So I ordered a Ford Maverick XL in January and it just came in. I got the base model upgraded with the gas engine, a tow hitch, and tail gate lock which made the truck about $22K. Dealer told me that their markup was $3995 due to the high demand and limited supply of this truck. This wasn't going to be open to negotiation. I knew the market situation is what it is but I was really looking forward to this truck so I said ok and signed the order form. No down payments, just the price of $26K and it also said "*plus taxes and fees".

Well the truck came in, I test drove it, and there was $2,500 in additional costs. totaling over $28,000 WTF?!
$400 for VIN etching on the window
$500 for cleaning fee (covid related)
$1500 for ceramic coating.

I am pissed now because I didn't order or want any of that. I thought taxes and fees were sales taxes and registration fees, not add-ons. A ceramic coating isn't even a fee like a cleaning fee, it is a product! The salesman's boss said he could take $500 off the ceramic coating but I told him I didn't want to pay for a ceramic coating at all and even said I was willing to pay for the cleaning and VIN etching. I said I would come back Monday (tomorrow) so the wife could see the truck but basically I have to decide by tomorrow. I want the truck because I am tired of throwing 2 sheets of plywood and logs on my SUV roof but our current cars work fine and we aren't in need of a new car. What do you guys think I should do?

1. Pay the price
2. Demand they take off the dealer add-on costs and threaten to contact the BBB and leave negative Yelp reviews if they don't comply? (The have a wait list and know they can get full asking price so the only real bargaining weight I have is bad press)
3. Buy the truck and try to turn around and sell it for a small profit
4. Walk away, wait an additional 6+ months to order a new one and specify no dealer add ons. (dealer mark up may be higher in future depending on demand/supply, they were talking about increasing markup by another $2K)

Maybe consider getting a trailer.  If gas gets to and stays at $6+ a gallon the truck market will soften.  If you're sure you can flip the truck for a profit ...

That sucks. The shitty part is due to the sellers market we are in, they dont care about u and can sell it it to someone else by the end of the day.

At most theyre trying so they dont get a bad name. I would demand zero of all 3 add ons since u never ordered them. Its their mistake, not yours. Thats if u can wait.

When we were gonna buy a Toyota Cross, we signed the sales agreement and the price wont change, even though the car will take 2 months to arrive (made to order).

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Sorry about your stealership experience. It’s a racket and they pay off the politicians to enforce their home field advantage and run their customers through the ringer. Paradise tax is extortion.

The good/bad news is that you did not take on additional debt before the market bloodbath that a lot of people are expecting in or around May. There’s a general feeling something truly awful is about to happen with multiple cascading crises hanging in the wings.

I’m noticing on Craigslist the Oahu exodus is picking up steam so there’s lots of opportunities to scoop up used stuff, and if things get worse people will be practically giving their cars away as they rush for the exit.

Maybe consider getting a trailer.  If gas gets to and stays at $6+ a gallon the truck market will soften.  If you're sure you can flip the truck for a profit ...

I have thought about that. My Scion XB has a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine and could probably tow a small trailer with no problem. Would have to spend a bit to get it added though since the car doesn't have a trailer hitch as a standard option best I recall. Not sure how that would fit in parking lots when I go to the hardware store either

Sorry about your stealership experience. It’s a racket and they pay off the politicians to enforce their home field advantage and run their customers through the ringer. Paradise tax is extortion.

The good/bad news is that you did not take on additional debt before the market bloodbath that a lot of people are expecting in or around May. There’s a general feeling something truly awful is about to happen with multiple cascading crises hanging in the wings.

I’m noticing on Craigslist the Oahu exodus is picking up steam so there’s lots of opportunities to scoop up used stuff, and if things get worse people will be practically giving their cars away as they rush for the exit.

If my wife's Toyota craps out we could be in a pickle but its only got 120,000 miles so it should be around for a while more.

I am trying to research if anything they did constitutes some sort of legal violation but so far it seems this type of actions isn't one of the illegal types.

If my wife's Toyota craps out we could be in a pickle but its only got 120,000 miles so it should be around for a while more.

I am trying to research if anything they did constitutes some sort of legal violation but so far it seems this type of actions isn't one of the illegal types.

They paid off politicians and pushed legislation to create a legal extortion racket. This state has a wee bit of a corruption problem especially when it comes to white collar crime.

Speaking of which too bad they are never going to finish the rail because then you could also not carry plywood on that either.

BTW my Toyota is about 230k at the moment. Keep changing that oil and flushing the trans!

BTW my Toyota is about 230k at the moment. Keep changing that oil and flushing the trans!

We just did a clutch replacement so thats good for a lot longer

Nothing they did is illegal.  Unethical and deceptive, but not illegal. 

The VIN etching is a good thing.  Not only can deter car thieves, but most insurance companies offer premium discounts as they do for car alarms.

Cleaning is a fee.  It's super-inflated, but they do have to do extra cleaning when it arrives off the ship.

The coating is applied to all new vehicles when they can.  The only option is to shop around to another dealer, but that's not going to help in Hawaii.  Most dealerships are either owned by one company -- like Servco Toyota -- or they collude so nobody is actually competing for you business.

They know you are hooked because you did a special order.  Dealers order cars for Hawaii markets with extras because they sell.  They add everything they can to jack up the price.  If you walk away from  it, it won't sit on the lot for long.

I can remember when Clear Coat was an option.  Now it's on all cars.  Think they aren't making you pay for that?  Same for undercoating.

Based on current stories all over the US, $2800 is CHEAP for this situation.  Others are paying tens of thousands over the agreed upon price.

Your biggest mistake?  Buying a Ford.  JMHO.   

Now is a bad time to buy any car, truck or van, new or used.  I am looking at 2024 at the earliest to get a new vehicle.

Since I don’t need to drive much, maybe I’ll buy a mini ex instead. I’ll use it a lot more.

M friend ordered a 2022 loaded Tacoma TRD and is paying about $50k expecting delivery this month.
He has been offered $60k by another unwilling to wait.

3. Buy the truck and try to turn around and sell it for a small LARGE profit

Seems simple.  If the terms aren't on what you signed, you can walk.  Seems like you can walk in any case.  I'd def say no to the ceramic coating.  I can get that taken care of for less than 1/2 that without the dealer markup. 

I don't think you'd want ceramic on any vehicle. It would make it really heavy if it survives the kiln.

From Wiki
A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcelain, and brick.

So I ordered a Ford Maverick XL in January and it just came in. I got the base model upgraded with the gas engine, a tow hitch, and tail gate lock which made the truck about $22K. Dealer told me that their markup was $3995 due to the high demand and limited supply of this truck. This wasn't going to be open to negotiation. I knew the market situation is what it is but I was really looking forward to this truck so I said ok and signed the order form. No down payments, just the price of $26K and it also said "*plus taxes and fees".

Well the truck came in, I test drove it, and there was $2,500 in additional costs. totaling over $28,000 WTF?!
$400 for VIN etching on the window
$500 for cleaning fee (covid related)
$1500 for ceramic coating.

I am pissed now because I didn't order or want any of that. I thought taxes and fees were sales taxes and registration fees, not add-ons. A ceramic coating isn't even a fee like a cleaning fee, it is a product! The salesman's boss said he could take $500 off the ceramic coating but I told him I didn't want to pay for a ceramic coating at all and even said I was willing to pay for the cleaning and VIN etching. I said I would come back Monday (tomorrow) so the wife could see the truck but basically I have to decide by tomorrow. I want the truck because I am tired of throwing 2 sheets of plywood and logs on my SUV roof but our current cars work fine and we aren't in need of a new car. What do you guys think I should do?

1. Pay the price
2. Demand they take off the dealer add-on costs and threaten to contact the BBB and leave negative Yelp reviews if they don't comply? (The have a wait list and know they can get full asking price so the only real bargaining weight I have is bad press)
3. Buy the truck and try to turn around and sell it for a small profit
4. Walk away, wait an additional 6+ months to order a new one and specify no dealer add ons. (dealer mark up may be higher in future depending on demand/supply, they were talking about increasing markup by another $2K)

"I want the truck because I am tired of throwing 2 sheets of plywood and logs on my SUV roof".
You have an HPM in Kapaloei(sp?).
I think they charge a flat rate of $50 for delivery and free for anything over $500.

That may have gone up, but is cheaper than a new truck.
Never buy new vehicles!

A small trailer is a helluva lot cheaper than a new truck. But I know you like the truck so just buy um.

"I want the truck because I am tired of throwing 2 sheets of plywood and logs on my SUV roof".
You have an HPM in Kapaloei(sp?).
I think they charge a flat rate of $50 for delivery and free for anything over $500.

That may have gone up, but is cheaper than a new truck.
Never buy new vehicles!

I built a lumber rack for my dual cab Tacoma.  It mounts in the support notches of the bed liner that are meant for 2x4 and 2x6 lumber which can support boards across the bed left-to-right about 6" above the bed's bottom.  I made the long supports from 4x4 treated posts that are lighter than the regular pine versions.

It's basically 3 x 8' posts running from the back window to the tailgate above the top of the bed, positioned to support the left, right and center points of the sheet goods.  I have a retractable cover for my bed, so it needed to have space above that.  I created 2 supports for the rails that are connected together with a single 2x4 making it a 2-lag-bolt installation and removal.

Anyway, I can fit a 4'x8' sheet of plywood or drywall on the 3 posts supporting the material. The sheet goods protrude out the back of (and above) the truck bed about 3 feet (5' bed with 8' material).  I use ratchet straps to hold the material down.  I can close the tailgate, and other items can fit in the space between the bed and the sheet goods.  Everything rides about 4" above the top of the truck bed.

All-in-all, it does what I need.  Spent time making a prototype, using that a few times, then creating this improved version.

I have stacked 5 pieces of 4'x8'x3/4" ply and 3 @ 4'x8' sheets of drywall on this rack in one trip.  No problems at all other than waiting for a HD employee to help load up! Each time I've used it and needed assistance, I've gotten compliments from the employees. 

The rack is made of 2x4s except for the 3 @ 8'x4"x4" posts.  Most of the joinery is done with pocket holes (using the "heavy duty" version of the Kreg jig and pocket screws), and wood glue.

If interested in the design, I can do a separate thread for anyone thinking of making one.  I'm planning on a lumber run soon, so I can take pics then if needed.

1500 for ceramic coating is ridiculous for a new car
much of the cost for ceramic coating is labor.  detailing, correcting imperfections before laying down the ceramic coating
but a new car doesn't need detailing, the paint is brand new.  1500 is too much in my book for a new car or truck

1500 for ceramic coating is ridiculous for a new car
much of the cost for ceramic coating is labor.  detailing, correcting imperfections before laying down the ceramic coating
but a new car doesn't need detailing, the paint is brand new.  1500 is too much in my book for a new car or truck

That's how they get you:  $400 for floor mats, $600 if you want the "better" floor mats, $1,000 for fabric protection, etc. 

Anything that doesn't require installation or application can be taken off the final invoice and removed from the vehicle.  All the stuff being discussed have been applied or are services that can't be undone.  It's a "take it or leave it" proposition, and the dealer holds all the cards.

I imagine the first time you have to have minor paint and body work done, that ceramic stuff will jack up the cost even more.