Seen a Z66 WITH Body Hardware?

wtc9 · Dec 12, 2003

I'm driving a dealer nuts; he doesn't have what I want on his lot..the only Z66s he can find in his region are WBH in dark colors...I'm asking for a Birch or White WITH cladding. He's a nice guy, with a bottom line under 28K, and I'd like to deal, but not necessarily on a blue vehicle.

Anybody seen an 04 Z66 with cladding? GMbuypower doesn't show any within 200 miles of my house.

Coyote · Dec 12, 2003

I scanned the website for a dealer in the Houston area. (I know that isn't near you, but they are one of the biggest dealers in the nation and they might be able to work with your dealer.) It looks to me like they have plenty of lighter colored Z-66's with cladding.

Their website is www.landmarkchevrolet.com

Hope this helps.

Coyote

AVid · Dec 12, 2003

Why doesn't your dealer offer to order one for you?

Thats still a lot of money and you should get exactly what you want.

wtc9 · Dec 12, 2003

Wow! talk about a quick response!!!

The Houston dealer certainly does have them.

I'll put the screws on them a bit more. Young sales fella (and the young, new manager) seemed a bit, well, uninformed on the Avy. Didn't really know what a Z66 was until I told them. All my local dealers have 1 2wd as a low price come-in, then 4wd and Z71.

I tried a familiar zip code in GMbp and found a few that seemed to be WITH, albeit too far away. Guess it's just my local area (Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma) that doesn't like it.

mcrendog · Dec 13, 2003

I think it's amazing that now it's hard to find certain Avs WITH cladding.

02-Z66 · Dec 13, 2003

i saw one yesterday at a local dealer here in Newport News, Va. guess that does not do you much good though. Hutchens Chevrolet. the Birch color that is.

wtc9 · Dec 18, 2003

Tempted to just start a new thread and call it a "total rant on dealer"

Dealer has no Z66s...gets my CarsDirect request for quote, quotes me a 2wd, I say, no, need Z66, says that's what it is. I say, no way. He phones back when he knows what a Z66 is, can get one in at 27.9K, but it's dark blue (I want silver). Nope. A week passes, no reports, I call him and tell him about 3 cars GMbpp points out within 200 miles that meet my criteria. He gets on his dealer network and tells me the one I want is no longer in inventory, then gives me the hard sell for the 2 blue ones he found me last week, or a white one for $500 more.

You guys can find 'em. I can find 'em, but my dealer can't find 'em even when I point them out!

Thanks for letting me vent. Guess I'll try a new dealer. This one was the closest to me, others are +20 miles.

mcrendog · Dec 19, 2003

Yeah, when I was in the buying process I started with the local dealer but I was frustrated with them as well. They seemed to be pretty poor at searching. (I think one reason they couldn't "find" the truck I was looking for was that they didn't do dealer trades with every dealer, thus some trucks just weren't on the radar screeen)

I decided to locate the Av I wanted anywhere within a 4 or 5 hour drive and make them a good offer over the internet. I found one I loved about 2 1/2 hours away and made them an offer. They took it and I bought mine that day! Really I see no reason (unless you don't like driving) not to go and buy the truck YOU want wherever it is. I think dealer trades are just an opportunity for extra dealer markup. Some people wonder about service...I say that if the local dealer is good with service than you'll be fine going there even if you didn't buy your truck there. It's not like they are going to care.

Good luck! Stay patient and you'll find the truck you want and the right price.

gthomas · Dec 19, 2003

When I bought my yellow AV last march, I went online, speced out what I wanted, and then requested quotes from local dealers. Two of them responded that they didn't have them, but could do a search for me. They both came back saying they found a few, but the other dealers wouldn't do a dealer trade with their yellow AVs. One dealer though did offer to tell me who the dealers were so that I could buy directly from them. Ended up buying mine from a dealer over 4 hours away.

wtc9 · Dec 19, 2003

Thanks guys. And thanks for the IM mcrendog. I may end up in St. Louis or KC yet, but I'll try Joplin if my locals don't pan out...got my dealer in a real tizzy last night...he kept calling during dinner with new ideas...I finally had to shout "SILVER, what part of that don't you understand?" His price went up 500 on the next one. I'm at least getting some action from him. We'll see.

n8wrl · Dec 19, 2003

Z66_Wannabe said:
...You guys can find 'em. I can find 'em, but my dealer can't find 'em even when I point them out!

I say buy it from one of those you found, and have it serviced wherever you want that you trust. To be fair, I really should try out the dealer I use for service in a purchase - the last five vehicles I've purchased were at other dealers, but I keep going back to the same place for service! That's what's most important anyway, you can drive a good price almost anywhere.

-Brian n8wrl

gearheads78 · Dec 30, 2003

I've been to Sprinfield plenty of times. Its only about 5.5 hours driving normal. If you still can't find what you are looking for let me know. I can pick you up at the airport and you can drive home. I did the same thing for a guy in Tulsa just the other day. I saved him 550.00 off of the best deal he could get local.

wtc9 · Dec 30, 2003

Thanks gearheads78.

I understand that a GM in the drive certificate will show up here tomorrow (New Years Eve) Fed Ex. If so, I will be off to KC or St. Louis for a whirlwind deal on Jan 2. Come to think of it, I'll do a search on Dallas's zip code and see if there's anything there I like. Never know.

I posted most of my other experiences with the local dealer on the "what are you paying" thread. I really should have studied this current thread a few more times. I was too committed to staying as close to home as possible.

You guys are great.