2013 and earlier-Acura TL Prices Paid and Buying Experience

17273757778234

Comments

  • mldj98mldj98 Member Posts: 378
    alltom1,

    When you are pricing any car you should always ask for the price of the car period...don't play games with these guys who want to give you the price of the car and then say + dest.
    Bottom line is this...the best way to deal is through the internet...that way you get everything in black and white right in front of you...and if they are not willing to do that then maybe you should go somewhere else...remember expanding your search area may save you big money!!! And the price you posted eailer for the TL w/navi is high...but again I don't know where you live...and how many Acura Dealers are in you area....what I can tell you is that here in the Florida region...all Acura's are going for no more than flat invoice and some models well below invoice (MDX)...period...doesn't matter which model..RSX, TSX, TL, RL, MDX...bottom line is shop around your general area....I would say about 300 mile radius.....you will be amazed the price difference...I drove 200 miles and saved more than $1300 bucks!!
    Good luck!
  • ltazeltaze Member Posts: 17
    mldj, I am a Florida buyer. Can I ask where you bought? Thanks.
  • nyccwriternyccwriter Member Posts: 2
    First, thanks for all the postings. The information on this site has made me an informed customer.
    Now for a word of warning. Be careful with FEDER'S Auto Group/Feder's Acura in Middletown, NY. I got an email quote for $33,6xx OTD, including TTL, but didn't have red that I wanted. Seemed like a good deal to me, but when I shopped this # around Westchester area, they said it was crazy, meant a base price of about $31,000. So I called the salesman to confirm before I made a 2 hour drive. He said "oh, oh, nooo that was for a TL w/o navi." My email specifically said WITH navi. So he says "Well the guys that passed it along to me must have missed that..." I don't know if this was an honest oversight or a "bait and switch" kind of move.
    Lesson learned: Make sure emails from dealer with quotes also include all details about the car.
    Any advice on how to get the egg off my face and still get a decent deal from my local westchester dealers?
  • markymark3markymark3 Member Posts: 1
    Imldj98,

    I couldn't agree more and had a very similar experience. I live in Raleigh and tried working with the 2 local dealerships on a TL, but neither would come close to the prices I've seen here in the forum from other parts of the country. When I brought the deals from CA, TX, etc. to his attention, he said I would not get that price in this area, so I tried the dealership in Charlotte who emailed me back and referred me back to my local dealership !!! What is the world coming to ???? They are definitely under separate ownership and competitors, but it appeared to me that they had a gentlemen's agreement not to tread on the other's turf. So, I decided to blow them off and try another part of the country. I grew up in Fla and still have family down there and emailed the dealer in Delray and another in Jax. Thought I would combine a trip to visit the family with buying a new car. Both were super to work with and gave me great deals. I would highly recommend both. Best offers were the same, but I wound up going with Acura of Orange Park because they are much closer to me. I bought TL w/ nav, wheel locks, and mud guards, and the final OTD price was $34,008 which included all taxes, dealer fees, etc. Cost me $100 for one way flight which was a no brainer consider the deal I got. I saved more than a grand on the best offer from NC. Thanks to everyone for posting all the info from your buying experience......I would never have gotten the deal without your help !! :)
  • risa00risa00 Member Posts: 17
    So we call the salesperson that told us he would sell us the car for $32,500. He tells my husband that he can't it less than $33,500 now. He then starts asking my husband if he would prefer it in black or without navigation, etc. My husband is getting really fishy with this guy since it sounds like the car isn't on the lot and he now increased the price by $1000 and he seems way too eager to make the sale. Anyways, we're going to look local again. I don't think I would recommend Acura of Marin because of this experience.
  • yakuzayakuza Member Posts: 15
    risa00,

    I had a good experience with Los Gatos Acura - contact the internet sales person. I've also heard relatively good things about Oakland Acura too.
  • frisconickfrisconick Member Posts: 1,275
    I would highly recommend Acura of Marin, tell them a low ball number, and they will take it if you do your homework. I got a TL non-Navi for 30,700 no one else would match that.
  • andreizmandreizm Member Posts: 3
    Does anyone know if Acura is offering any financing deals? I guess 1.9% deal has expired a couple of weeks ago..

    -Andrei
  • golferheregolferhere Member Posts: 27
    If you can drive south to north LA, you can deal with Acura of Glendale. Very easy to work with: none of the b.s. other people go through. Also, no one else could come near their prices. I bought my non-nav in the combination I wanted for $30,200. Did everything over the phone, and drove up from San Diego and signed the papers. Piece of cake. Call the internet and fleet manager, and see what she can do for you...
  • nightcrawler29nightcrawler29 Member Posts: 146
    Yeah, as the other posters mentioned, the dealer is playing games with you. Destination charges should be included on the $32885, and documentation fees of $398.00 if plain ridiculous.... sounds like they didn't specify those fees as documentation fees, but they probably mixed them up with other out of the blue useless fees. When I signed the contract, it was writen that documentation fees couldn't be more than $50.
  • nightcrawler29nightcrawler29 Member Posts: 146
    You are right, nyccwriter, dealers WILL TRY to do a bait and switch on you when dealing through the phone and the internet. Their goal is to get you to go to the dealership so they can control the transaction. DO NOT take anyone's good word on a deal.. once you have agreed on a price, request the salesman to email you all the details of the transaction including OTD price MINUS and deposit you have made. Also make sure the email includes all the options in the car such as nav, wheel locks, etc.... Dealers would do their best to avoid sending you anything in writing, but you are the one with the money, and should control the transaction. If the dealer won't cooperate, move on to another one. If dealer requests a deposit, which makes sense because they want to make sure you are serious to, then submit it with a credit card.

    For what I've heard, they usually request a deposit of $500 or $1000. Once you submit the deposit, you should request the salesman to email you the details of the transaction so you have it all in paper..... and he shouldn't object since you gave him a deposit, which means that he is now sure that you won't run to another dealership to get a better price. But anyway, if after submiting the deposit, the dealer still won't email you the transaction details, then stop right there and don't buy the car. You can dispute the deposit with the credit card company, but never go to a dealership without the whole deal on paper.
  • joephamjoepham Member Posts: 5
    05 TL with navi

    $32,795.13 selling price
    45.00 document fee
    2,709.31 sales tax
    274.00 license/registration
    8.75 tire disposal fee
    $35,832.19 total price (out the door)
    (prices include destination, wheel locks, splash guards and paint polish)

    i'm in so cal, so i was wondering if this was a good deal. this is the first quote they (Thomas Acura in Citrus) gave me so i hope the price can be dropped even further. if you guys know of any place better that's even cheaper, let me know.

    thanks
    Joe
  • mldj98mldj98 Member Posts: 378
    ltaze,

    Check out Acura of Orange Park (Jacksonville)....in fact if you look at the post right below your post # 3834 you will see they also went with Acura of Orange Park...go on their website (do google search to find) and fill out their internet request form...send it in and in 4 business hours they will send you back a confirmation email saying they have your request and are checking their stock...then they will send you another email with the price of the car and the OTD price as well...then they might call to confirm that you received your price and will double check that all parties involved are talking about the same car...i.e..TL with navi, non-navi, etc....they even faxed me the buyers contract showing all the numbers....most quotes they are sending out are strictly invoice....and I think some of the other posters on here got invoice pricing from them as well....if you do go with them they will want to take a deposit by credit card...they did for me because they had to do a dealer trade (didn't have my color)...if the car is on their lot they may not ask for the deposit not sure though....
    You can try and get a little lower than invoice....but I had a trade...they gave me exactly what I wanted on my trade...gave me straight invoice on the new car...fairly straight forward from beginning to end....if you go with the internet folks they take the deal from cradle to grave....they do everything....meet them when you get to the dealership and they take to all the way to delivering the car to you!!!
    Check them out!!!
  • alltom1alltom1 Member Posts: 4
    Thanks for the reply. .

    I've collected quotes from four dealerships and I am going to cast the net a little wider by considering dealerships in other states that I could fly to on the cheap.
    So far, no one in Atlanta has come close to prices obtained by posters in other states. .

    Generally, sales staff react with disbelief, hurt feelings, etc. when they understand that I am trying to get the car below invoice.

    More on this as it progresses. .
  • chris28chris28 Member Posts: 1
    I'm in the market for the same TL, which dealership in Houston did you purchase yours at?
  • michael30michael30 Member Posts: 1
    Anybody recently bought an Acura Tl auto w/o navigator in sourthern california?
    Would you mind tell me how much did you pay for a final price (out of the door)?
    Many thanks.
  • delmar1delmar1 Member Posts: 744
    See my response I posted in the 2006 Acura TL site. That will answer your question. As for price...it better be below invoice.
  • liferulesliferules Member Posts: 531
    "Generally, sales staff react with disbelief, hurt feelings, etc. when they understand that I am trying to get the car below invoice."

    I would suspect they would...but you aren't trying to get it below invoice, just invoice + $300-1000 for saleman's and dealership's time & effort. If they act all upset and insulted, that's too bad. Unless you're asking for ridiculous prices, they should be professional and tell you upfront whether that is acceptable to them or not. Then you can decide to deal with them or move on...at least that's how it SHOULD work...
  • diablodelsoldiablodelsol Member Posts: 4
    well, after much debate, i found the tl i want, $200 over invoice, $32,955 (per the dealer) w/navi, so I think I'm getting a pretty good deal, the phoenix market dealerships didn't seem to want to 'wheel and deal' too much. Anywho, the fee I'm not to jazzed about is a $300 doc fee. Is this fee negotiable? THANKS!
  • delmar1delmar1 Member Posts: 744
    The cars may be purchased below the so called invoice...but the dealers are still making money....or why else would they be in business. They are not going home starved.

    The correct way of looking at it is that you have done your homework....and getting the car at a fairly negotiated price that is at the lower end of the price spectrum. Some may pay more....but you deservingly should pay less as you have performed the proper due dilligence to determine the appropriate price and have properly entered into an agreement to give a monetary consideration for goods.
  • delmar1delmar1 Member Posts: 744
    The doc fees of $300 is too high. Should be about $50. The $200 over invoice is good....but you could chisel on that also. If not...get some all weather mats to supplement your protection package...or get a spoiler.
  • golferheregolferhere Member Posts: 27
    Michael. I bought my non-navigatioN at Acura of Glendale, which is in Northern Los Angeles. I paid $30,200, and spent another $300 on the protection package, and a deck lid spoiler......Call the internet and fleet manager, and see what she can do for you.......
  • minspaminspa Member Posts: 10
    In the end of June we were quoted $32,000 (plus the fees you listed) for an 05 TL with navi from Keyes Acura in Van Nuys. We live in the Bay Area and found a dealer here who would sell us the same car for $32,200 (with wheel locks, splash guards and truck tray thrown in) so it wasn't worth the cost to fly down. I've heard the Acura dealer in Glendale will go low as well. The deals get better the closer you get to the end of the month, so wait another couple of weeks if you can and you may save several hundred dollars. Good luck.
  • realhawkerrealhawker Member Posts: 30
    uresist- I live in montclair, I was looking into a non-navi TL with no frills. Who did you talk with at montclair?

    REalhawker
  • nightcrawler29nightcrawler29 Member Posts: 146
    "The cars may be purchased below the so called invoice...but the dealers are still making money....or why else would they be in business. They are not going home starved."

    Yeah the dealers are still making money even if selling their cars at or bellow invoice. However, the sales man earns 100% commission based on whatever they can get over invoice price. So in most cases, don't expect to be received with flowers and red carpet if you are getting invoice price or bellow. If you are getting the car at invoice price, most likely the sales man is not getting a dime out of the sale. Some sales people would tell you straight forward, and they are telling the truth.... others will follow up and give out their time to show you the car and take you to a test drive, even though they know they will not get any money out of you if you buy on invoice. And that's another reason why its better to deal on the internet, because sometimes you deal with the fleet manager, which might or might not earn 100% commission. I really feel bad for the people in this line of work, because it is a tough job..... but then that doesn't mean we need to pay the outrageous prices they initially want for their cars. For all of you guys who are getting your cars at invoice or less.... well its a great deal, but don't expect to much on customer service, because you are surely not well received.... by the sales person on the floor at least.
  • nightcrawler29nightcrawler29 Member Posts: 146
    I would guess $300 is fine if its not only documentation fees.... According to the dealers I've talked to, Title and License is around $250 (is actually lower but they add document fees and other state required taxes), but it depends on the state you are in. Ask them to itemize so to find out how they got to $300. If this amount is only for doc fees, then move on..
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ... **Yeah the dealers are still making money even if selling their cars at or bellow invoice** ...

    Hmm, you'll have to explain that one .........



    Terry.
  • nyccwriternyccwriter Member Posts: 2
    Thanks for the run thru. Kind of what I Iearned from the experience. At least I didn't make the 2 hour drive. I've also found that some dealerships are very accustomed to dealing thru internet/email, while others seem to fumble around a bit.
    Like other posters here, I also found Acura of Westchester to be very straightforward with all numbers up front. However, they didn't have the car I wanted and I also was able to get a lower price at Curry Acura in Scarsdale. Some posters have had a negative experience with Curry, but I found them reasonable and willing to work with me. I didn't work with their internet people tho. My DH had stopped into the dealership a week ago and did the test drive and all with one of the salesmen, so I worked with him. He gave me $32,795 + taxes and plates and tire disposal for the TL w/nav. Very straightforward and followed thru with the numbers.
    The price is higher than others I've seen posted here, but it seems dealers in this area have stopped dealing as much on this car, as the price I got was quite a bit lower than other dealers were willing to go. Also, there doesn't seem to be a lot of inventory around--most said they didn't have red and only had a couple of TLs w/nav, if they had any. So, I'm happy and the nav is awesome!! :) Thanks again for all the virtual wisdom. Hope my story helps others avoid the pitfalls.
  • drheaddrhead Member Posts: 7
    How much did your plane ticket cost? Was $300 worth the price of that and worth the extra 200 miles on your brand new car and the time you spent to drive it back? Just wondering if I should do the same thing to save $200. :confuse:

    Really does not make much sence to me. My time is worth more than that....I think.
  • justme59justme59 Member Posts: 1
    Im looking for a TL w/ Nav in the Norfolk area. The first quote that i recieved is for
    36,085 OTD. this seems higher than other areas of the country. Im looking to compare with others that have purchased in that area. Is this way too much, or just a little too much. :D
  • neumahnneumahn Member Posts: 1
    Joe,

    I am getting ready to buy a TL and I called Keyes Acura and they said they would match the deal you cited provided I could give them the name of the guy they gave the deal to originally. Can you give that to me and perhaps the salesman's name? The best price I have received so far from my local dealers in Ventura county have been $500 above invoice. I am looking for a silver TL with black interior and NAV w/Auto. -Doug
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    Sorry, we don't allow any info about specific salespeople to be exchanged in the Forums.

    kirstie_h
    Roving Host
    Host, Future Vehicles & Smart Shopper discussions

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
    Review your vehicle

  • frisconickfrisconick Member Posts: 1,275
    Often the car company will give bonuses to dealers that sell X amount of cars. So they can sell cars at invoice and make money, and don't forget about hold back that is often about $1,000.
  • delmar1delmar1 Member Posts: 744
    rroyce10....yeap....frisconick was able to explain how they make money below 'invoice'. Remember....invoice is 'dealer cost' before any incentives such as hold backs...and includes coverage of commisions.

    So...if you buy though an alternate channel such as through the 'internet' or 'fleet' manager...he has a totally different dealer cost structure...and in reality is still making money even if it is below 'dealer cost'.

    In addition...if you are at the end of month...that additional car sold below 'invoice' may still be rewarding. They could perhaps hit an incentive plateau which is more rewarding. Or they his a volume threshold where the dealership can grab additional cars onto the lot. Many factors.

    You sure cannot feel bad for them as they are still making money...or why else would they deal?
  • frisconickfrisconick Member Posts: 1,275
    I agree they make money regardless, but invoice is not wholesale.
  • delmar1delmar1 Member Posts: 744
    nightcralwer29....I not only expect to strike a great deal but also to get proper customer service.

    The cars which I have been able to purchase below invoice or general market pricing have been where I deal with the 'fleet' or 'internet' manager. You are absolutely correct that they are on a totally different commission structure...so that even if they are selling their car below invoice...they are still earning their commissions. Otherwise...why else would they sell to me?

    I have been fortunate to been able to not only get great pricing...but excellent customer service. I bought two Acuras from Norm Reeves Acura in Temecula and they not only gave me a great price....but also allowed me to spend pretty much three hours each tinkering around with test drives and dorking around with color combos. I was treated well...my trade was not demeaned like so many other dealers...with full courtesy. I was not punted around person to person..but was with the fleet mgr from beginning to the handoff of the keys. Now...is that expected customer service? Yes.

    So...if you want a great price...as I have suggested....go with the internet / fleet manager. And if you do not get excellent customer service....move on to other dealers.
  • nightcrawler29nightcrawler29 Member Posts: 146
    well drhead, it pretty much depends on what the prices are in your location. If it is to save $200 bucks only, I would think twice on flying to another city to pick it up, and I think its not worth it in that case. I just bought my TL w/nav last Tuesday, and checked prices all around my city including dealers in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and my own location in Austin. Most dealers where charging me $500 to $600 more than the dealer I bought the car from. So I reached an agreement with the dealer, and took a flight to Dallas the next day (airfare was $107.20), then I drove the car back to Austin for 4 hours and put close to 200 miles on it. I didn't lease the car, but purchased it, so I'm not that concerned about the mileage, and to me it was worth the trip there.

    If you can't get your local dealers to give you a better price than other dealers in other cities, then you must look at all your options and see what works better for you. For a difference of $200 I don't think its worth it, because at least $100 of those savings go towards the airfare.... and are you really going to travel to save $100?? And one important thing to do when dealing over the internet: Never tell them where you are located, because your local dealers won't negotiate the price that much, and the dealers in other cities know you will go see your local dealers once you get a quote from them... so I think its better to tell them you are located in a town where there are no Acura dealers nearby.
  • nightcrawler29nightcrawler29 Member Posts: 146
    There are some incentives or rebates that dealers get from manufacturers for selling their cars. Sometimes dealers are able to make money even if sold at invoice price, due to the money incentives they get.

    Also, this is my personal opinion, and I'm not sure what y'all think about this, but to me, one thing is the so called "invoice price" that's being released to the public through the internet, and another thing is the real invoice price dealers pay for the cars. Also its hard to believe that with all the advances in technology as applied to mass poduction, and development of cheaper and safer materials, we are still paying $35K something dollars for a car. The car business is good business, especially for dealers, who have different ways of presenting their products according to supply and demand.
  • frisconickfrisconick Member Posts: 1,275
    A good investment is to get the Consumer Reports Car Buying Kit. That way you will find out the car's wholesale price to the dealer, invoice, hold back etc. You show that to a dealer and the negotiations are very limited and in your favor.
  • nightcrawler29nightcrawler29 Member Posts: 146
    Yes Delmar1, dealing with the internet/fleet manager is diferent than dealing with a sales person on the floor. If you simply drop into the dealership and tell the sales man you will buy the car at invoice, the sales man won't be happy about that, because he still has to show you the car, and do all the work, in exchange for $0 commission.
  • jsb79jsb79 Member Posts: 1
    Hi, My name is james.
    I'm living in Louisiana, and trying to buy 05 TL 6-speed w/navigation sys black/ebony with all under body spoilers , rear wing spoiler, body side molding, backup sensor, and tint. It's actually pretty tough to find one like that in my area. I've been look all dealers in Louisiana and Houston, TX but they don't have one. They all told me that I have to make a $500.00 deposit and order it. Dealers at Houston told me, it will take about 2weeks. One from Baton Rouge, LA told me 4wks, and Beaumont, TX told me 8 weeks And all the installation fee was so much different from Houston and Baton Rouge. One dealership from Houston actually charge $900 for install $1,073 of front, side, and back under body spoiler.
    It was amazing to hear what they told me after that is actually discounted price.
    Since it's high demand, they won't be able to negotiating with me. Even though I will pay CASH up front. They said it's not really effect that i am paying up front cash or not. Is that true? I always thought if i pay all cash i could get much better deal from dealers. And, Just because I have to order one from them. Is that mean all the chances are I can't be negotiating for?
    What will be my option then? should i just look more from other cities?
    And also , Gillman Acura ,Houston told me I shouldn't be trusting dealers from small city like Louisiana, because they will sell car with false stickers. I don't understand what false stickers they were talking about. And Is it can be true??
    I was so frustrated because they told me they will hard to discount me for penny when it's like high demand.
    Please help me out here everyone.
    I really want BLACK 6 speed TL so bad
  • frisconickfrisconick Member Posts: 1,275
    I think you are getting the run around. I am not sure about getting a black with eboney interior, that might be the problem. I bet if you are willing to go with a more standard interior (what ever that is) you should negotiate on a black, and then negotiate for the extras separately. The extras are pricey, the wing spoiler alone will cost you over $500, but I thought it was worth it because of the weak look of the TL rear IMHO.
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    .. **There are some incentives or rebates that dealers get from manufacturers for selling their cars. Sometimes dealers are able to make money even if sold at invoice price, due to the money incentives they get** ...

    But Acura dealers aren't receiving any incentives from the factory on TL's .. so how does that work.?

    Terry.
  • frisconickfrisconick Member Posts: 1,275
    I bought my wife's TL in May, and all the dealers were willing to negotiate big time. Acura of Marin gave me a deal for a non-Navi for 30,700, a great deal. I don't know why they were so eager to deal, but they were great. I highly recommend Acura of Marin.
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,217
    All you folks trying to explain the intricacies of selling cars at a profit should read RRoyce's profile. I believe Terry has been helpfully answering questions on Edmunds boards for some time. I think you need an ;) or two in your posts, Terry!

    My theory? Doc fees. Yup, that's the money maker. Or is it the service department that makes the $$$ for the dealer? Nah, it's the Doc Fees.

    Oh, yeah. I'm sure there are plenty of "uneducated" consumers that don't pay "invoice" and buy paint sealant and spend much time with the Finance guy that afford a dealer to make an overall average profit. I dealt with two Boston area dealers who did not balk at selling me a TL at what I believed to be invoice. The trade in value of my Chrysler 300M was the sticking point (second delaer offered 50% higher, they got my business. Too bad, I did all my research at dealer 1, but they let me walk. Darn free enterprise!). Hey, maybe that's how these poor dealers make money! Trade in, buy low sell high. Money is made on the buy, not the sale. Nah, it's the Doc Fees.

    '21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)

  • thunderacurathunderacura Member Posts: 1
    Got my 2005 Black/Quartz, Navigation, 6spd TL for $33,500 plus tax/title/doc fees bring the OTD price to $34,060. You guys think that is a good deal?
  • golferheregolferhere Member Posts: 27
    Hopefully it came with some extras, maybe at least a spoiler......Not sure what the dealers are like out your way, but that is about $1500 more than you would pay here in California. Hope your "SC" is not Southern California......
  • frisconickfrisconick Member Posts: 1,275
    That about right for a Navi. :)
  • lalacaliflalacalif Member Posts: 5
    Acura of Glendale pricing is no better than any Los Angeles area pricing...very common pricing. They are not unique.
  • floatfloat Member Posts: 1
    I'm in the market for a '05 TL in the Houston area. Just curious if anyone has any recommendations as far as a good dealership, price, etc.

    I test drove one this past weekend at Gillman. Question: Does paying cash for a car, give you a better deal? The salesman stated that it wouldn't make a difference...maybe 1500 off the price.

    And since the '06 models come out in Oct., would I get a better deal on an '05 around that time?

    Any info is appreciated.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.