2013 and earlier-Honda Civic Prices Paid and Buying Experience

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Comments

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    You have asked this question in several forums.

    bd21 gave you the correct answer. Why would you consider buying at an auction?

    Those cars are usually there for a REASON. You better know what you are doing.
  • rramazarramaza Member Posts: 2
    Just got a LX Automatic Sedan for $15,818 OTD price ($561 under invoice). Had to drive about seventy miles, and I was really anxious because every other dealership was telling me that it was a hoax, and that there was no way that a price that low was legit.

    The only thing that they did was try to sneak in VIN etching because "they do it to all their cars." They made it sound like it was complimentary without actually explicitly saying so... I was looking over the contract and questioning why the amount financed was suddenly higher when it came out that it cost $199. I started complaining and they took off the charge... end result being that I got the actual etching for free but I am no longer registered in the service that pays me money if my car actually does get stolen. Really I was just mad over the principle of adding in the fee without ever mentioning what it cost. If it's something that the dealership automatically does to all their cars, then it should be quoted as part of the fees that go into the drive out price.
  • warnerwarner Member Posts: 196
    Hehehe.....great description. I couldn't agree more.

                     Warner

    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.
  • warnerwarner Member Posts: 196
    Well, I hope he never does push it to "the limit".

    If I had been the salesperson on your demo drive, that demo drive would have ended VERY quickly!

    I don't understand this approach. Based on his description, I don't see what was wrong with his test drive. Revving an engine up to redline (which by definition is the point to which it can SAFELY be revved) should not be a cause for concern. If he is intending to drive the car like that after be buys one, he ought to be able to find out how it will behave when driven that way. I'm sure the Honda's have rev-limiters on them to protect the engine from over-revving. If he were driving recklessly, that would be a different story, but revving the engine shouldn't be an issue....

                      Warner
  • rramazarramaza Member Posts: 2
    Revving an engine up to redline (which by definition is the point to which it can SAFELY be revved) should not be a cause for concern.

    What about the break-in period? Redlining someone else's car (potentially, anyway) during the first 500 miles is not going to hurt it?
  • lee_wlee_w Member Posts: 239
    Let's get back to topic here? Prices Paid and Buying Experience. Your topic would be better suited to Smart Shopper or Owner's Club.
  • lee_wlee_w Member Posts: 239
    Back to topic of Prices Paid please
  • mthexumamthexuma Member Posts: 43
    I bought a brand new 2004 Honda Civic EX 4-door automatic without side airbags for $15,994 including destination. That was a thousand below Edmunds TMV and one thousand off invoice price. I thought it was a pretty good deal, I went to the second largest honda dealer in the united states though. Lol (Huntington Honda) Anyone else have success stories from their Honda dealership.
  • bd21bd21 Member Posts: 437
    Not bad. I paid $14,700 for my 04 LX 4 door automatic back in January, which included all dealer fees except state tax in Panama City Florida and I got 1.9% financing. No trade was involved.
  • skellcatskellcat Member Posts: 1
    Where in Iowa did you purchase at?
  • oscarslifeoscarslife Member Posts: 6
    In Gainesville FL.
    Auto, a/c, and side impact airbags - 13,700

    Only tax and title added so total paid (including tax and tag....) 14,500.

    Good buying experience, glad there was no doc fees, etch fees,.....
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    I'm so delighted to have a little Civic back in the family! After upgrading our vehicles to an '04 CR-V EX and an '04 Forester-XT, I wanted a little something to tinker with.

    I got a 1986 Civic Wagon 1500 DX FWD Manual tranny with 126K miles for $1400 from a little used car dealer. Paid $400 more than blue book private party, $600 less than blue book retail (they were asking $2K but... ).

    The car needs some love and a little work but it starts when you turn the key, shifts properly, turns properly, stops nicely too, and best of all the purchase included two years of repreive from a CA emissions test! Ah, a smog cert! All any CA driver really needs! :-) No vibrations in the engine. No strange smoke out the tail pipe. Little oil leak down below and a little stalling in idle when the engine is cold. But I lover her! Working on her this weekend and expect that her 1.5L 73hp engine will be a nice addition to the otherwise gas-slurping mini-suv lineup we have going (22/26 on the CR-V and only 19/24 on the Forester Turbo).

    So, all you other Civic buyers, you have 20 years of purring engines in front of you - congrats!
  • anonymouspostsanonymousposts Member Posts: 3,802
    We had an automatic 89 Civic Wagon DX and loved it. One of my husbands favorite cars ever.
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    and you got rid of it?!?! *gasp* ;-) I did the same - had a '93 Civic CX hatch and sold it after 10 years with 110K miles in superb condition and have been kicking myself ever since! So now I consider it my 'civic duty' to see this one to 200K or 300K - whatever it takes! :-) -elissa
  • timbergaltimbergal Member Posts: 8
    There is a web site/forum on older honda where folks discuss the miles and great love they have for their hondas (like my civic wagon with 422,000 miles on it)
  • anonymouspostsanonymousposts Member Posts: 3,802
    We decided to be nice and let my sister buy it. At the time she was going on her third baby and she had a 96 Camaro. She drove it for a few thousand miles and traded it along with the Camaro for a new 99 Civic. My husband is still kicking himself as well. that car took us to Canada, Ohio, VA, NC, and OH again. Never gave us any problems and that AC was cooooold.

    We bought it with 108,000 miles for $500 from a guy who had let the timing belt break and thought the car was trashed. We put a new belt on it, a new windshield, some new tires, and some tint and hit the road.
  • kw_carmankw_carman Member Posts: 114
    How would a 2002 EX coupe rate as far as insurance goes for an 18-year old male? From looking at the ratings in one of those dime-a-dozen consumer guides at Barnes and Noble, it doesn't look all that bad. In fact, it stated that my current car (a '98 Accord 4-cyl) would cost more.
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    Try calling any insurance agent. I hear that progressive and Geico give good rates for high-risk drivers. I've always gotten better quotes through Allstate and Statefarm, which incidentally also give multi-policy (such as renters, life, multiple cars, etc) discounts
  • anonymouspostsanonymousposts Member Posts: 3,802
    We prevously had Allstate Ins. but switched to Progressive after we found out we could save 50% by doing so.
  • lee_wlee_w Member Posts: 239
    Owners club would be a great forum for this discussion! Enjoy those Hondas!
  • kw_carmankw_carman Member Posts: 114
    Thanks you guys, I'm not looking for an insurance company, but more-so just a general idea of if the coupe factor of a Civic would have a strong effect on the rates.
  • blueiedgodblueiedgod Member Posts: 2,798
    generally a 2 door vehicle have a higher premium over a 4 door. statistically, 2 door cars are driven by younger, less experienced drivers who have higher crash rates. Even a 2 door ford explorer would have higher premium than a 4 door.
  • pilotcivicpilotcivic Member Posts: 1
    Purchased Civic 4-Door VP at a no haggle price of $12,800 from a Chicago dealer on 7/3/04. This is $864 below invoice. Conducted all my dealings via e-mail. Absolutely fantastic service. Write to me if you want to know the dealership and salesman.
  • jbeckrjbeckr Member Posts: 21
    Tried to buy a white 2004 Civic Si today. Lowest dealer would go was 19k. Walked out. Are people getting better prices than this for the Si?

    Maybe I will look for a used 03.
  • blueiedgodblueiedgod Member Posts: 2,798
    Unless you are in Hawai, you should be able to get a better price on "no add ons" Civic Si. Was the $19K out the door price, or selling price before taxes and fees? Were there any optional equipment installed? Your post is too vague to give more direction.
    http://www.carsdirect.com has the 2004 Si for my zip code for a no haggle price of $17,515 which includes destination. If you have no trade in, you may want to try that. I have always been able to negotiate better price myself than carsdirect.
  • kmackmac Member Posts: 1
    Purchased at Sherwood Honda in Delray Beach, Fl for $12949, plus tax and tags. No dealer fees,etc. Negotiated price via email. Also, they will install a cruise control for No Charge( during negotiations, the told me that it would be an additional $398 ), but then threw it in to close the deal. Got 3.9% financing from American Honda for 5 year term. I am happy!!
  • wtyyipwtyyip Member Posts: 6
    Bought at Oakland, CA Honda, 4 dr EX, automatic, no side airbag, $16123 incl destination.
  • doublefdoublef Member Posts: 1
    has anyone currently purchased or tried buying a 4dr LX automatic with side airbags in the boston area? if so, how much was it?
  • barneymbarneym Member Posts: 32
    I accompanied my sister in law on her first car purchase this weekend and we were able to get a good deal at Boch Honda in Norwood, MA. We were debating between the VP package and the LX trim. After the test drive and sales pitch, the finance guy came out and showed us MSRP, Invoice and Cost (Invoice minus dealer holdback), and then offered us a price slightly below cost.

    Price including delivery charge for the LX was $14,399. The additional charges were registration and plates ($86) and a Doc prep fee ($198). Add on 5% tax and total out the door was $15403. She financed it through Honda Finance at 3.9% for 60 months. The doc prep fee was a little high, but not outrageous. I've heard of some dealers charging $500+ for doc prep. BTW, the price they gave us on the VP was $12,900.

    We didn't go for any dealer installed options as the LX had enough toys to make my sister-in-law happy. The salesman and finance guy tried to give us the hard sell stating that the price was good "today only", but we wanted to take a look at the Corolla before we decided so we left. The Corolla interior felt and looked much cheaper compared to the Civic. But I did like the look of the Scion tC I saw at the Toyota dealer, nice car! Too sporty and a little over budget for my sis though.

    When we called back the next day they honored the price after a little bit of song and dance about "well I have to check if that price is still good". The salesman and the finance guy kept pointing out that Boch was #2 in the country last month and they were trying to move as much inventory as possible so they could hit #1. I saw their sales figures tacked to the wall of one of the cubes and they missed #1 by about 20 cars.

    I had called around to two other dealers that morning and they said they couldn't match that price. However, Herb Chambers Honda in Boston on Comm. Ave. called back a second time while we were at Boch and had just picked out the exact color and car she wanted. I told the manager that called that we were literally heading into the building to start the paperwork and then he asked "if an offer of $14,000 flat would interest us" (I love the ambiguity of that question.) After two days of car dealerships we were weary of shopping so we told him he should have offered us that price the first time, but it was too late now.
  • janamaxjanamax Member Posts: 38
    I leased my 2004 Honda Civic last night from Apple Tree Honda in Fletcher, NC. I HIGHLY recommend this dealership. No pressure, no games, no gimmicks, no guilt trips. They were completely straightforward from the get-go.

    I ended up with the Civic EX auto with side air bags (MSRP $18,800) for less than invoice ($17,000). Including all fees, registration, etc. the total came to $17,895. The money factor was extremely low, in my opinion (.00079) coming out to 1.9% and the residual was right at 53%. My monthly payment (including 3% sales tax) came out to $245.

    I am thrilled with my new car! Thank you for everyone on these boards who helped (whether or not you knew you were) in this process. This has been the easiest, most pain-free car buying experience I've ever had!

    Happy hunting! :)
  • holenone79holenone79 Member Posts: 20
    no offense----but you got weak. You didnt sign a thing yet. You should have told the dealer that you were at about the offer just recieved. They most likely would have matched it. $400 is more than just change. In april I bought a 2 door lx auto for 14k plus tax,doc, and license. This price was readily available from several dealers in AZ.
  • pscottpscott Member Posts: 3
    Greetings,

    Is the Clearance Sale Honda is now advertising, the 'sale' of the year.. or is there going to be a better sale later on in the year when the Honda 2005's come out?

    I am looking (in Texas) for a Honda VP with AC, Auto, 4Door; the best price I've found is $13,164 excluding TTL. Does anybody think there are going to be lower prices --more than $200.00-- in the next couple of months?

    Thanks
  • blueiedgodblueiedgod Member Posts: 2,798
    You can score a better deal after spetember 15th, but you will be limited to what dealers have out. Even now, I highly doubt that you can order a 2004 to your liking. I think the cut off for 2004 orders was end of June.
    Historically, you could get a "last years" Honda for $800-$1500 under invoice in October-November. I bought my 2002 Si in January of 2003 for $5000 under MSRP. But, you are taking a risk of someone else buying the car while you are holding out.
  • chillenhondachillenhonda Member Posts: 105
    Im about to buy a 2003 Honda civic EX coupe 5-speed in silver in So Cal. Its a Certified Pre-Owned with 20,700 miles. It was listed at $14,900, on the first email with the internet manager he said he can do $14,200.

    The edmunds TMV is $15,000 for a CPO, 14,300 for a non CPO. With new EX's gong for the high $15's, im going to counter with a $13700 offer, which I think is still do-able for them. Any opinions?
  • anonymouspostsanonymousposts Member Posts: 3,802
    $13,700 still seems awful close to the new car price. Considering it has 21,000 miles I would try to go even lower. Pull up trade from edmunds and kbb and offer $500-750 above that.
  • chillenhondachillenhonda Member Posts: 105
    Im about to buy a 2003 Honda civic EX coupe 5-speed in silver in So Cal. Its a Certified Pre-Owned with 20,700 miles. It was listed at $14,900, on the first email with the internet manager he said he can do $14,200.

    The edmunds TMV is $15,000 for a CPO, 14,300 for a non CPO. With new EX's gong for the high $15's, im going to counter with a $13700 offer, which I think is still do-able for them. Any opinions?
  • kenshin9kenshin9 Member Posts: 4
    I'm working out a deal with Ed Morse Honda in Riviera Beach, Florida. I was looking for a 2004 Honda Civic EX 5-speed coupe. And in the magnesium metallic color with side air bags and a rear wing spoiler. He e-mailed me and the out the door price which includes a rear spoiler and all taxes, fees and tag transfer is $17,525. What do you guys think of that?
  • anonymouspostsanonymousposts Member Posts: 3,802
    It's hard to judge the deal if we don't know the actual selling price of the car. Sales tax and fees vary by state.
  • kenshin9kenshin9 Member Posts: 4
    Oh yeah, sorry about that. The TMV is $16,181 and tax is 6%. I think the price is just about right since I also got a spoiler.
  • anonymouspostsanonymousposts Member Posts: 3,802
    Sounds about right. As long as you are happy with the price that is the most important thing.
  • chillenhondachillenhonda Member Posts: 105
    Sorry for the double post. Wound up getting a 2002 EX-Coupe 5-speed with 29K miles. It's not certified but has 8 months and 7K miles left on the original warranty. Asking price was $14,800, got it down to $13000. The car is pretty immaculate.

    I bought it from Cush Acura in Escondido, CA. Great experience going through the internet manager. Quick email responses, went through the paperwork in detail with me, offered a good price right away, knowledgable about the car, warranty, financing, etc, and did not try anything sketchy. Would highly recommened teh dealership and salespeople, if anyone is in So Cal.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    People who decide to wait, hoping for a better deal are the same people who are disappointed when they find the inventories have been picked over.

    Do you realy want to **maybe** save 200.00 and have to settle for your 4th color choice?

    Chances are you won't end up saving anything anyway.

    I see this happen every year and this year won't be an exception.
  • elsteefelsteef Member Posts: 8
    After reading several pages of posts, I still have one question...Do the invoice prices quoted here include destination,prep, ect... or is it just the dealer invoice price that 'edmunds' lists on there TMV pricing report? I'm trying to decipher some of the deals people are making, but it's hard to make a comparison without knowing exactly what's being compared. Thanks in advance, Steve
  • rob2rob2 Member Posts: 5
    Purchased LX 2 door Manual with side airbags on 7/31. Also came with mudguards, door edge guards, fender edge guards and pin stripes. Price paid was:

    Base - 13,060
    Dest - 490
    Total - 13,550
    Processing - 100
    Tags - 108
    Taxes - 408 (VA taxes)
    Total out the door - 14,166

    All negotiating done via email/phone. Purchased from Jim Coleman Honda in Clarksville, MD. Was a long way from my home in VA, but it was the best price I could find.

    Financed with Honda at 1.9% over three years.

    One question - Does anyone know if the Coupe has door protection (side moulding?) to prevent damage from another car door? The sedan seems to have this, but I don't see that the Coupe does (can it be a dealer add-on?).
  • cusafrcusafr Member Posts: 184
    Anyone know if there are going to be any big changes like engine size etc?

    Thanks,

    Jim
  • crazygrrrlcrazygrrrl Member Posts: 85
    Civic coupes don't come standard with side door guards, but you can buy them from your Honda dealer or check out

    http://www.HandA-Accessories.com/civext01.html

    look for "body side trim." It cost $94 + shipping.

    Congrats on the Civic.
  • rob2rob2 Member Posts: 5
    Thanks for the website Crazygrrrl.
  • diogodiogo Member Posts: 6
    I was just quoted this for a automatic sedan:
    2004 Honda Civic LX SRS for:

    $14599.00 Internet Price (including mud guards and pin stripes)
    $ 490.00 Destination
    $ 398.00 Processing Fee
    $ 19.00 Title
    $ 3.00 GA MVWR)
    $ 1084.09 Sales Tax at 7%
    ___________________________________
    $16593.09 Total Drive Out Price

    Is this good? It is way bellow tmv, but since tmv is an average, I dont think they take into account the recent clearance.
    Thanks for any feedback
  • cptsessocptsesso Member Posts: 116
    You should not have to pay the destination or the bogus processing fee. Most people are getting Civics without paying these fees.

    It sounds like they are adding these fees to more than cover the additional costs of the Side Air Bags, splash guards and pin stripes.

    Tell them to try again.
  • diogodiogo Member Posts: 6
    Just got a better offer:
    Honda civiv lx automatic with side airbags
    Internet price: $14,499
    Sales Tax 7%: $1,015
    Dealer Fee: $499
    Title Fee: $23

    Total Drive Out: $16,036

    What are people being able to get on this "clearance"?
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