I really value having a good, well run, local dealership. This means that i'm willing to pay a premium to allow them to prosper and succeed. The question you are posing is how much is this worth. Only you can decide - but here is how I negotiated with my excellent local dealer. I showed him the pricing that I had received from a out of state dealer, and compared it to his "best price". I told him that I preferred to buy local, but the price difference was just too much for me to absorb. I suggested that we split the difference, and he agreed. I certainly felt good about how this turned out, and my local dealer gained a happy customer. In hindsight, I suspect that I could have played hardball, and twisted his arm to match the price, or at least come pretty close. My feeling is that a good deal is best described as a deal that was good for both parties. I'm confident that my dealer made a profit on my purchase, and good for him! I have the piece of mind that my local dealer is thriving, and available to me should I ever need service, or assistance.
