2013 and earlier-Honda Pilot Prices Paid and Buying Experience

reverb

I purchased this weekend after obtaining multiple Internet quotes in southern California.

Buena Park Honda offered the car at invoice (MSRP $35,245 + $550 destination):
Invoice $32,257.36
Doc $45
Tax $2,503.43
License $274
Ca Tire fee $8.75
Total out the door: $35,088.54

Also, I got $21,000 for trade-in for '03 Pilot EX (cloth) with 33,000 miles.

Norm Reeves Huntington Beach would match the invoice price, but was offering $19,500 for trade-in.
Long Beach Honda quoted $32,207 (they're a little farther away from me though).
Hardin Honda also offering to go $100-$500 below my lowest quote, including going below the invoice price quote (in 2003, they told me the same thing, but wouldn't match nor go below my lowest internet quote).

Compared to my old '03, the '06 is really nice with navigation, rear-back-up camera, leather upgrade, heated seats, moonroof, 3rd row curtain airbags, 3-month XM trial, and a little more horsepower (definitely noticeable) and a quieter interior cabin. I also have a roof-rack with rails and wheel locks (didn't have the rails nor the wheel locks on the '03).

I hope this helps.

speli

Not sure what happened, but my message apparently disappeared.
Two days ago, I bought my Amazon Green Metallic '06 Honda Pilot 4WD EXL with Navigation at invoice ($32,257) and sidesteps, splash guards, cargo tray and auto day/night mirror for $913 from Roberts Honda in Downingtown, PA.
I picked it up last night, and oh boy, what a pleasure to drive. I LOVE the voice input of the Navigation system - I can ask it what time it is, to switch to a different radio station or to take me home, and it LISTENS :-) !
Love my new toy, and the color is beautiful!

leto

I am getting a lease deal based upon purchase price $30,100 in NY area.
What is your opinion, please?

ndm86a

first and probablly the last post in the near future here. just let people know the market and contribute to the statistics from my purchase. get a 05 LX AWD pilot for $23128, + $89 Doc fee+local sales tax+ registration fee. no lost in trade-in or finance. currently there is a $1500 for 05 models from Honda to dealers. Also end of month dealers are also pushing for sales (old car buying advice). Dealer is in the Midwest area ( a metro city). was planning to buy a 06 LX/EX AWD, get quotes in the email, picked a lower one, went to the show room. 06 model is $50 above invoice, guessed there was not much room for negotiation. Since will keep the viechle for a while, just feel can not resist the price on the 05 LX. No trade in was considereded when the price was quoted. at the time, saw still 2 05 LX/AWD in the back storage lot. The 05 has all the features needed, except the side curtain airbags for 2&3rd row which is standard on 06 but not available on 05, and the 06 has power train warranty for 5yr/60k mile (05 has only overrall warranty for 3yr/36k mils). since all dealer's internet sales managers are on this forum I suppose, I would say give potential buyers your lowerest quotes in the email is the right way to go, I don't even bother to call other high quotes or walk into their show rooms.

the reason not revealing the dealership name here is that other buyers walk into the same dealer can still negotiate if willing to do so. otherwise the dealer might think their quote has the margin to be increased.

would like to thank all other posts in the forum, so i was informed of the most recent markets when I decide to have a new buy, get the quotes, and in the dealer show room.

tzarina

Hi. Am planning to buy a Pilot EX-L, either with or without RES, sometime this fall. I can actually wait until mid-December since my car doesn't come off lease until then. Got my last car during the week between XMAS and New Year's and the dealers were crazed to make their year end numbers and bonuses. Am thinking of calling some dealers and offering them a price which is invoice less half the holdback. They'd get half the holdback (about $500) as pure profit since they can order the car or I can pick one up literally the day it arrives at the dealer. That way they have virtually no finance costs because the car barely hits the inventory. Has anyone tried this? Any suggestions for "reasonable" dealers in the MA, NH, and RI area. Thanks. :-)

stscal

First, I want to thank all for your inputs. This forums helped me to purchase this vehicle at a great price without any pain of dealing. I have been reading this forums and checking the price of Pilot for over a month.
I just purchased a 06 EX Pilot AWD Sage Brush Pearl color for $ 28,000 including destination charge plus TTL from Elk Grove Honda in Northern California, $214 under invoice price. I used the 3.9% promotion for all new Honda vehicle as well. All my dealing was done with e-mails and phone calls. I selected the vehicle at the dealership with my family (right color and odometer reading of 11 miles), and I was out of the dealer with new Pilot less than 3 hours including the detail. It was a great vehicle purchasing experience. It is a beautiful SUV. Good Luck to future Pilot owners.

bogiejim

I have been shopping for an '06 AWD, EXL also. I have had a quote, including the delivery charge of $29,500.. Two other dealers, one in So. NH have offered to match the price. Other "prep" charges at the dealer have varied from $170. to $300. That price is $780. below dealer invoice with delivery, so they have to be making their money from the holdback I would guess. Shop around and you'll be able to make a deal, good luck!

momo7

I am VERY much interested in purchasing a 2006 Pilot EX-L with Navigation. Also, I am reasonably sure that I can get $5000 on my trade-in (1999 Honda CR-V LX 2WD with roughly 76,000+ miles plus some minor cosmetic issues from hail damage, etc).

Now, I have an offer from a dealership that will match the invoice price: $31,707 (before destination, tax, and other fees).

1) Should I just take it, or should I try to push for something lower? How much lower could I go? I get the impression that it would be quite difficult to get much below invoice price for this model....

2) Also, will the trade-in value (let's say... 5 or 6 years from now) of the 2006 AWD EX-L w/Navigation differ significantly from the trade-in value for the 2006 AWD LX?? I know that none of us are psychics here, but just thought I'd ask. I mean, if I am going to benefit a great deal in the long-run for the EX-L in terms of trade-in price, I might be more inclined to choose this model over the LX (despite the huge price difference). Common sense already tells me "yes".... But I wonder if that difference is going to be worth the $6300+ extra from LX to EX-L with Navigation.

Thank you for reading the above. I will greatly appreciate any advice.

markjenn

I'm definitely not a psychic, but I would expect the options to depreciate at about the same rate as the rest of the car. So if you typically trade in three years and would expect the trade value to be 50% of the car's new price, then you'd be likely to recoup about 50% of the extra you pay now for the options. Some folks talk about "must have" options and certainly things like leather, sunroofs, and alloy wheels are perenial favorites, but styles change and there is always a market for base-model cars with value-conscious buyers. So I wouldn't try and 2nd-guess this too much.

Except for this: Nav is one of those "high tech" electronic options that may be radically improved in the next few years. The CD-based Nav systems on many five-year old cars look like eight-track players compared to the current Nav systems. Just around the corner are systems that are highly integrated with real-time traffic reporting, weather, On-Star type communications, and much more sophisticated UI's with larger screens. If you're at all price sensitive or worried about option depreciation, the first thing I'd skip is the Nav.

- Mark

kyfdx

1) If the dealer won't give you $5K on your CR-V trade, then sell it yourself... Even a 2WD model with relatively low miles should easily sell for that.. or even more, in the private market..

2) Actually.. options tend to depreciate a little faster than the car overall.. But, they make your car much easier to sell, when the time comes.. Just think about how in-demand that CR-V would be, if it were AWD.. However, the extras on the EX are very nice, and that is the way I would go... You obviously keep your cars for awhile, and will get use and enjoyment from the options... Leather will also help your car sell more quickly, when the time comes..

3) NAV? Just a toy.. buy it for your own personal enjoyment if you wish, but after 3-4 years, it might be worth $200 extra on resale..

regards,
kyfdx
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momo7

Thank you all for your advice!

Now, I am still wondering... how much below invoice can I get (realistically) on the 2006 Pilot? I am trying to decide between getting the LX AWD and EX-L AWD.

So far, one dealer has agreed to match the invoice price on either of these models. But that took A LOT of persuasion and negotiation. Will I be laughed out of the dealership if I ask for something like $500~$1000 below invoice?

emkcsw

I went to a dealer today in Houston to purchase a 2006 pilot exl and asked about the new 3.9% financing from Honda and they could not offer me it since they have not heard about it? Is this a Honda financing special from AHC? If anyone has received this rate can you please verify or offer other good rates possible.

Thanks!

tzarina

Thanks. Can you share the names of the dealers who offered these prices?

millergnh

For anyone in Colorado, I just purchased a 2006 2wd EX-L w/ RES for $800 BELOW INVOICE!! Ralph Schomp is doing great business, in volume. Don't go to Burt Kuni...they weren't very good. Ralph Schomp saved me $4000! :shades:

anonuevo

I read this forum before buying and found it very useful, so I'll give my info:

where: san francisco bay area
what: 2005 Pilot EX
final price: 25500 (including destination) plus $45 doc, tax/title with 3.9% financing (had to ask specifically for this - plus, mentioned my own (good) financing prior to buying - then they offered it).

Dealerships opinions:
great: oakland
good: santa rosa, san leandro, menlo park
ok: SF, serramonte
bad: concord, berkeley, colma
horrible: burlingame

without some of the options i wanted (add-ons, color, etc), lowest bid was 25000 for plain version.

Tons of 2005 EX-L's still on the lots.

GOOD LUCK!

teaching

Voice input???? I went to a dealership in So. NH yesterday and looked at the '06 Pilot with Nav. I asked about the voice activation for the Nav and the salesman said the Pilot doesn't have voice activation. He said only the Odyssey does. When we took it for a test drive we played with the nav and it spoke to us be we didn't try to control it using our voice. Does this salesman know what he's talking about?

teaching

I test drove a '06 AWD EXL in So NH this weekend. Where did you get the price of $29,500??? Is the $29,500 the "bottom line" "out the door" price? I could only get them down to $30,000 plus $170 admin fee.

teaching

How do I know which is the correct invoice? Edmunds '06 Pilot EXL AWD invoice is 29,730 but KBB is 30,280 (not too different). Edmunds EXL AWD with Nav is 30,629 but KBB is 32,257 (big difference here) When I went to the dealer in So. NH yesterday they showed me the KBB invoice. Which one should I really look at- Edmunds or KBB?

I am looking at the '06 Pilot EXL AWD with and without navigation. I would like the Nav but how much more is it going to cost me? Dealer said an extra $2000. HA!

How much should I really pay, bottom line, for the '06 EXL AWD with and w/o Nav in Southern NH?

Is there a website out there where I could just give a price I am willing to pay for the type of Pilot I want and have it go out to several dealerships in the area to see if any dealership is willing to give it to me at my price?

kyfdx

KBB and Edmunds have the same invoice prices...

The only difference: Edmunds doesn't show the destination charge, until you select "Price it with options".. Once you do that, you'll see that all of the numbers agree... The invoice price on Edmunds' first page doesn't include destination (neither does the MSRP).

regards,
kyfdx
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caratig1

Your salesperson didn't know what they were talking about....I just bought a 2006 EXL with Navi yesterday. Look for the button on the left of the steering wheel with a face on it. Push it and speak almost anything. Not just radio, but temperature, etc. Very cool! The Navi's also come with a standard rear view camera used when in reverse.

I'd find another salesperson that actually wanted to 'earn' your sale!

floatingcloud

Just bought one 06 AWD EX at invoice $28,213.5. Dealer wanted to charge for the mudguard, but didn't because they wanted to beat other dealers. I don't think I can get hundreds dollars under invoice as other people did. But I am still satisfied. Edmunds is an excellent resource!

Good luck to all shoppers!

steroid

Bought a 06 Pilot EX 4WD with mudguards about a week ago from one of the St. Louis area dealers. Paid $270 over invoice. Could probably get a better price now, but I just didn't have the time or energy to keep shopping around. Did most of my research online and got all the quotes by email. Needless to say, some dealerships are a lot more familiar with the internet service than others. After I got everybody's offer, I compared it to Sam's Club auto buying program price, which was >$1500 more than my lowest quote. Waited a few days and a couple of dealers emailed me again to see if I was still in the market. I was able to get a better price this way.

If you are in the market in the St. Louis area, I can refer you to the internet sales manager that was most helpful. After we agreed on the price, I asked for the buyer's order to be faxed to me to make sure that I had a good look at the details of the purchase before going in. It took me 10 min to see the car, drive it around, and another 5 min to sign the paperwork and pick up the car the next day. Very professional internet department and no last minute surprises or "extras" the car magically ended up having overnight.

I also tried one dealership in KC based on a couple of good posts under Honda forums, but was surprised by their very questionable business practice. Make sure to ask for the buyer's order form to be faxed to you before agreeing to anything when shopping online.

I was out of town most of last week and didn't get to drive the car much, but it is really nice. My only complaints are the cheap plastic trim and seat fabric Honda chose. Seats in my 1998 Civic look better than the ones in the Pilot. In terms of the wind noise at high speeds, I also noticed the same thing, which is similar to my Civic. It is annoying, but the EX comes with a pretty good sound system that should take care of the wind noise.

I'd like to thank everyone on the forum for their posts. They have been very helpful.

Enjoy shopping!!!

doscar

Where are these 05 Pilots? Been looking.

tcasboy

Try Wilde Honda in Waukesha WI. They had a lot of inventory last time I checked their website.

doscar

I should have asked where in Northern Calif. are these 05 Pilots?

teaching

Thanks! I realized this too when he told me the olive color interior in the taffeta white Pilot was not the same olive color interior in the amazon green. He said they were two different olive colors.

Question- Do you have to pay a monthly fee with the navigation system like you do with the xm radio???

kyfdx

No.... on a fee for the NAV.. It is DVD-based, and works internally and with GPS...

If you have to update the maps at some time in the future, you'd have to buy a new DVD, but no fees...

regards,
kyfdx
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bogiejim

I have gotten a price of $29,500. for an '06 AWD EXL in Nashua, probably the same dealer you visited. They won't budge from invoice of $32,257. for adding the NAV. Plus the dealer prep of $170. on each. All of the above prices include the destination charge.

bogiejim

The dealer was in Nashua, probably the same one you visited. The $29,500. was a match to a price I had gotten from Boch. They also quoted the $170. admin. fee in addition.

bogiejim

Try Boch and Peters in Nashua.

teaching

I just got a quote from Berlin City Motors in Northern NH (there's one in VT & ME too) and he gave me "bottom line- no other hidden fees" price of $31,900. EX-L with Nav. (They'll deliver it to my house for an extra $125 and we'll do the sale at my house if we want. Husband did this with his accord last summer- easy & convienent) He's faxing me the quote today. It's a little more because he had to locate a white one and swap it. Should I take it or try to haggle with another dealership? Think they'll come down anymore??

aidan

Just bought an '05 White EX.

Paid $25,375 + Destination $550 + Paperwork $160 + Taxes
Did I get a good price? $26,085.
There seems to be alot of '05's remaining on the lots.
Did I miss something?

okra

I was wondering what anyone has been able to negotiate on the price of a tow package for the pilot. Based on the individual prices seen on the internet accessory dealers, individual parts might be had for 6-700 bucks plus shipping. then there is the installation which I would rather not do myself. What is the price that the dealers have been willing to negotiate in your purchase?

doscar

I was wondering why there was no discussion about LX models? Are they too cheap or not desirable for some reason?

tenaciousd

I'm going to search after I post this, but have three questions:
1) what are anyone's thoughts on asking for add-on's at the closing? Such as a few free oil changes, car mats, trunk tray, etc. I don't mean a high dollar accessory, but a few things that don't cost the dealer terribly much (vis a vis a $30,000 car!).
2) what are the opinions on leather v. cloth seats when it comes to children? We are planning on kids in the next year and are leaning toward leather (the cleaning up factor).
3) what kind of prices are we looking at for tires on the '06 Pilot?

We've been doing our homework in Columbia, SC and shopping for the past 5-6 weeks, and have slowly gravitated toward the Pilot, and upward from the LX to the EX-L. We've test driven the Pilot on several occasions and it so far has not given us any reason to not want it.

We currently have offers from the two local dealerships. One is offering a Steel Blue Metallic for $29,875 + tax (capped at $300 in SC) + something called a procurement fee ($179) and $40 license fee = $30,394. This includes trunk tray, mudflaps and wheel lock. This is about $1192 over invoice. I've got another offer on a Desert Rock Metallic for $29,895 + 300 + 40 (no procurement fee) = $30,235 (don't think this has the tray/wheel lock).

Dealer invoice is 29,202 - so I'm about $680 over invoice. I've since began asking around to area dealerships via the 'Net what they'd be willing to do.

Also rec'd one offer on an EX (from the first dealer above) for $27,367 + same fees = $27,885.

Both sales reps have been very cordial and knowledgeable, the one at the second delaership has been particularly upfront and pleasant to deal with.

I plan to try and get as close as possible to invoice, expect I'll end up splitting difference of the spread over the invoice.

Thank you.

tenaciousd

We looked at the LX and found no fault with it. The seat covering is not as plush as the cloth in the EX, but it's not a deal breaker. It rides comparably. We decided to go up b/c we felt the additional features available for a marginally additional amount of money made it worthwhile to upgrade. In other words, the EX feels more "tricked out" than the LX and the cost isn't prohibitive.

rick93se

I'm the new owner of an LX. In looking at the difference between the two models, I did not want to spend the extra $2,500 to move up to the EX. Another factor was the comfort of the second row. I have three kids, and want the ability to use the middle seat in the second row. The LX does not have the pull down tray, and so it is actually more comfortable to use than in the EX. I really like the cloth in the LX as well. I will be adding window tinting ($250) and upgrading the speakers.

ndm86

Also got 05 LX AWD for $23200 last week with 6 miles on the meter. The color is the one I want. the price is about the same as a high end Accord. has all the functions needed. think not much room for the price to be lower (may be wrong, the dealer is laughing ) for a new full size AWD Honda SUV. Was planning to have 06 LX or EX AWD when walked into the show room. Found alloy wheel is just a cosmetic improvement, leather heated seat will either reduce gas milage (electrical heater use energy from battery, ultimately charged by gas powered engine/genetor) or feel cold in midwest winter, manual driver seat adjust is OK (driver is not changed all the time), a Palm pocket PC with Teletype GPS sensor (about $600) can do almost all the NAV job, and can be easily taken to another viechle, hiking, upgraded, or working with a laptop, which can play DVD/games if needed in a long trip.

Many people go to SUV for fun, so the bells and whistles are important. The targeted customer group for Pilot usually can afford the extra a few thousand $ for the EX/EXL, that's why most Pilot sold are EX/EXL I guess.

colhazard

I was going for the 05 Pilot LX before.

The lowest price quote I had on the 05 Pilot LX was $22,875.00 and the 05 Pilot EX was $24,900, in Orange County. That's $2,025 difference between the two.

However, I really need the rear windows tinted and the security system installed which would total $500+. Subtract that cost and you'll have a difference of $1,500 to spread into the other different features of the 05 EX: homelink system, 6-disc CD changer, 7 speakers (subwoofer), power driver seat, climate control, roof rack, alloy wheels, cargo net ($30). To upgrade the steel wheel of the LX would probably cost $600+. You might want to upgrade the sound system too if you don't like the awful 4 speaker sound of the LX. Of course, there's the roof rack for more flexibility (but you do have to purchase additional accessories to do this, it looks good though having it on the roof )

So for the money, EX proved to have more value so I went for it even compared to the 06 LX 2WD quoted at $24,600.

ndm86

Is your price for LX/EX are 2WD or AWD?

doscar

Thanks for the responses!

doscar

How is the LX tinted glass? I know you can't get the privacy glass, but it does have lighter tinted glass.

colhazard

The 05s are AWD, the 06 LX quote of $24,600 is 2WD.

I'm a bit surprised myself I was offered $200 below invoice on the 06 LX considering it was just released. For the features, and difference of $300 between 06 LX and 05 EX, I went with the 05 EX. Like I mentioned, I needed the alarm and tint, so I would be spending $500 more, the 05 EX comes pre-installed with those two.

I did all the shopping via phone and e-mail. When I got the lowest bid, I ask the dealer to e-mail me the price we talked about, with the breakdown of the fees, and the exact Out the Door price. Print it out before going to the dealer so they won't change the price, and refuse any of those marked up addons/accessories.

rick93se

There is no tinting in the LX that I can see. I'm going to install the "darkest legal" tint on all seven windows for $250 in a few weeks. Four new speakers will run another $250 installed. I looked at the '05 as well, but the side curtain airbags made the difference for me.

sas1

I originally opted for the LX as I at first glance found it much better looking than the distinctive cheap looking 05 LX. I ended up with an EX anyhow and dont regret. The Power driver seat with lumbar adjust + roof rails were my main motivator for upgrading. Now I dont regret a second, the stereo is awesome and small things like the Homelink and nicer upholstery makes it worth it. (LX upholstery is sort of rough). Once you factor in the cost for roof rails and better sound (if thats important to you) the price difference starts to dwindle. Now factor in that you may be driving this car for 7-10 years and that it may later sell faster.
protectionplans ?

Whats your take on Protection plans ? I paid 1597,- for the 80K/7year plan. I have 60 days cancelation right and are starting to wonder if this is a good investment. In my opinion a well buildt Honda should'nt start to give you any trouble before...after the 7th year ?

What did you folks pay, and whats your opinion ?

Finaly Thanks to everybody who helped me pay invoice + 75 for a 2wdr EX - without this forum I would have wastet 800+ hard earned dollars.

kyfdx

sas1 ... That price seems a little high.. You should check out this forum:

Honda Extended Warranties: Pricing and Info

Everything you ever wanted to know about HondaCare warranties..

regards,
kyfdx
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jensad

Dear Sas1

In 1995, we purchased a new Oddessy from Dublin Honda, in Dublin Ca. They offered us the 75k extended warranty with a guarantee that if we did not have more than 75k on the car over six years, they would refund us our money less claims. (Although we did not buy the new Pilot from Dublin, according to their representative, they still offer this warranty.)

Well my wife only had 65k on the car and we got our money back.

I also had a 95 Honda Accord with 144000 miles on it when I sold it had had NO mechanical problems. However, I was getting a little antsy with the original transmission so I sold it.

Today, I do not think a warranty is worth it for my wife's new Pilot. Maybe caveat emptor will apply, but I think our Honda experience has been suggested to us not to get a warranty.

Good luck to all and stay safe.

jensad

hkeiner

I just bought a 2006 EXL 2WD with NAV for $30,990(all charges included except tax and license) from a dealer in Dublin, CA. No extra options. It think it was a reasonable price and was much lower than what I was offered by floor salesmen at various Honda dealerships a few days before, when I stopped by to take a look at the Pilots.

Here is my story:

To get this price, I first used Edmunds.com to request quotes from various dealers in the San Francisco Bay Area (where I live). After I got the quotes, I used the lowest quote to ask (by email)the other dealers with higher quotes if they could beat it. A few of them lowered their quotes and beat the previous best quote. I advised the previous "lowest quote dealer" (by email) that I got some lower quotes and asked if he could reduce his enough to make it attractive to me. The dealer reduced his quote further and beat all of the the other quotes I had gotten.

At that point I stopped negotiating and bought from the lowest quote dealer. I didn't want to go back and forth between dealers any further, as I felt I had a pretty good price at that point and it is not my nature to haggle extensively. Also, the prices reported by others in this forum indicated that my price was reasonble so I didn't have to worry that I dramatically overpaid.

All in all, it was a painless effort and much faster than going to many dealerships and dealing with salesmen face to face.

zjjmug

Does you price include the "destination fee"?

colhazard

Does you price include the "destination fee"?

Yes.