[JonOrangeElise]

My salesman mentioned a "prep fee" today -- $600 if memory serves. I didin't ask what it includes.

Has anyone else been "prepped" to pay a prep fee?

Does anyone want to check into this?

 

[LarryB]

It's been a long time since I'd put my deposit down. Paperwork was for MSRP, no junk fees. Some of the folks ahead of us will be getting cars in the coming week(s). We'll have a chance to see how real this is.

Think Dest & Handling is $695, hope that's what he was talking about,

 

[pinmagic]

I paid no "prep fee", no "processing fee", nothing. Just MSRP and destination fee. Once more, kudos to Ascot of Sewickley, PA! :clap:

 

[kbob]

My salesman mentioned a "prep fee" today -- $600 if memory serves. I didin't ask what it includes.

Has anyone else been "prepped" to pay a prep fee?

Does anyone want to check into this?

I put down a deposit at SVAG on August 18th. (2004. ) No prep. fee was mentioned.

kbob

 

[MattG]

No prep fee listed in my documents, hence I don't expect to pay one. I'll be dealing with the Elise purchase process at SVAG very soon and will keep this forum informed about how it goes.

 

[JonOrangeElise]

No prep fee listed in my documents, hence I don't expect to pay one. I'll be dealing with the Elise purchase process at SVAG very soon and will keep this forum informed about how it goes.

my original deposit paperwork mentions no prep fee either... but it wasn't any type of contract or order, either... this all keys into what i have been writing online since last year: we really have nothing until we have an actual order signed by both the customer and the dealer...

 

[MattG]

Agreed, there's nothing firm at this point, except this - a verbal agreement to sell the car at MSRP. That's the price, that's the agreement. I believe they're men of honor at that business, not your stereotypical car dealer. They deal in building relationships with their clients, not just moving wheels - thus, I expect they'll honor any verbal agreements we've made such as this. They have so much to gain by doing so, and so much to lose by not, that I can't imagine them doing otherwise.

So, I'm not concerned.

 

[LarryB]

Had talked to the old GM when I put the deposit down. Also to the sales manager afte the new GM came on board (over a year ago). They said car will be sold at MSRP, no junk fees. As such don't expect to pay any. Matt can fill us in shortly.

 

[MattG]

I hope you're right, LarryB. I'll believe it when I see the car in person though. Nothing against SVAG, it's just that this process all seems like it's been a dream.

 

[Dan]

What is the salesman's name?

 

[John Stimson]

I too am anxious to hear about any extra fees. The $900 destination charge (most manufacturers charge $400-500) really ought to handle any sort of preparation that the dealer has to do to make the car drivable.

And just when I was getting excited about the car again, thinking I might actually buy one...a price hike and rumors of added fees from my chosen dealer (chosen because they said they wouldn't charge bogus fees)! You've heard of an "impulse buy", but have you heard of an "impulse bail"?

Say it ain't so!

 

[perryeyges]

Porsche currently charges $795 and Audi $670. I think $900 is fair based on the fact that Lotus ships far less cars and uses a far better method (two cars to a container).
A prep fee is definitley a junk fee. A dealership can charge as much as a customer will willingly pay(not good). Documentation fee is usually 40$. With both Audi and Porsche the factory reimburses the dealer for prepping the car, I would reccomend calling Lotus to see if they do the same...

 

[diveredd]

FWIW.....I've been on the list for close to a year now and when I recently visited SVAG I asked about my deposit at MSRP. My rep said that they aren't adding any other fees and I would be able to purchase at the MSRP.

 

[MattG]

$900 destination fee? It's $795, right? Not unreasonable at all for delivery via enclosed transport.

 

[John Stimson]

$800, $900, whatever. I'm not saying that the delivery/destination charge is unreasonable, but it's high enough that it ought to include any delivery preparation costs. Like Perry said, that's part of what the destination charge is for with other manufacturers. An additional "prep fee" seems like double-charging for that service.

 

[AVRed]

Spoke to Jack today at SVAG. He said there will be a $795 prep fee. In addition to the Desination fee. I asked him several times what this is, the best answer he gave was, "They dont cover us to prep the car, so we will prep it for you?"

I said I havent heard mention of it and other dealers aren't doing it. At which point he just said "We are talking about it and it is almost guaranteed we will have one. I'm just preparing the customer."

Something smells fishy, any other good CA dealers?

 

[JonOrangeElise]

Spoke to Jack today at SVAG. He said there will be a $795 prep fee. In addition to the Desination fee. I asked him several times what this is, the best answer he gave was, "They dont cover us to prep the car, so we will prep it for you?"

I said I havent heard mention of it and other dealers aren't doing it. At which point he just said "We are talking about it and it is almost guaranteed we will have one. I'm just preparing the customer."

Something smells fishy, any other good CA dealers?

Any other good dealers? No.

FWIW, I signed final documents today. My signature; my salesman's signature -- both are on the document. Just as I have always wanted (and have been arguning for -- an "order" isn't an order until it's signed by both parties). MSRP could change, and that could screw me, but I don't expect any junk charges to creep in (nor will I tolerate any).

 

[agent.5]

Matt, on another thread, said that there is no junk fee ($45 document processing fee nevertheless).

 

[MotorCade]

I've got a 50 dollar processing fee, which I think is more than reasonable. Profit margin on these at MSRP is narrow, and on top of that, my dealer has to deal with me calling at least once a week and trying to find out more. They've been great, by the way.

Cade

 

[MattG]

Well, just as Lotus can bump up MSRP at any time, a dealership can start charging extra fees at any time as well. For their sake, I hope they don't do so. I don't know what the invoice cost is, but it's a commonly accepted fact that car dealers DO make money on the cars they sell at MSRP. The documentation fee itself is a little questionable, but low enough that it's not worth haggling over.