing...

[HogBreath]

Terry, I'm a little confused.

You like the anniversary color or you don't? Please be more clear. 

[drogers]

The "regular" 105th colors are what I'd call a Duracell...the CVO anni is not even in the same ballpark, IMO.  The regular anniversary color is FUGLY...local dealer here has at least a dozen of different models sitting on the showroom floor.  They've also got a CVO RK, Springer, and Dyna in the 105 colors (beautiful bikes), plus an 07 CVO Dyna left over.  They have a LOT of bikes on the floor.  I've got a feeling that a great many dealers are hurting right now, with large inventory, and no buyers.

The CVO 105 color is a really pretty bike...I would have no problem owning one in that color, were I in the market for a new bike.  I cannot imagine even the MOCO, who seems to be dumber than a box of rocks at times, would be stupid enough to change a special paint color for a CVO bike during mid year, and make it look like "any other" 105 Anni bike...butt ugly.  The only color that is more ugly is that baby chit green they have out...looks like something that came from Linda Blair's mouth in the Exorsist...they sit on the showroom floor also...

No offense intended to those who might own the colors I just got through bashing...

I agree and can't quite figure out why so many people lump the regular copper top anni bikes with the CVO anni color.Like you said,not even close. I've owned a lot of bikes,but I get mot positive comments on My CVO anni color than any bike I have ever owned.It's amazing paint work,especially in the sun.

[h-d mikey]

I guess they figure if you have all that money to spend on a bike with as many problems as the 110's have been having, you don't care about interest rates either! 

Amen brother

[cuthbertss]

The "regular" 105th colors are what I'd call a Duracell...the CVO anni is not even in the same ballpark, IMO.  The regular anniversary color is FUGLY...local dealer here has at least a dozen of different models sitting on the showroom floor.  They've also got a CVO RK, Springer, and Dyna in the 105 colors (beautiful bikes), plus an 07 CVO Dyna left over.  They have a LOT of bikes on the floor.  I've got a feeling that a great many dealers are hurting right now, with large inventory, and no buyers.

The CVO 105 color is a really pretty bike...I would have no problem owning one in that color, were I in the market for a new bike.  I cannot imagine even the MOCO, who seems to be dumber than a box of rocks at times, would be stupid enough to change a special paint color for a CVO bike during mid year, and make it look like "any other" 105 Anni bike...butt ugly.  The only color that is more ugly is that baby chit green they have out...looks like something that came from Linda Blair's mouth in the Exorsist...they sit on the showroom floor also...

No offense intended to those who might own the colors I just got through bashing...

Are you talking about the army green ones?  im kinda fond of that color.... but not on a freaking motorcycle!

[cuthbertss]

i missed this one..but thats funny !!!!!

[cuthbertss]

I guess they figure if you have all that money to spend on a bike with as many problems as the 110's have been having, you don't care about interest rates either! 

this quote!

[Grizzly]

I'm sure the low 1.05% rate on the anniversary (copper top) colours is strictly a business decision.

Obviously the MoCo have done it again - over produced just like in '03.  Like many of you said, in most dealerships the copper tops are lined up and they have to move them out or it begins to cost them.

On the other hand, like most of you have mentioned, the CVO's sell no matter what and they don't have to encourage purchasers.

I won't be surprised at all to see some dealers swap out the copper top paints sets for a custom paint job just to move the product, just like many have done to move previously over produced paint sets.  Most of us want to own a unique bike, after all that is one reason we went for the duracell in the first place - it's a great paint set and they're not a lot of them out there - only 1,800 world wide!

This is definitely a business decision and I hope it pays off for the MoCo and that they've learned something about over celebrating???

[SilverDawg]

ask the boys at Thunder Mountain...

last time i talked to them they wanted like 3500 OVER for the 08 Ultra...

i almost hurt myself laughing at them   

Isn't this store own by females (not a shot, just a legitimate question)?

[SBB]

Isn't this store own by females (not a shot, just a legitimate question)?

If your speaking of Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson then the owner is Todd Erdman.
He may have a woman running it but the bucks stop with him.

 

[SilverDawg]

I would think that most likely the dealers are taking some kind of financial loss offering that low of a rate, the CVO's (normally) don't sit to long in showrooms, and not all dealers get CVO's or either get very few. It's like the reason some dealers charge 3 - 5K over MSRP because someone will buy it. By them not offering the 1.05% interest on the CVO's for financing they are counting on somebody else to come along and buy it and not care about that rate.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

dOOd,

It depends.  I believe this rate is being subsidized by the MoCo in an effort to provide a sales incentive to consumers to purchase one of the anniversary edition bikes most all dealers are choking on due to the sheer amount of inventory they have.  I was speaking to a store yesterday in FL, that has over 50 in inventory, both on the floor and still in the crates.  They are definitely feeling the pinch of a slow economy and lagging bike sales.  This particular dealer, which is in the top 20 in volume in the U.S., stated his volume was down 40% vs. the same time period last year...WOW..

When the rate is subsidized by the manufacturer, it usually means the dealer loses his normal finance reserve he makes when a consumer utilizes a loan at current market rates (on average $1,000/unit in the car biz for a non luxury make).  As there is no markup on the rate on these low interest loans, it eliminates a source of income (finance reserve) from the dealership. The Finance Manager is ususally paid a flat amount ($50-100 in the auto biz) to motivate them to push these loans.  As you would imagine, they are not real popular for these folks whose living depends upon generating finance reserve on loans.  

If the rate is dealer funded, obviously it will further reduce overall dealer profitability based on the fact the income on the bike will be reduced by the amount of the buydown from his normal rate.  It would not surprise me if an aggressive dealer buys down this mfg. funded (if indeed it is) APR down to 0% to create an even stronger incentive.

My guess is that after the winter dealer meeting, the MoCo will get an earful on bulging inventories from their dealers.   My local guy stated they already have a floorplan assist program to help the cover the growing expense of holding all of this inventory.  After the meeting, it may be time to pick up that second (or third) bike that some of you are looking for

[Talon]

If your speaking of Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson then the owner is Todd Erdman.
He may have a woman running it but the bucks stop with him.

 

Yea, I couldn't think of his name, but Chip's right, Todd owns it, they also opened a dealership in Denver too.

[RJ749]

I would think that most likely the dealers are taking some kind of financial loss offering that low of a rate, the CVO's (normally) don't sit to long in showrooms, and not all dealers get CVO's or either get very few. It's like the reason some dealers charge 3 - 5K over MSRP because someone will buy it. By them not offering the 1.05% interest on the CVO's for financing they are counting on somebody else to come along and buy it and not care about that rate.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Cobaltman got it right.

Subvention on general stock and not specialty stuff.

It is the standard fare in the auto business and now since Harley is in the business of trying to move iron, they've obviously had to adopt it too.

You can bet they are walking the fine line of union contracts, production stop and starts, subvention and loss of customers that are the witches brew of a slowing economy.

Whether we like it or not we will see many such efforts until supply gets back in line with demand.

I doubt that will be anytime soon for the MoCo since winter selling months are hard on them and with oil at $100 a barrel, it and many other things are still tightening the consumer's belt as well.

[RedDevil]

I'm sure the low 1.05% rate on the anniversary (copper top) colours is strictly a business decision.

Obviously the MoCo have done it again - over produced just like in '03.  Like many of you said, in most dealerships the copper tops are lined up and they have to move them out or it begins to cost them.

On the other hand, like most of you have mentioned, the CVO's sell no matter what and they don't have to encourage purchasers.

I won't be surprised at all to see some dealers swap out the copper top paints sets for a custom paint job just to move the product, just like many have done to move previously over produced paint sets.  Most of us want to own a unique bike, after all that is one reason we went for the duracell in the first place - it's a great paint set and they're not a lot of them out there - only 1,800 world wide!
This is definitely a business decision and I hope it pays off for the MoCo and that they've learned something about over celebrating???

Actually, believe it or not, you're getting the  most widely produced CVO color second only to the 03 Anniversay color, which was on all CVO's produced that year (the CVO Road King and CVO Deuce, were only offered in one color scheme each).  You're actually getting a more limited production color (theorhetically only 1200 of each) if you get the canyon copper/silver or the white/silver Ultras.  They're producing roughly 4200 SEUCs with 1800 of them being the Duracell, that leaves 2400 worldwide to be divided amongst the other two colors.  I have to agree it is the best color scheme of the three Ultras this year, but it is definitely not the most exclusive color of the three, by a long shot.  I personally think the MoCo over-did the anniversay theme this year for being, really, a non-significant (105) anniversary.  It actually would have been, in my opinion, a better marketing tool, if they had made the anniversay color more exclusive, thus in more high demand.  As it is, I see almost more anniversay-colored machines sitting on the dealership floors than the other colors.

Cheers ,