GM Red Tag Sale, and, Silverado vs. Sierra

weedsportpete · Nov 29, 2005

Our lease is almost up on our 02 Silverado and we are looking for another one. First dealer we went to said that the Red Tag sale means that every Chevy dealer has the same price on the same model/same options.. Is that true?

I bought the Consumer Reports auto report on the Silverado and the Red Tag price is very close to the dealer bottom line price, except for the holdback.. so does that mean that the Red Tag price is about a good a deal as I can get?

Does the Red Tag price mean that the only negotiation room is in the value of my current vehicle? The purchase option is for $14,840 (Z71, trailer/tow, 4x4, Ext Cab, bench seat, two-tone, 41k miles). The NADA site has the retail price higher than Kelly Blue Book.. the dealer goes by KBB.. I'm thinking that if the market value is above the purchase option price, then I've got some negotiating room, but the dealer is not giving me anything there.

I always thought that the Sierra was the less-expensive duplicate of the Silverado, but the dealer is saying the opposite.. Are the prices between similarly equipped Silverados and Sierras the same?

We are thinking about going to an import but the CFO does not want to give up her heavy chevy and the large towing capacity.. we tow a two horse bumper pull aluminum trailer so I don't think we need the full 7000+ lbs, but I do like the power..

Pete

Dargo · Nov 29, 2005

There is still a bit of wiggle room. Most dealers in my area openly advertise that they sell below the "red tag" price. As far as towing and power in that size truck, I believe the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan both rival the big 3 abilities, if you want to compare imports. I've spoken with people who claim that their Titan is far stonger than the domestic pickups they have owned in the past. Personally, I tow over 12,000 pounds behind my truck nearly every time it is moved, so I'll have to just stick with my Cummins powered pickup for a while. You are definitely looking in a range that is within the full sized import capabilities.

Unclebuck257 · Nov 29, 2005

The Sierra (GM version) used to be slightly higher priced than the Silverado. Years ago, they were made at different plants, and the Sierra was thought to be the better of the two. That was many many years ago now and anymore there isn't any difference in the two trucks except the emblems. I've owned both and really couldn't tell a difference.

Regarding your "deal", your assumption about negotiating what your trade in is worth is just about right. I haven't bought a GM truck since 98, when I had one fall apart on me, and I've been buying Ford pickups since then. In early August, I traded my 03 F-250 diesel Lariat 4X4 that was loaded to the max, in on an 05 F-150 gas engine, due to diesel prices. That was when all the dealers were going by that Employee pricing thing. They said the same thing then too..All dealers are selling at the same price!! The difference was the trade in the various dealers wanted to give me on my F-250. There was a $3000.00 difference by the time I got done. I suspect you'll find a wide variation too in what they offer on your present vehicle!

Jagmandave · Nov 29, 2005

He doesn't really have a trade in, his current truck is leased. They won't give him anything on his leased vehicle, if it's worth more than the lease turn in (which is highly unlikely, especially at wholesale), the only thing he can do is buy it out of the lease then trade or sell it. But, by the time he pays tax and license fees, he's used up all the extra profit there was.

I think the best thing to do is simply buy the truck you like the best and quit worrying about that extra $100 you might save by buying from brand X over brand Y, it's not worth it in the long run. By the vehicle you want, from a dealer you like to work with and get on with enjoying your new truck!

PS Either the Tundra or the Titan is worth your consideration, I'd go drive both before you make your final decision.......

weedsportpete · Nov 30, 2005

I'll start comparing the import models. My wife is the main drive of the truck, and is dead set against Fords and does not care for Dodges, so I'll check out the imports. Its the horsepower and towing capacity that will have to be comparable to the Silverado.

We'll also check with the other Chevy dealers - we've bought four cars from this one, but the ownership has changed twice in the last year (along with the sales staff & manager), so our loyalty is not strong right now.

Thanks for your help everyone.

CTyler · Nov 30, 2005

Has your wife been in or driven a new Ford truck? I have a GM vehicles and the newer Fords are Nice.

Boondox · Dec 1, 2005

Hey, Pete! I was over in your neck of the woods last month and didn't even realize how close I was (Brewerton) till I got home and studied the map! Bummer!

I had a similar situation a few years ago when I was looking to replace my Dodge. The truck was okay, but the dealer sucked! So I looked at all of em, except Dodge. Ford drove nice, but didn't have the payload I needed and the sides of the bed were SO HIGH I thought loading it with firewood would kill my shoulders. I liked the Tundra, but it couldn't handle my snowplow and again there was that payload thing. Also, curiously, while Consumer Reports loves all Toyotas, Consumer Guide had some very unkind things to say about their trucks. They felt the quality was not that much better than other trucks, but that Toyota was capitalizing on their reputation for quality cars and charging way more than the truck was worth. The new Nissan Titan, well, I just couldn't get over the looks. Reminded me of some science fiction movie. There is a majesty to big trucks that just wasn't there with the Titan.

In the end I went with the Silverado 4x4 regular cab longbox with the 5.3L. Plenty of power, huge payload for hay or firewood, and it handles my Curtis plow with no trouble at all. Now at 44k, all my minor issues have been handled under warranty and the dealer has been absolutely fantastic to work with.

Pete

weedsportpete · Dec 2, 2005

Now thats a happy ending! I'll pick my battles and avoid trying to change my wife's mind about other brands (Ford, Dodge). This Silverado is the second she's owned and its done very well and can pull the horses without a problem.. she doesn't want to give up even 10% of the towing capacity that she has now.

Looking at our finances and the options out there we have pretty much decided on buying the existing truck and buying an extended warranty. We had a couple of problems that would have cost around $1500 if they hadn't been covered under the manufacturers warranty, and its about the same cost for an extended warranty thats good for 48 months or 48k miles beyond the current mileage.

Too bad - you were very close to Weedsport from Brewerton.. could have shown you the farm. Thanks again for the coffee...