Buying Advice?

[Bill_VA]

I'm looking to buy a F3-T in the spring, and I could use some sage advice. Are motorcycle dealers like car dealers in the way they list "sticker prices" that no one pays? How much less should I expect to pay? Also seems that most Can Am dealers carry a lot of older new stock, 2016 models with 0 miles. And since I'm buying in 2018, what about 2017 models? How do I know what the "invoice price" is? Should I be expected to pay big $$ for their assembly fees?

Anyone buy an F3-T in the last few months (either 2016 or 2017 model)? Care to share your deal?

I assume I should buy from a local dealer to ensure a good service relationship? Or does that not matter? Are there any mega dealers that typically deal in more volume and offer better prices?

What about discounts on accessories at time of purchase (give or take a month)?

Thanks. BTW, I searched but didn't find much that was relevant.

[Bob Denman]

Whle the money is important: the service after the sale is what'll make or break your Spyder experience.

Find the dealership that'll give the best service for your bike, and NEVER go anywhere else!
Happy shopping!

[bushrat]

Whether buying cars, motorcycles, boats or almost anything 'big ticket', I, like most others, do try to haggle and negotiate. I'm looking for a "good deal", for sure. Whether that turns out to be the absolute best, bottom dollar price is often never really known or likely to be disclosed. Does it even really matter all that much? Here are a few things I have come to conclude after 70+ years of buying:

1 - if the deal that's offered is reasonable and within your budget, then you're often better off to take it than to try to squeeze the very last buck out of it and beat the dealer down a bit more. That dealer needs to make enough profit in order to stay in business; if he can't do that and gets discouraged, then you lose him/her as a shopping place. You can also waste a lot of time and money searching for the 'perfect deal'.

2 - as Bob D says, service for your vehicle is all important. If you want to be able to have a dealer close by, and you want good reliable service, it often begins by having a decent relationship established when you buy. A happy salesman can often be helpful when you need quality service advice; a smart salesman is already thinking ahead to 'trade-in' time, and wants you well looked after by the shop techs. If you can create a great, local business relationship, so much the better. 'Community friendship' has many advantages.

3 - many dealerships don't often make much margin on sales; it's really the 'back shop' service department that carries the operation, and is really the profitable end. There's a limit to what a dealer can reduce from MSRP and still survive; this usually depends on the volume of sales.

4 - is there negotiating room on sales? most always. That's what makes it a challenge for both buyer and seller. I don't mind the dealer making a well-earned profit on a sale to me; I just don't want him to make ALL his yearly margin out of my wallet. But I do want him around; I need him to stay in business. If I pay $20 or $200 more than someone else did for the same vehicle, well so what? Maybe I could have been tougher, bargained a bit harder. But even if my deal is only 90% or 95% as good as the next guy, I should be very, very happy. Hell, if I went home from school and showed my parents a report card with a 90% or 95% success mark, I got thoroughly rewarded. So, if you're talking a deal that's close to perfect, even if it's not quite as good as someone else in absolute terms, maybe you should take it and be as proud as if you went home with a great report card. Even 75% or 80% of perfection is pretty damn good. You and your dealer have both done well. It's a win-win. If you grind too much, and it becomes win-lose, your dealer disappears and you start looking all over again.

5 - do your homework and go comparison shopping at several dealers. Make it known that you're serious; get a written (if possible) quote on the best price for the product you want. At the next dealership, go through the same process. Compare quotes. If the dealer you prefer is slightly higher, simply say "can you match this price?; I'd like to buy here." I went to three shops before buying; fellow riders warned me off one. The other two were equally good dealers; one was slightly closer and had an excellent reputation. Their quote was slightly higher. When I showed them the other guy's figures, they told me I had been offered an excellent deal, one they found very difficult to match. But match it, they did; they wanted my business. That sale to me increased their sales volume with BRP just enough to push them into the next lower dealer-input cost range. The lower profit on my deal would soon be made up on any future sales of increased through-put. A win-win. A happy customer, happy dealer, and a great on-going relationship when I have returned for service. The salesman smiles when I walk through the door, and sees that I'm well cared for. AND I'll go back to buy again, when it comes time.

Good luck in your search. Find the Spyder you like, and start having fun. You'll be glad you did, and whatever you pay will be worth it!!!

[Wildrice]

Whle the money is important: the service after the sale is what'll make or break your Spyder experience.

Find the dealership that'll give the best service for your bike, and NEVER go anywhere else!
Happy shopping!

Over the years I have found that where I buy the vehicle never needs to be serviced at that same dealership. Thus unless there are remaining items that need to be installed after you take delivery I won't necessarily combine the purchase & service location into one. A few of us drive another 50 miles to have any important service preformed rather than the closest location where we made the purchase. On another note is the resale value of Spyders isn't very rewarding so unless you're determined to buy brand new I would spend some time looking for very low mileage usage & you may find that there are several low mileage Spyder's for sale by owner that may be in better shape with additional upgrades than the one's that come directly off the showroom floor.
True Story,
Darrell

[Bob Denman]

Over the years I have found that where I buy the vehicle never needs to be serviced at that same dealership.

While this is true: a dealership may very well bring the buying customers to the "front of the line"; when it comes time for service appointments.
How long do you want to wait to get your bike serviced?

[Woodaddict]

start educating your self at cycletrader, look over ads once a week. many dealers put ads for new and used spyders. even imotorsports will deliver.
then you will have a better idea what price to pay. I did for years before day finally came

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I would LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE to know how all you folks ( who believe the above ) ....KNEW the Dealer they bought from had a fantastic service dept..... This sage advice has been said 10's of thousands of times here ..... PLEASE tell the rest of us ....How - You knew who the Best SERVICING dealer was .....Thank you annnnnnnnnnd Merry Christmas ...... Mike

[Wildrice]

start educating your self at cycletrader, look over ads once a week. many dealers put ads for new and used spyders. even imotorsports will deliver.
then you will have a better idea what price to pay. I did for years before day finally came

Craigslist is also great if you live somewhat close to a larger city. I've sold more on Craigslist than all the other sources combined. A few buyers drove over 90 miles.
Good Luck--Lots of good advice.
Darrell

[Wildrice]

While this is true: a dealership may very well bring the buying customers to the "front of the line"; when it comes time for service appointments.
How long do you want to wait to get your bike serviced?

My garage has a basement entrance & an entry way entrance, plus the double door & single garage door---usually less than 20 steps.

[blacklightning]

Whle the money is important: the service after the sale is what'll make or break your Spyder experience.

Find the dealership that'll give the best service for your bike, and NEVER go anywhere else!
Happy shopping!

I totally disagree with the above. I purchased 2 new spyders and tried to get a deal with the locals, and no one was even close (3 local dealers). I purchased both of my bikes from out of state, and had them shipped. On the 2014, I saved $5500 (buying in September of 2014), and on the 2016, I saved over $5,000 (buying in April of 2017).
Now, I went back to the local dealerships and told them, they lost the sale, but they can earn the service. After talking to all 3, I chose one 20 miles away, and they treat me very well. Great prices, a percentage of whatever I purchase towards my next service, etc.. You just have to be upfront and let them know you want to deal local, but you are not a fool.

[Big F]

I totally disagree with the above. I purchased 2 new spyders and tried to get a deal with the locals, and no one was even close (3 local dealers). I purchased both of my bikes from out of state, and had them shipped. On the 2014, I saved $5500 (buying in September of 2014), and on the 2016, I saved over $5,000 (buying in April of 2017).
Now, I went back to the local dealerships and told them, they lost the sale, but they can earn the service. After talking to all 3, I chose one 20 miles away, and they treat me very well. Great prices, a percentage of whatever I purchase towards my next service, etc.. You just have to be upfront and let them know you want to deal local, but you are not a fool.

VERY WELL SAID AND I AGREE WITH YOU 100% AS I HAVE DONE EXACTLY AS YOU!!!! My 4th Spyder is due at the dealership in January.. Happy holidays.
BIG F

[robhowen]

Yes, buying a Spyder is similar to buying any automotive or sports product. You have many variables to deal with: Price for the unit, extended warranty option, tire and wheel packages, maintenance packages, accessory discounts, discounts for X period of time, etc. I think it’s best to go in informed and have a clear idea of what you want, what you don’t want, and prioritize what is important to you.

I agree with Bob regarding the dealer. If it were me I’d find a dealer that you’ll want to deal with years after the initial sale. My dealer is 1.5 hours away from me when I have a close dealer only 15 minutes away. Why? Because I purchased from an independent dealer that is a family business that cares about dealing we me now, and a long time into the future. It’s because I see the same people every time I go in. It’s because I can speak to the tech doing the service on my bike. It’s because they came to me when I needed help. The dealer closer to me is a mega-dealer where you never see the same person twice and no one acts like they care about anything other than selling you something. God forbid if you need service.

Good luck and enjoy what you get. The miles of smiles will be more rewarding to you than any initial deal. Great service will repay time after time, particularly in the “moment of truth” when you need it.

Rob

[Bob Denman]

Look at it this way: You can't save enough money on the purchase; to make up for lousy service...

[Highwayman2013]

We got a 2016 F3L in January 2017. There were BRP incentives at the time to move older stock. I think we gave $22,000 for the bike. I agree with Bob find a good dealer and take care of them and they will take care of you.

[jaherbst]

Well the above is true to a certain degree, it's best to balance the price and the so called service. You can take any dealership anywhere and there will be pro's and con's from all their customers. The person you deal with will always make the difference, not the dealership. The prices on the above mentioned dealership in my opinion are out of sight and they are reluctant to deal. Rumor has it the service is good but after factoring in the price of the service plus the 3 hour round trip (what if you have to leave it overnight?) I am not so sure this is a great deal. This could be as much as two days and 6 hours of driving not to mention another person to pick you up and return.

I always go to the the same dealer and only let one tech/mech work on mine. I talk to him before and after the service and am very pleased. Dealership is terrible but I only deal with the same person that happens to be "factory trained". i.e. He did not get his certificate online. If he moves somewhere else I will follow him for my service.

What ever you feel the most comfortable with should be your choice. To save $3000-6000 dollars on purchase from another dealer would have to factor in to my choice. Remember dealers and tech/mech's come and go and you must always remain flexible in life no matter what.

​Jack

[Wildrice]

What ever you feel the most comfortable with should be your choice. To save $3000-6000 dollars on purchase from another dealer would have to factor in to my choice. Remember dealers and tech/mech's come and go and you must always remain flexible in life no matter what.

​Jack

I agree with Jack----the mechanics come & go, thus great service & repair one time doesn't guarantee the same shop will provide the same quality of service the next time. One does need to place a limit on how far to drive for service or it'll double the effort.
Darrell

[Bob Denman]

Darrell,
To me: it's just a good stretch of the legs!
Oh! and lots of folks don't do their own work...
No space
No tools
No skills
Physical limitations (My own personal limitation )
The complexity of modern vehicles can be daunting to a lot of folks, and reliance on GOOD service from the Dealer is a necessity.

[UtahPete]

I'm looking to buy a F3-T in the spring, and I could use some sage advice. Are motorcycle dealers like car dealers in the way they list "sticker prices" that no one pays? What about discounts on accessories at time of purchase (give or take a month)?

Before I bought my Spyder (new), I searched the internet for the model I was looking for and found very little difference in price between the dealers that had one in stock. Certainly not enough to make me want to travel far from my home for it. While I was still searching, BRP came out with a $5,000 incentive to clear out old inventory; this was instantly reflected in the online price at the dealers I was talking with. I ended up buying at my local dealer and I'm glad I did; they now sponsor our local ryding club and provide a discount on parts and accessories to club members.

As far as adding accessories at the time of purchase, I didn't get a deal price-wise. The advantage, though, was in being able to finance the whole package and have a record of the transaction for the BRP warranty.

I hope this helps.

[Big F]

I'm looking to buy a F3-T in the spring, and I could use some sage advice. Are motorcycle dealers like car dealers in the way they list "sticker prices" that no one pays? How much less should I expect to pay? Also seems that most Can Am dealers carry a lot of older new stock, 2016 models with 0 miles. And since I'm buying in 2018, what about 2017 models? How do I know what the "invoice price" is? Should I be expected to pay big $$ for their assembly fees?

Anyone buy an F3-T in the last few months (either 2016 or 2017 model)? Care to share your deal?

I assume I should buy from a local dealer to ensure a good service relationship? Or does that not matter? Are there any mega dealers that typically deal in more volume and offer better prices?

What about discounts on accessories at time of purchase (give or take a month)?

Thanks. BTW, I searched but didn't find much that was relevant.

I see you already have got a lot of comments on your questions!! and they are all correct for the most part. I live in the Omaha market where there are two Spyder dealers - one with reasonably OK service and the other terrible. However, both dealers are NOT good to deal with on a purchase. I have a pending trade of my 2014 RT Limited for a 2018 RT Limited and went 50 miles away to get the deal (same dealer I got the 2014 from). AND I'm talking about $3,500-$4,000 net differences!!! I even got a better net trade price from IMotorsports in Chicago than locally and they would deliver and pick up????? we all know there is a lot of margin in these overpriced Spyders so it is a buyer beware....... Good luck.
BIG F

[cruisinTX]

If I had done better research on maintenance issues, difficulty in DIY, poor customer relations, price gouging by dealers, just to name a few; I would never have bought one. A machine of this type that cost in the $30K range should not have any problems and the manufacturer and dealers should be at your beck and call. Sadly, none of those things are true. But now that I pulled the trigger prematurely (on a gently used one//2014 RT limited with 6800 miles), I'm going to make the most of it and try to get along with my (wife's) Spyder.

[ARtraveler]

A few bad dealers have given the product a worse rep than it deserves. Just like the 1%'s of bikers kind of taints all.

[Don'tPanic]

I had a very good experience with my dealer. Bought my last year's model spyder for almost half the MSRP. It's one of the oldest Can-Am dealers in the country and is ran like a true family business. They know their stuff.

All their prices include dealer fee and prep. Take a look: https://smithmarineusa.com/Showroom/...rent-Inventory

[blacklightning]

I had a very good experience with my dealer. Bought my last year's model spyder for almost half the MSRP. It's one of the oldest Can-Am dealers in the country and is ran like a true family business. They know their stuff.

All their prices include dealer fee and prep. Take a look: https://smithmarineusa.com/Showroom/...rent-Inventory

Those prices are pretty good, but that is actually about what I paid in April to get my 2016 delivered from I-Motorsports. I am not normally the type of person to buy new (although 2 of my spyders were new), but they will be my go to dealership of choice.
I would prefer to buy local, but they just don't want to deal here.

[Little Blue]

'Best Deal' you can make at purchase time. All good advice as listed above. I always buy NEW. Just my input. Little Blue