Just out of curiosity. What kind of deposit/dealer fees have you been paying lately?

Last time I placed an order for a custom Pcar. Deposit was 1k/no dealership fees!

What have you been paying lately?

 

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We usually will hold a car for $500.00

Doc fee is $50.00

 

How about a custom order!? Still $500?

Thanks.

 

How serious are you about completing the transaction once the car arrives? I prefer the term "Partial Payment" instead of deposit. A deposit is refundable. If you are ordering some off the wall color or options I would charge you a rather large partial payment, say $10,000 or more. That's no big deal as it is probably 10% of the purchase price. I paid a $2500 partial payment to order mine and was happy to write the check because I was dead serious. Asking $500 on a $100,000 car to "hold" , forget that !!! Thats the weakest thing I have ever heard in my 29 years of selling cars. And no, I don't sell Porsches.

 

Standard color, standard options - I've seen $0 to $1000. Wild color or crazy options - I've seen $2500 to 10% of the car's sticker. I think it's fair to ask for a lot up front if the car might sit on the lot for ages. The only exception would be when the buyer has a strong relationship with the dealer (i.e. bought many cars over the years).

 

I prefer to call it a "Deposit" as that is what is written on the contract. As to the 500 dollar deposits , it is obviously being done in WA. Thanks for your HO.

Oh, this isn't really about me, but since you ask, when I sign a purchase agreement, I buy.

So you put 2500 down any dealership doc/handling fees?

 

OK, let me explain. All dealerships in GA charge about $400 for doc fees whether you order the car or buy one in stock, doesn't matter. When I ordered my car I gave them a $2500 partial payment, or deposit as you call it. When the car came in the $2500 was deducted from the out the door price. I admire your honesty and integrity when you say that when you sign an agreement you buy. I assure you sir, you are in MINORITY. Most customers would forfeit a $500 deposit on a $100,000 car if they simply "changed their mind". That small of a deposit wouldn't commit most people to a $5000 car.

 

I have always put 1000 down at Ira on my cars.
I was told that with a 'very' custom order such as an orange turbo that the deposits are sometimes 10-20,000. Because I was a repeat offender I was given the 1000 deposit which apparently never got submitted!

 

I have to say I agree with you, with people just walking away. I ask this question just to get a idea of what different dealerships are currently asking in the current market.

What happens if in this current market one is to put 10k down for a car and that individual dealership declares bankruptcy and closes shop!?!?

 

Dave, so you are saying that they submit the full deposit to Porsche NA?

 

I put down $2500 as deposite when I ordered my Speed Yellow Cab back in 2005. Of course, back then dealers weren't worry about not selling cars.

 

Here in WA, the terms "partial payment" means it's non-refundable. You can get a deposit back.

$500 will hold a car on the lot. Custom order is typically $5k w/someone we don't know.

I ordered my car w/nothing down, but I'd bought several cars from the same sales person/dealership.

 

I don't think they submit any of it. I think it is purely for the dealer in case you pul the plug on your order. Hence with some carazy order, like an orange turbo, they usually want more in case you back out of the purchase.... that way even if they sell the car at a big discount they're doing OK.

 

Ok, that was my understanding as well.