I've had my eye on buying an element for a while now. No rush, but if I can save some money buying now, I'll go for it.

Here is the deal - they have a 2003 black EX, no side air, sitting on their lot. I asked them for their starting price and here is what I got...

$19262 - invoice
$490 - shipping (maybe $460)
$65 wheel locks (already installed - I didn't ask for it)
$79 mud guards(already installed - I don't care...)
$0 apperarance package (they dropped this cost)
$197 keyless entry
$297 Roof Racks, installed

-------------------------------------------------
$20,360

Now I *know* this is way above what I should pay... I'm not fighting them for a deal yet, just drawing out their initial offer.

As a "comfortable with debating" kind of person, and in no rush to get this vehicle - How much could I reasonably ask for without sounding like a complete jerk?

Do you think I could walk out with under $18k? Have them toss on all keyless entry (since it is in the 2004) and roof racks, (and can they install a passenger side armrest on the 2003?) and other accessories and just pay a little below invoice?

I'm totally comfortable arguing for a solid deal - but I also respect that the car dealers are salespeople, and it is their job.. If I offer $15,000, I would clearly be overstepping a reasonable bid...

Any suggestions as to a good (low) number to start with for the 2003?

Anything BUT black.......
Had one and was IT hard to keep clean!
Go 04....the one you are thinking of getting a deal on is
one year old ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!

which dealer?

The dealer was Andy P. I tried to speak with the director of Sales (Mr. Daves, I believe) and he answered the phone - but then passed me off to someone else. Because he was busy, I wasn't exactly able to say "no, I was told to only talk to either you or (the other person).

Yeah, I'm torn as to the '03 v. '04. But I'm likely going to drive this car for years until it is finished... If I can save a few thousand dollars on a year before, and get approximately the same stuff with it as an '04, the extra money would be nice.

If I could find a used one that I got a great deal on, I'd go for that... but all of the used ones are either sketchy, or too high priced - I might as well get a new '03.

Andy seemed nice, and willing to deal - but he wanted me to drop by and work our way to a number, and I wanted to check with all of you first, to figure out my best case scenario.

Thanks again for all the help! Hopefully, within the next month or so, I'll be able to take my new Element out snoboarding and rock-climbing... "Forget the tent, we're sleeping in the Element tonight!"

i would STRONGLY suggest that you identify that you only want to talk to annette painter -- make your deal over the phone - so you don't get involved in a negotiation match in person -- annette painter is the internet sales manager - andy is a salesman who works for her -if you work out a deal - he will be the one who will work with you - but anything you offer he will have to take back to annette or roy anyway - so bypass that step and deal only with annette --

You don't say, unless I missed it, whether this car is an Automatic/Manual and AWD/2WD. These make a huge difference in the price.

I would expect/demand to pay significantly UNDER invoice for any 2003. Like a $1,000 under.

Thanks for the help - it is an Automatic, but *without* side airbags. I'd prefer them, but they don't have any 2003's (except silver) with them.

I've been checking out the options, and have decided it might be nice to have:

Fog Lights
Side Steps (maybe?)
Roof Racks
Driver's Side Armrest w/storage.
(Perhaps leather steering wheel or Chrome Exhaust pipe)

Plus, I'll need the mandatory keyless entry.

If I grabbed all of these on the 2004, it seems like it would be around $23k. I'm hoping to perhaps get these for around $19k on a 2003...

On the "Mod" board, they talk about installing everything yourself. I'd be reluctant to do the fog lights, but everything else seems pretty simple. Should I just bag the extra's, and do it myself? (I'm not a car person... but I pick things up pretty quickly!)

Y'all are the BEST! Thanks!