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Comments
Sounds like you got a good deal to me. I made a deal this morning - got it for a couple hundred below invoice after much negotiation with my trade. I'll post numbers once I take delivery on the car (they have to track one down).
Thanks for the info.
The question is what is the difference?
Thanks for any feedback.
Honda sells "all season" mats as an accessory and they are ugly rubber mats - but I suppose handy if you get a lot of snow where you live.
H and A shows some "premium" mats at the top of this page
http://www.handa-accessories.com/accint03.html
and claims they are 40% heavier than the free ones. They get $67 + shipping for them and show a detailed picture of the mats.
My advice: just use the free ones until they wear out, if ever. Then you might think about paying for the "premium" ones.
Dennis
Since my Accord included carpeted mats color was Ivory, I wanted some mats to protect them during the rainy & muddy season.
So, I bought a set of Heavy Rubber Floor Mats from Wal-Mart for $19.84 + tax - see the following linked for the digital pic's ...
Front Heavy Rubber Floor Mats
Rear Heavy Rubber Floor Mats
They fit well unmodifed (can be trimmed if required - trim channels provided) and stay flat because they're very heavy weight (1/4" thick) , I just may keep them in place year round!
Phil
I am very new to the whole forum blog board and even newer to the Honda band wagon. That being said, I intend to be as helpful to others as others have been to me. I can start by asking everyone what they thought about a deal that I am bout to jump on. I have done extensive internet new car shopping and I have decided to purchase the 2005 Honda Accord EX 4cyl Coupe w/MT. I am keeping it simple for the time being with a cloth interior and nothing extra other then what comes with the car. For this car, I will have to drive kind of a hike, but I can get it for exactly $19,599 +tax and state reg fees = out the doors, or so I have been told. The dealers that I have contacted said that they can not beat it and somewhat mock me as if I am BSing them to negotiate a better deal. My questions is, with your experiences, do you think this is a realistic price quote? what do you all think on the matter? Thanks again!
- Ant
Thank you again!
Christine
Thanks again.
Christine
I've been researching for weeks, and feel more confused now than when I started! Being a single woman, I fear being taken advantage of and I want to be able to approach my car dealer with a reasonable offer that I can stand firm on.
I don't want any dealer extras, I will be paying cash, and my trade-in is only worth about 1300, according to Kelly Blue Book. If someone can give me a step-by-step tutorial for making a deal, I'd appreciate it tremendously.
P.S. I'm in NW Indiana... anyone know of a great Honda dealer in the area?
The quote $18150 includes the desination fee. However today I have a better quote from Open Road for $17200 with following disclamer. Not sure whether it includes Destination fee or not. Yet to call.
"Quote expires on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 and is valid only on in-stock or in-transit units. Price excludes accessories (unless selected or stated above), tax, dmv, and fees. Pricing subject to change after quote period."
I have seen many of you have used Open Road quote for pricing decision. Please let me know whther their quotes normally includes destination fee or not.
lorryfan, I am not familiar with the term "BS price IMO". Could you please explain it in simple terms and also elaborate on how to install Window etching myself with just $20?
Thanks for your help.
Thanks again!
BS Price = Bull S!@t Price......
IMO = In My Opinion
Window VIN# Etching Fee
A stupid fee for etching the VIN# or other anti theft information into your side windows. It costs next to nothing for the dealer to do it, and the average fee is about $300. You can buy same kit in auto parts stores for $20, and do it yourself.
If you go to Auto Zone or Pep Boys or any other fine auto shops you can buy the kit and follow the instructions, it's that easy.....You can also pay about $50 in labor to let the auto shop guys install it for you....that's why its a BS price from the dealership......
Good Luck
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Sure, the dealer is making some money - but they have to or they will close up. There is about $684 in hold back and if you take that from invoice you get about $19,940. So IF (big IF) your dealer is getting the $900 bonus from Honda this month they are making about $550 on your car. To ask for a better price might not be worth the trouble, would it?
My thought would be to take the car that is offered at that price. Have the fax you the contract (if it is too far to drive just in case) and make sure they don't add destination or some other fee on top of the deal. If they do not, then go get your new car.
I got some "feedback" from the local dealers when I e-mailed and faxed around my best quote. Most didn't bother to respond and some had a nasty response - only one dealer got close to the price.
Dennis
My first stop is always carsdirect.com . Put in your ZIP code and see what no haggle price comes up for the car you want. For an Accord sedan EX with I4 and no leather, the invoice comes up $21,251 and some dealer in the ATL area is willing to sell it for $20,353. See what comes up for you. If no dealers in your area have a good price, plug in the ZIP codes of other large cities in easy driving range - see if anything comes up.
A guy at Swope in Louisville has been known to give good Internet/phone deals with no BS with add on fees, etc. If that is close enough, that would be a place to talk to as well as any other places folks on the forum might suggest.
Dennis
There is room for more discounts, since $21,937.55 is invoice less hold back. There is an up to $900 dealer incentive, but we have no way of knowing how much your dealers are getting of this since it is based on exceed sales goals. If they got the whole $900 then you can see that your price would make for a nice profit.
Dennis
I can understand why they would limit it to the end of the month and in stock cars only. They don't know what incentives will be available next month, they do know what they are getting now. I would just make sure the price includes destination and find out what the "fees" are - if any are dealer fees.
I am not sure you need the window etching at all - it is just to put the VIN on each window to discourage car theft. If it worked, then the insurance companies would offer it for free or give a discount if you had it. These sites claim some insurance companies do give a discount, but my company does not. I think NJ has one of the higher car theft rates around, doesn't it? Then a few bucks might be worth the trouble?
If you are interested, a quick Google for "vin window etching" turned up these hits (and lots more):
http://www.vinguard.org/
http://www.vinshield.com/
http://www.vinetcher.com/
Prices look like $20-30 for a kit. I would go with one like "VinSheild" where they make the stencils for you based on your supplied VIN. A lot less work for you then - just stick the stencil to the glass and apply the "etch" goop.
Dennis
I just spent some time on the phone with a local Honda dealer, and he gave me the impression that no one was going below MSRP on the Accord Hybrid because of the demand. Is that to be believed? I really like the vehicle, but will not pay the $32.6K retail for it. :confuse:
I think the Accord Hybrid is a nice car, but no spare tire and no moonroof. It also does not get the super mileage like the Prius does. But it is the quickest Accord sedan that also gets the best mileage. So you get a little quicker than the normal V-6 with a little better MPG than the I4. Is that worth the premium price to you?
If you are looking for 50mpg, then you need to look at something else.
Dennis
To satisfy the "myth" that VIN display acts as a deterent to car thieves.....does it always work? I don't think so...In the end everyone has it so I guess everyone's gotta have it...See what I mean?
There really isn't enough of an advantage when you must pay so much for "economy." Then there's the issue of the car's extra complexity and that it's resale will fall like a stone as time to replace the battery pack nears.
Most of the advantage of buying any hybrid car is the feel good factor for greenies. There is little economic justification and nobody is saving the Earth by encouraging the production of so many batteries that in about 8 years will be failing.
If you haven't driven the Accord EX-L--that's the top of the line 4 cylinder--you'd be wise to do so. It's very fast and smooth and mileage is excellent, too.
Prices for all the non-hybrid Accords are very favorable now and if you like the car, ignore the hybrid and get a 4 or V6. This is just my opinion but it means something because I own the '04 Accord EX-L 4 sedan with A/T and it's a superb car in every way
Anyone with any experience with purchasing recently in Ohio/Indiana/Michigan any comment on pricing and incentives?
Dennis
It you do read CR, they picked it as their top sedan in class. The hybrid stuff including the batteries is covered by a 8/80 warranty, plus you can buy the HondaCare 7/100k/$0 for it as well.
If someone is buying when I eye toward driving until it costs too much to repair, then the question mark of costs after the 8/80k warranty is up on the battery and motor are certainly valid. If someone is buying with an eye toward driving it for a few years then getting something else, then maybe this should not be a concern? However, lease banks seem to share this concern since they don't seem to be keen on writing leases on hybrids...
It IS quite a bit faster than the I4 car, however - and gets betting mileage than the I4 car.
You also can get a $2,000 tax write off (not a tax CREDIT, however) for buying one this year. If you are in the 31% bracket this would save $620 off of your 2005 taxes. This and the few real-world fuel savings dollars would mean it should take more than 100k miles to break even VS the extra cost (compared to the V-6 EX-L).
The other Accords do not appeal to me, personally. If I were get an Accord I would get the Hybrid - to get the quickest car that gets the best mileage - but I understand going in that I am paying a premium to get this (and missing a spare and a moonroof). Maybe for 06 they will over the spare and roof as standard equipment to make the car more appealing?
Dennis
Flat tires seem like a 20th Century problem and there shouldn't be such things now.
BMW 3 series for '06 is standard with run-flats and in a few years all cars will have them. Mini Cooper and Corvette have them, too.
I really didn't want a sunroof--never had one before. But I had to buy the EX-L Accord to have the side curtain airbags that were very important for me (getting paranoid about safety in my old age;-)). All 6 airbags weren't standard until this year and mine's an '04.
But now that I've been living with the sunroof, I like it even though it's used infrequently. Same with the XM radio which is playing over the computer as I write this--XM internet sound feed is included with radio subscription.
Too bad the non-hybrid Accords don't appeal to you--they're really great cars
Here are the relevant numbers and process I've learned here (not to bore anyone, but this may help newcomers, as I was a few weeks ago): take 3% of MSRP plus the $515 dest fee to get the Holdback. Subtract that from Invoice of 18,519. Further subtract the best guesses of this forum at the Honda dealer incentive for May, I used $800 as working figure. Add in $515 for destination. I called this the "basis" price- in Boston area this came to $17,617.
Five emails to area dealers. First offer for $18,170 inc. dest. (I was happy.) Three "come see us" emails. (maybe not). Fifth from Boch Honda at $17,760. Great! Quick talk with the manager, he seemed straight up. I then called the first dealer, 1/2 mile from my office, and he said he'd match. So, as they reminded me three times, I bought at "$760 below invoice", if that means anything today. Elapsed time- 3 hours start to finish.
Financed 13,760 for 36 mos at 1.9% thru Honda- they make 418 of interest for the loan. mycredit union was at 4.7%.
I FEEL like I did well, and I also felt in control of the process, not the other way around. And it went quick with no games. Thanks again to all posters who shared their knowledge.
I prefer RWD cars - and like something a little quicker.
IIRC, the Hybrid Accord does not have run flat tires - just sealant goop and a pump. They do sell a spare for it and I think there is even a place for it, they just left it (and the roof) out to save weight - which is stupid given the way they designed the rest of the car. My daily driver has no spare (but has a moonroof) and I agree that with a pump they are rarely needed these days.
My 'vette had run flats and they are horrible for ride comfort and grip, though 5 model years newer now they are surely better. But my friend's Mini "S" has them as well and they really limit handling. Given the choice and my experiences, I would rather have the pump and a toll free number to call in case that didn't work rather than run flats.
Anyway, hopefully the original poster can find a dealer to sell them a hybrid for cheap. I know when looking at an Acura like the TL I thought "I would rather have the Hybrid" before I would pay that much for a FWD car.
Dennis
I'm new to the board. Thanks for your help.
Dennis
Dennis
On an interesting note, I commented to the salesperson that I dont think I've ever seen an Accord LX V6 coupe, though from time to time I've seen LX V6 sedans. He did a quick search and didnt find ANY LX V6 coupes in a 4 state radius.
~alpha
Which flavor of LX? If your 18,200 includes destination charge, it looks very good the way I worked my own numbers (big assumption on my part!) And what's in your "out the door" price? I paid 5% MA sales tax of 888, 198 doc fee and 86 for new title and plates. I bought no add-ons of any kind.
We are planning on buying this weekend as we are in a crunch to get a vehicle before the beginning of June. But, I want to get the best deal.
Thanks!
Christine
If you go to any of the other dealers, have them write up your deal, get them to sign it, then TRY to leave their lot with that document you will see why this is a huge empty promise. The dealer is not going to sign the "buyer's order" until the deal is done, so how are you to bring it to Tamp Hondaland for them to match? You can't, so they can make such promises. If you went THERE and tried to leave with a signed document they would do the same thing.
The 300k engine thing is probably more hooey from them, I would not let that influence where I purchased the car.
Dennis
Can you please share the dealer's name with us, I'm also interested in buying from MA area.
Thanks
Thank you for your help!
Christine
The OTD price total 25,000.00
Break down:
car : $22847.00
Doc: $45.00
Tire fee: $8.75
Tax and license: 8.25%+ DMV=2,099
total 25,000
No trade in-
1.9% finance
Thank every one for posting
Why bother calling or visiting a bunch of dealers when it can be done by e-mail or fax? You quickly weed out the ones who will not deal on concentrate on the ones that will.
I rarely end up using the selling dealer as servicing dealer, so that is not even an issue. Just make me the best deal with no hidden fees and don't play any games when I pick up the car - that is all I ask
Dennis
Invoice - hold back - $900 (max?) incentive is $22,992.
Looks like the lost money on your deal. I guess they can make it up in volume
Dennis
I'm in Cambridge, work in Natick. I got my good email quote from Boch Honda. Bernardi Honda in Natick matched it with no hesitation. After I closed, Honda Village in Newton said they would likely have matched it. So, you have choices to check out. Good luck!
Hope this helps.
JB
Most large dealerships have an internet department. The internet sales people are not paid a commission, their job is to sell as many cars as possible to help the dealership meet its quota. If you walk into a dealership, you will deal with a salesman who gets a commission. Many of us on this board bypassed the commissioned salesman and used the internet department. That way you get a lower price and don't have to sit in a little room haggling with the dealer. You also get a written quote by email that you can use to negotiate a lower price from another dealer. Cool huh!
Louise
$19500 - car and destination charges
It's about $1100 below invoice.. but I think they still making $500 profit, right?