Anyone pay over MSRP for the Lightning?

[bthomps10]

What is this "Window Etching" I keep hearing about? And Maintenance? What Maintenance could they have already charged you for?

Is the window etch a security thing? I had etching on my Lincoln and if the car got stolen they would be able to match the etching numbers if it was found or parted out.

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[IdeaOfTheDayCom]

What is this "Window Etching" I keep hearing about? And Maintenance? What Maintenance could they have already charged you for?

The maintenance is a total mystery. You would assume that would be part of the $1695 destination charge.

As for window etching... I remember dealers inventing this sort of thing back in the 90s. Basically, they claimed that cars with the VIN number etched into the glass and on stickers on a bunch of other places were less likely to have their vehicles or their windows stolen.

The basic premise is that when a junkyard sells parts from a stolen car, any parts and windows that have the stolen VIN # on it would be a problem.

Apparently, some dealers still slip this sort of thing in.

Here's how one site describes it.

https://www.insider-car-buying-tips.com/car_window_etching.html

These sorts of hidden dealer things have been around forever... like undercoating, "PolyGlycoat", and Lojack that dealers would claim they couldn't remove from the price because they were "already installed".

Since a lot of vehicles have built-in GPS and Internet, Lojack is not as easy to push onto an unsuspecting buyer, but dealers love to tack on stuff to increase their bottom line.

 

[ErichKeane]

I Did. 46 over.

Welp, looks like my 'markup' just became way less thanks to the price increases I already knew I wasn't going to get the tax rebate (since by the time I'd get one, the 7500 was going to expire, and I already wasn't going to be able to get the new one for various reasons), but the new $10k increase in price means at least I'd have to have paid $90k in 3 years to get it instead of $80k. So those 3 years now only cost me 36k instead of 46k

 

[gpbst3]

I Did. 46 over.

$46,000 US Dollars over!!!!!!

Are you married? How do you sneak that one past the wife?

 

[ErichKeane]

$46,000 US Dollars over!!!!!!

Are you married? How do you sneak that one past the wife?

Yep, paid 126k on an 81k truck. I am married, got the wife's OK! I'm usually financially responsible and put a ton into retirement/college funds/etc, so this is my first "big silly purchase" in a while, and my first "less than 10 year old car" that I've ever had for myself.

This is basically my 'mid life crisis' (perhaps a little early, I'm 36...)vehicle

 

[gpbst3]

Yep, paid 126k on an 81k truck. I am married, got the wife's OK! I'm usually financially responsible and put a ton into retirement/college funds/etc, so this is my first "big silly purchase" in a while, and my first "less than 10 year old car" that I've ever had for myself.

This is basically my 'mid life crisis' (perhaps a little early, I'm 36...)vehicle

Good for you. My wife would murder me for a 81k truck alone. She would hack me up into tiny pieces and put me in the frunk and set the truck on fire for 126k!

 

[bydabeach]

Figured out on another vehicle that my dealer made about $800 for "charges" to process the title and registration. Expect to get the same charges when we complete the sale of the Lightning. That is more than attorneys charge.
Document fee: $599 ($249 clerical, $175 document delivery, $175 computer fee)--what is a computer fee, and why is it $175?

Registration and title were about $415, and checking the DMV charges, they were only $144.

Add on the $299 window etch fees, which says (optional), but I was not asked and it was charged, there was about $1200 in fluff charges.

Have no problem paying something reasonable to the dealer for doing title and registration. In NJ a new car owner cannot process a new car themselves. $900 is ridiculous to hit a customer for doing this.

 

[ChrisCon]

Yep, paid 126k on an 81k truck. I am married, got the wife's OK! I'm usually financially responsible and put a ton into retirement/college funds/etc, so this is my first "big silly purchase" in a while, and my first "less than 10 year old car" that I've ever had for myself.

This is basically my 'mid life crisis' (perhaps a little early, I'm 36...)vehicle

Erich, I love this. It's something you wanted and something you now have . Out of curiosity, did you ever have a Lightning reservation? When did you hear about the Lightning and decided you wanted one?

 

[Roy2001]

I only placed order online, and it does not show ADM. Dealer never asked me to go to sign anything. Is that a good sign?

 

[Tbrou16]

Yep, paid 126k on an 81k truck. I am married, got the wife's OK! I'm usually financially responsible and put a ton into retirement/college funds/etc, so this is my first "big silly purchase" in a while, and my first "less than 10 year old car" that I've ever had for myself.



This is basically my 'mid life crisis' (perhaps a little early, I'm 36...)vehicle

“But babe, it’s a house generator and truck in one!” - Me, one year from now

 

[RavenYZF-R6]

Yep, paid 126k on an 81k truck. I am married, got the wife's OK! I'm usually financially responsible and put a ton into retirement/college funds/etc, so this is my first "big silly purchase" in a while, and my first "less than 10 year old car" that I've ever had for myself.

This is basically my 'mid life crisis' (perhaps a little early, I'm 36...)vehicle

Got any friends or coworkers that want a Pro?

 

[1Jetpilot]

What is this "Window Etching" I keep hearing about? And Maintenance? What Maintenance could they have already charged you for?

It's what dealerships add hoping you won't see it

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