What's the market like?
 

So, I am turning my car in this weekend and will be getting a new one in the spring. I am going to lease 997c2s cab or coupe for 36 mo. depending on the difference in $. My question is: does any one know the best time to go into the dealership for best deals? I figure since I am going to order the car it will take ~ 2 MO to come in. I was figuring on going in there in mid Feb. Also, does any one know the best % discount dealers are giving off list?
This is a fun time when you can go shopping for a new toy.
Thanks.

Soft in the winter
 

More inventory, lower prices on Cabs starting next month.
Less inventory, higher prices when you want to buy in the spring.

Figure more than 2 months for build to order, unless you time it just right with dealer allocation.
Best deals late fall and winter, as ggregory says
Negotiate at last days of month to finalize and close before end.
Cars in inventory better deal than build to order, given current environment.
Best discount depends if PNA is sweetening the pot (trunk money) or just dealer discount.

September/October is usually a great time for the left over current years ('10's), especially if you are paying cash and can close quickly. Dealers always want to get the '10's off the lot at this time of the year.

Also, I think I read that dealer inventory turnover period is starting to increase again....which means more discount mechanisms should be on the way.

Walk in a week before the end of any month, and the sales manager will approve a lower price if you can close quickly. They have monthly numbers just like any sales organization.

As the new 998/991 generation model gets a little closer you've got to wonder how many people are going to hold out this year...which might further drive down the price if Porsche sustains the current production levels.

my opinion
 

997 and Cayman sales appear to be somewhat slow . The real surprise is the Gt3RS which sits on so many lots .

Yet the Panamera and Cayenne are selling so well that it offsets the slower than usual 911 sales . Keep in mind that the Cayenne is a redesign and the Panamera is a new model so its success brings a huge air of confidence to anyone in sales.
Some of that confidence may carry over into a dealership not wanting to heavily discount a 997 even though they have had the car for months . After all --if sales are up -it doesn't matter which car is doing well.

I am not saying that one can't get a good deal .He can.
What I am saying is that the overall sales of Porsche seems to be very positive and dealerships are NOT in despair . They will want to sell the car .. but they won't give it away without a profit.

...and the profit sources can come from other car sales (i.e. if they've had a tremendously profitable month) or if there's trunk money available.

There also may be issues relative to floorspace, incoming vehicles and sales volume targets (so long as average profit per unit is maintained) that may dictate better deals on some cars vs. others.

Bottom line is that ordering is the way to get the least discount possible, from my personal experience and observing the experiences of others.

MB

<P>Larry, tell me about that. I have a $111K custom order for a 2011 Cayenne S (ya right TT range price) but my dealer (who knows I am serious in getting a car, I've gotten three from him this past three years) is offering me a paltry 2% discount. I can't believe what a particular region can do to your dealer. They just don't want to deal. May be I should have you Larry order one for me and have it shipped to me hilarious

I was able to negotiate a ~6% discount on a new C2S order, despite limited allocations. I could have gotten more had the margin not dropped from 13% to 10% in the past few years (since I bought my '07). There are plenty of dealers who will deal, order, and ship - I would shop around if the discount is important to you.

I agree . Ordering a car only gives the buyer a precise vehicle but he is not as far behind the 8 ball as some think. That contract would show any other dealership that he is a serious buyer if the deal fell through and just as there's uncertainty for him .. the selling dealership doesn't close that sale until the car drives off the lot . I've seen quite a few dealerships get stuck with highly optioned custom ordered cars.

You arelly are in Turbo price territory . Have you driven both?
2 percent sounds awful . I do think you'd do better in any other region but you may have to travel to be sure of the car and transport costs money too. These things add up .

If you want some local referrals from me to two different dealerships in my area I'd be glad to give them to you and see what they say . My region is just quite far away but calling to ask them is free so if interested just PM me .

PM sent Larry. Thank you very much. To the OP, mid-Feb is not the best time to go for a cab, now is the time to go shopping for a cab. My dealer has a new (or should I call it unused/untitled) 2009 C2S (white/carrera red interior) that looks awesome on the showroom floor. I know for a fact that they will deal on that one that has been sitting inside the showroom for quite sometime. It is stickered for 114K but I bet they will let it go for 25K less. PM me if you are interested and maybe atleast you can get a good deal (and who knows they may budge on my Cayenne custom order) hilarious

PDK or manual? What dealership?

The White/red Carrera S is a manual but they do have other '09 left overs. PM me if you want more info on particulars of the dealer. I do not like to bad mouth dealers online. After all each organization has their own way of conducting their business and they stick to it for a reason.

Woot --
I sent you all the info via PM .
I am still trying to imagine 111K for a Cayenne S . I see that most on the lots are 70-85K .

Keep two things in mind --

1) if you custom order a car that prices this high above the norm the dealerships might want a higher deposit because if you end up not buying it they will have a heck of a time trying to sell it.

2) That many options must have a large enough mark up to accomodate a large profit to any dealership even if they discount better than 2 percent.

At that price level I might consider the Turbo . I wonder if the Cayenne will make a Turbo "S" .

One last thing -- a Question --
Have you ever considered the Panamera Turbo ? I understand it's not an SUV and you may need the SUV.

I bring it up only because In my opinion it is the best large vehicle in the world for the dollar .
When (or if) I ever mature -- I will buy the Panamera Turbo

I have no plans on ever maturing! LOL Looks like I will be driving 911s forever!