2013 and earlier Honda Odyssey Prices Paid and Buying Experience

cubsfan4

We ordered our '06 Odyssey EXL w/RES in Slate Green Metallic with Gray interior at the end of Aug. and picked it up on Friday. Best buying experience ever! Hagerstown (Maryland) Honda was the AWESOME! We grew tired of the DC dealers and expanded our search - we found two willing to order us an '06 at the '05 prices. We paid $30,982 +tax+tags+destination. They accidentally put the pinstripping, splash guards and wheel locks on. We told them we didn't want them, they offered to take them off but when we showed up to pick it up they threw them in at no extra charge. It wasn't even an issue. We did everything over the Internet and our salesperson even did most of the paperwork legwork before we got there so we didn't have to spend hours in the dealership. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop but it was smooth sailing. They asked for a $500 credit card deposit. They took the info. but never charged our card!

This truly is a beautiful vehicle. We can't get over how much is standard when you get to the EX-L level. This Board was very helpful during the whole process. Couldn't have been smoother if we tried. Definitely check out Hagerstown Honda. if you want to be treated fairly and honestly. Good luck.

swmobley

I also live in VA. Beach and went to two dealers today looking for 06 EX and the best they would do is 28,345 plus Tax and tags. I told them I would do 28,345 OTD. They would not even consider the Deal. I believe that to be more than a fair deal. Anyone have input?

bighoo93

cubsfan4, I am in your same market (DC-area) and have the Hagerstown Honda on my list of dealers to contact. Please e-mail me if you wouldn't mind discussing your experience a little more (as well as your thoughts on your new Odyssey). Thanks! Just click on my screen name above to get my e-mail.

akhan

I just got an offer for an O6 EX-L in Black for 30,700+TTL, in Texas

I know this is not great, any comments on where I should start from a negotiation point of view? What would be a realistic number?

cccompson

Start at invoice and work your way up. The ONLY way you'll know a good price is to shop - get quotes from multiple dealers to determine what the prices are in your market.

tunrac

You should be able to get this van for at least $1500 less than your quote. Invoice on that model is ~$28260 so working up from this number should let you buy this van for at most $1000 over invoice in any market in the country.

Supposedly, Texas is a better market to buy a Honda compared to say California. Keep at it and if you are flexible on the color, you should be able to save some money. Good luck.

330blast

I just bought a 2006 EX - cloth last weekend in San Jose. Paid $26,988 + TTL, which I believe is around $800 above invoice given the fact there is no official invoice info yet (People are getting from difference source, but KBB or Edmunds haven't release any data). Not sure how I did, but felt it was a fair deal, especailly in the high-demand SF bay area, when it is only the 2nd week that 2006 hit dealers parking lot.

I came into the dealer ship just to check the fabric color and without any expectation of purchasing because I have visited that dealer ship couple times before when they did not budge price at all. When I looked at the car, it even had $5k mark up on it.

However, when I was ready to walk out after 10 minutes of playing with figures, the sales manager (mid level one) called me and all of a sudden dropped the price to $27,500. Another 15 minutes, we shook hand on $26,988. In fact, I was holding my ground very firm at my initial offer of $27,500 because I was not in a rush and could wait another 2 months the most. But when ny wife came over with my kid and joined the negotiation, we started to lose ground. Not to find any excuse, but it was hard that when you have to negotiate against both the dealer and your wife, who suppose to be on your side. Lesson learned: I will go alone next time.

Regardless, the VAN is great and I soon will be a soccer daddy and lose my "bimmer drive" title. Sigh.......

sorexcuse

To the dealer's credit, they have said they will honor the original deal and get us a white Ody by the end of October. It looks as if they waited too long to submit the order that I placed and would have been on the November delivery for mine. At least they are trying to make it right even though they promised delivery prior to that.

fullerdc

We are starting our search and were going to give the local Ourisman dealer a first crack at it. Did you try some of the DC area dealers. If so, which ones should we avoid?

fullerdc

Keep me posted as well on what you find out. I just emailed the Hagerstown deals for an EX-L RES, so we'll see. College Park sent me a quote of $29,871 - but I doubt that include freight, etc.

swb9

While I ultimately didn't end up buying a new '06, I was getting very good prices at between $250-300 over invoice (including destination fee) on '06 EXs from a number of dealerships b/w Pgh and Cleveland, including Park Honda in Akron ($300 over invoice), Ganley Honda in Cleveland/North Olmstead ($250), Dean Honda in Pittsburgh ($300 as a match), Mike Pruitt Honda in Akron ($500).

Most of the Pittsburgh dealerships weren't even close to these numbers, coming in at $1500 over invoice) and when told of prices I was getting from the Ohio dealers, most didn't even attempt to match those prices. Very disappointing. :mad:

But it was amazing the responsiveness of the above dealers to my internet/email inquiries. I mass emailed about 20 dealerships and those were by far the best prices. I hope this information helps someone!

bighoo93

I have personally found Fairfax Honda to be particularly inflexible (and somewhat gruffly so) on price discussions. I have had two friends specifically mention that they had the same experience, and this was without me mentioning my experience. So I would advise looking somewhere other than Fairfax Honda.

stuluju

Yes the Delarship is VIP Honda and they are located in North Plainfield, NJ. They at first tried to get all the extra's like destination fee's and so on but when you tell them you're not paying them they take it out.

krs1

Hi swmobley

From my research, and I think 28,345 plus Tax and tags is a pretty good deal.

06 EX-L Res (DVD) are invoicing @ around. $29,146. also taking into consideration the new ones (06) just came out and this van is a "Hottie"

what dealer did you go to??? Please advise...

cwkwan

You should be able to get a better deal than $30,700. I would not pay more than $29,000 +TTL. Also, make sure they don't get you on the dealer add-ons and say that the price does not include the add-ons. I have a quote for under $28,500 for the EX-L before TTL and am hoping to finalize the deal tonight. Most of the quotes that I have been getting are around $29,000 before TTL. Hope this helps.

cwkwan

I am also looking to buy an ody inthe southern california area. I will let you know if I get a good deal and which dealer I recommend once the sale is finalized. So far everything looks more promising than expected. With some negotiating and patience you should be able to get the car at less than $1000 over invoice.

ikram

I am also actively, looking for 06'EX-L, can you please let me know which city and dealership is offereing this deal? Thx

cwkwan

Go to Sierra Honda in Monrovia California. The internet department was able to offer a very good price. I just bought an 06 EX-L yesterday. The deal was done through email and phone and took about 40 minutes to complete once I stepped into the dealership.

frank26

I would also like to be posted as well on the EXL quote. Thanks.

dlove

I just got a quote from a Tri-State NY dealer for $29,008 on a 2006 EX-L. I am in the middle of a fax attack. I sent to 24 dealers yesterday giving them 2+ days to get in responses. After about a day, I have gotten only one offer, but it was for $29,008 (plus tax, title, plates, etc.). I wanted a 2005 EX-L but was told by this guy that I won't find one anymore.

Any tips on getting a lower price?

odessit

Dlove,
28600 – 2006 EXL in upstate NY. If everything goes ok I am buying it tomorrow. Just wait for responses from the dealers. I emailed about 10 dealers, got responses from 8 and was able to negotiate this price.
Yes, its almost impossible to find 2005 EXL now. I’ve seen some but it was not the color combination my wife wanted.

dlove

Being in NYC, I stuck to the Hudson Valley region going as far north as Saratoga. I have some ties to the Champlain region. Can you tell me which dealers you got the best quotes from?

odessit

If you are willing to go as far as Saratoga then you definitely can try it here. I am closing this deal tomorrow. Would you mind waiting until tomorrow after I close this deal? I’ll let you (and everyone here) know all the details as soon as I actually buy the car.
mike

dlove

No prob. I gave them all until 5 PM Friday to fax me with my hope of buying on Saturday. I'm still a little curious why I only have 1 of 24 dealers responding so far... do I need to call them so they know I'm a real boy?

odessit

That is one of the problems – they might think you are a ghost:) or competing dealership. But no need to worry. I did not get all the responses next day either. What I would suggest is sending email to their internet managers. You can find this info on Honda website when searching for a dealers around you. They give only the name – not the email address. You will need to go to each dealership’s website and find email from there. If not able to find email of a particular person – simply email to whatever email is listed on the website, or fill out and send (through the web page) their “contact” form. And to make them believe you are real I would suggest to use your work email (if you have one) and clearly sign it with your name, phone number etc. This is how I did it –sending email from my work email. At the same time (and here is the trick:) ) send similar email, just differently phrased and use different speech style from some other email address (yahoo, hotmail, etc.) and see the differences in price. Just sign it with different name – for instance I signed work email Michael and other email Mike. Or if your name does not allow that just use your and your spouse name on different emails. I’m sure you will figure something out:) Also don’t be so strict from the beginning like giving them until 5 pm or something like that –you are only beginning this process. It took me a week of heavy emailing and occasional visiting to get to the price I showed you before.

jcchevy

Hi,

I'm looking for a little advice here. I have an offer for an 06 odessey touring model with RES and NAV for $36,948, dark blue, gray leather. Does that sound liek a reasonable price? I checked with other dealers and it seems so.

thanks

jcchevy

davant

jcchevy, et al,

My advice is take it! $36,946 is a very good price and keep in mind, the MSRP for a 2006 Odyssey Touring R&N is $39.3K (including $550 destination, before tax & tag, dealer fees) and they're hard to find. This is still at least three grand over invoice though, good luck going lower. The risk is that when you go back to your lowest offer after bidding it will already be sold. Lots of dealers keep this 'crown jewel of van-dom' very close to MSRP, sometimes above, I don't blame them. If you can sell more than available at full price, why discount? As you've probably determined, the Odyssey is truly the Acura of minivans and handles more like a car than a soccer locker.

We just got an '06 Touring R&N in Slate Green Metallic (it's more silvery-blue than green) with Olive interior. Despite being called 'Olive' it's very light gray, sort of like Silly Putty with very light green added, flat and quite pleasant on the eyes. The alternative interiors are Inkjet black or Samsonite gray, neither suits us.

I recommend you negotiate via e-mail to get a little friendly competition going. I polled about a dozen Southeastern dealers and settled on the one that responded first as they had a vehicle coming and offered the best price. After initial price agreement we switched to phone to work out details. Through post-deal chats I learned that dealers can sometimes sniff out comparison shoppers so be genuine and provide them a timeframe to allow them to find what you want and when. Going this route ensures you're dealing savvy internet sales folks versus whoevers turn it is when you show up at the dealership. Most dealers had nothing in stock/inbound based on our color choices or wouldn't budge on price. One had an inbound Touring R&N and replied with a quote $37 more than your price (before $550 destination, $387 dealer fees) at $36,983. They also let me get adds like visors, deflectors, etc. at dealer cost.

Availability and color choice is the key here. I found this one on short notice in Atlanta and beat two local FL dealers by over $1,500 (best I could do was $500 under MSRP). Picking it up cost me $49 in airfare, (they gave me a ride from the airport) and a 300+ mile drive home, a flawless transaction, would do it again.

This satisfied consumer highly recommends Hennessy Honda in Woodstock, GA, just North of Atlanta.

Good luck and keep us posted!

jcchevy

Hi Davant,

Thank you very, very much for your input. I'm feeling better about the offer and most likely will go with it. I'm going to try and negotiate a little more but as you mentioned, they may not go too much lower. I've been looking for a while like you and the select colors just weren't available. Incidently, I love the color combo of your new 06 OD R and N and I was ready to purchase over labor day weekend only to find out they sold it tow hours after my call. Like you I had dealt with them via email/internet until we came close to price.

I think we're going to get this blue/gray one. I have a refundable deposit on it.

Thanks very much again for your input. It really helped clearing my thoughts about the pruchase. I'll keep you and the forum informed how we make out.

jcchevy

dlove

OK, so like I had said, 24 faxes, 1 response with just about 48 hours gone by. Has anyone else had such colossal failures as well with the "fax attack" method?

gap4jason

Is this a good deal

$32,863 + TTL?

thanks....

cccompson

Price depends wholly upon your location. Here in Ohio, $36,948 would be a high price for such a unit as great deals abound courtesy of stiff competition among Honda stores.

bighoo93

Yikes. I was planning on trying later this month. Maybe because you aren't at end of the month? More likely, the car is just hot and inventories are low. One response is pretty bad, though.

I can't explain the poor response, unless it had to do with the wording of the fax? Just grasping here. I don't think it can be that they thought it was another dealer, because that could just as easily be the case with an internet quote request. They call you to make sure you are legit and start talking. They could do the same here. If you didn't leave a phone number, but only a fax or e-mail, then I could understand some hesitation.

ody_man

I have seen quite a few posts of people going in for a 2005 Ody, and I cant see the value in doing so, unless local dealers are offering a price differential of 10% MSRP, which is about $2500+. If folks can get a 2006 for $500-1000 above invoice, it would set target price for a 2005 at $1500-2000 below invoice(!) - that, I believe is scraping the dealer cost, and an unlikely price.

I too got into the mindset of this 'last years' is good buy!' till I corrected myself. Now I have a 06 Ody about $400 above invoice, delivered home at no charge with a full tank of gas. I'll put out a note on my experiences/observations/analysis in a future note.

Ody Man

buddyzuniga

I'm in Southern CA, can you please give the name of the dealership and perhaps the city where you got your 06 EX-L RES. Awesome price!

dlove

I used the basic form off of Motley Fool's car buying list. I did not include a phone number, since I know that they would simply have called and told me to come down or otherwise fluffed me up. Certainly they would not write anything down when they can leave a VM instead...

Oh well, looks like $29,008 is what I have to work with. Perhaps I'll bs and try to get it under $29, but I'm not sure how much I should push it.

I found this all very disappointing.

dlove

I was into the 2005 based on the theory that they'd be cheaper than the 2006. But it was just a theory. Perhaps that's why my fax attack failed- I said I wanted an '05. I figured that dealers being dealers, they'd all pounce anywayeven if it were to offer an 06 rather than an 05. Who knows.

piney

I was wondering what you have found out. I live in Spokane and will be looking at an EX-L. I read one post that someone got a good deal in Yakima. 31000 out the door for a 2005 EX-L

piney

odessit

I’d like to thank everyone for great posts about pricing and buying tips in this board. I purchased 2006 EXL today for 28600 + tax and other administrative fees in upstate NY. I already described how I was shopping for the vehicle in post #10768. To recap: I emailed dealers in my area with a polite inquiry about the pricing. During a week I was getting responses and actually closer to the end of the week visited some dealerships. My email always included my contact information: business address, title, and work number.
Here are the final numbers:
The Carbone Auto Group 28,758.00
Rensselaer Honda 29,000.00
Keeler Honda 1500 over invoice
Mohawk Honda 28,981.00
Saratoga Honda 29,758.00
Lia Cars 29,900.00
Bedardbros 28,991.00
D’ella Autogroup 28,600.00

You definitely have to be aggressive in order to get reasonable price. After I got a quote from Carbone – 28758 – I got email from Della Autogroup with some quote. I emailed them back simply saying the “truth” “The lowest price I have is 28 659. Can you beat it or at least match it?” The response was simple – 28600. When I talked to different dealers and asked them question “why some dealers go down in price and some don’t for the same exact vehicle?” The answer was simple: “…because I can sell this car to the next customer for the msrp sticker price…” That was the actual answer from one of the dealers in my area. So, basically it is all about different economical level of general population in a given area. I do live in upscale area and dealers here simply don’t bother bargaining because they know that next customer will just buy the car for the sticker price. As simple as that. I hope that info helps. Let me know if you have any specific questions.
mike

sj2000

Wow, I read some messages in this forum that everyone could get EX-L below 30,000, has any of you live in Colorado, I have tried to email some internet salesman here in Colorado, and no luck at all, all of them offered 2006 EX-L without NAVI and DVD for 30845 plus tax , only one of them offered $30,345, there was one offered me 2005 EX-L for $29540 plus $299 dealer's fee and tax, I tried to offer him $28500 and he refused. Any one has some suggestions what is the good price to start when I come to the dealership? Any recipe? Thanks..

sj2000

Hi, Mausam, Have you got your car yet? For how much, I have been looking for the same car, I tried to contact internet slaes dept in different dealership, but some of them quoted for $30845 plus tax for 2006 only one of them for $30354. Could you share where you got your car? Thanks.

sj2000

HI, my name is Soetjahjo, I live in Denver, I have been trying to get a good price by contacting Internet salesman in several dealership like Ralph schomp, burt kuni, john elway and mile high, frontier honda, fisher honda, they all quoted me for EX-L 2006 without DVD/NAVI for $30845 ($500 only below MSRP), I have not come to the dealer to fight yet, just thought maybe I could research it first, Frontier offered $29534 + dealer fee($299) and tax for 2005 EXL , I tried to offer him $28500+ tax, he refused, maybe you have suggestion of the name of the person in the dealership, I have not tried Costco auto program, any experience in the past with Costco?Since my nudget is only $31000-32000, so I will stick with EX-L without DVD or NAVI, any suggestion? Thanks.

mmlgwg

We also live in the bay area. Which dealership did you go to?

swmobley

KRS1
"From my research, and I think 28,345 plus Tax and tags is a pretty good deal."

This price offered by a local dealer is not acceptable. This price is only 500 under MSRP. I will pay just over 28,000 OTD which is 1000 over invoice which I think is a fair deal for both parties. I realize they can probally sell the vehicle to someone who has not done as much research for more but sometimes it is better to accept less profit over NO PROFIT.

jaybee2

Sorry guys, I've been away. The dealership is Sussman of Willow Grove, PA. I don't think I can post the sales rep name. As i said earlier, I struck the deal with the internet sales team. When I was picking up my vehicle, there was at least one person who had come from upstate New York to pick up his vehicle, which makes me believe the dealership price is really competitive.

dlove

OK, despite upstate NY dealers looking like they were offering less than $29,000 for the 2006 EX-L, I couldn't persuade a few local dealerships in the greater NYC area to bite. The best I got was $29,008 and so I went for it lest I get stuck paying $29,300 or $29,800.

isellhondas

Most dealers throw "blast faxes" in the trash and for good reason!

alexanderf

$31k is an unrealistic price for a 2005 Odyssey EX-L out-the-door unless it was a dealer demonstrator. These cars are sold out in WA and the 2006 models are all selling closer to MSRP. As there are more dealers in Spokane, you stand a better chance of finding a lower price there than you would in Yakima.

akhan

Thank you everyone for discussing/sharing your findings. It has been very helpful

Yesterday I bought an 06 EX-L in black from Rusty Wallis Honda. After sending emails to every single major dealer in DFW,Houston,SanAntonio,Austin I got the best dealfrom Rusty Wallis. Been looking for over 3 months.

[$29,750 - $8500 (02 Accord VP, 54K Mi Trade In)] * 1.0625 = 22578.125 + 251(TL fees and other crap that they charge)=$22830 OTD

I noticed that the Odyssey Badging on my car is on the drivers sidein the back, I could swear that I've seen it on the passenger side. Is this a change for the 06? Quite puzzled as to why the brochures 06 & 05 show the Odyssey Badge on the passenger side.
But mine is on the driver's side.??????

The car had 8miles on it when I arrived. It had the mud guards, cargo mats, mesh and some door guards and pin stripes(which I hate but did not want to have them take it off for fear of paint damage) I have driven it 300miles so far and have 1/4 tank full.

I do not think I got the best deal or the greatest, but since color was a factor and the price on the 06 seemed the lowest in Texas, I decided to bite the bullet. If color is not important then I think you can get an 06 EX-L for ~29,200. If any one in Texas especially in Austin wants to get more information, I'd be happy to share this them. I drove 3 hours from Austin to DFW to get this car.

Once again thanks to everyone.

odessit

Odyssey Badge on my 2006 EX-L is also on the drivers side in the back:) Probably this is the change from 05 to 06. Enjoy.

bighoo93

What reason is that? They don't want to make a sale? All the fax attack asks for is your best quote. Lets say the dealer quotes the lowest price that he would want to sell the car for, taking into account all costs and incentives. If he wins, then he gets a sale at a price that was worth it to him. If not, then he doesn't get the sale, but still has the car, and didn't want the sale at that price anyway. What's to lose? The answer is, nothing. Smart sales managers know they should never throw away a potential sale in the trash. Though no doubt many dealers wish they could make competition-free sales. If dealers would just list their cars at the lowest price they would take (like the department stores do for their shirts, to use the example you seem to like), then nobody would have to do this. Since they don't, then consumers need to bring the force of competition into play themselves.