Thinking of 323i

scheps · 04-01-2009, 02:21 AM

really sucks man, but who knows they might be more desperate next month

VGR00 · 04-01-2009, 05:33 PM

I don't think dealers will get any more desperate in the coming months. What you will find is the promotion in Q1 was to shift the cars they had on the shelf. Going forward, you will not have a huge selection of cars to choose from if you are looking to pick one up straight away. What will happen is that you will be order one and wait the delivery time. The dealers will have less of an incentive to shift cars sitting around as there wont be many but should focus on good old fashioned "salesmanship" to lock in your business. All other prestige marques will have the same strategy. Don't forget that new car sales is only one small part of a dealership profit. I'd say that main profits would come from service and second hand cars rather than new cars. Dealer revenues will be down but they will manage profitability.

scheps · 04-01-2009, 06:57 PM

Good point,

but it is also an opportunity to secure or inc their market share and as you mentioned more cars sold will equate to, ultimately, more cars serviced and traded in.

Anyone know the sales figures for feb for bmw? i think audi went up by 5% or thereabouts.... IIRC.

bcoz · 04-02-2009, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scheps

Anyone know the sales figures for feb for bmw? i think audi went up by 5% or thereabouts.... IIRC.

The February new car sales weren't pretty. Total sales in Australia fell 21.9% compared with Feb 08. Even Toyota, which was the top selling brand in Feb, was down 31.1% in the 1st 2 months of 09.

According to GoAuto:
Audi’s 5.4 per cent rise in the premium segment was almost gravity defying, and Mercedes-Benz scored a 2.0 per cent increase through its stocktake sale, but Jaguar racked up an incredible 22.0 per cent increase thanks to the arrival of the XF, its new volume seller.
...
However, BMW would be concerned with the overall performance of the 3 Series range, with the sports models down 34.9 per cent in February and the sedan range down 33.4 per cent and handing bragging rights to the Mercedes-Benz C-class, which lifted 34.7 per cent on the back of the company’s big retail action.
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25757100251014

The stats aren't out yet for March, but they should be in the next few days.

TwoTriBeZ · 04-02-2009, 04:56 PM

Sales on the C class? I must have missed out on that. Dealers at Merc weren't willing to budge on price really.

VGR00 · 04-02-2009, 05:10 PM

Figures can get distorted very easily. MB sent out / sold a huge amount of brand new cars to wholesalers in February. John Conroy wholesale in Brisbane has a yard full of them. The other thing to note, the E90 3 series is a dated car compared to the C class and A4 so the hit they are taking doesn't come as a surprise. Sure we have an LCI now but it's only a mild face lift.

bcoz · 04-02-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoTriBeZ

Sales on the C class? I must have missed out on that. Dealers at Merc weren't willing to budge on price really.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vgr02

Figures can get distorted very easily. MB sent out / sold a huge amount of brand new cars to wholesalers in February. John Conroy wholesale in Brisbane has a yard full of them.

Don't forget the above stats are for February (Not March). Also, that's probably what the Merc dealer meant when he told you they don't want to "prostitute the car". They'd rather pass on the discounts to wholesalers instead of their customers, and bump up their sales figures in 1 hit.

scheps · 04-03-2009, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vgr02

The other thing to note, the E90 3 series is a dated car compared to the C class and A4 so the hit they are taking doesn't come as a surprise. Sure we have an LCI now but it's only a mild face lift.

Thats why fingers crossed for TwoTriBeZ for a good deal.

bcoz · 04-03-2009, 08:13 AM

TwoTriBeZ, Don't wait for another official promo, when you're ready go out there and negotiate your own deal, similar to what you did with the Audi.

With the Audi, you weren't emotionally attached to it, and the dealer probably picked up that you had your heart set on a beemer, and you knew what options you wanted so he didn't try sell you a car off the lot. Instead he offered a factory ordered 09 model 1.8TFSI valued at $82K driveaway for $65K (that's a $17K or ~21% discount), plus 3 years free service to boot!

I know the dealer said they were 3 cars short of March's quota, but if you went back there tomorrow, I'm sure he'd offer you the same car at the same price, providing you were willing to place a deposit there and then.

I'm not suggesting that you will get 21% off on a factory ordered BMW (you may get 21% off on a demo) but if you play your cards right, you should get between 10-15% off.

Here's an old thread discussing 320 prices from November 2006.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36455

Even in 2006 (1.5 years into the E90, and almost 2 years before the current financial crisis), some people were getting ~10% discounts on factory ordered beemers.

KingClifton · 04-04-2009, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcoz

he offered a factory ordered 09 model 1.8TFSI valued at $82K driveaway for $65K (that's a $17K or ~21% discount), plus 3 years free service to boot!

And that's the reason Audi resale is so appalling in Australia.

scheps · 04-04-2009, 07:14 AM

also audi hasnt been known for its reliability, the brand name is only just improving IMHO recently and being so closely associated with VW that doesnt help with reliability reputation either.....

most people wouldnt even think they can obtain such a discount but to those who know then that has significant impact on the resale, if they were the buyers.

bcoz · 04-04-2009, 09:50 AM

For those following the new car sales figures, the March stats are out. Overall March sales were down 17.1% on last year (-21.9% in Feb).

Some highlights from GoAuto...
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25758D00285876

The rest of the brands had mixed results, with Audi growing its March sales by 4.6 per cent, which means it is now 5.2 per cent ahead year-to-date to be one of the few brands that are actually up this year.

BMW recorded its strongest March ever with 1450 sales - an increase of 9.7 per cent on March 2008 - but is still 11.1 per cent down at the end of the first quarter.

Despite a bold marketing campaign, Mercedes-Benz sold 12.3 per cent fewer cars last month that it did in March 2008, while its year-to-date average is down 18.4 per cent.
.....
The best-seller for March was the Mercedes-Benz C-class with 554 sales and a considerable 38.9 per cent share, to be in front of the BMW 3 Series with 434 sales and a 30.5 per cent share. Third in class was the Audi A4 with 216 sales and a 15.2 per cent share.

KingClifton · 04-04-2009, 08:03 PM

Getting back to the OP, I just drove a 320d and wonder why you'd want a 323i given that it's slower and more expensive? Even the dealer said they are recommending the 320d or step up to the 325i, unless you were a diesel bigot.

The 320d engine is nothing like the other Audi/VW diesels I have driven - they had no top-end and were very peaky (slow....wow this is fast....out of puff, change gear, slow...wow...repeat)

It felt like the 1.8T 4-cyl in my TT (the sweet 132kW tune). I'm sold.

eff1dude · 04-05-2009, 01:24 AM

I can vouch for the 320d. Bought mine October '08 with the updated engine (130kw - 350nm). Paid $59K driveaway for Saphire Black, Black leather, Innovations, Sunroof and 18" Ellipsoids. RRP was somewhere around $78K from memory so was pretty happy with the deal. Performance is fantastic, put it in DS and it really hustles. Now done 5000 k's mainly suburban Melbourne and averaging 7.3 l/100km. On freeeway trips, more like 4.9 l/100km. Compared to my previous E39 525i M-Sport, this thing is going to halve my fuel bills !

Can only imagine what the 330d is going to be like.

Zen · 04-05-2009, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eff1dude

I can vouch for the 320d. Bought mine October '08 with the updated engine (130kw - 350nm). Paid $59K driveaway for Saphire Black, Black leather, Innovations, Sunroof and 18" Ellipsoids. RRP was somewhere around $78K from memory so was pretty happy with the deal. Performance is fantastic, put it in DS and it really hustles. Now done 5000 k's mainly suburban Melbourne and averaging 7.3 l/100km. On freeeway trips, more like 4.9 l/100km. Compared to my previous E39 525i M-Sport, this thing is going to halve my fuel bills !

Can only imagine what the 330d is going to be like.

Wow, that is a very good deal!!

eff1dude · 04-05-2009, 08:08 PM

I know - I originally rang the dealer about a used 320d with 5000k's that had the same specs that they had for $63K + onroads. Instead of reception putting me through to used cars they put me through to new car sales instead. When I explained to the new car guy that I was actually after one of their used cars, he said that he was pretty sure he could get me a brand new one they had on the floor for less. The only diff was that the new one didn't have the 18" ellipsoid alloys.

I went in, took it for a test drive & was impressed to say the least. Though about it overnight, then checked on carsales next morning & the found that the used one had been reduced to $58K + onroads. I rang him back & said I would go for the used one - he then dropped the new one back to $59K driveaway, threw in the ellipsoids and i'm a happy camper !!

ToanP · 04-06-2009, 03:31 PM

I got my 323i last weekend. Very happy with car appearance!! 18" 193M wheels are quite bumpy. Also, i6 is very smooth but despite having more power on paper, quite sluggish and underpowered compared to the 320i or my out-going Honda Accord Euro. Only getting revs up does it feel more powerful (and look like a hoon). Not good for stop-start traffic. Should have gotten 320i.

eff1dude, what options was your 320D for $59K drive away? if you don't mind sharing. Mine was $74K driveaway for 323i sport innovation with tint + mats + front + rear PDC + 193M wheels. Felt could have done better with the "stealership".

eff1dude · 04-06-2009, 05:52 PM

ToanP, mine is a 320d Executive innovation with metallic, sunroof, walnut trim, 162 wheels (18" ellipsoid) and mats. Not sure about now, but when I got mine, Innovations pack included business nav, adaptive xenons, high beam assist, comfort access, USB audio, rear pdc.

Ninjaoz · 04-06-2009, 09:02 PM

$59k is a very good pice, you've done well eff1dude!

ToanP · 04-08-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eff1dude

ToanP, mine is a 320d Executive innovation with metallic, sunroof, walnut trim, 162 wheels (18" ellipsoid) and mats. Not sure about now, but when I got mine, Innovations pack included business nav, adaptive xenons, high beam assist, comfort access, USB audio, rear pdc.

That's a goood deal as the only thing different about my car and yours is the M sport pack and engine with $14K difference in price!! I have been ripped.

scheps · 04-08-2009, 07:59 AM

m8, i dont think anyone can get that price ? that deal is exceptional and quite a unique way of getting it as well

eff1dude · 04-08-2009, 07:29 PM

Yeah, i'm not expecting a repeat performance come trade-in time, but i'll give it one hell of a shot !

I know some people find it daunting but it's all part of the fun of buying a new car and I for one, enjoy playing the 'game'.

04-01-2009, 02:21 AM	#89
scheps Lieutenant 11 Rep 402 Posts Drives: TTMK2 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Aus, Brisbane iTrader: (0)	really sucks man, but who knows they might be more desperate next month
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04-01-2009, 05:33 PM	#90
VGR00 Major 53 Rep 1,497 Posts Drives: 430i Gran Coupe Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brisbane - Australia iTrader: (1)	I don't think dealers will get any more desperate in the coming months. What you will find is the promotion in Q1 was to shift the cars they had on the shelf. Going forward, you will not have a huge selection of cars to choose from if you are looking to pick one up straight away. What will happen is that you will be order one and wait the delivery time. The dealers will have less of an incentive to shift cars sitting around as there wont be many but should focus on good old fashioned "salesmanship" to lock in your business. All other prestige marques will have the same strategy. Don't forget that new car sales is only one small part of a dealership profit. I'd say that main profits would come from service and second hand cars rather than new cars. Dealer revenues will be down but they will manage profitability.
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04-01-2009, 06:57 PM	#91
scheps Lieutenant 11 Rep 402 Posts Drives: TTMK2 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Aus, Brisbane iTrader: (0)	Good point, but it is also an opportunity to secure or inc their market share and as you mentioned more cars sold will equate to, ultimately, more cars serviced and traded in. Anyone know the sales figures for feb for bmw? i think audi went up by 5% or thereabouts.... IIRC.
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04-02-2009, 04:56 PM	#93
TwoTriBeZ Private 2 Rep 53 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	Sales on the C class? I must have missed out on that. Dealers at Merc weren't willing to budge on price really.
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04-02-2009, 05:10 PM	#94
VGR00 Major 53 Rep 1,497 Posts Drives: 430i Gran Coupe Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brisbane - Australia iTrader: (1)	Figures can get distorted very easily. MB sent out / sold a huge amount of brand new cars to wholesalers in February. John Conroy wholesale in Brisbane has a yard full of them. The other thing to note, the E90 3 series is a dated car compared to the C class and A4 so the hit they are taking doesn't come as a surprise. Sure we have an LCI now but it's only a mild face lift.
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04-03-2009, 08:13 AM	#97
bcoz spectator 81 Rep 507 Posts Drives: 330d Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	TwoTriBeZ, Don't wait for another official promo, when you're ready go out there and negotiate your own deal, similar to what you did with the Audi. With the Audi, you weren't emotionally attached to it, and the dealer probably picked up that you had your heart set on a beemer, and you knew what options you wanted so he didn't try sell you a car off the lot. Instead he offered a factory ordered 09 model 1.8TFSI valued at $82K driveaway for $65K (that's a $17K or ~21% discount), plus 3 years free service to boot! I know the dealer said they were 3 cars short of March's quota, but if you went back there tomorrow, I'm sure he'd offer you the same car at the same price, providing you were willing to place a deposit there and then. I'm not suggesting that you will get 21% off on a factory ordered BMW (you may get 21% off on a demo) but if you play your cards right, you should get between 10-15% off. Here's an old thread discussing 320 prices from November 2006. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36455 Even in 2006 (1.5 years into the E90, and almost 2 years before the current financial crisis), some people were getting ~10% discounts on factory ordered beemers.
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04-04-2009, 07:14 AM	#99
scheps Lieutenant 11 Rep 402 Posts Drives: TTMK2 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Aus, Brisbane iTrader: (0)	also audi hasnt been known for its reliability, the brand name is only just improving IMHO recently and being so closely associated with VW that doesnt help with reliability reputation either..... most people wouldnt even think they can obtain such a discount but to those who know then that has significant impact on the resale, if they were the buyers.
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04-04-2009, 09:50 AM	#100
bcoz spectator 81 Rep 507 Posts Drives: 330d Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	For those following the new car sales figures, the March stats are out. Overall March sales were down 17.1% on last year (-21.9% in Feb). Some highlights from GoAuto... http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25758D00285876 The rest of the brands had mixed results, with Audi growing its March sales by 4.6 per cent, which means it is now 5.2 per cent ahead year-to-date to be one of the few brands that are actually up this year. BMW recorded its strongest March ever with 1450 sales - an increase of 9.7 per cent on March 2008 - but is still 11.1 per cent down at the end of the first quarter. Despite a bold marketing campaign, Mercedes-Benz sold 12.3 per cent fewer cars last month that it did in March 2008, while its year-to-date average is down 18.4 per cent. ..... The best-seller for March was the Mercedes-Benz C-class with 554 sales and a considerable 38.9 per cent share, to be in front of the BMW 3 Series with 434 sales and a 30.5 per cent share. Third in class was the Audi A4 with 216 sales and a 15.2 per cent share.
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04-04-2009, 08:03 PM	#101
KingClifton Private 4 Rep 97 Posts Drives: 2009 320d & 2011.5 X5 30d Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Adelaide iTrader: (0)	Getting back to the OP, I just drove a 320d and wonder why you'd want a 323i given that it's slower and more expensive? Even the dealer said they are recommending the 320d or step up to the 325i, unless you were a diesel bigot. The 320d engine is nothing like the other Audi/VW diesels I have driven - they had no top-end and were very peaky (slow....wow this is fast....out of puff, change gear, slow...wow...repeat) It felt like the 1.8T 4-cyl in my TT (the sweet 132kW tune). I'm sold.
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04-05-2009, 01:24 AM	#102
eff1dude Enlisted Member 7 Rep 44 Posts Drives: MY17 M3 Competition S/S Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	I can vouch for the 320d. Bought mine October '08 with the updated engine (130kw - 350nm). Paid $59K driveaway for Saphire Black, Black leather, Innovations, Sunroof and 18" Ellipsoids. RRP was somewhere around $78K from memory so was pretty happy with the deal. Performance is fantastic, put it in DS and it really hustles. Now done 5000 k's mainly suburban Melbourne and averaging 7.3 l/100km. On freeeway trips, more like 4.9 l/100km. Compared to my previous E39 525i M-Sport, this thing is going to halve my fuel bills ! Can only imagine what the 330d is going to be like.
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04-05-2009, 08:08 PM	#104
eff1dude Enlisted Member 7 Rep 44 Posts Drives: MY17 M3 Competition S/S Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	I know - I originally rang the dealer about a used 320d with 5000k's that had the same specs that they had for $63K + onroads. Instead of reception putting me through to used cars they put me through to new car sales instead. When I explained to the new car guy that I was actually after one of their used cars, he said that he was pretty sure he could get me a brand new one they had on the floor for less. The only diff was that the new one didn't have the 18" ellipsoid alloys. I went in, took it for a test drive & was impressed to say the least. Though about it overnight, then checked on carsales next morning & the found that the used one had been reduced to $58K + onroads. I rang him back & said I would go for the used one - he then dropped the new one back to $59K driveaway, threw in the ellipsoids and i'm a happy camper !!
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04-06-2009, 03:31 PM	#105
ToanP New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: E90 323i MY09 LCI Innov MSport Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	I got my 323i last weekend. Very happy with car appearance!! 18" 193M wheels are quite bumpy. Also, i6 is very smooth but despite having more power on paper, quite sluggish and underpowered compared to the 320i or my out-going Honda Accord Euro. Only getting revs up does it feel more powerful (and look like a hoon). Not good for stop-start traffic. Should have gotten 320i. eff1dude, what options was your 320D for $59K drive away? if you don't mind sharing. Mine was $74K driveaway for 323i sport innovation with tint + mats + front + rear PDC + 193M wheels. Felt could have done better with the "stealership".
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04-06-2009, 05:52 PM	#106
eff1dude Enlisted Member 7 Rep 44 Posts Drives: MY17 M3 Competition S/S Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	ToanP, mine is a 320d Executive innovation with metallic, sunroof, walnut trim, 162 wheels (18" ellipsoid) and mats. Not sure about now, but when I got mine, Innovations pack included business nav, adaptive xenons, high beam assist, comfort access, USB audio, rear pdc.
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04-06-2009, 09:02 PM	#107
Ninjaoz Major 79 Rep 1,123 Posts Drives: E39 540i, E90 320d,F15 30d Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 320d [10.00]	$59k is a very good pice, you've done well eff1dude!
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04-08-2009, 07:59 AM	#109
scheps Lieutenant 11 Rep 402 Posts Drives: TTMK2 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Aus, Brisbane iTrader: (0)	m8, i dont think anyone can get that price ? that deal is exceptional and quite a unique way of getting it as well
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04-08-2009, 07:29 PM	#110
eff1dude Enlisted Member 7 Rep 44 Posts Drives: MY17 M3 Competition S/S Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	Yeah, i'm not expecting a repeat performance come trade-in time, but i'll give it one hell of a shot ! I know some people find it daunting but it's all part of the fun of buying a new car and I for one, enjoy playing the 'game'.
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