Negotiating for a new RT

[bavenda]

When buying a new bike how much room is there between the list price and the price one pays? Is there a way to see the invoice price? Is buying a new RT like buying a new BMW car?

[panman]

good luck, I got 200 of list on mine

[Effjay]

In August, I found a fully loaded 2007 RT (all options except ASC and alarm) on consignment with just 514 miles. Also had Suburban's peg kit and bar risers, Touratech shifter and BMW 28L top box already mounted - items that appealed to me. I negotiated a deal that included a new BMW R1200RT tankbag for a total net savings of $3500+ below full combined retail replacement value of bike and accessories. Buying "used" has it's advantages. Oh yeah, and I love this bike!

Jeff

[Seattle]

When buying a new bike how much room is there between the list price and the price one pays? Is there a way to see the invoice price? Is buying a new RT like buying a new BMW car?


I usually can get between $500 - $1000 off of list. If you can find a demo you can usually save about $2K.

[ridesmith]

In this region there are five dealers within a four hour drive, so I stopped in or called several and told them what I was looking for, and asked for their best price. I ended up saving thousands off list, including the factory incentive program last summer. Competition is a beautiful thing!

[MarkG]

I agree with the idea of buying a "used" model rather than brand new. I tried to buy from my local dealer, but the best they'd do for a very basic brand new model, a stripper to be precise, was just a very small reduction from list, somewhere just under $18k.

I specifically told the salesman I really wanted a very low mileage bike, and asked him if he'd like to contact other dealers. He did nothing, so I did it myself, found, simply by a quick online search, an '06 with topcase, ESA, heated grips/seat (none of which were on my local dealer's offering), with 1100 miles on it. Two emails later I agreed to pay $15.5, had them install an Autocom, and they picked me up at the airport (add two hundred bucks for the flight if you like). I got to spend the first two days of ownership in the mountains of southern New Mexico and darkest West Texas, with a long freeway sprint back to Austin at the end. In February, the "useless" heated grips and seat became my favorite things in world on the freeway when the weather turned and temps dropped into the 30s. The low 30s.

That was about eight months and 9,000 miles ago. I imagine I could sell the bike for what I paid, plus the cost all the other farkles since added.

I never saw the original sticker, but I'd guess sticker, including the topcase, was something on the order of $19k? Maybe more? There's another $300 or so savings in sales tax.

Oh, and I got a free T-shirt with "Sandia BMW" on it.

And when I whined about having to redo the Autocom install, the sales manager sent me a check for $200, the total install charge, despite the fact he knew he'd never, ever see me again.

So, I say it pays to buy very slightly used, and it pays to shop, and it pays to get to spend two days riding your brand new bike in the mountains, and it pays to do business with Sandia BMW in Albuquerque [other than the free T-shirt, I have no affiliation....]