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I paid cash for both of mine and it didn't make a difference.
Have you thought of checking with a local credit union to compare their interest with HD's?
Borrow and pay if off as soon as you won't incur an early payoff penalty.
If you can get a hold of the owner of the dealership and deal directly with him you might possibly be able to work a deal out. The trouble with this approach is that the remaining dealerships, for the most part, are all in themselves small conglomerates. I have always approached dealers as a "give me a final figure including everything" so I can cut you a check. BTW, my dealer won't take a personal check - even if you don't get the bike at the time and pick it up once the check has cleared. Weird!
In my book, cash is still king. It'll cost you nothing to try!
Dealers definately don't like cash deals, the finance guy wants to make money and he can't if he doesn't finance it so no special deals. They work on a draw. So bring in a big chunk of cash as a down payment, finance what you can, they'll work specials with you and you'll start fixing your credit. JMO
If you have cash, look for something low mileage and used. You'll get a much better deal than any dealer can give you. They'll still be more than happy to sell you a warranty on a newer model bike.
Cash or financng, the dealer gets his money way. I even bet the finance company gives an incentive to the dealer to push financing. I financed part of my last Ultra even though I didn't need to, because the dealer threw in the extended warranty if I would finance, then paid it off in a couple of months.So something made it attractive for them to push the financing. They make money on the bike and the financing if you finance, so they prefer you finance it. The point about paying a good portion down and financing the rest to build your credit was a good suggestion.
Last edited by harleyflyboy; Mar 27, 2013 at 12:21 PM.
Even if you got financing from another source, the dealer always gets paid in full, whether it's cash or outside financing. So there's no real incentive for them to give you a break for cash. It wasn't always like that, but those days are long gone.
I bought my RK at Space Coast Harley. I wouldn't buy from a dealer that's 1 1/2 hrs away when you can get the same or better price local. Talk to Jamie at Space Coast and be upfront about comparing prices to Rossmeyer's - I bet they will match or beat them.
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I've bought 3 new Harley's since 03 and paid cash for all of them. Got a little break on this last one but not much. Of course it was early January. I just got a little better than MSRP with back rest and delivered. The cash helps cause they know you are going to buy somewhere. They would rather it be with them and maybe you'll buy accessories and have maintenance done with them. Tried to buy a pickup a few years ago with cash those guys didn't even want to talk to me.
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