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Comments
I like your advice about 1,000 below invoice, but does that include or exclude destination charge? I am planning to buy a basic '04 Honda Civic VP sedan AT without the extras. So far I have a 13K (includes destination charge) offer of 2.9 % for 5 years in OC, CA, southern CA. The invoice is 13,175 ( excludes destination charge). Still deciding how and when is it a good deal to accept...Would appreciate any advice you can give.
Thank you.
I'll be waiting for a fuel cell car before I give up gas I fear, in the mean time, a civic LX should help ease my wallet pains.
As to the civic versus corolla, booth are *nice* cars, first thing you should do is drive them both and see what you think. The corolla feels more luxurious and the civic a little more sporty, not by any leaps and bounds mind you they both feel like small economic, quality cars in the end. My problem with Toyota is the dealers seem to think they are golden and can do no wrong. Never had a good experience at a toyota deal, this last shopping spree was no exception.
They've tried to convince me of several strange and stupid things. Looking at a truck I was once told that 2 wheel drive trucks got better traction than 4WD. I wanted to smack him so bad.
Looking at aminivan for my mother, That they purposely mis-allign vehivles to steer into on coming traffic to help keep you awake. I actually screamed at this guy and told him to get away from me before I hit him.
this last time they didn't comprehend simple English. Told him I wanted the price of the car then what they offered for a trade becasue I was likley just going to sell the truck myself since they would likely low ball me on it. He comes out with your truck + $5000.
I felt like Mr. Furious from Mystery Men. Before that I wanted to price 3 cars, apparently the sales manager doesn't like work and he came out to say I had to pick just one. I laughed and started to leave when he decided 3 would be ok.
Hopefully, Toyota dealers outside of Florida are a little more competent. I've had back luck in Gainesville, Ocala, Jax, etc... with them. Usually thier stupid comments are not as bad as the ones I listed, but ever so ofter I wonder if genetic cleansing is a valid excuse for homicide.
Therefore, invoice on the car you are looking at (vp sedan auto)
is 12,665. Now subtract $1000 from that. You now have $11,665 plus tax, dealer documentary, and license. The Honda dealers in the Tucson and Phoenix area charge between $249-$299 for dealer documentary. If you need anymore advice I would be glad to help.
I have bought six or seven cars in the last ten years and had worked
in the car business as a salesman, sales manager, and finance mgr.
If you prefer to contact me directly, you may at agould1@cox.net
I belive the hybrids actually weigh more because of the added equipment and batteries than their non-hybrid counterparts.
I'll be waiting for a fuel cell car before I give up gas I fear, in the mean time, a civic LX should help ease my wallet pains.
Fuel cells are a nice idea, but we have no real time crash info on the fuel cells. A minute amount of hydrogen released into atmosphere (remember chemistry?) goes with a boom in an uncontrolled combustion. Think of the Space Shuttle launch, the engines on the shuttle are burning hydrogen and oxygen. The temperature is so high that the cooling of the "funnels" is achieved by implanting metals with lower melting point. The EVAPORATING metal is cooling "funnels!" Yes, the reaction in fuel cell is a much more controlled, and slower, but what if... you get rear ended, side swiped, rolled over, or the system malfunctions? You think the Police Crown Victorias blowing up were bad, think of a shuttle launch boom upon impact.
The only thing to ease wallet pains is a bike, no motorized, or public transportation.
Actually, according to Honda's website a 2004 Civic Hybrid 5-speed weighs 200lbs more than a 2004 Honda Civic LX 5-speed.
2004 CIVIC EX, 4DR, MANNAUL, FOR 15699.00 + TAX + TTL + OTHER FEES = 16890.00 DRIVE OUT PRICE..!! SO WHAT DO U GUYS THINK.??
Tax = $1072
Doc = $45
Reg = $45
Final = $14962
Couldn't get anyone below 13800 in Southern Cal. After I got an email price quote (Carsdirect.com), I used it as leverage and was successful in getting what I needed. Despite what some say ALL dealers will try to get you with some "additional" cost like car alarms or they'll mess with the financing numbers. Just ask to see it all in writing and be ready to walk if the BS gets too thick.
I also am in Gainesville and am looking to buy a Civic LX Sedan (I want AT however). Any tips you can give me as to where to buy and how to get a good offer from a dealer near by? Would love to get your insight before I go into the trenches myself.
I tried Honda City as well and can't get the nice price as you did. Could you give me a little more details about your deal? Does that includes trade in? If possible, would you please tell me the driving-out price? Thanks and I may want to give another try! Sometime really get suffer from those hassle! :-(
I hate to rain on your parade but both are Honda
Problem with certified pre owned Honda or toyota, it is going to cost same or more than a brand new one with the incentives. Plus, certified pre-owned will have higher interest rate than a brand new one. If you can spend $11,000, you are not that far from Civic LX's real world selling price of $13,xxx. If you want a "no hassle, no pressure sale with a decent price" ,Check out www.carsdirect.com for realworld prices in your zip code. And, if you have no trade, you can buy it online from www.carsdirect.com When they first started they used to deliver the cars to your driveway on a flat bed, but I think that changed. You actually have to go to the dealership to sign the papers and pick up the car.
You 91 Sentra is probably not going to fetch more than $500 on trade in.
Natasha, I am sorry, but this is the funniest question anyone ever asked here.
Manual -- Precise shifting and perfect shift times done by the skilled driver. Requires training and paying attention to what the engine and the car are doing. Requires the use of both left and right feet at perfectly synchronized timing. After a while the skills become autonomous, and do not require consious efforts. Honda makes some of the best manual transmissions. Honda engines are designed to work with manual transmissions, for the best pick up and fuel economy.
Auto -- sloppy shifts, no matter what people say, auto's are slow to shift and never know what your intentions are. Auto's are post-reactive, while manuals are pro-active, since the driver knows what he/she wants the car to do. Auto tranny's are for people who find excuses not to be involved, or for people who treat cars as appliances to get from point A to point B with the least amount of mental input.
Unfortunately 90-95% of the vehicles sold in the US are auto, we are also the most overweighed country in the world. Only 10-15% of vehicles sold in EU are auto, and as far as I can tell, Europeans are pretty slim. Maybe there is a link? (chances are, the mods will delete the post)
If you don't know how to drive stick, it is best that you learn how to drive it on a really old car, since clutch will have to be replaced.
Did you tried David Hobbs Honda ?
I got a quote from them through the Internet and I bought the car yesterday.
Civic LX 4Door.
Price without tax, includes destination $ 14,514.00
2.9 APR for 60 months.
Watch the extras like additional warranty, gap insurance, paint wax, etc..
Compared to other dealer I saved around $ 700 without any hassle.
Try it !!!
Still, as a person who has owned and driven (still have one) stick shift car, I can never understand why people like yourself feel you have some kind of lack of control driving an automatic.
In a Honda Civic, how much "control" do you really need anyway. When I drive my Accord V-6 Coupe, I never feel I am lacking any involvement. I don't need to be "involved". the automatic knows what to do and it does it quite well.
When I'm stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, as I often am, I'm so glad I don't have that miserable clutch.
And, I'm not overweight either.
This is from a Honda salesman?? I am disapointed. If you never felt that automatic is inferior to manual then you are not driving to the potential of your car. You might as well get a Yugo then, it will take you from point A to point B just as well as the Accord coupe V6. Accord coupe V6 is not the best car Honda made. We finally get a manual with a V6, but the car is inferior to the previous generation Accord, and suffers from torque steer. Acura CL was a better suited version for the engine and tranny. Acura TSX is a better car to be driven with a manual. The USDM Accord is way too big to be a perfomance driver, it is more inline with my grandma's Buick park ave. Maybe that is why you don't feel the difference. Take a TSX or a civic Si, and drive it like you stole it. That should put a smile on your face.
I can never understand why people like yourself feel you have some kind of lack of control driving an automatic.
Here is a scenario, you see an openning in the rearview mirror in the next lane that you want to merge into.
1. You are driving an automatic, you gun the engine, it take a second for the engine to spool up, another second for the tranny to downshift, another second for you to feel the acceleration.
2. You are driving stick, you see the opening, you down shift, while maintaning speed until the openning is by you, and you safely merge. No delay, you pre-emptivley selectied your gear and optimum RPM range. No automatic in the world can do that. For an automatic to downshift you have to punch it, when you punch it, you accelerate. If you want to prepare for a maneuver but not accelerate you can not do that, unless you use the gear selector, but is still not the same.
When I'm stuck in bumper to bumper traffic...
This is the most common excuse. When you are stuck in traffic what else do you have to do? I drive from CT to NJ everyday, and I see my share of traffic, I never felt that shifting was a chore. Honda makes some of the best manual boxes, and the gears are much better suited for the engines. If I am stuck in bumper to bumper, I keep it in 1st or 2nd and just coast while leaving enough distance that I don't have "stop and go." A "bumper rider" would definately hate a manual tranny, but when they say "bumper to bumper" traffic, it does not mean that you literally have to be on someone's bumper. By having a direct connection between the engine and the tires (as opposed to hydraulic rubber like torque converter) I can modulate my speed by throttle alone. The only time i have to press the clutch is when the traffic is completely stopped. It is not a heavy clutch. Besides, a little bit of motion in legs and arms will get the blood flowing. I have an Si, which has a very low 1st gear, I can easily do a 5 mph crawl without shifting or clutching. Try to do a 5 mph crawl in an automatic without using your brakes.
I am getting ready to buy a new civic, either an EX or LX depending on the price I can get.
Is there any chance that I can get some off the price to put in a radio/cd from somewhere else besides the dealer?
What can I expect?
Where is David Hobbs Honda?
thanks
thanks
Our son has a 2004 Accord V-6 Coupe 6 speed. It certainly isn't inferior to the previous model and it does NOT have torque steer. It's a silky smooth rocket. I hope he can keep his driving record clean!
EX comes with a radio/cd from factory, no need to order one, unless you want an aftermarket. Then http://www.crutchfield.com is the best place to get a radio (PM for $20 off first order code). Others may have lower prices, but crutchfield includes everything you will need to remove the old and install the new radio, profesionally, not by splicing wires. The longer you can hold out after Spetmeber 15th, the lowe the price will be, but you will have less choices as well. I bought a 2002 Si in January 2003 for $4500 under MSRP.
He never pushed it to the limit. One thing to drive fast, another to drive at the limit. Anyone can drive fast. Maybe I had a bad Accord V6 for a test drive, but I had to fight the steering wheel on acceleration at the red line. It is a fast car, but it is not a perfomance car. A Hunday with engine mods will be fast, but never a perfomance car. S2000 is not very fast, but is a perfomance car.
There is a difference.
/direct/view/.eec8b4e
Happy reading:)
Currently selling a 1990 Civic LX 4dr after getting absolutely silly offers of $300 from Conyers Honda and $600 from CarMax.
I don't know exactly why. Honda offers 2.9% APR on new Civic, but 3.99% on Certified used. IF you were to go to a bank or credi union, you would get 5% for a new and 6% for used.
And now I have been considering a Toyota Echo, Dodge Neon, Saturn Ion and the Civic. Can u give me your opinion on each of these cars?
Echo - nice quality car, but very small. Can be had new for under $10K with no options. Traditional Toyota "alacarte" pricing on options is very easy to confuse an experience shopper like me.
Dodge Neon - Stay away from it!!!. Numerous quality and design flaws.
Saturn Ion - while good in concept, is a poorly executed excuse for a car. If you insist on domestic, then Saturn is a good choice. The previous generation of Saturn was a better car. Plastic bodies don't dent, don't rust... Saturn also offers "alacarte" options that are almost always bring the price much higher than you were initially interested in.
Civic - Good value for the money. If you can wait until September 15th, you can get a brand new 2004 Civic LX for $13,xxx or so. Sept 15th is when the 2005 will be released, and the 2004's will have more incentives thrown in to move them off the lots. You will be limited to choices of colors and optionas though. Honda will probably bring back the 1.9% on them as well. Buying a "left over" Civic is always a better value than cetified used. A certified used Civic is usually more expensive than a left over.
If you are a college student and either graduated or will graduate within 12 months or purchase, you qualify for Honda college graduate program. While Toyota offers $700 off the price, Honda offers the lowest advertized interest rate even if you have no credit history. Given that you have no negative credit history such as unpaid or late credit card payments. This is a good way to start someone's credit history.
Sorry, the correct spelling is ala carte, or close to that. That is when you go to a restaurant and get items off a menu, rather than buying a whole dinner package. Honda offers package deals. If you want A/c, you have to get LX, although a dealer can install the optional A/c on the DX, but the price is $800-$1200, which is more than what you would pay for LX package. LX package would inlude the power windows/locks, which are not available as option on DX. To get ABS on the Civic, you have to get EX, which will also come with sunroof and other niceties. Since, I usually want all the options, I go for the highest trim with Honda (Si, Ex, Type S). With Toyota, in theory, you can order a Corolla CE and option it the way you like it. Problem is, the option lists get big, and that adds cost to the vehicle in geometric proportions. It costs manufacturer more to produce all these variations. Same with Saturn. It allows a manufacturer to claim the lowest entry price, but in reality the vehicles become more expensive than package deals. Saturn, when I looked at it in 1999, even offered the right hand side mirror as a $40 option, IT WAS NOT STANDARD. Honda's trim packages, make it more profitable for the company to make it, as there are less variations on the productin line. They pass the savings down to you. Some people will complain that they have no option choices with packaged deals, let them complain.
In fast food, Burger King adopted Ala carte with their "Have it your way" promotion, where you can "get the burger hold the bun" for Akins dieters.
As for Corollas, the base CE comes with air and a CD stereo standard. Options are power door locks, mats, trunk cargo net and the 6 speaker stereo. I'm pretty sure if you want power windows, alloy wheels, ABS or a sunroof, you have to go with the LE or S. LE has power windows and locks standard; most 'S' models have them also, but they're optional. I do wish one could get a Corolla LE with the 'S' interior trim (faux metallic rather than faux wood), or conversely, the 'S' without the sort of juvenille looking body kit. Also, if you want alloys on the 'S', you have to get the 'sport plus' package, which unfortunately includes a rear spoiler that I hate.
In short, Civics have fewer options, but Corollas in general are better equipped and allow, at least in theory, for lower line cars to be better equipped. It's easier to get equipment you want without having to pay for equipment you don't want in a Corolla; for example, you're not forced to get ABS if you want a sunroof or vice-versa.
If I had been the salesperson on your demo drive, that demo drive would have ended VERY quickly!
And you would have lost the sale.
My dealership does not micromanage test drives. They make a copy of your license and give you the keys. They ask for you to come back in 30 minutes or so. Test drives are done without sales people's supervision, which is the way I prefer it. Maybe if people were allowed to test drive cars without the interruptions, we would not have people complaining about this and that. Most likely they missed some of the important observations because of the sales person's distraction.
I'm not about to risk my life or see a brand new car damaged by someone wanting to test it's limits...sorry.
Every dealership makes a business decision over how much liability, risk and damage to their cars they want to assume.
Most smart dealerships want a salesperson along, and for good reason.
I bought the Si based on my unsupervized test drive. I came into the dealership wanting to buy an Element. After the test drive I was disappointed with the handling, the sales person suggested I test drive the Si. He gave me the keys and I was... hooked.
...wanting to test it's limits...
Let me ask you this. If you or your son are not about perfomance, why in the world did you buy him an Accord V6? A 4 cylinder Accord is going to take you from point A to point B. Why bother paying for the 260 hp engine if you are not going to use it. A 3 cylinder Geo Metro can keep up with the speed limit, and save you a ton of money on gas and initial purchase price.
And, it's 240 H.P.
Having a car that has a lot of power and is fun to drive is a bit different then "testing it's limits" on a test drive.
I'm not about to let some joyrider get me wrapped around a telephone pole while he's "testing the limits" of a car he probably doesn't plan to buy in the first place.
Would you feel comfortable in the front seat of an S-2000 or any car for that matter while some person you don't know decides to see what it's limits are?
since u are a car salesman, you may be the best person to answer this question. What do you think of the idea of buying a car from an auto auction? What are the advantages and disadvantages as compared to getting a car off the car lot? Also, if was to buy a honda accord 2001 LX Sedan off the car lot, how much can I expect to pay?