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Did you try using the "preferences" link at the left? If you go to the E-mail settings section, there's a little note and link at the right that allows you to change your e-mail privacy settings.
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EDIT: Oops... what kyfdx said
kirstie_h
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
Please advice me if I should get into touch with Curryhonda again.
$1300 Lojack System with early warning and passive alarm goes like this, $995 for Lojack with Early Warning System with Life Time garranty. $300 for passive Lojack Alarm.
Upon protest they took $300 for the passive Lojack Alarm.
I just talked to Lojack Corp. They said that they do not put passive alarm on Civic 06, because the vehicle comes with its own passive alarm.
I had mistakenly believed that these guys gave me a discount so graciously, from $1300 to $1000. And I profusely thanked them.
Now I realize that they did not. All they did was decided to not charge me something that the car already have.
It is like going into a store to buy a suit, and the salesman said," I am going to give you a break. You buy this suit on the rack at listed price. I will take off the price of the suit that you are wearing, that suit that you already paid for and own. See how nice I am to you?"
I feel like talking to them again for a 'real discount' for the Lojack System. Do you think that I should go ahead before I draw up the certified check? Or do you think I am being too much of a nuisance?
Manny
May be there is a technical glitch. I did just what you said and then clicked on my own profile. The e mail preference is still listed as private.
May be it takes time to change. May be I need technical assistance.
Manny
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Thank you. I see that it is updated. There was a delay. There is no glitch in the system.
Yours truly, Manny
Many merchants prefer customers pay cash, even for large items as automobiles. I even heard of people paying cash for condos and houses and get prefered treatment.
Do you think that people who pay cash for automobiles usually get prefered treatment? Because this quickly add to the cash flow of the car dealer? I would admit that this is a rare occurrence.
Manny
When someone finances their Honda, the dealer gets ALL their money from the lender which is usually Citibank (Citicorp) or another major bank, or a local bank. We the borrowers then pay back the lending institution with interest. The dealer also gets a commission from the lender on the interest. Or look at it like a commission for the business they bring to the bank. The higher the interest rate the finance mgr. gives you, the more $$ he makes the dealership and the bigger his commission is. So when you don't finance he 's not making anything and tries hard to sell you optional equipment and ext. warranties.
So you see the dealer gets their money up front whether you pay cash or not.
Try to talk the guy down more on Lojack. Also check your e-mail since I 'm not allowed to mention names on here.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
Dealerships cannot afford to wait 3-6yrs to get their money on cars they sell. They need cash up front so they can purchase new cars. They need cash flow to pay their bills. They are not in the lending business. They cannot afford to be because they 're not big enough.
Dealers act as "agents" for banks and finance institutions and at the same time they can make money processing your application and inflating the interest rate. They have the minimum requirements from the bank, like for ex. 550 credit score, min. salary, and 4.9% interest. Once you meet the minimum credit criteria (after they run your credit report), they process your application and add a couple of points on the interest (like 6.9%) for themselves. If you don't meet the min. criteria then they are forced to go with another bank which has much higher rates for "high risk" applicants and the sky is the limit on the interest rate they quote you. They quoted my brother-in-law 28.9%!! Luckily he called me in time and I negotiated it down to 18.9%. His credit was really bad because of his legal bankrupcy 2yrs ago.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
I tried it. I set the alarm while I was inside. When I put the key in the ignition and turned it on, the audible alarm sounded.
There you go. This is the same alarm system that the dealer is trying to sell to me twice. I forgot the famous fable about the merchant that sells something, takes it back after he sells it, and sells it again. What was the name of that fable? Manny
You think that banks would give the car dealer the cash for the price of the car right the way, if the car buyer gets finance through a bank?
What about dealers financing through their own affiliated facilities?
I heard of GM dealers financing through GMAC, Honda Dealers through Honda Finance.
For large dealer houses like Curry, Potamkin, Martin etc., don't they have their own financial arm? And can wait to get their money in installments from the clients directly?
I remember seeing a movie, where gangster types went to the car dealership with a large bunch of one hundred dollar bills and bought cars, and the dealer just loved it.
Is this only in the movies?
Manny
I got two quotes which are only $100 and $200 above the invoice for a LX Sedan AT 4dr. Additional fees are tax, registration and $200 to $300 doc fee.
Close to make the deal but stuck on the 5.99% financing. I'm going to pay in full by my credit card to save over $3000 interest on it.
This is in Boston area.
Doesn't make sense, you always pay the sales tax rate for the location where you live. They couldn't properly register and title the car unless the proper sales tax rate is used.
I was quoted $22,659 OTD (including destination, TTL). This will be my first car purchase and first time dealing with car salesmen. For those of you with tremendous car buying experience (and I know there are several of you out there by reading the posts on this site), can you give out 5-10 main tips on purchasing a vehicle, whether they deal with negotiating the price, financing, options/extras, etc. Anything advice will be beneficial in the buying process. Thanks in advance.
-Freddy
1. I no longer has the exact figures at hand but you can look it up in Edmunds. $22,639 is above the MSRP. In general in this discussion, most people get it below MSRP.
2. When Dealers told you that they have reservations for a certain car, it could be a tactical move to get you to bid higher.
3. Travel a little out of the Houston Area and try the small town dealers. I am taking delivery of a even rarer configuration by going out of the Metropolitan Area. (I am getting 06 Civic 4dr.MT and Navi and taffeta white color.
and paying below MSRP.
4. For your extra travelling and web search, you will save one to two thousand dollars. No chum change.
6. Negotiating a price for the car is just the beginning. Other terms need to be negotiated like trade in, financing,
warranty, Lojack, dealer add on accessories etc. You could get a good deal on the car and is be the loser still overall.
5. Keep in touch with the discussion here. I have learned so much from here.
Good Luck. Manny
2. I never say yes to the extras they try to sell.
3. If I begin to feel pressured, I simply leave. I only negotiate over the the internet now because of the pressure tactics I have experienced.
4. Always ask about document fees. I include document fees in my price over invoice. I always ask for an out the door total, because I've negotiated actual price only to be told about additional "fees" after the fact.
5. Remember this a business transaction. I try to stay professional and respectful until treated disrespectfully. Then there is no use dealing with the salesperson at all, so my business goes elsewhere.
6. I already walk in with my own financing at a competitive interest rate. If they can do better, great. If not, then no need to deal with it. I've had a horrible experience with financing through a dealership. Never again.
Hope this helps.
"Once the security system is set, opening any door, the trunk, or the hood without using the key or the remote transitter will cause it to alarm. It also alarms if the radio is removed from the dashboard or the wiring is cut."
So it should sound when the door is opened.
Here are some additional points from my personal experience.
Do not go for the pitch that all negotiations are done in the showroom from the Internet Department of car dealerships. That means they want to get a high price for the car.
In negotiating face to face in the showroom, you will be confronted with an experienced sales team. They will pass you from one to another, trying to wear you out.
Do not get discouraged if at first you do not get a price quote over the phone or internet. Some will give you a price quote.
When you get a price quote, ask them to confirm it in writing over the e mail. Ask them to clarify the price quote in detail, a number can be played with. Another thing is to ask them if there is an expiration date or time for the quote.
I had received a rediculously low quote from a distant car dealer. Lucky that I keep calling him before I took the trip. He was ready to spring a higher quote on me when I get there by saying the quote he gave me earlier had expired.
Know what you want before hand. Do not let them sell you a car. You are there to buy the car that you want. At a price that you are willing to pay.
Hope this helps.
Manny
Something tells me that it isn't broken. My guess is that the manual is wrong. But we'll see.
Thanks for the additional advice. I actually will not go into a dealership unless we have come to an agreed upon out the door. I recently negotiated for my husband's new toyota which is where all my recent experience comes from. When I was ready to make a final deal I sent the salesperson an excel spreadsheet itemizing pricing, my offer, options, license and taxes. He agreed and we purchased the car, I even had the sales manager sign a copy of my spreadsheet to make sure they couldn't renig (car still had to be delivered). It was tough, but it worked out.
I just spoke with the dealer that is delivering my car tomorrow. He probably does not realize that there is already an alarm. I asked him to call Lojack to make sure that Lojack does not install a passive alarm on top of the Civic 06 vehicle security system(which is a passive alarm.)
Given the way things are done, I worry about a double passive alarm system installed more than being double charged for the passive alarm. If Lojack Technicians are as
ignorant or confused as the dealer. It is possible that a second alarm system can be grafted onto the first. Then the car will be screwded up indeed.
Manny
I heard that this car is HOT now, and it is hard to get below the MSRP. Is it true?
Is it a mandatory to install lojack to Civic 06 in Texas, Houston area?
Is there a maintenance fee of having lojack?
Yes, the 2006 Civic LX and EX models certainly DO come with a security system. I never knew that and I should have. I guess I'm not surprised on the EX but would have never expected them to put these on LX's.
The stuff I learn here...
Learning is a very good thing.
Then you probably wouldn't be buying a Civic, at least not now.
Supplies are so scarce right now that most Civics are presold before they hit the lots.
Right now, we have none...ZERO sitting here and we are the largest dealer in the state.
They are a great value at MSRP and the people buying them know that.
It's frustrating not having product!
No, that won't happen so don't hold your breath.
Hopefully supplies will catch up and that will cause soem softening on pricing.
Cars sell for what the market determines.
12% is too much evil profit?
If you plan ahead and are willing to wait until the end of the month before buying, you can usually find a dealer willing to work with you. We waited for a month for our deal, but it was worth it. The new Civic is a NICE ride.
Check out this web site - it really helped me research and get a good deal link title. I would also recommend the Fighting Chance Fax Attack.
It takes 30 seconds for the alarm to set. Then when you open the door, the alarm sounds.
In December, everyone else is out buying presents - Car dealers need a sale. Have all your information ready and let them know what you want on the last week of the month. If they want to make a sale to keep their quota up, they will deal with you. You can get a great deal if you just plan.
Try carbuyingtips.com and fightingchance.com. They both have wonderful advice if you are ready to make a purchase.
wokrad
i live in the philly area, can you please tell me where was the dealership that you went to in NJ? Thanks,
"Of course they have their costs and expenses"
You have no idea, you really don't!
Never heard of Lojack being mandatory in anywhere in these United States. Lojack does not charge monthly maintenance.
Lojack is a big money maker for auto dealers.
Go to Google and type in Lojack and call their 1/800 number and ask for details of pricing, type of systems etc.
Lojack can be ordered directly from Lojack Corporation, they will come to your house to install it.
I had been having my dealer install Lojack into my new car which I have not picked up yet. You should see the kind of trouble that they go through to make me over pay for it.
They sold me a passive Lojack Alarm on a Civic EX that already has a passive alarm as standard equipment. Then I discovered they promised me the $995 retail priced Lojack System with Early Warning. But only installed the retail priced $695 system without Early Warning.
I postponed the picking up of my car until this Saturday so I can thoroughly inspect the car. I know that I will have to pay them the retail price because they tried so hard to make money off me on the Lojack.
I think that like the 'Knick Back' ( 3 percent off the price that Honda Motors give the dealers for each Honda sold) the dealer thinks that making money on Lojack is their right.
My parting advice, check out Lojack thoroughly by talking to Lojack directly and other Auto Dealers before you commit yourself.
It is a useful device for a often stolen car. But do exercise caution before you buy one from the dealer.
Manny
Yes you can get this car below MSRP. I got my Civic 06 EX MT with Navi, an extremely rare configuration below MSRP.
Remember Honda is trying to win back market share with this 06 Civic and is churning them out in their new factories built recently. Plus churning them out in their old factories built sometime ago. They have excess production capacity.
I did a thorough search over the Internet, and widened my search to dealers over a distance from where I live.
Stay away from people who said that this is a 'hot car' etc. And stay away from dealers and sales people who lecture you on their need to keep their lights on by selling cars at a huge profit. Stay away from people who said that all their 06 LX models are reserved or sold.
If you try to buy any car from a car dealer, the first thing they try to tell you is that it is a 'hot' and 'hard to get car'. These are standard saleman tactics. This set the stage for a higher price.
Searching these columns by typing in words in the search box, I found some people trying to buy '05 cars, thinking that they can get a bargain, since 2005 is just about to end.
The first thing the saleman says to these people is,"Oh, these are hot cars, very hard to get now. Very few left anywhere. You might have to pay above MSRP."
Always remember who you are talking to.
Everything I just told you, I personally have experienced.
Manny
Ah, stores do make a (gasp)profit on products that they sell and install.
the first thing they try to tell you is that it is a 'hot' and 'hard to get car'. These are standard saleman tactics.
Well, right now, we have ZERO LX and ZERO EX sedans sitting on our lot and we are the largest dealer in the state.
So, yeah, they are pretty hard to get!
If we were stuck with a 5 speed NAVI Civic, we would probably sell it below MSRP too. Those are pretty saleproof with that combination.
Thanks for everyone here.