2013 and earlier-Honda CR-V Prices Paid and Buying Experience

stever

Yes it is. $150 buys a couple of tires or a month or two of gas. Not paying extra for stuff means I don't have to work as hard - remember, life is short, why spend it slaving away in the office trying to pay for stuff that cost too much?

Steve, Host

lucyaria

I'm so ashamed. Do you think I should send them some flowers and try to make up?
wink;)

isellhondas

150.00 isn't very much money. For either side!

stever

Whatever, but not leaving cash on the table helped me to pay cash for my last three cars..... only buying one or two a decade helps too.

Steve, Host

isellhondas

Eveyone has their own perspective.

I just think that for a lot of people, it really isn't the money. It's the fear that someone else, somewhere just might have paid less for the same product.

I'm not one of those people. I'm as frugal as anyone but there comes a point where chasing the last dollar just isn't worth the time, trouble or frustration that I read about in some of these forums.

If I feel I'm getting a good value and I feel good about my salesperson and the store I'm spending my money in, that's good enough for me.

But...that's me...we are all different.

Carry on...Peace!

tcpip1

If I feel I'm getting a good value and I feel good about my salesperson and the store I'm spending my money in, that's good enough for me.


I agree: good car, good value, good salesperson, and good store, the 4-goods

lucyaria

For me, saving an extra $150 meant chilling out for a day and getting a phone call later. No sweat.
I'm curious. Have you ever undersold a competitor by less than $100? Would you?

I agree with Steve.

isellhondas

To answer your question, yes, all of the time.

A store will give a "quote" or their "best price".

The customer will shop that price with me and I'll beat it every time unless the customer was low balled.

Had a CRV customer get lowballed just last week. This lady had shopped herself to death.

A nearby store quoted her a price that I knew was wrong. I suggested that she return and buy it for that since I couldn't match or beat it.

Of course, I was nice about it and said that if the numbers changed when she got back there that I would be happy to sell her a CRV.

Two hours later she was back.

"Oh...I thought you said you wanted a five speed!"

This seems (lowballing)to be happening more and more often and I hate it!

lucyaria

You have no problem with snagging a customer from a competitor for a few bucks even if your competitor spent hours with that customer, showing them the car, etc.

I know I'm being fiesty, here. I actually appreciate your honesty. Like most people, I find car salesmen very intimidating. Many of us feel like lambs headed for the slaughter when we walk on a car lot. I think most buyers feel the game is stacked heavily against them. It's interesting to hear your perspective.

eelp

where did you buy your CRV??

stever

There's no contest, Lucyaria. Isell is moving cars every day. You and I buy one every few years. Luckily the odds are getting a bit better, but there's no way we're going to beat a dealer at their own game.

I liken it more to a game of Texas Hold'em at your local casino. We're pounding the pavement and bragging about our "wins" to each other, but we're just comparing our deals among ourselves. Meanwhile the casino is sitting back raking their cut off the top and if they don't fleece us at the buffet table they'll try to get us at the F&I desk or the service counter.

Excuse me, I have to go resuscitate Mr. Lincoln. I've been squeezing him so hard today he's passed out again :-)

Steve, Host

isellhondas

I had a witty response typed but I deleted it.

Lucy,

I have no problem at all selling a car to someone who spent hours elsewhere. I once had a customer drive 50 miles after a three hour grind session at another dealership. I was able to beat the deal by a lousy fifty dollars and they jumped at it. I have little respect for a perosn who does this...I just don't understand the mentality.

I do not enjoy these types of sales at all.

At this point, a lot of my customers are repeat and referrals. We have good relationships. When I run into my customers in public places they are happy to see me.

I hardly treat them like a lamb to slaughter.

lucyaria

If you find buyers like that so distasteful, there is a very simple solution..don't court them!
Stick to your more respectable clientele that you mention.
Noone is forcing you to nickel and dime negotiate, but it sounds like you're happy to engage in it when it means a quick profit for you. I find it hard to believe you do not understand the mentality, when you choose to play the game yourself:)C'mon....

ramarquardt2

Bought one in May for the wife. MSRP was $22,860. Got it for $21,860.

Bought another one for me this past Saturday. used the internet for the Milw, Wisc. area and got it for $22,195.

isellhondas

I don't understand your post but that's O.K.

I've been in retail my entire life, mostly in upper management. There are customers I enjoy and those (not many)that I hope I never see again.

I'm a professional and I can deal with all different types.

lucyaria

Isell, let's take the 50 mile drive buyer you mention above. When she called and gave you an opportunity to beat her deal you could have said "I don't do business like that." You didn't. You chose to undersell the other guy by 50 bucks to make a quick sale for yourself, and then cut her up for taking the deal. If this is such a reprehensible business practice, then what was your responsibility in it?
That's my point.

Thanks again for your help everyone.
Peace.

desertman

I think the point isell was trying to make initially is that it's wildly irrational to spend vast amounts of time and energy shopping for the lowest possible price, if the difference in price achieved is something like $50-$100.

A person who would spend hours bargaining at one dealer, then drive 50 miles to another in order to save $50 is an idiot. At least they are valuing their time very lightly.

stever

The problem is that you often don't know if the dealer's price is within $50 if you don't shop it around.

Dealers hate for their prices to be shopped around. Or so it seems, from reading Isell's posts :-)

Steve, Host

isellhondas

And I often am.

Lucy...it isn't reprehensible to make a sale by offering a lower price. I don't own this store, I simply work here. As such, I am required to deal with customers I would rather not sell a car to.

There are "smart shoppers" who are astute and there are some who are just downright cheap.

I respect the former.

stever

lol, I don't get no respect.

Another problem with trying to get a great deal on a CR-V is that everybody wants one!

Steve, Host

cbr600

No matter what money is saved, even if it's $50, I'll save it. Why do salesmen have to BS so much? Even if they sell it below invoice, they're still getting paid. It may seem not worth it to some, but it's a big investment, so why not save all the money you can? If salesmen would just give you the best price up front, you wouldn't have to shop around! I had places quoting me 25,000! I feel sorry for the people that don't shop around to get the best price and get suckered into buying a car at msrp! It's just not fair, I don't know how salesmen that are so sleezy go home and sleep at night... Do they count how many people they ripped off instead of sheep?

isellhondas

If you want someone to take your foul smelling bait, it won't be me.

cbr600

You're a car salesman yourself, right? So you're telling me you wouldn't try to get the best deal from some place, and if the other dealer 15 miles away was willing to beat it by 150 dollars and they had the car you wanted that you wouldn't jump on it? I don't care how long someone spent with me, or what they tried to do, if they can't give me a fair price, I'm going somewhere else, that's it. You guys are so greedy...

isellhondas

Please re-read my last response to you. I have nothing to say to you.

cbr600

And I have nothing left to say to you...You're a SALSESMAN.

tidester

You're making this personal. Let's all count to 10 ... or 20 ... or so!

Buying and selling cars is one of the few places where you can negotiate. I don't see how you can call it a loss for either side when it comes down to a mere $50 compared with $25,000+ vehicle. The cost of financing can vary by much more than that amount from bank to bank or from morning to afternoon!

Try negotiating the cost of a rib roast at your local supermarket or the cost of a wristwatch at K-Mart! You just won't get far.

tidester, host

cbr600

I don't understand... I guess to me, no matter what the savings, I'll take it. I saved $2,275 just by shopping and going to another dealership.

tidester

I saved $2,275 just by shopping and going to another dealership.

That's a 9% savings on a $25,000 vehicle compared with the 0.2% savings we were discussing with respect to $50.

It's not complicated.

tidester, host

rpcarbuyer

I can't give the salesman's name without violating this forum's ground rules.

anewleaf

I'm looking for dealer recommendations in the Seattle, WA area...anyone have a good experience buying a CR-V EX? Thanks!

boogerbear

Although Bay Ridge Honda is listed as "Internet Certified" on the Honda website, their "Internet Manager" did not respond to at least two emails we sent him. Finally, we called this morning and he refused to quote a price on a Honda CRV by telephone or email. He said it is agains the dealership's policy. He was unpleasant by telephone and I didn't expect any better in person. Thought you all would like to know about this dealership when trying to locate a dealership that provides a pleasant no-hassle experience. So far, Auto Plaza (also in Brooklyn) has been far more responsive and pleasant to deal with.

hunnyb

To me, it's all about timing. One day you may get a great deal, another day in the lot you may not. In response to RPCARBUYER, I bought by first Honda (Accord) at Doten's. I would have liked to purchase my second vehicle (the CRV) with them. Through Edmunds internet offers, I gave them a shot at meeting or beating the deal I got from AutoWest ($20,888 + low doc fees + tax) for an Auto EX Silver in May 2003). They said they couldn't. AutoWest got the vehicle sale but Doten's got my service business since they are close by and have kept the same guys in the shop for years, some at least a decade! (they must be doing something right with their employees; most other shop employees I've seen go hopping from dealership to dealership) Some dealers may lose out in one aspect but not the other.

  It's being at the right place at the right time and having done your homework to know when you have made a good deal. I had other dealerships quote they would beat any local quote by $100 but they did not respond promptly when I presented them the competitor's quote. A lack of response tells me a lot about how I may be treated in the whole purchasing transaction. So, they too did not get the deal. That extra $50-100 is not always worth it.

frostieduck

Hello, I know that isellhondas and maybe some other Honda sales folks read this forum... do dealerships get any perks for selling a lot of cars? There's a local dealer that seems very anxious to beat another local dealers price - even if it means selling just a little over invoice so I'm just curious what their real motivation is... or maybe it's because I caught them at the end of their fiscal quarter...

isellhondas

But a dealers allocation is based on how many cars they sell. The car they sell one month may earn them 1.2 replacement cars.

frostieduck

Any potential buyer should read this. I went through Edmunds to get a price quote on a CRV EX Automatic. I was quoted $21,651 plus tax, tags and administrative fee of $399. I advised that I'd pay $21200 and no more than $50 in doc fees. They agreed. I went in today and they said that "doc" fees are not the same thing as "admin" fees and that they still had to charge the $399 admin fee. We told them no and started to walk. He then went and got his manager. The manager basically told us the same thing - that it was their rock-bottom price. We asked if they would split that $399 because there was a miscommunication. They still said no. So my wife and I wanted to discuss our plan so we went outside for a walk. We agreed that $21500 (all fees included) was our max and that we would walk if they didn't agree. Ends up they did agree. In our area the TMV is $21608 so I suppose we did OK. The manager said that they also "threw in" Pinstripes, wheel locks, cargo area floor cover, door edge guards, and rear mud guards. He said those things are not in the Edmunds price. I calculate that to be about a $250 (retail) value so overall I feel good about the deal. The moral to the potential buyer is - if you are getting a price quote make sure you get an "out the door" price quote to make sure that the price quote is exactly what you are expecting...or you could ask for the 'sub-total" that they will apply sales tax to.

tidester

Please, no names of salepersons per the introduction at the top of this page.

tidester, host

1075

Can anyone supply the Dealer invoice on an '04 Honda CR-V EX 4WD with a 4 speed Automatic. I can't find it on any of the internet sites. The dealers have pricing info. and the '04 is on Hondas' website.

rmshrier

Thanks from another happy CR-V owner

I also want to thank members of Edmunds.com for the info that allowed me to make an educated purchase of our new CR-V.

We looked at all the alternatives and the feedback from CR-V owners was their was only one solution to our needs and that was a new CR-V.

I picked up a new white CR-V EX automatic from Herb Chambers of Boston on Friday after striking the deal Thursday afternoon. We were rushed since I sold our Toyota Sienna the day before to a private party.

Was I surprised at the lack of inventory, 03's are very scarce and the 04's haven't arrived as of yet. I would have purchased in late August but the trade-in offers from the Honda dealers were horrible. They offered us between $6900 and $11,000. I sold to the private party for $13,000.

Anyway, my wife and I are extremely happy with our CR-V and with the delivery by Herb Chambers. I was quite surprised as I expected the transaction to be a difficult process. The paperwork was all correct and while I was prepared to write a check from my Home Equity Line, the very respectable finance manager offered me 3.59% interest on a 60 month loan with 0 prepayment penalty from Chase.

FYI, I paid $21,400 plus the $277 document and handling fee plus sales tax.

jmurman42

I decided to drop back in this morning. Nothing has changed, at all....I dont mean the look of the pages, that sure has, but the commentary of "salesmen are greedy". Get over it, salespeople are in the game to make a profit, as are dealerships. Fact of life...everyone that is in business either has to make a profit or go out of business.

My wife and I have our EX manual CRV on the boat right now and are looking forward to getting it.

Isell...nice seeing you again!

stever

Sort of along the same line:

"Dealers who approach online leads with a strategy of withholding information in an effort to lure shoppers into the showroom may prompt shoppers to simply find another dealership willing to provide online price quotes or inventory information."

Internet's Impact Increases on Auto Purchase Decisions (F & I Management and Technology)

Steve, Host

photo_guy

That is an interesting article. My experience with online/internet quotes from local Honda dealers recently was disappointing.

I have one local dealer that I have found to be pretty good for service and the buying experience (for our last 2 car purchases) had only a minimum of issues. These guys were my first choice to buy from and, if their price was reasonable I was ready to give them my business for a new CR-V. They advertise "easy online quotes" so I thought I'd give it a try. The reply I got was straight MSRP and "when do you want to come in for a test drive?". Obviously they were using the internet simply to generate leads and get people into the showroom. Very dissapointing.
Another local dealer also quoted MSRP initially but did quote a slightly lower price when I challenged them.

As it turns out I didn't buy from either dealer; but only because a co-worker was selling a used CR-V that was a perfect fit for my needs at a super price.

georgiababe

Has anyone purchased a Honda CRV EX in Georgia? I'm looking for a reputable dealer and a good price for a 2003 model.

frostieduck

jmurman42 - When salesmen (dealerships, more accurately) stop being greedy (and rude) then this forumn will cease to exist. Until then it's foolish to believe that the "Honda CR-V: Prices Paid & Buying Experience" forumn will evolve.

firsttimer5

Hi everyone,

My plan worked to perfection and I would like to share it with all of you (you can look at my previous posts).

Prepare your homework carefully:
1. Get the invoice price from Edmunds.com and negotiate from the invoice price down, never from the sticker price.
2. Contact Internet Managers at various dealers via e-mail (don't waste your time on cars.com or other middlemen like them).
3. And the most important thing - GO TO PURCHASE YOUR VEHICLE ON THE LAST DAY OF THE QUARTER!!!
Dealers - who one day before will not give you the light of day - will beg for your business on the last day of the quarter, when they try to boost their numbers up.

So, here I was looking for an LX 2WD in Chianti Red Pearl for my wife. In mid-August, various dealers in Southern California offered them for between $25 and $65 over invoice. In mid-September, Honda of Hollywood offered them at between $1 and $5 over invoice. I sent them an e-mail and got a prompt reply on 9/19 from the lovely internet manager, notifying me that their internet special was $200 below invoice. I told her I believed she would be able to do better on the last day of the quarter. She did not have a red one and told me she could get me one in a dealer trade, but that would cost me $200 extra.

I kept on shopping and got a $342 below invoice quote from Power Honda in Valencia on 9/28, but they did not have a red one also. However, the Honda of Hollywood lady called me on 9/29 and again on 9/30. She was not agressive and seemed willing to help. We finalized the deal over the phone: $353 below invoice and no charge for the dealer trade.

Here's what I paid:
17,570.00 for the car
   158.00 DMV license fee (before the 10/1 raise)
    45.00 doc. fees
     5.00 California tire fees
 1,466.93 sales tax

$19,231.23 Total paid for a car with a sticker price of $19,360 and an invoice price of $17,923.

I elected to add full window tint for $166 + tax with 5 years warranty, but declined the keyless entry quote of $358 installed (I can get the original honda part from cheaphondaparts.com for about $105 including shipping and excluding installation).

Last note: Honda of Hollywood is such a tiny dealer - it is probably the size of the restroom of Power Honda in Valencia. Customers are literally sitting next to each other, but I did not care. The experience was good, the staff courteous and I got what I wanted.

I wish you all good luck!

jmurman42

explain what you mean by greedy? Is it selling a car that is not a dealerships dead cost? adding a adm to the Monroni? what exactly do you mean?

jmurman42

I am having a hard time navigating the forums section here. How do I find the topics I am interested in quickly without having to do a search?

sreiss

I continue to be fascinated by the stories of people like firsttimer5 when buying a CRV... I'm in Western Connecticut, and virtually all dealers around here are selling at MSRP and will not negotiate. They aren't rude about it, but they know they'll sell what they have at list within a day or two, if not in advance. I even took a strong quote that I did get (but nowhere near invoice) back to a salesman I've worked with previously. I wanted to buy from him because he's an excellent salesman, but he told me frankly he couldn't budge. He knew I'd buy it elsewhere, so it was a friendly exchange, but that's the market. Amazing it's so different in different markets.

isellhondas

Welcome back!

Nope, things haven't changed. Same old greedy salespeople and same old cheapskate shoppers!

Guess some things never change?

isellhondas

That's because, it's the MARKET that determines pricing. Guess this applies to almost everything we buy.

A dealer with a short supply of a high demand car has no reason to cheap sell one when he knows it'll sell an hour later to someone else.

The same people here who call us "greedy" would, no doubt do the same thing if, for example they had their house on the market. Price it too high, and it won't sell. Price it according to the prevailing market and someone will quickly step up and buy it.

tcpip1

There is nothing wrong of being "greedy" as long as the means used to achieve it is legal (is this the essence of capitalism?).

There is one way to bring the price of a hot-car down: introduce more competition.

I am waiting to see whether I will buy the CR-V or the Scion xB when the xB arrives in east coast. At this moment, I like the xB better.