So I’ve been itching to get my hands on that new Speed400 everyone’s talking about. Walked into three local dealers this weekend and man, talk about a rip-off. First place slapped a “market adjustment fee” thicker than my thumb on the sticker. Second guy kept pushing rust-proof coating I didn’t want. Third one? Straight up told me they wouldn’t even order it unless I signed papers right then. Nope. Walked out feeling like a squeezed lemon.
The Online Rabbit Hole Dive
Plopped down on my couch Monday night with cold pizza and fired up the laptop. Started punching in “Speed400 price” and man, oh man. First few results were straight-up trash – sites looking like they were built in 1998 asking for my social security number just to see a price. Closed those tabs faster than you can say “scam.”
Then I got smart. Searched “Speed400 MSRP” instead to get that baseline number stuck in my head. Did the classic trick:
My Search Routine:
- Opened like twelve tabs across three browsers
- Made a messy spreadsheet on my phone
- Yelled at auto-play video ads using words my mom wouldn’t like
- Drank two coffees past midnight
The “Too Good to Be True” Trap
Almost bit on this one site showing $1500 below MSRP. Did the cart dance all the way to checkout until… bam! Freight charges higher than my rent. Then assembly fees. Then “document processing” fee. Got to the final price and it was actually $800 MORE than my local crook. Closed that tab so hard my mouse whimpered.
Another gem? Place advertising “factory direct” prices wanted me to wire deposit to some PO box. Yeah, buddy – right after I sell you my oceanfront property in Arizona.
The Sweet Spot Unicorn Hunting
Wednesday morning hit different. Used specific searches like “Speed400 OTD price” and filtered for “in stock”. Took notes on:
- Which sites showed tax calculation early
- Who included freight in base price
- Who actually had phone numbers
Finally struck gold with a dealership three states over. Had actual human answers when I called – not some bot reading a script. Here’s what won me over:
The Winning Deal Breakdown:
- No hidden freight fees – baked into price
- Itemized all costs like assembly/doc fees upfront
- Salesman texted me actual photos of their stock
- Price came in at MSRP minus factory promo
Put deposit over the phone. No wire transfers – legit credit card processor. Got email confirmation with VIN before I hung up.
The Aftermath & Reality Check
Shipping adds $400 but still beats my local thieves. Should be here next Tuesday. Whole circus took four days, two sleepless nights, and probably shaved a year off my life from dealer-induced rage. Learned one big thing though:
The Real Deal Requires:
- Phone calls > online quotes
- Scratch paper math > shopping cart estimates
- Patience thicker than dealer markup
Folks asking where I landed it? Sorry – promised the salesman I wouldn’t send him a million tire-kickers. Do your homework like I did. Might hurt your brain less next time though.
