For all of you still talking MSRP and above....hold out and search. I got an offer for well over $1500 of the '05 Odyssey from Moore Stewart Honda in Selma Alabama.
When I calculated the cost of traveling to Alabama to pick up the cost (I live 15 hours away), I contacted Coral Springs Honda in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. and informed them of my offer and my determination to go to Alabama to get the Ody. Within 15 minutes they offered to sell me the same model for or $1,000 off the MRSP price. While Moore-Stewarts offer was better, time is money and the costs associated with traveling to Alabama including having to take two days off from work made COral Springs offer reasonable. I got the Ody that same night!!!!!
I was able to locally (Louisville, KY) buy my first Honda yesterday without any pain. I got a 2005 Odyssey EX for $26,200 + tax & fees. The $26,200 was the total price vs. the msrp of $28,510 + the prep items that the dealership put on the van. It was more than $3k less than what their "total" sticker price showed. I was shocked that I could get one that much lower and without too much haggling. Are others seeing these aggressive discounts?
When I went to the dealership I wanted to find one of the 2004 clearance vans and they did not have any. They convinced me to get a 2005 when they gave me such an aggressive price.
There are many types of warranties: mileage/years/deductible vary, so with out knowing the exact warranty you got it is hard to say whether the deal was IMHO was a good one. That seems like a very good price if you got the 7yr/100K/0 deductible.
Straight deal. Actually was going to be a "cash deal" at first because I had a check from capital one auto. But then the Honda finance was able to beat my capitalone rate (same terms) by 10 basis points, so I let them have that business.
They may have wanted to get rid of the EX because it might allow them to get a higher demand model. It also helped that I seriously went there with a clearance 2004 model in mind. They don't have anymore 2004 Odysseys and I don't think they wanted to see me go to another local dealership to find one. I am very glad I ended up with the 2005, but that is not what I set out to purchase.
Hope I didn't mislead you. The $950 over invoice was in MA. I suggested to the MI dealer $950 over invoice plus the airfare I was going to pay for my wife and myself to fly to MA. I figured airfare and motel/gas at $500 so got EXL for $1450 over invoice. ($1810 under MSRP) Good to keep the business in Michigan and saved the day off for the trip east.
No, you did not mislead me. I figure if I fly alone and the air ticket may cost me $200. It will still much better than what I have been offered ($600 off MSRP). I am trying to do the same thing and hope my local dealer can match (plus $200 airfare). So, more quotes that I can get the better. Would you tell me the dealer's name in Grand Rapids. Also, what model did you order and what is the wait time?
bought my '02 oddy in June of '02. Had to drive 120 miles to pay MSRP. Once the new Sienna rolled out, prices plummeted towards invoice.
I like my Oddysey, but would have gladly waited 6-12 months for a $3,000 discount.
The '05 has some great upgrades and has most paying MSRP once again. If your current car is working fine, you might want to wait a year or less to save a couple grand off MSRP.
Here is the deal Bedard offered me: 2005 Odyssey, Silver EX-L for $28,548 + %5 MA tax.
I live in NJ and would have to pick up the minivan. I would have to provide registration and plates. I would have to send a check for $500 dollars to order the minivan which should be available in Jan '05.
What do you think? Sounds like a good deal to me provided I get the details in writing.
I was one among a few others who wrote about Bedard Brothers early on. My van hopefully is being made as I write.(10/26-10/30).
Bedard Brothers has requested that I tell both forums, edmunds and odyclub that they are so inundated with customers that they will be offering the 950 over invoice only to what they have instock. So call and talk to them. Maybe they have exactly the van you want. We have ordered a Silver Touring with NAV. We will be taking the plates off our old van and driving up there in our CRV to pick up the van sometime after the 10 of Nov. I have no affiliation with them. Just one of the early email/internet customers.
Yes, Sterling McCall is where I looked, too. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one that they told the price is MSRP plus sealant package. I never know if I have the word "sap" written across my face and that everyone else is getting a better deal than me. Right now they only have 2 05s on the lot, so it doesn't look good for me to get any discounts anytime soon!
Do you like your new Ody? I've only seen about 3 05 Odys here in the minivan capital of the world.
I'll just throw this out there. If you pay msrp you are just plain lazy, and screwing it up for the rest of us. It's almost your obligation as a right thinking human being to try to get the best deal possible, isn't it? I called the Bedard Bros dealer in Mass. The gentlemen there was absolutely ready to sell me an o5 ody for $950 over invoice. He seemed like a real straight shooter. Sure, he would have to locate the car. But it you want a exl with leather, dvd, & navi - so will everybody else. Hardly any dealers have these on the lots. Most guys I researched have the base touring, the full blown touring, and base ex's. Not too many of the exl's with leather, dvd, & nav sitting around waiting to be had. So I began beating up my local dealers with the Bedard price. Called 6 dealers, 5 said no way, or msrp-$500. One guy said msrp-$1000. This took 15 minutes. Then I went to my first choice dealer, the one where I bought my Accord and where I spend thousands of dollars a year in service and regularly scheduled maintenance. He wouldn't match the price either. But, he would do $33,500 - that's about $1,110 under msrp. That number is real because I was at the dealer live in person. He didn't have the car either, I'd have to wait up to 8 weeks. I could have easily gotten another 2 or 300 off that number if I was willing to pitch a fit. He also offered me just a touch below wholesale on my trade-in. How nice. My guess is that the guys at Bedard will have a little trouble satisfying all the calls there getting on this $950 over invoice deal. But, if you ask me it's worth the wait if your within a 5 hr drive. I say everyone out there should beat the tar out of there local dealers with this guys price. You'll be able to get way under msrp in less than an hours work. As for me, I'm going to wait a few more months, and I will be buying one for $950 over invoice - or less!
Strawboss1..my wife and I love it. Traded a 93 Villager with 108K which was in need of a lot of work. I wish I could have held out longer to get a better deal but couldn't because we are leaving on a long trip to Atlanta and Florida tomorrow and didn't want to chance it with the Villager.
The Ody is BIG, much larger then the Villager BUT my wife and I are getting use to it. We looked at the Sienna but the need for premimum fuel turned me off. Also price of 05 LE with #5 package at Fleet price was $27,300, about a grand less then what I got the Ody. So far our Ody has given 19.6 and 20.9 mpg for our first two fillups. The engine is tight and hope mileage improves with time.
Fit and finish is excellent. A good amount of plastic but well done. No coin holder was a surprise the first time I started looking for it. Engine has plenty of power/torque and smooth.
Complains: I wish the rear windows would pop open as on the Villager. Also it doesn't have auto locks when you put it in drive. Other then that it's been GREAT.
One thing to note..I noticed a clunk in the transmission going from Drive to Reverse. Took it to the dealer and they had mechanics all over it to check it out. Even a call into Honda. Jimmy from service decided to check the EX and Touring they have there an the lot and guess what..they both did the same thing. Looks like it's normal! Anyone else with an 05 find the same thing?
Strawboss1 you can't go wrong with the Ody. Good luck. You're right..Kingwood has to be the minivan capital of the world..
I'm picking up my Touring Navi Res this evening, and I'd like to buy the 7/100,000 $0 deductible Honda Care warranty. How much should I pay? Is there a good internet site to buy one if the dealer won't deal?
In all the emotion of closing on the deal where I got $1,740 of the MSRP, I fail to notice the small print covered by the large figures on the contract where the dealer fee of $488 was. So I really only got $1,252 off. WATCH OUT FOR THIS! Please learn from my mistake......
You must also miss the "window Liftgate" feature from Villager/Quest! It is very useful when you are back to back closely with another van, which you can put the grocery at the back... but now i dont find any mini-van offering that?
"In all the emotion of closing on the deal where I got $1,740 of the MSRP, I fail to notice the small print covered by the large figures on the contract where the dealer fee of $488 was. So I really only got $1,252 off. WATCH OUT FOR THIS! Please learn from my mistake......"
If it was a 2005 Ody that you bought, it's still a great deal and it would've been almost impossible to get $1,700 off. So even if you did know about the junk fee, your deal would likely not be any better in the end. Just enjoy the car and don't beat yourself up over this.
I'm waiting for my 2005 Odyssey EX-L RES, but in the meantime the dealership's finance manager is try to sell me a special package ($2900). The package includes: 1. 2% off of my finance rate. 2. Warranty upgrade from 3yrs/36K miles to 6yr/72K miles. 3. Vin Etch Package with $5000 payback if the car is stolen with 5yrs. 4. Daytime Running Lights 5. Alarm upgrade to a key remote passive system 6. Alarm upgrade to the key remote passive system (item #5 above), which provides a disabler, microphone, motion and window sensors.
Have anyone heard of such a package??? Is this package worth it???
Doesn't the 2005 Odyssey EX-L already come with a security package which includes: An Active Remote Alarm and Embolizer Key System??? Have anyone buy additional security systems???
I'm Confused! Any advice appreciated!!! Thanks in advance!
This is called a "buy down". Which can be a good thing or a bad thing. What was the rate before the 2% discount, and if you don't mind your credit score.
Purchased a Touring NAV/RES for $700 under list two weeks ago in VA. I must say this is an amazing van.
Just as a fyi...I will also be posting messages in two other Odyssey forums.. "The Case for the Touring" (why the 12 extra features of the Touring model are worth the money) in the Honda Odyssey 2005+ discussion and "Top of the Line Comparison" (20 reasons why we purchased the Touring NAV/RES over the Sienna LTD NAV/RES). This will be in the Odyssey vs Sienna - 2005 discussion.
As for pricing, here are my tips and observations:
1. Pricing depends on local supply and demand. Period.
2. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It appears that 2005 Odysseys are generally selling between MSRP and MSRP - $1000. I'm sure there are some exceptions out there, but dealers who are discounting below this range are running out of inventory very quick. Or there is significant waiting time. These dealers will also be quick to realize that they can charge more for this vehicle.
3. Pricing may vary by trim level. There are now seven Odysseys available for 2005. The most popular reported models (at least in the Mid Atlantic) are the EXL-RES and the Touring NAV/RES.
4. Pricing may vary by exterior color. New colors are always the most popular (e.g. Silver Pearl, Slate Green, Ocean Mist).
5. Pricing may vary by interior color. The black leather is apparently very popular. Perhaps in part because it is a Honda exclusive in the minivan market. It also helps that black looks the most opulent and is the most durable. IMHO, it is also a great match with the standard silver/charcoal dash in all models.
6. If you are waiting for demand to cool off and prices to drop significantly, you may be waiting a long time. I think demand may actually increase for three primary reasons:
a) Marketing. As you probably noticed, Honda is increasing Odyssey mass marketing big time on TV and in popular magazines. The Honda zealots already have their 2005 vans so Honda is now reaching out to the masses. Not to mention the upcoming winter auto shows. Some nice reviews in automotive and finance magazines don't hurt either. b) Visibility. As more Odysseys hit the street, the more people take notice and research online (especially this site!). c) Word of mouth. Nothing perhaps gets people more excited about a new vehicle that hearing about it from a friend or relative.
7. Increased production in North America for this model doesn't necessarily translate to lower prices. It may just mean shorter wait time for the trim level and color you really want. Of course, if demand increases, the wait time may only get worse before it gets better.
8. Focus on the bottom line price. There were three accessories I knew I wanted beforehand and I strongly recommend:
a) Wheel locks (On the Touring model, this is a no-brainer. Very valuable alloys and tires).
b) Splash guards (Subtle cosmetic item that will help protect the lower panels of your expensive van).
c) Rear cargo tray (Another no-brainer. A must have to protect the area behind the third bench from mud, etc. The tray does not impede the flat folding seats).
The van purchase price was $400 under but I asked for these items ($300 value) installed and free of charge. I also negotiated for a drop in the dealer processing fee.
9. If the van has accessories already installed that you do not need, have them removed. If they have pinstripes installed, please remove them immediately!
10. Lastly, do not lose sight of vehicle value and cost of ownership. The Honda Odyssey has had the highest resale value in the minivan market. If you compare, for example, a deep discounted T&C to a near MSRP Odyssey, the purchase price of the Chrysler is significantly lower. But if you factor in historical resale value (as a %), the Honda is a less expensive van. Run the numbers. Discounts on new Siennas today are not doing existing Toyota minivan owners any favors.
FYI - In Tampa area, I received a quote through the Costco program of $500 off MSRP ($32,410 MSRP, $31,895 quote) . I will follow-up to understand dealer fees, total OTD price, etc. and will post what I find out.
If you do not mind driving a few extra hrs, check out the internet dept at Nalley Honda in Brunswick, GA which is very close to Jacksonville. The quote I got was around $1800-$1900 below MSRP for the Touring. Ironically I landed up getting a Sienna.
I live in Portland, OR and I was shopping for a Honda Odyssey EXL and looking for an exteror color of red rock pearl. I paid a $500 deposit to order a vehicle from a near by dealer (capitol honda Mcminnville) for MSRP (30,810). This was on Sept 30th and the vehicle was to arrive 4-6 weeks from them. He gave me free splash guards + cross bars for free(if you buy these accessories after market and install it yourself they will cost around $200-$300). The vechicle was scheduled for delivery at the dealer on Nov. 2nd. Nobody on the west coast was providing any discount off MSRP for the vehicle. I shopped for the vehicle in California, Oregon & Washington states. In the meanwhile, I was looking at all the posts in this forum about how bad it is for the people in the market if you are buying a vehicle at MSRP. So, on the morning Oct 26th I decided to shop further and requested for deals within a 700 mile radius in Idaho & Utah. I got several emails quoting MSRP. There were 3 quotes that came on the top. College Hills Honda, OR was ready to offer the vehicle $29000 ($1800 below MSRP) but this was 2,200 miles away and shipping it was costing me a $1000. I got another quote from Ken Garff of Ogden which is near Saltlake city, UT for $28992.00(approximately $1800 below MSRP) but had $299 in documentation fee. This dealership was 770 miles away. Then, I got an internet sales person from Honda of Pocatello called me and agreed to give the vehicle of my choice for 29,110 ($1700 below MSRP) with a documentation fee of $149, temporary license for $30 and a $5 tire recycling fee with a full tank of gas on delivery. He had to do a dealer trade with another dealer from Montana and the vehicle will be in at his dealership on Oct 31st. In the meanwhile I have asked the local dealership where I paid the $500 deposit to be refunded and he agreed to refund it. The only downside is that it is costing me about $165 (including one way airfare, one way rental car & gas, 5 hours of time to reach there and another 9 hours to drive the vehicle 630 miles back). As the dealer is giving me a full tank of gas maybe, I might be gaining about $20-$30 here. I am going to pick the vehicle up on Nov. 12th. The drive from Idaho to Portland is supposed to be very scenic and beautiful and I have never been there. So, may be I am getting more...! I know you are all smart guys and you can do the Math.
The moral of the story is to shop around even if you have to drive a little and don't forget that monthends are the time when dealers are being pushed to give you better deals due to the sales pressure.
Thanks dex for the information - I will probably give them a shout. 6 hour drive definitely worth $1000!
I too am torn between the Sienna. I am looking at a 2005 XLE with option 5 or 6. MSRP is around $36k, selling price around $33.5 I would think. From what I can tell, this model/option is very similar to the Odyssey EX-L RES. So, even though the Honda is closer to MSRP, the actual sell price is still less than the Sienna. What was your deciding factor for the Sienna?
I was also considering a 2005 Honda EXL and 2005 Toyota Sienna XLE with Pacakage#6 or 13 or 14 or 15. Its very difficult to get the Package you want in the color your want when buying a Sienna. Both are comparable vehicles but if you want AWD Sienna is the only option. If you don't need it your can buy a Odyssey. If you like rich lexus like interiors or read lift gate, Sienna is the way to go. If you like a powerful, smooth engine, drive quality with decent interiors Odyssey is the way to go. One more thing to consider is that buying Odyssey at MSRP is cheaper than buying a Sienna at close to invoice. Many dealers are offering anywhere in between $500 - $2000 below MSRP. I am buying Odyssey EXL for about $1700 below MSRP.
I purchased a new EX-L RES $2500 below MSRP. MSRP $32,410, purchase price 29,896) Great van, I love it. Got great service from the dealer and had no complaints about the whole deal.
hart11b, Where did you get such a good deal on the EXL-RES? I e-mailed the internet manager at Nalley Honda in Brunswick, GA yesterday and the best deal they would offer was $500 under MSRP. Not even close to the deal that dex spoke of. Plus they wanted $399 doc fee and $249 for VIN etching, neither of which I'm interested in.
I was quoted (in writing) close to $1,900 below MSRP for the Touring by Nalley in Brunswick but then went for the Sienna. After reading your post, I decided to call the guy I spoke to in the internet dept and asked him if it is true that they are not giving the big discount anymore. He told me that the general manager has put a stop to it and indeed they are now only $500 under as per your post as they do not have the inventory anymore. I apologise for my post but at the time it was valid. Have heard that there is a dealer in Louiville, KY who is giving relatively big discounts.
Ddelise, As per my prior post, the deal at Nally in Brunswick is no longer valid. Sorry about that. If you go the Sienna route, the best place I found was Fairway Toyota in Albany. Their quote was around the carsdirect invoice for an 05 Sienna (LTD and XLE) and they told me they could get it without the Toyoguard. If I went for an 05 (as opposed to the 04 I bought), I would have bought via their internet dept. Good luck. Dex
I might be able to help you here. I also have been going through the same comparison between the Honda and Toyota. I just purchased (but not received yet) the Honda from the dealer in Renton,WA. We choose the Honda because it was the clear winner in terms of how it drives. Handling, acceleration, how it grips the road, etc. The Sienna was nice, but not nearly as fun to drive. We also wanted 8 passenger seating with leather and you can't do that in the Sienna without aftermarket leather.
Anyway, before you drive to Idaho you might call the Renton dealer's internet dept. They sold me the car for MSRP (plus fog lights on the vehicle I wanted). It was the Ex-l w/Res. I also found a dealer in Greshem, Or that was willing to do the deal at MSRP.
If you are looking for a Odyssey EXL w/RES try Honda Of Pocatello...! I just got a EXL for $1700 below MSRP. Read my previous post about my shopping story.
Comments
When I calculated the cost of traveling to Alabama to pick up the cost (I live 15 hours away), I contacted Coral Springs Honda in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. and informed them of my offer and my determination to go to Alabama to get the Ody. Within 15 minutes they offered to sell me the same model for or $1,000 off the MRSP price. While Moore-Stewarts offer was better, time is money and the costs associated with traveling to Alabama including having to take two days off from work made COral Springs offer reasonable. I got the Ody that same night!!!!!
When I went to the dealership I wanted to find one of the 2004 clearance vans and they did not have any. They convinced me to get a 2005 when they gave me such an aggressive price.
Could you provide the name of the dealer in your area that is willing to match the $950 over invoice price? How is your wait time for your van?
Thanks,
Michigan dealer was in Grand Rapids.
I love this van!
Like at least one other here, I have emailed Jay Honda and got no reply at all.
Apparently they are just trying to sell vehicles in a new way.
I know I can get an extended warranty as long as the manufacturer's warranty is in effect. Can any one suggest a company so I can get a quote??
I like my Oddysey, but would have gladly waited 6-12 months for a $3,000 discount.
The '05 has some great upgrades and has most paying MSRP once again. If your current car is working fine, you might want to wait a year or less to save a couple grand off MSRP.
Here is the deal Bedard offered me:
2005 Odyssey, Silver EX-L for $28,548 + %5 MA tax.
I live in NJ and would have to pick up the minivan.
I would have to provide registration and plates.
I would have to send a check for $500 dollars to order the minivan which should be available in Jan '05.
What do you think? Sounds like a good deal to me provided I get the details in writing.
Bedard Brothers has requested that I tell both forums, edmunds and odyclub that they are so inundated with customers that they will be offering the 950 over invoice only to what they have instock. So call and talk to them. Maybe they have exactly the van you want. We have ordered a Silver Touring with NAV. We will be taking the plates off our old van and driving up there in our CRV to pick up the van sometime after the 10 of Nov.
I have no affiliation with them. Just one of the early email/internet customers.
I never know if I have the word "sap" written across my face and that everyone else is getting a better deal than me. Right now they only have 2 05s on the lot, so it doesn't look good for me to get any discounts anytime soon!
Do you like your new Ody? I've only seen about 3 05 Odys here in the minivan capital of the world.
IN NYC area, I got basically same price for EXL with DVD and Nav, 34,095 or more, except for one dealer in Brooklyn, NY 32,600.00
1. Duthler Honda.
2. EXL
3. Should be in between 1 & 10 Nov.
4. Good luck.
I called the Bedard Bros dealer in Mass. The gentlemen there was absolutely ready to sell me an o5 ody for $950 over invoice. He seemed like a real straight shooter. Sure, he would have to locate the car. But it you want a exl with leather, dvd, & navi - so will everybody else. Hardly any dealers have these on the lots. Most guys I researched have the base touring, the full blown touring, and base ex's. Not too many of the exl's with leather, dvd, & nav sitting around waiting to be had.
So I began beating up my local dealers with the Bedard price. Called 6 dealers, 5 said no way, or msrp-$500. One guy said msrp-$1000. This took 15 minutes. Then I went to my first choice dealer, the one where I bought my Accord and where I spend thousands of dollars a year in service and regularly scheduled maintenance. He wouldn't match the price either. But, he would do $33,500 - that's about $1,110 under msrp. That number is real because I was at the dealer live in person. He didn't have the car either, I'd have to wait up to 8 weeks. I could have easily gotten another 2 or 300 off that number if I was willing to pitch a fit. He also offered me just a touch below wholesale on my trade-in. How nice.
My guess is that the guys at Bedard will have a little trouble satisfying all the calls there getting on this $950 over invoice deal. But, if you ask me it's worth the wait if your within a 5 hr drive. I say everyone out there should beat the tar out of there local dealers with this guys price. You'll be able to get way under msrp in less than an hours work. As for me, I'm going to wait a few more months, and I will be buying one for $950 over invoice - or less!
The Ody is BIG, much larger then the Villager BUT my wife and I are getting use to it. We looked at the Sienna but the need for premimum fuel turned me off. Also price of 05 LE with #5 package at Fleet price was $27,300, about a grand less then what I got the Ody. So far our Ody has given 19.6 and 20.9 mpg for our first two fillups. The engine is tight and hope mileage improves with time.
Fit and finish is excellent. A good amount of plastic but well done. No coin holder was a surprise the first time I started looking for it. Engine has plenty of power/torque and smooth.
Complains: I wish the rear windows would pop open as on the Villager. Also it doesn't have auto locks when you put it in drive. Other then that it's been GREAT.
One thing to note..I noticed a clunk in the transmission going from Drive to Reverse. Took it to the dealer and they had mechanics all over it to check it out. Even a call into Honda. Jimmy from service decided to check the EX and Touring they have there an the lot and guess what..they both did the same thing. Looks like it's normal! Anyone else with an 05 find the same thing?
Strawboss1 you can't go wrong with the Ody. Good luck. You're right..Kingwood has to be the minivan capital of the world..
Enjoy the new Ody! (My Kingwood friend has a '95ish Quest).
Steve, Host
you don't need to buy it right away,
you can get it as long as your current factory
warranty is in effect.
If it was a 2005 Ody that you bought, it's still a great deal and it would've been almost impossible to get $1,700 off. So even if you did know about the junk fee, your deal would likely not be any better in the end. Just enjoy the car and don't beat yourself up over this.
1. 2% off of my finance rate.
2. Warranty upgrade from 3yrs/36K miles to 6yr/72K miles.
3. Vin Etch Package with $5000 payback if the car is stolen with 5yrs.
4. Daytime Running Lights
5. Alarm upgrade to a key remote passive system
6. Alarm upgrade to the key remote passive system (item #5 above), which provides a disabler, microphone, motion and window sensors.
Have anyone heard of such a package???
Is this package worth it???
Doesn't the 2005 Odyssey EX-L already come with a security package which includes: An Active Remote Alarm and Embolizer Key System???
Have anyone buy additional security systems???
I'm Confused! Any advice appreciated!!!
Thanks in advance!
Steve, Host
"2% off of my finance rate"
This is called a "buy down". Which can be a good thing or a bad thing. What was the rate before the 2% discount, and if you don't mind your credit score.
They claimed my credit score is around 6% which is definitely higher than what I can acquire elsewhere. It's probably higher by 1.5%.
Basically, they jacked up my regular base rate and then offer to take off 2% only with an additional $2900 of spending.
Just as a fyi...I will also be posting messages in two other Odyssey forums.. "The Case for the Touring" (why the 12 extra features of the Touring model are worth the money) in the Honda Odyssey 2005+ discussion and "Top of the Line Comparison" (20 reasons why we purchased the Touring NAV/RES over the Sienna LTD NAV/RES). This will be in the Odyssey vs Sienna - 2005 discussion.
As for pricing, here are my tips and observations:
1. Pricing depends on local supply and demand. Period.
2. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It appears that 2005 Odysseys are generally selling between MSRP and MSRP - $1000. I'm sure there are some exceptions out there, but dealers who are discounting below this range are running out of inventory very quick. Or there is significant waiting time. These dealers will also be quick to realize that they can charge more for this vehicle.
3. Pricing may vary by trim level. There are now seven Odysseys available for 2005. The most popular reported models (at least in the Mid Atlantic) are the EXL-RES and the Touring NAV/RES.
4. Pricing may vary by exterior color. New colors are always the most popular (e.g. Silver Pearl, Slate Green, Ocean Mist).
5. Pricing may vary by interior color. The black leather is apparently very popular. Perhaps in part because it is a Honda exclusive in the minivan market. It also helps that black looks the most opulent and is the most durable. IMHO, it is also a great match with the standard silver/charcoal dash in all models.
6. If you are waiting for demand to cool off and prices to drop significantly, you may be waiting a long time. I think demand may actually increase for three primary reasons:
a) Marketing. As you probably noticed, Honda is increasing Odyssey mass marketing big time on TV and in popular magazines. The Honda zealots already have their 2005 vans so Honda is now reaching out to the masses. Not to mention the upcoming winter auto shows. Some nice reviews in automotive and finance magazines don't hurt either.
b) Visibility. As more Odysseys hit the street, the more people take notice and research online (especially this site!).
c) Word of mouth. Nothing perhaps gets people more excited about a new vehicle that hearing about it from a friend or relative.
7. Increased production in North America for this model doesn't necessarily translate to lower prices. It may just mean shorter wait time for the trim level and color you really want. Of course, if demand increases, the wait time may only get worse before it gets better.
8. Focus on the bottom line price. There were three accessories I knew I wanted beforehand and I strongly recommend:
a) Wheel locks (On the Touring model, this is a no-brainer. Very valuable alloys and tires).
b) Splash guards (Subtle cosmetic item that will help protect the lower panels of your expensive van).
c) Rear cargo tray (Another no-brainer. A must have to protect the area behind the third bench from mud, etc. The tray does not impede the flat folding seats).
The van purchase price was $400 under but I asked for these items ($300 value) installed and free of charge. I also negotiated for a drop in the dealer processing fee.
9. If the van has accessories already installed that you do not need, have them removed. If they have pinstripes installed, please remove them immediately!
10. Lastly, do not lose sight of vehicle value and cost of ownership. The Honda Odyssey has had the highest resale value in the minivan market. If you compare, for example, a deep discounted T&C to a near MSRP Odyssey, the purchase price of the Chrysler is significantly lower. But if you factor in historical resale value (as a %), the Honda is a less expensive van. Run the numbers. Discounts on new Siennas today are not doing existing Toyota minivan owners any favors.
Hope this helps. Best of luck!
The moral of the story is to shop around even if you have to drive a little and don't forget that monthends are the time when dealers are being pushed to give you better deals due to the sales pressure.
I too am torn between the Sienna. I am looking at a 2005 XLE with option 5 or 6. MSRP is around $36k, selling price around $33.5 I would think. From what I can tell, this model/option is very similar to the Odyssey EX-L RES. So, even though the Honda is closer to MSRP, the actual sell price is still less than the Sienna. What was your deciding factor for the Sienna?
I was also considering a 2005 Honda EXL and 2005 Toyota Sienna XLE with Pacakage#6 or 13 or 14 or 15. Its very difficult to get the Package you want in the color your want when buying a Sienna. Both are comparable vehicles but if you want AWD Sienna is the only option. If you don't need it your can buy a Odyssey. If you like rich lexus like interiors or read lift gate, Sienna is the way to go. If you like a powerful, smooth engine, drive quality with decent interiors Odyssey is the way to go. One more thing to consider is that buying Odyssey at MSRP is cheaper than buying a Sienna at close to invoice. Many dealers are offering anywhere in between $500 - $2000 below MSRP. I am buying Odyssey EXL for about $1700 below MSRP.
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Where did you get such a good deal on the EXL-RES? I e-mailed the internet manager at Nalley Honda in Brunswick, GA yesterday and the best deal they would offer was $500 under MSRP. Not even close to the deal that dex spoke of. Plus they wanted $399 doc fee and $249 for VIN etching, neither of which I'm interested in.
As per my prior post, the deal at Nally in Brunswick is no longer valid. Sorry about that. If you go the Sienna route, the best place I found was Fairway Toyota in Albany. Their quote was around the carsdirect invoice for an 05 Sienna (LTD and XLE) and they told me they could get it without the Toyoguard. If I went for an 05 (as opposed to the 04 I bought), I would have bought via their internet dept. Good luck.
Dex
I might be able to help you here. I also have been going through the same comparison between the Honda and Toyota. I just purchased (but not received yet) the Honda from the dealer in Renton,WA. We choose the Honda because it was the clear winner in terms of how it drives. Handling, acceleration, how it grips the road, etc. The Sienna was nice, but not nearly as fun to drive. We also wanted 8 passenger seating with leather and you can't do that in the Sienna without aftermarket leather.
Anyway, before you drive to Idaho you might call the Renton dealer's internet dept. They sold me the car for MSRP (plus fog lights on the vehicle I wanted). It was the Ex-l w/Res. I also found a dealer in Greshem, Or that was willing to do the deal at MSRP.
Good luck.