Am I asking too much?

[Soonerfan]

In late 2017 I ordered a new 2018 R7 Surf from a dealer with a nice down payment and paid the balance promptly when the boat arrived. For a custom order the dealer gave me what I though was a very fair discount of MSRP. Having used our boat for 4 seasons and with another full season covered under the factory warrant I though it would be a good time to order a 22 R8 Surf and sell my R7 this fall or in the spring.

The dealer is telling me that Cobalt is only taking sold orders and actually speaking with the customers to ensure that dealers are not trying to order stock units. I was also told if I ordered now it would be built in December which should give me plenty of time in case it is delayed as our boating season generally opens here in May.

All of this is great but my dealer has cut the discount of MSRP % in half over my previous purchase. For a similar equipped boat the MSRP has increased 32% over my R7. Is it to much that I should expect the same discount % off as my last purchase? I understand the times with supply and demand etc. but this would be a sold unit that they can mark on their books and be done with it. They also get all the repairs, service, maintenance, warranty work, etc. that I have given them over the last 4 years. Let me know your thoughts or if I'm off my rocker here.

[kas232ca]

Things are much different than in 2017. I just paid sticker price for a new truck

The good news is that your R7 will bring a premium when you sell it.

[Krob1114]

I just paid more for a front door than I did for my '66 Mustang, '71 TR6, '69 TR6, '69 Opel, and '78 280Z combined.
Yes, times are different.

[tgrace98]

I wouldn't turn around and order a new boat knowing I am paying a higher % than last time. Sure supply is low and demand is high. But you have a perfectly good running boat.

[jhnmdahl]

Lots of stories of Cobalts being sold for sticker price, so I'm not at all surprised that even the best dealers aren't discounting like they would a few years ago. It'll come back to normal eventually, but if you want a new boat in the next couple years I think you're kind of stuck paying a price that feels a bit inflated.

Tgrace makes a good point - many of these "new" boaters are eager to buy whatever they can now but will likely be selling in 5-10 years, so I'm expecting to get my R5 or R7 then

John

[Soonerfan]

Great points all and thanks for putting things into perspective. I am still going to try to get them closer to what I want to pay and if not as it was pointed out I have a perfectly good boat. I can wait if I need until the market softens and the dealers will give a little more due to being able to move the volume they are used to. But boy do I have the itch for the one!

[Bratcho]

Lots of good points made above. I would add one additional thought:the economic conditions we are experiencing now may not revert back to “normal“. We have had a decade’s worth of social and economic change crammed into the past year. When Europe moved to taking five weeks of vacation (-and basically close business in August) They never reverted back to the” old way “ once they got used to more vacation. While workers going back to the office will certainly increase over time, I don’t believe we will go back to previous levels. More people are moving away from cities, and the greatest real estate price increases are in suburbs - near lakes and streams and oceans. I believe the demand for vacation homes and water access and boats will remain high for many years. A Long winded way of saying boat prices may not come tumbling down anytime soon…

[sailor55330]

I also suspect that there might be some new pricing structures in place since being bought that might limit the dealer's ability to flex

[Big Block Power]

Myself I would order the new boat now before they add the mark up. If you wait you will pay more when they do they're yearly mark up.
Also sell your boat now and get more than you paid for it. So that will make up for the discounted %you got last time. Other wise I have to say you will be paying more if you wait!
Or keep it 5 more years!

[drtbar]

In late 2017 I ordered a new 2018 R7 Surf from a dealer with a nice down payment and paid the balance promptly when the boat arrived. For a custom order the dealer gave me what I though was a very fair discount of MSRP. Having used our boat for 4 seasons and with another full season covered under the factory warrant I though it would be a good time to order a 22 R8 Surf and sell my R7 this fall or in the spring.

The dealer is telling me that Cobalt is only taking sold orders and actually speaking with the customers to ensure that dealers are not trying to order stock units. I was also told if I ordered now it would be built in December which should give me plenty of time in case it is delayed as our boating season generally opens here in May.

All of this is great but my dealer has cut the discount of MSRP % in half over my previous purchase. For a similar equipped boat the MSRP has increased 32% over my R7. Is it to much that I should expect the same discount % off as my last purchase? I understand the times with supply and demand etc. but this would be a sold unit that they can mark on their books and be done with it. They also get all the repairs, service, maintenance, warranty work, etc. that I have given them over the last 4 years. Let me know your thoughts or if I'm off my rocker here.

I think I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a Cobalt, but why keep me guessing what the actual % is that the dealer is offering you? I've read IN THE PAST it's anywhere from 20-30%, but as many have said, these are different times. So what is the original % off you were offered, and what is the new % off MSRP?

Thanks in advance from a need to be informed potential buyer as well!

[Krob1114]

2019 Cobalt R3: Cobalt build website listed my boat at $119k.
We paid somewhere around $92k before taxes, extended protection plan, 5 year coating, etc.
But dealers had boats on the show room floor and ours had two hours on it from being the one they used for demonstrations.
Times have changed, and the question is: Will they change back? Is this the new norm? Will we have hyperinflation? I see costs all around me, including wages going up. Government handouts help cause inflation, but don't normally help people with boats. Hopefully, last statement will be considered as economics, and not politics.

[Table Rockin]

All of this is great but my dealer has cut the discount of MSRP % in half over my previous purchase. For a similar equipped boat the MSRP has increased 32% over my R7.

I walked into our marina showroom about a month or more ago because the kids wanted to see what was in there. Salesman there who sold me my boat was telling me it would cost me a little over double what I paid for my used R7 back in the spring of 18' to get into a non-surf R8. The R8 is nice for sure.....but it isnt twice as nice.

Now, as BBP mentioned you will benefit from inflated used sales prices for your current boat. The question I would be asking is if you can stomach the spread of the increased MSRP/dealer discount against your inflated used boat selling price.

If it was me I'd stick with boat you have. Yes maybe prices wont really come back down but if not take comfort in the fact you purchased before all this crazy and your boat will still demand a premium when selling used. In the meantime I think I'd wait and see how things shake out.

Another thing to consider is let Cobalt work out the inevitable kinks with the new design a couple years. Nothing more frustrating than having your new boat having issues. There is an A29 on our dock, older couple, guy seems like he's very proud of his baby......and we passed them a couple weekends ago being hauled in by TowBoatUS. I know thats really a volvo issue but you get my point.

[drtbar]

All of this is great but my dealer has cut the discount of MSRP % in half over my previous purchase. For a similar equipped boat the MSRP has increased 32% over my R7.

I walked into our marina showroom about a month or more ago because the kids wanted to see what was in there. Salesman there who sold me my boat was telling me it would cost me a little over double what I paid for my used R7 back in the spring of 18' to get into a non-surf R8. The R8 is nice for sure.....but it isnt twice as nice.

Now, as BBP mentioned you will benefit from inflated used sales prices for your current boat. The question I would be asking is if you can stomach the spread of the increased MSRP/dealer discount against your inflated used boat selling price.

If it was me I'd stick with boat you have. Yes maybe prices wont really come back down but if not take comfort in the fact you purchased before all this crazy and your boat will still demand a premium when selling used. In the meantime I think I'd wait and see how things shake out.

Another thing to consider is let Cobalt work out the inevitable kinks with the new design a couple years. Nothing more frustrating than having your new boat having issues. There is an A29 on our dock, older couple, guy seems like he's very proud of his baby......and we passed them a couple weekends ago being hauled in by TowBoatUS. I know thats really a volvo issue but you get my point.

Volvo issue?

[Table Rockin]

All of this is great but my dealer has cut the discount of MSRP % in half over my previous purchase. For a similar equipped boat the MSRP has increased 32% over my R7.

I walked into our marina showroom about a month or more ago because the kids wanted to see what was in there. Salesman there who sold me my boat was telling me it would cost me a little over double what I paid for my used R7 back in the spring of 18' to get into a non-surf R8. The R8 is nice for sure.....but it isnt twice as nice.

Now, as BBP mentioned you will benefit from inflated used sales prices for your current boat. The question I would be asking is if you can stomach the spread of the increased MSRP/dealer discount against your inflated used boat selling price.

If it was me I'd stick with boat you have. Yes maybe prices wont really come back down but if not take comfort in the fact you purchased before all this crazy and your boat will still demand a premium when selling used. In the meantime I think I'd wait and see how things shake out.

Another thing to consider is let Cobalt work out the inevitable kinks with the new design a couple years. Nothing more frustrating than having your new boat having issues. There is an A29 on our dock, older couple, guy seems like he's very proud of his baby......and we passed them a couple weekends ago being hauled in by TowBoatUS. I know thats really a volvo issue but you get my point.

Volvo issue?

Well I'm assuming the issue is with engine since he's getting towed back. Cobalt doesnt make the engine.

[Lifelongbtr]

I might ask, what is the typical MSRP discount on a $250k malibu?