YACT: Buy now or wait for the 2004 models?

[NogginBoink]

My 1995 Chrysler Lebaron convertible has 190,000 miles on the odometer and is probably on her last wheels.

I'm really chomping at the bit for a Dodge RAM 1500 pickup with the HEMI engine.

I just can't decide if I should buy now or wait for next year's models. The current rebates are nice... I'm afraid the car companies will yank them.

Plus, I'm getting hitched in January and need to save dough.

Argh. Any input?

 

[AthlonXP]

the hemi edition looks sweet, how much is it, under $25k?

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: NogginBoink
My 1995 Chrysler Lebaron convertible has 190,000 miles on the odometer and is probably on her last wheels.

I'm really chomping at the bit for a Dodge RAM 1500 pickup with the HEMI engine.

I just can't decide if I should buy now or wait for next year's models. The current rebates are nice... I'm afraid the car companies will yank them.

Plus, I'm getting hitched in January and need to save dough.

Argh. Any input?

You are getting married, so if you are planning on having kids, a pickup might not be a good idea.

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: NogginBoink
My 1995 Chrysler Lebaron convertible has 190,000 miles on the odometer and is probably on her last wheels.

I'm really chomping at the bit for a Dodge RAM 1500 pickup with the HEMI engine.

I just can't decide if I should buy now or wait for next year's models. The current rebates are nice... I'm afraid the car companies will yank them.

Plus, I'm getting hitched in January and need to save dough.

Argh. Any input?

You are getting married, so if you are planning on having kids, a pickup might not be a good idea.

The Quad Cab will be a necessity. For just that reason.

 

[ElFenix]

not any significant changes between the 03s and 04s, so why wait?

 

[SuperTool]

Wait till 2004's come out and get a 2003 model.

 

[DarkManXY2G]

You should wait until about the end of July or the beginning of August and them buy a 2003. They will probably give you a good financing rate and a discount to move it off of the lot. I did this last year and got a steal on my truck. I paid a little less than invoice.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Yea, wait till September when everything goes on massive discount. Or wait for the '04 F150. Fvck the Hemi

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: DarkManXY2G
You should wait until about the end of July or the beginning of August and them buy a 2003. They will probably give you a good financing rate and a discount to move it off of the lot. I did this last year and got a steal on my truck. I paid a little less than invoice.

I would normally do exactly that. It's the fear of losing the current $2500 rebate if I wait that scares me.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: DarkManXY2G
You should wait until about the end of July or the beginning of August and them buy a 2003. They will probably give you a good financing rate and a discount to move it off of the lot. I did this last year and got a steal on my truck. I paid a little less than invoice.

they're already less than invoice

 

[olds]

This one this great for when someone cuts you off.

 

[CPA]

I would normally agree to wait until after the summer, but with factory and dealer rebates totalling over 6, 7, and sometimes 10K, and with low interest rates, it probably won't matter much to wait. Plus you always risk the chance that all of the 2003 models (or at least the options that you want in a 03 model) will be gone come September/October. I know this happened last year with 02 Expeditions in the Houston area.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: NogginBoink

Originally posted by: DarkManXY2G
You should wait until about the end of July or the beginning of August and them buy a 2003. They will probably give you a good financing rate and a discount to move it off of the lot. I did this last year and got a steal on my truck. I paid a little less than invoice.

I would normally do exactly that. It's the fear of losing the current $2500 rebate if I wait that scares me.

It's usually kind of a tradeoff money-wise, you'll pay less for the '03 but the resale will be better on the '04.

However, if you intend to keep the truck for a long time (and judging by the mileage on your LeBaron, you probably will ) and there are no significant changes for the '04, I would definitely go ahead and get the '03. The rebates are nice, you'll be able to cut a better deal, and depreciation is much less of a factor if you don't sell it in the next 5 years or so.

 

[440sixpack]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
not any significant changes between the 03s and 04s, so why wait?

That sums it up well. There will be no significant changes between the '03 and '04 Rams, so at this point I'd say buy when you're ready. Next week, next month - I'd say the rebate might go up to $3000, but I wouldn't expect any more than that. In fact, now is probably a better time to get an '03, there's a couple options available now that weren't when I bought mine, and the computer should be up to date and won't need the couple of flashes I need to get done on mine.

Nice choice, BTW.

 

[Alistar7]

wait until next year, then buy a 2003 that is still "new", save yourself some money, the beginning of the year is usually slow for them as well, so you may have more leverage then. Go at the end of the month, rainy day, etc...

 

[Pliablemoose]

Buy now, if the economy picks up like it's threatening to, the rebates will decrease or go away...

The Dodge Hemi's are sweet, and there aren't any huge model changes in the works for them in 04' version.

I have a friend with a standard cab Dodge that's well over 200K miles and it still looks great.

Save some $ for accessories

Which dealership are you looking @?

 

[dirtboy]

The only reason to wait for a coming model year is if there is something that is changing the coming year. Chances are the RAM 1500 won't be changing much, if at all.