After a lengthy exchange, (Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri) I brought it home today, Brand-Spanking-NEW; with a whopping 30 miles on the odometer.
Guess the recent interest initially started with the Cruze Hatch, and all it's claimed rear cargo room, (if you find it let me know) anyway lets just say I was disappointed in the Hatchback, no bigger than our Volt, a little more room-height-wise, but way shorter than the sedan. It seems like a foot, but per the specification sheet, 8.5".
Then a couple weeks back Caveman in his never-ending new-car search mentioned the Cruze.
Last Sunday, killing some time before my daughters Birthday Party, I'm reading some of the car ads, $47, $69, $79 with varying amounts down; from ZERO - $999, so I say, OK what is this all about?
Base LT's (what all the cars in the ads are for) not much to write home about, but with the Convenience Package you get keyless, remote start and heated power seats, many which are critical must-haves for me, add in the RS Package, which gives it a little jazz; larger front grille (and RS badge), fog lamps, body-kit (rockers) and rear spoiler. Now passes as acceptable, in the looks and content categories.
Now for the "deals" to be real, you've got to find one with those packages, which add about $35 to the entry price of the adverts, but you also need to find one that is out-of-favor with the "Bonus Tag".
After going back-and-forth with the dealer for the better part of 4 days, (1st she didn't know anything about the $750 GM Card top-up, then the one we were looking at, didn't have the tag). Once we got those things cleared up, we came to a $121/month No, No, No........... Sign..... Drive. OK, great now what!? I need 4 cars like a hole in the head!
The original plan for today was just to measure it up against the Volt and have the wife take it for a spin, and get them to firm-up the price.
So sales gal suggest they take a look at the Volt; still have 7 payments of $179.5 ($1,256.50). Buyout price of the lease is $21K and change, used cars said $12K; yeah that isn't gonna work.
After a bit of back-and-forth, we basically split the remaining payments, I put $600 into the deal up-front, they'll payout the Volt and keep make the lease payment an even $120/month.
Seemed like a fair place to meet, on the plus side for me, the $600 down replaces this month's $179.50 payment ($420.50 more than normal) but then the next 6 payments, I'll only be paying $120/month, instead of $179.50 (a total of $357 less than normal) which washes-out all but $63 of the up-front money-down. :yup:
The incentives/discount were insane: $1,770 Employee, $500 Base Rebate, $500 Bonus Tag, $2,000 Chevy Lease Loyalty, $1,225 Cap Cost Reduction, $750 GM Card Top-up (I had $756.56) = $6,751.56 - Plus however you value the Volt payoff/buyout funds.
It was dark by the time I got out of the Dealer, but this was a picture I took when I brought it home, to compare.
Guess the recent interest initially started with the Cruze Hatch, and all it's claimed rear cargo room, (if you find it let me know) anyway lets just say I was disappointed in the Hatchback, no bigger than our Volt, a little more room-height-wise, but way shorter than the sedan. It seems like a foot, but per the specification sheet, 8.5".
Then a couple weeks back Caveman in his never-ending new-car search mentioned the Cruze.
Last Sunday, killing some time before my daughters Birthday Party, I'm reading some of the car ads, $47, $69, $79 with varying amounts down; from ZERO - $999, so I say, OK what is this all about?
Base LT's (what all the cars in the ads are for) not much to write home about, but with the Convenience Package you get keyless, remote start and heated power seats, many which are critical must-haves for me, add in the RS Package, which gives it a little jazz; larger front grille (and RS badge), fog lamps, body-kit (rockers) and rear spoiler. Now passes as acceptable, in the looks and content categories.
Now for the "deals" to be real, you've got to find one with those packages, which add about $35 to the entry price of the adverts, but you also need to find one that is out-of-favor with the "Bonus Tag".
After going back-and-forth with the dealer for the better part of 4 days, (1st she didn't know anything about the $750 GM Card top-up, then the one we were looking at, didn't have the tag). Once we got those things cleared up, we came to a $121/month No, No, No........... Sign..... Drive. OK, great now what!? I need 4 cars like a hole in the head!
The original plan for today was just to measure it up against the Volt and have the wife take it for a spin, and get them to firm-up the price.
So sales gal suggest they take a look at the Volt; still have 7 payments of $179.5 ($1,256.50). Buyout price of the lease is $21K and change, used cars said $12K; yeah that isn't gonna work.
After a bit of back-and-forth, we basically split the remaining payments, I put $600 into the deal up-front, they'll payout the Volt and keep make the lease payment an even $120/month.
Seemed like a fair place to meet, on the plus side for me, the $600 down replaces this month's $179.50 payment ($420.50 more than normal) but then the next 6 payments, I'll only be paying $120/month, instead of $179.50 (a total of $357 less than normal) which washes-out all but $63 of the up-front money-down. :yup:
The incentives/discount were insane: $1,770 Employee, $500 Base Rebate, $500 Bonus Tag, $2,000 Chevy Lease Loyalty, $1,225 Cap Cost Reduction, $750 GM Card Top-up (I had $756.56) = $6,751.56 - Plus however you value the Volt payoff/buyout funds.
It was dark by the time I got out of the Dealer, but this was a picture I took when I brought it home, to compare.