I am interested in buying the LX due to the great value of this model but I would like to read your experiences/opinions/recommendations in stepping up to the EX (not leather) model.
The electric sliding doors seems to be the primary upgrade. Would love those but I'm concerned about the reliability of the door(s) motor(s) over time. I realize there is limited history for this feature on the Ody. Does the Sienna also offer elec.door(s)? Anyone have any history with the Toyota?
What price premium can I expect to pay for the upgrade from an LX to an EX. Is one model in short supply/lower production figures over the other?
Agree. I don't think Honda dealers will be lowering their 2005 Odyssey price because of the ongoing deals by other makers. One reason may be that someone who is considering to buy an Odyssey would probably not go buy another make just because of the extra savings. Because he/she has already looked at the market and is ready to pay more to get the Odyssey. Also, dealers are still selling these vans faster than they are getting them from the factories. One thing one can do is to wait for another two months to see if the price falls at or bellow invoice, which will depend on where he/she is. Because reading recent posts, looks like people at some places is paying $1000 over invoice for the same model than someone at another place. Good luck!
:confuse: Got a quote from a local dealer for the LX model (with no options) for $23,700, is this a reasonable deal? It does not include "documentation" fee, which, I am not sure how much it is ($300?) and of course, TTL. :confuse: Thanks for any advice!
Late in June I have agreed with a local dealer to get me an EX-L RES/NAV for $200 over invoice of my color of choice in late July. Paid $300 deposit (non-refundable). Now the dealer is informing me that the color of my choice may not be available at the time we agreed (have email correspondence), and they cannot get me the Odyssey in the agreed price, if I still want in late July!!! What are my options? They would probably sell me something from what they have in their lot. Can I ask for the deposit back? Has anyone been in a similar situation? Thanks....
Try Mark Roberts Honda (Motors) in Bartlesville. You can find web address by google search. they have excellent prices and posted on the WEB. I bought EX-L RES NAV there last fall and 99 and 02 Odyssey!!
Did u get any free acessories with your price or just the car... that also makes a differnece in the price... i got the exact price but bunch of free acessories...
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Did you pay with a credit card? Or sign a non refund form? According to a dealer I've been talking with, you can get the deposit back if you did not sign that form. Paying with a credit card protects you as well since you can dispute the charges if the car is not what you requested. We placed a deposit as well and too late, I read on carbuyingtips.com to make sure the VIN # of the anticipated car is on the buyer's order along with the exact description of the color and car to avoid bait and switch. I did have him write the name and color of the van but not the VIN#.Too many things to protect against...I'm just hoping this dealer is honest.
I'm in Nashville and ready to buy a EX with Leather. Pricing seems to be right around list. I see many postings of deals elsewhere where dealers have moved closer to invoice. I am considering going out of state if it is worthwhile - any suggestions within 3-4 hours of Nashville. Any issues I need to be aware of buying the car out of my state of residence?
Issues like this sometimes involve how much hassle you want to go through. The dealer is not delivering the agreed-upon vehicle, so any contractual right he may have had to keep the deposit (assuming he has one) should be void. I'm hoping that whatever paperwork you have for the deposit has some specifics as to the vehicle and just doesn't give you the "right" to some future unspecified Odyssey--that would make things a lot simpler. But I'm not at all convinced in any event that the deposit can be truly "non refundable." You should ask for it --and get it-- back unless the dealer is willing to cut you a similar deal or unless the deal that you can get is still better than what you can get elsewhere--and you really want an Odyssey. Colors can be a difficult to obtain, but the price issue is totally within the dealer's power. If he refuses to return the deposit and you don't like the deal, then you're pretty much faced with whether to take what he offers or seek legal options (hassle) as to the deposit.
I have not signed any contract papers. I have email correspondence where I specifically mentioned what color (interior and exterior) and the trim I want and the time when they promised to deliver along with the final price. I also paid with a credit card. Looks like if I don't like what they offer, I may have a chance to either ask my money back or, dispute the charges as I have proof that the dealer is not giving me what they promised. However, as mentioned, I do want my Odyssey and I can probably live with a color of second or third choice. The question is how much I hate the second or third choice colors because I don't want to feel bad in the long run looking at the color that I wanted saying 'ahhhh, I could have had that'. Will keep you all posted as to what happens next!
This is for an EX: I am very new to this negotiating. This is my first time buying new. I have done a ton of research online. I have discussions going online with two local dealers as well as a face to face relationship with the dealer that I did the test drive with. We never talked numbers at the face to face dealer. The lowest bid I have from the online dealers is $26,366 plus destination plus $399 documentation fee plus TTandT. I am not sure of what my next step is. We are supposed to go see the face to face dealer on Saturday. I was thinking of e-mailing both online dealers an offer of $25,500 plus destination, TT andT (no other fees). So in other word, out the door for $27,400. But I don't want to be too high. I figured if either of the accepted this offer I would go to the face to face dealer (who has already given us his time) with those bids and see if he would beat them (or meet them). Is this a reasonable plan, and a reasonable offer? By the way I am in the Atlanta area... Thanks in advance for any help...
You may know, but here it is - the invoice price for an EX (no leather) is $25,881 (including destination, which is $515), and I would probably want to stick at or very close to this invoice price. I think I have seen some posts where people even bought similar models below invoice, however it depends on where you are. Besides, $399 seems quite high for documentation fee, which usually runs between $70 and $150. But then again, you can check with other local dealers about their documentation fee. One good source for the vehicle price is to go to check the TMV price here in edmunds.com or at carsdirect.com and see what their price is for your area. I was told that if you can beat that price, you did good. Good luck.
I mean, in the price $28,350, i got the car + all season mats+cargo tray+mud guards which according to dealership is worth $ 423. and NO doc fee. How about you????
26k even for the EX model, dealer won't throw anything in, but I guess that's alright, hope I did okay. I want the Ocean Mist... if anyone thinks I am not getting the best deal, speak up now because I can still back out!
went to 3 dealer to find right color in northern virginia. each dealer had 3-7 odysseys in stock only one or two with DVD. I paid $30085 (van) + $515 (destination charge) + $595 (too expensive for unnecessary accessory such as mud gard & wheel lock) + $45 (tag) + 3.2% tax = $ 32529 total. I feel I paid more than others paid but I was tired to deal with them.. anyway the van is great my wife loves it
Has anyone out there seen the Nighthawk Black Pearl/Black Leather on the Touring ?? I've seen alot of Gray interiors and the Ivory...oh, saw the Olive for the first time, and found it to be better than I thought...
I'm curious about the look, or perception, of the door panel plastics in the black...the gray looked a bit cheap...this compared to Chrysler's more textured door panel finish (I'm talking the lower door storage bin panels, for example).
Is the overall look and feel luxurious ? ...or just...ummm...dark black ?
I've seen it and it was our #2 selection after the silver pearl metallic with black interior Touring that we're headed in to purchase today. Very sharp but spouse was concerned about cleaning it all the time, especially living up north in snow country where we get the salt residue up on it. She really like the look much better than ivory, gray or the olive.
WARNING: Clear your schedule before reading this, or do yourself a favor and skip this and the next 2 posts!
This is my first time buying a new vehicle. I put everything I learned into this post. It is therefore quite long!
Here's the CLIFF-NOTES version:
This post has info for my dealership experience in the Jacksonville, FL area, and what I learned buying my first Odyssey (or any new car for that matter).
The internet manager at Nalley Honda in Brunswick, GA was incredibly helpful and gave me a truly amazing deal on an EX-L-RES. When you factor in the few dealer options that were on the vehicle (which weren't included in the price), and after much haggling, we're talking a price that's as close to invoice as I've seen ANYWHERE on these forums. If you live anywhere within a couple hours of Brunswick, you should definitely include Nalley Honda in your list of dealers to solicit prices from.
A close second was Wade Raulerson Honda in Gainesville, FL. Very aggressive pricing, no Dealer Fees. Not as personable to work with as Nalley Honda, but still seemed to be a professional organization; I had no issues with honesty or timeliness. I worked these 2 dealers back and forth until Nalley won out. But definitely keep Wade Raulerson in your scan!
In the end, these 2 little dealers beat out the big boys, big time! The tradeoff may be limited availability for some colors/styles. Sometimes they will trade for the vehicle you want, sometimes not. It can definitely affect a deal, or give you some surprising leverage (which happened in my case).
OK, now here's the LONG, BORING version.
For those of you with ADD or who are just looking for a simple recommendation, please stop now for your own sanity! For those new to buying from a dealership, or who live in the Jacksonville area, you might benefit from reading the entire excruciating story below. I recommend you get comfortable first:
I live in Jacksonville and after reading the forums and doing the research, was wavering on an EX-L vs. an EX-L-RES. That extra $1400 dollars for the DVD was really stinging,
I took a test drive at Lucas Honda in Jax with their internet sales manager. Very nice guy and VERY knowledgeable about the Ody. His initial "Internet Only" price of $30,786.66 + $798 dealer fee (before Tax, Tag, & license) was quite disappointing, especially after I'd read through more of this specific forum.
I initially decided to go with the EX-L-RES. I looked on the Honda website and made a folder in Outlook with the email addresses off all the dealers' Internet Managers within 100 miles of my home here in Jax. Then I sent out a mass email to them all, but instead of putting all their addresses in the "To" column, I put them all in the "BCC" (blind CC) column. That way they would get the email but not know who else it had been sent to. Saved me from having to send 15 different emails. Also, it allowed me to avoid having to individually log onto each dealer's website (where they make you fill in ALL your personal information before you can even leave a message). I felt like I retained more control this way.
I included the type of Ody I wanted along with acceptable colors and that I was looking to buy "Within the next few weeks". I added that I did not want any other options if at all possible. I requested their best price as well as the invoice price, including the destination charge and any other dealer fees that would be added. I mentioned that I wanted to keep Tax, Tag, and License out of the figures since I would be registering the vehicle in TX. I also included Lucas Honda's offer in my email and the fact that I felt it was far too high.
The responses were quick. Some emailed back, some called. Some dealers went a lot lower; some said they would only be able to go a couple hundred lower. In every case, though, the dealers seemed honest. I never once had someone try to lure me to a dealership or be evasive. A couple internet managers emailed me back a single price but never explained if that included the destination charge and/or dealer fee. I'm confident they were honest oversights, as they were quickly clarified with a phone call or email. Just keep that in mind when you're shopping; if you are going to use a price quote to have other dealers try to beat, you all have to be on the same footing. All parties have to know you are talking about the "Out The Door" price (excluding TT&L in my case . . . but the dealers don't make any money off that anyway). You don't want one dealer to offer you a price that seems to beat all others, only to find out later that there's a destination charge and a 500 DOC fee on top of it!
Anyways, once I got through the "first wave" of replies, I was able to cross off several dealerships right off the bat. It's actually better when someone comes right out and tells you they won't be able to beat a price instead of trying some sleaze-tactics, it saves them and you time. I then took the lowest bid and called/emailed back the rest to see if they could beat it. Again, you have to be very careful that you disclose the all the details of the offer when you're asking another dealer to beat it, especially whether or not it includes the dreaded "Dealer" or "DOC" fee. For some reason a lot of dealers don't offer up this fee when giving you a quote, and they assume your quote from another dealer doesn't involve it either. It'll save a ton of time if you just lay it all out on the table and insist they do the same.
The next round of replies rapidly narrowed the field to 2 dealerships: Wade Raulerson Honda in Gainesville and Nalley Honda in Brunswick, GA. Both about the same distance from Jax but in opposite directions. We were down to about $775 over invoice (out the door, except TT&L) at this point. Both dealerships pretty much blew the doors off everyone else in the area price wise, and both were very aggressive in reducing prices. I have the feeling these two have squared off in the past . . .
Wade Raulerson Honda had the EX-L in the color I wanted for a good price . . . and it was ON THE LOT (very important question when talking prices with a dealer). Nalley Honda was offering an even lower price (but not much lower), but the problem was that they didn't have an EX-L on the lot in an acceptable color. They DID have an EX-L-RES (which had so tantalized me earlier) of an acceptable color, which they also began to aggressively price (starting at $300 over invoice plus a $69 doc fee). I was secretly thrilled, but it was still just a little too much! So I kept after the EX-L bargaining with Nalley.
(continued from post 10077). . . To make an extremely long story short, there were a couple late nights where the Nalley internet manager was at work and the Wade Raulerson guy wasn't, and eventually the Nalley prices started to get so low that competing with another dealer became a moot point. In the end I was negotiating solely with Nalley Honda, and my leverage was my desire for the EX-L (not on the lot) coming up against Nalley's desire to sell me an EX-L-RES (on the lot) instead of having to go through the trouble of trading with another dealer to get my EX-L (which, by the way, I have no doubt they would have done if I had kept pressing the issue).
In the end I got the EX-L-RES for an awesome deal. Let's just say that if you included the options they didn't charge me for (mud flaps, pinstripes, cargo liner), it was VERY, VERY close to invoice. Plus they threw in a 1000$ "Internet Shopping Spree" (a new Honda promotion. It comes straight from Honda, so the dealer is out nothing for giving it to you. Don't let them use this as leverage . . . you can only buy stuff from one internet site (http://www.shopcrp.com/), and the merchandise looks pretty crappy). Anyways, I verbally accepted their offer and we started planning for a purchase the next day.
Here's a possible problem. You have what seems to be a great deal just waiting for you . . . a 1 to 2 hour drive away! A sleazy dealer could care less if you drive all the way to a dealership if he's deceiving you. In a way, you driving all that way gives him some leverage if there are "Hidden Fees" not disclosed until you sit down to sign. You're more likely to say "oh well, it's only a couple hundred more, it's still a good deal, and I drove all this way . . ." Here's some things I made the dealer do after he quoted me the price I was looking for but BEFORE I agreed to buy. Some of these things can be done after you verbally agree to buy; it's up to you, but in all cases these should greatly minimize your chances of having a big surprise (or a bunch of little ones) once you get to the dealer:
QUESTIONS TO ASK IF YOU'RE SUSPICIOUS (OR THE DEAL SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE):
-IS THE VAN ON THE LOT? (If not, you have a long way to go before the deal!) -WHAT'S THE VIN NUMBER? (If they can't produce it, they don't have the van. The opposite isn't necessarily true, though, so this isn't ironclad or anything. But it can't hurt and lets them know that you're probably not a pushover) -HOW MANY MILES ARE ON IT? This is a really big deal. If it's any more than 50-100, make him tell you why there are so many and see if his answer is reasonable (example: they traded with another dealer for this trim package 2 states away and the van had to be driven down). If not, this leads us to the next question . . . -WAS THIS VAN A DEMO VEHICLE? If so, this is potentially bad. Remember how you drove on your test drive? Everyone’s been doing that to this car over and over again when its engine is at its most vulnerable. It's also more likely to have dings/scratches/stains, etc. Something to think about . . . -WILL THEY FAX YOU A BUYER'S ORDER FOR THE SPECIFIC VEHICLE IN QUESTION? This is basically a sneak preview of the document you will actually sign to buy the car. It should have all the itemized prices, taxes, fees, and everything else in it. This is really nice to have if they're willing to do it. Nalley Honda didn't blink twice, but some dealers might balk at this idea, thinking that you're going to start faxing it to dealers all over the hemisphere trying to beat their deal. You'd think that wouldn't be an issue since all the dealers I talked to took my word for it when I told them what other dealers were offering me (as far as I know), but it could be an issue. I think if you've done a lot of back and forth negotiating with a dealer, have actually verbally agreed to a purchase, and simply want to take a look at things for your own piece of mind before you drive over, most would have no problem faxing it too you. You might have less luck if you ask for this in the early stages of your "Wheeling & Dealing". If a dealer is still not willing to fax you this after you've gone through the whole process and have agreed to buy, that might be a red flag that something isn't right. I felt a lot better walking into the dealer after reviewing this document in the privacy of my own home. -IS THE DVD PLAYER A FACTORY-INSTALLED RES SYSTEM OR DID THE DEALER INSTALL IT? Very important question if you get a quote on a RES system that is almost too low to believe (this was my situation). If the dealer (instead of the FACTORY) installed it, it's more than likely not worth the $1400 invoice difference between an EX-L and an EX-L-RES. Even if it's a good system, there will still be some inconveniences (DVD not changeable from the front, FM modulator required for movie to be heard through the sound system, etc) that you should consider. One of the biggest is that a factory RES system is covered UNDER WARRANTY at ANY HONDA DEALERSHIP. For someone like me who's moving soon, this was a huge issue. Luckily for me, the RES system was stock! -ARE THERE ANY DEALER-INSTALLED OPTIONS? You don't want to show up at the dealership with a great deal and find out that there are wheel-locks, pinstripes, window tinting, and rust protection that they "forgot" to mention and that makes your great deal not seem that way anymore. Be proactive, ask if there are options, and if so, get an emailed list of ALL of them. I made it clear in my initial emails that I didn't want any options and that if there were options, that I wanted them removed or INCLUDED IN THE PRICE. -ARE THEY WILLING TO FAX YOU AN AFFADAVIT AFFIRMING THAT THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THAT NO PAINTWORK HAS BEEN DONE? This can be a contentious issue that I would reserve for the most shady situations. If a van gets scratched/damaged at the port, in transit, coming off the truck at the dealership, on a test drive, etc, then (according to some dealers I spoke to) technically the dealer can't sell it as new. If you have this affidavit, then you have some legal recourse if the dealer repairs the damage and sells you a van as new. It's a total judgment call on asking for this; it might be a good call if the dealer seems shady or the van is a real steal but has inexplicably been on the lot forever. In my case, the Nalley Honda dealer said he would be willing to provide this, and that was good enough for me. I never actually had him produce it because he’d been nothing but straight with me from day one.
Anyways, those are some ideas you can consider if needed for peace of mine. Nalley Honda was great about accommodating me on all of them and I felt a lot more assured driving all the way up there.
In my case, things went absolutely perfectly. I walked into the dealership today with the price set, already having looked over the buyers order the night before (and finding everything as promised), my Silver Pearl Metallic Odyssey was sitting out on the lot drying off from a fresh wash, the plastic had just been removed from the leather seats, and the Internet Manager was giving it a final look-over. He showed my wife and me how everything worked and then we went inside. My wife and 2-year old son played in the kiddie room while the manager and I went over the paperwork. It went fast because he had already gotten our information the night before and had everything ready to go. No surprises. Not even a hint of an attempt to sell us undercoating, an extended warranty, or financing. It wasn't even brought up! In fact, the Internet Sales Manager was the ONLY person I talked to throughout the whole transaction (no other managers, one-on-one from start to finish). In fact, it was about as stressful as opening a bank account, except I never had to stand in line or deal with the free toaster. I did eventually meet with Al's boss, but only because I insisted on it on my way out the door so that I could thank him for a great price and experience (and put a good word in for the Internet Sales Manager). The whole process took less than an hour, with the meaty part taking maybe 15 minutes.
So at last my story comes to a close. The only way this could have been better would have been if they'd delivered the vehicle to my door (which, according to this forum, Nalley Honda has done in the past for people in the Jax area).
For the few of you still reading, I hope some of this helps and that you have as good an experience as I did.
After 2 weeks of aggressive searching, I found the van in the color we wanted: a sagebrush with olive interior. I had originally agreed to purchase a van from a southern New Hampshire dealer who ended up not able to deliver the car with the right color. I went to another dealer 15 miles south in Lawrence, Massachusetts and they agreed to match my original agreement for a EXL without RES for $27,700. However, they didn't have the Sagebrush color in EXL trim, only in EXL-RES. I then negotiated the EXL-RES van for $28,700. There is a $99 documentation fee. There is no sales tax for NH residents. There is a yearly registration fee for my town, but is separate from the sale of the van. So I got the EXL-RES for $28,799.
The dealer is Commonwealth Honda. If you are planning to buy accessories, the dealer will charge full price. If you are somewhat handy, you can buy accessories at better prices at www.handa-accessories.com. This site was passed on from a very usefull Odyssey site called ww.odyclub.om.
I'm planning to pick up an EXL RES NAV tomorrow (Monday). I think I'm getting a good deal, but I'm curious about the "Honda July Clearance" starting 7/18. Do you think that I'd gain anything by waiting?
Also - I'm going to SW Michigan on vacation next weekend. Any thoughts on whether I'd get a better deal outside Chicago?
Beware of Santa Monica Honda is Southern California. They quoted me an internet price (in writing) on a Touring R&N. I confirmed that there were no other charges besides, tax, dmv, and doc fees.
After several trips to the dealer, to see the colors he has available, because he cannot find the car on the lot, that he thought was there, and then trying to sell me a trim and/or color I dont want, he finally does a dealer trade to get the car I want. The internet sales manager gave me a time and day to come pick up the vehicle.
On that day, I call to confirm the car is r eady, and tell him "I dont want any surprises". He then tells me that the general manager for the dealership wont honor that price because it is too low. :mad:
At that point, I just cut my losses and decided to find another dealer.
Now, they keep calling me and telling me about their sales, and I keep telling them take me off your list.
See my next post about the WONDERFUL experience I had at YUBA CITY HONDA.
See my previous post on the crappy experience I had at Santa Monica Honda.
After being jerked on a Wednesday by Santa Monica Honda, I send an email to Yuba City b/c of the good reviews they have received here. I ask for a quote on a Touring R/N, and get a quote under invoice! By the MSRP referenced in the quote I figured that they had quoted a price on a EXL R/N.
I reply stating that I would be happy to take their offer, but in all fairness, they have made an error in my favor, and I counter at $36,137 ($1,000 over invoice). Because of the "error", they accept.
The internet sales manager does a 3-way trade to get the vehicle color and interior that I want. I sent the email on Wednesday, and took a Saturday morning flight from LA to Sacramento to get the car. Took six hours to drive home :surprise: The drive was well worth it because nobody in Los Angeles had the car or those who did were not willing to give a good deal.
Everyone at the dealership was courteous and friendly. VERY HONEST.
I would highly recommend these folks.
Total price paid
$36137 Touring R/N $45 Documentation fee $2985 Tax $308 License and Tire fee ======== $39,472 Total Paid
I will soon be test driving the Odyssey and Sienna and making a decision as to which van my wife and I prefer.
Can anyone provide information regarding price paid/buying experience for Honda dealerships in the DENVER, CO area (including all of Colorado)? I am considering the EX or perhaps the EX-L. Once we decide, I plan to solicit offers from internet managers by email. I would buy a vehicle from a smaller dealership outside the front range area if they compete for my business.
Wow. Thank you very much for taking time in compiling your experience on this board. After browsing thru these forums for few months now, finally I'm also in the market for a new Ody. Wanted to wait until the prices come down to invoice on this side of the country. Would you mind sharing the dealer list that you started off the research with. Thanks in advance. guzzar@iwon.com from S'Side.
I started calling all internet managers at local Honda dealers from the LA times dealer listing, even as far as Ontario, and nobody had this model and was willing to deal. I got fed up and decided to go for a known experience/price. The drive was not that bad, and it was certainly worth the cost savings. Airfare was $100 and gas was about $70. Plus 6.5 hours of my time. I suspect, most would not be willing to drive out, but I have relatives in Sacramento, which made the process easier.
For those living in So Cal, I highly recommend Carson Honda. I also did the e-mail blitz requesting a quote for a Silver Touring with Nav and RES from dealers in LA, Orange and Riverside County to compare pricing. Carson Honda gave me the best price versus all the other dealers. The experience was also excellent with no pressure and no "games". The following is the quote from Carson Honda..
Thank you for considering Carson Honda for your next Honda purchase. The pricing information you requested is listed below.
MSRP: $39,010.00 Your Special Internet Price: $35,999.00 + FEES. PLUS WE OFFER FREE LIFETIME OILCHANGE PROGRAM. PLUS $250.00 COUPONS TO OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT + PARTS DEPARTMENT.+ 10% OFF THROUGH OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND 15% OFF THROUGH OUR PARTS DEPARTMENT.
PLEASE PRINT THIS QUOTE AS THE PRICE IS VALID ONLY IF THIS QUOTE IS PRESENTED TO THE Carson Honda INTERNET DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO PURCHASE. Due to our very successful and high volume Internet Sales Department an appointment is recommended.
Our Internet customers love the prompt, no haggle, no hassle, no excuses, no surprises buying and delivery process. We’ll get you in and out in about an hour! I will attempt to contact you within an hour during our normal business hours.
In addition, my Odyssey also had the following dealer accessories included in the price: Cargo Tray Splash Guards Cross Bars Wheel Locks
Needless to say, I visited the dealer that same day to make sure that the deal was as good as it sounded. The Internet Manger I dealt with was fantastic and so was everybody else that I encountered. While other dealers were asking for MSRP or $1000 off sticker, I am glad I found a dealer willing to make an agressive deal. I've had my Touring for about three weeks now and I still am amazed everytime I drive this vehicle. I would highly recommend this dealership to anybody in So Cal looking for an Odyssey or any other Honda.
Bought a Redrock Pearl EXL RES NAV tonight. Did the email blast on Saturday. Was surprised at how un-aggressive the price quotes were. One was MSRP - $250! The best of the initial quotes was $1,015 below MSRP. When pressed, the first dealer (Continental Honda) dropped $1k, so it was MSRP - $1,250.
I did some emailing - I gave out my cell #, but didn't answer it all day long. Didn't want to spend the day on the phone.
Anyway, I got one email from Windy City Honda down by Midway saying, "We're aggressive and want your business, what do we need to do?" I wound up buying the car tonight for $2,847 below sticker - $31,963 incl. Destination (exactly $600 over invoice).
I tried to get a couple of dealers closer to me in the Western burbs to match or beat that deal, but they all said, "If you can get that deal, you should take it." I did. Went to the dealer tonight. No surprises. They were super-nice, made sure the car was all cleaned up. No accessory add-ons that I was forced to take, no craziness in the finance office.
I know the Honda Clearance will probably start in a week, and maybe I'll regret not waiting, but inventories seem pretty low around here (several dealers said they couldn't get the car in any color), and I want to take the car on a road trip vacation next week. Can't wait!
I've found these boards very useful, so I thought I'd pitch in with our car and price.
We wanted a slate Ody EX-L RES (no NAV).
MSRP: $32, 610 Inv: $29,386 Our price: $30,437 (plus they are throwing in all-weather mats, which we wanted)
Once you add tax, license, and doc fee, it comes to something like $32,745.
This was the absolute lowest price we could get in our area (lower New England), I think. I called every dealer with the quotes from the others, and once we bargained down to this price (which is the CarsDirect price as well), the other dealers said: "If you can get that price, take it."
So we did. It isn't the best price I've seen on this board, but we're okay with it.
Anyway, we put $500 deposit, and now they are looking for the car. (The contract says that the $500 deposit is refundable for any reason at any time.)
how did it work out? i am interested in same model, and have called all the honda dealers here, all want $1200 plus over invoice plus fees. pulling hair here.
We are facing a dilemma and wanted to share with members on this forum to get perspective whether to wait for 2005 price drop or wait for 2006 and pay above MSRP
We have been in market for about 1 1/2 month for odyssey EX-L R&N. The best offer so far I got on was about $1500 less than MSRP, in northern CA. To me it appears pricey, especially knowing that car will be soon replaced by newer version and depreciation of ANY new car is high in first initial years. I understand odyssey 2006 likely to come in next 2 months and perhaps remain popular in demand. It is therefore expected to command some premium over MSRP. Given this scenario, I have following questions, appreciate if any of you could share perspective that might help me making right decision.
Assumptions:
1 After a month or two , odyssey 2005 available around invoice price 2 Around same time, odyssey 2006 is available at MSRP + $1K 3 One would like to keep car for minimum for 7-8 years 4 We can afford to wait for couple of months for new car. Also, at this stage we are not getting the first choice of color (Black with Tan ) that we want
Questions:
1. Do you think assumptions 1&2 makes sense ? 2. If so, which model (2005 or 2006) one should pick given that it is meant for long term
I haven't looked at the certificate they gave me yet, but I assume it's a $1000 credit towards anything on the website I included in my original post. I'd take a look and browse around some if I were you. Personally, I wasn't too excited about anything I saw there. And remember, it only seems to be for this ONE website (http://www.shopcrp.com/).
The important thing to consider is leverage. If the things offered on the website are valuable to you, then the gift certificate adds extra value to the deal (and gives the dealer some leverage). If not, (as in my case), then it really doesn't make much difference and I won't factor it into the deal. Now if it had been for Best Buy, I would have jumped all over it and wouldn't have minded paying a little more for the van.
In any case (according to the dealer I talked to), the DEALER isn't losing anything by offering this to you. From what I understand this is being provided to them by Honda in an advertising campaign at no cost to the dealer. So don't let them use this for leverage or to "Sweeten The Deal", because it's no skin off their nose. I haven't looked at the actual prices for the things on the website, but I can probably guess that Honda isn't out $1000 per certificate!
Still, though, maybe it will come in handy for birthday/xmas gifts sometime if we can find something decent . . .
I don't know that your first and second assumptions are correct. However, I really don't believe that it matters because anyway you slice it you will pay more (although probably not alot more) for the newer model.
I've bought new cars at about every point on the calendar and gone through the calculations you are doing now. I've concluded that it simply doesn't make much difference, especially if the car will be kept for years.
Here (unlike with, say, a new Cadillac), there will not be several thousand dollars difference in the price (or depreciation) between an '05 and an '06.
One thing you could do is fly to Ohio and buy the unit now for invoice or thereabouts.
I just read you book....quite a novel.....but didn't you leave out the final chapter? What was the actual price you paid for your van? I only noticed one price listed in that novel and you said it was to high....can you please break down the number on your van....just the van...all the other fees are not needed...they vary.... I assuming you took the EX-L RES correct???? C'mon don't leave us in suspense!!!! lol )
Comments
The electric sliding doors seems to be the primary upgrade. Would love those but I'm concerned about the reliability of the door(s) motor(s) over time. I realize there is limited history for this feature on the Ody. Does the Sienna also offer elec.door(s)? Anyone have any history with the Toyota?
What price premium can I expect to pay for the upgrade from an LX to an EX. Is one model in short supply/lower production figures over the other?
Thanks alot, John
they have excellent prices and posted on the WEB. I bought EX-L RES NAV there last fall and 99 and 02 Odyssey!!
INKY in Tulsa
Did u get any free acessories with your price or just the car... that also makes a differnece in the price... i got the exact price but bunch of free acessories...
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We placed a deposit as well and too late, I read on carbuyingtips.com to make sure the VIN # of the anticipated car is on the buyer's order along with the exact description of the color and car to avoid bait and switch. I did have him write the name and color of the van but not the VIN#.Too many things to protect against...I'm just hoping this dealer is honest.
Free accessories ? Can you please elaborate ?
Thanks.
I have not signed any contract papers. I have email correspondence where I specifically mentioned what color (interior and exterior) and the trim I want and the time when they promised to deliver along with the final price. I also paid with a credit card. Looks like if I don't like what they offer, I may have a chance to either ask my money back or, dispute the charges as I have proof that the dealer is not giving me what they promised. However, as mentioned, I do want my Odyssey and I can probably live with a color of second or third choice. The question is how much I hate the second or third choice colors because I don't want to feel bad in the long run looking at the color that I wanted saying 'ahhhh, I could have had that'. Will keep you all posted as to what happens next!
I am very new to this negotiating. This is my first time buying new. I have done a ton of research online. I have discussions going online with two local dealers as well as a face to face relationship with the dealer that I did the test drive with. We never talked numbers at the face to face dealer. The lowest bid I have from the online dealers is $26,366 plus destination plus $399 documentation fee plus TTandT. I am not sure of what my next step is. We are supposed to go see the face to face dealer on Saturday. I was thinking of e-mailing both online dealers an offer of $25,500 plus destination, TT andT (no other fees). So in other word, out the door for $27,400. But I don't want to be too high. I figured if either of the accepted this offer I would go to the face to face dealer (who has already given us his time) with those bids and see if he would beat them (or meet them). Is this a reasonable plan, and a reasonable offer?
By the way I am in the Atlanta area...
Thanks in advance for any help...
I mean, in the price $28,350, i got the car + all season mats+cargo tray+mud guards which according to dealership is worth $ 423.
and NO doc fee.
How about you????
each dealer had 3-7 odysseys in stock only one or two with DVD.
I paid $30085 (van) + $515 (destination charge) + $595 (too expensive for unnecessary accessory such as mud gard & wheel lock) + $45 (tag) + 3.2% tax = $ 32529 total.
I feel I paid more than others paid but I was tired to deal with them..
anyway the van is great my wife loves it
I'm curious about the look, or perception, of the door panel plastics in the black...the gray looked a bit cheap...this compared to Chrysler's more textured door panel finish (I'm talking the lower door storage bin panels, for example).
Is the overall look and feel luxurious ? ...or just...ummm...dark black ?
This is my first time buying a new vehicle. I put everything I learned into this post. It is therefore quite long!
Here's the CLIFF-NOTES version:
This post has info for my dealership experience in the Jacksonville, FL area, and what I learned buying my first Odyssey (or any new car for that matter).
The internet manager at Nalley Honda in Brunswick, GA was incredibly helpful and gave me a truly amazing deal on an EX-L-RES. When you factor in the few dealer options that were on the vehicle (which weren't included in the price), and after much haggling, we're talking a price that's as close to invoice as I've seen ANYWHERE on these forums. If you live anywhere within a couple hours of Brunswick, you should definitely include Nalley Honda in your list of dealers to solicit prices from.
A close second was Wade Raulerson Honda in Gainesville, FL. Very aggressive pricing, no Dealer Fees. Not as personable to work with as Nalley Honda, but still seemed to be a professional organization; I had no issues with honesty or timeliness. I worked these 2 dealers back and forth until Nalley won out. But definitely keep Wade Raulerson in your scan!
In the end, these 2 little dealers beat out the big boys, big time! The tradeoff may be limited availability for some colors/styles. Sometimes they will trade for the vehicle you want, sometimes not. It can definitely affect a deal, or give you some surprising leverage (which happened in my case).
OK, now here's the LONG, BORING version.
For those of you with ADD or who are just looking for a simple recommendation, please stop now for your own sanity! For those new to buying from a dealership, or who live in the Jacksonville area, you might benefit from reading the entire excruciating story below. I recommend you get comfortable first:
I live in Jacksonville and after reading the forums and doing the research, was wavering on an EX-L vs. an EX-L-RES. That extra $1400 dollars for the DVD was really stinging,
I took a test drive at Lucas Honda in Jax with their internet sales manager. Very nice guy and VERY knowledgeable about the Ody. His initial "Internet Only" price of $30,786.66 + $798 dealer fee (before Tax, Tag, & license) was quite disappointing, especially after I'd read through more of this specific forum.
I initially decided to go with the EX-L-RES. I looked on the Honda website and made a folder in Outlook with the email addresses off all the dealers' Internet Managers within 100 miles of my home here in Jax. Then I sent out a mass email to them all, but instead of putting all their addresses in the "To" column, I put them all in the "BCC" (blind CC) column. That way they would get the email but not know who else it had been sent to. Saved me from having to send 15 different emails. Also, it allowed me to avoid having to individually log onto each dealer's website (where they make you fill in ALL your personal information before you can even leave a message). I felt like I retained more control this way.
I included the type of Ody I wanted along with acceptable colors and that I was looking to buy "Within the next few weeks". I added that I did not want any other options if at all possible. I requested their best price as well as the invoice price, including the destination charge and any other dealer fees that would be added. I mentioned that I wanted to keep Tax, Tag, and License out of the figures since I would be registering the vehicle in TX. I also included Lucas Honda's offer in my email and the fact that I felt it was far too high.
The responses were quick. Some emailed back, some called. Some dealers went a lot lower; some said they would only be able to go a couple hundred lower. In every case, though, the dealers seemed honest. I never once had someone try to lure me to a dealership or be evasive. A couple internet managers emailed me back a single price but never explained if that included the destination charge and/or dealer fee. I'm confident they were honest oversights, as they were quickly clarified with a phone call or email. Just keep that in mind when you're shopping; if you are going to use a price quote to have other dealers try to beat, you all have to be on the same footing. All parties have to know you are talking about the "Out The Door" price (excluding TT&L in my case . . . but the dealers don't make any money off that anyway). You don't want one dealer to offer you a price that seems to beat all others, only to find out later that there's a destination charge and a 500 DOC fee on top of it!
Anyways, once I got through the "first wave" of replies, I was able to cross off several dealerships right off the bat. It's actually better when someone comes right out and tells you they won't be able to beat a price instead of trying some sleaze-tactics, it saves them and you time. I then took the lowest bid and called/emailed back the rest to see if they could beat it. Again, you have to be very careful that you disclose the all the details of the offer when you're asking another dealer to beat it, especially whether or not it includes the dreaded "Dealer" or "DOC" fee. For some reason a lot of dealers don't offer up this fee when giving you a quote, and they assume your quote from another dealer doesn't involve it either. It'll save a ton of time if you just lay it all out on the table and insist they do the same.
The next round of replies rapidly narrowed the field to 2 dealerships: Wade Raulerson Honda in Gainesville and Nalley Honda in Brunswick, GA. Both about the same distance from Jax but in opposite directions. We were down to about $775 over invoice (out the door, except TT&L) at this point. Both dealerships pretty much blew the doors off everyone else in the area price wise, and both were very aggressive in reducing prices. I have the feeling these two have squared off in the past . . .
Wade Raulerson Honda had the EX-L in the color I wanted for a good price . . . and it was ON THE LOT (very important question when talking prices with a dealer). Nalley Honda was offering an even lower price (but not much lower), but the problem was that they didn't have an EX-L on the lot in an acceptable color. They DID have an EX-L-RES (which had so tantalized me earlier) of an acceptable color, which they also began to aggressively price (starting at $300 over invoice plus a $69 doc fee). I was secretly thrilled, but it was still just a little too much! So I kept after the EX-L bargaining with Nalley.
(Continued on post 10078)
In the end I got the EX-L-RES for an awesome deal. Let's just say that if you included the options they didn't charge me for (mud flaps, pinstripes, cargo liner), it was VERY, VERY close to invoice. Plus they threw in a 1000$ "Internet Shopping Spree" (a new Honda promotion. It comes straight from Honda, so the dealer is out nothing for giving it to you. Don't let them use this as leverage . . . you can only buy stuff from one internet site (http://www.shopcrp.com/), and the merchandise looks pretty crappy). Anyways, I verbally accepted their offer and we started planning for a purchase the next day.
Here's a possible problem. You have what seems to be a great deal just waiting for you . . . a 1 to 2 hour drive away! A sleazy dealer could care less if you drive all the way to a dealership if he's deceiving you. In a way, you driving all that way gives him some leverage if there are "Hidden Fees" not disclosed until you sit down to sign. You're more likely to say "oh well, it's only a couple hundred more, it's still a good deal, and I drove all this way . . ." Here's some things I made the dealer do after he quoted me the price I was looking for but BEFORE I agreed to buy. Some of these things can be done after you verbally agree to buy; it's up to you, but in all cases these should greatly minimize your chances of having a big surprise (or a bunch of little ones) once you get to the dealer:
QUESTIONS TO ASK IF YOU'RE SUSPICIOUS (OR THE DEAL SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE):
-IS THE VAN ON THE LOT? (If not, you have a long way to go before the deal!)
-WHAT'S THE VIN NUMBER? (If they can't produce it, they don't have the van. The opposite isn't necessarily true, though, so this isn't ironclad or anything. But it can't hurt and lets them know that you're probably not a pushover)
-HOW MANY MILES ARE ON IT?
This is a really big deal. If it's any more than 50-100, make him tell you why there are so many and see if his answer is reasonable (example: they traded with another dealer for this trim package 2 states away and the van had to be driven down). If not, this leads us to the next question . . .
-WAS THIS VAN A DEMO VEHICLE?
If so, this is potentially bad. Remember how you drove on your test drive? Everyone’s been doing that to this car over and over again when its engine is at its most vulnerable. It's also more likely to have dings/scratches/stains, etc. Something to think about . . .
-WILL THEY FAX YOU A BUYER'S ORDER FOR THE SPECIFIC VEHICLE IN QUESTION?
This is basically a sneak preview of the document you will actually sign to buy the car. It should have all the itemized prices, taxes, fees, and everything else in it. This is really nice to have if they're willing to do it. Nalley Honda didn't blink twice, but some dealers might balk at this idea, thinking that you're going to start faxing it to dealers all over the hemisphere trying to beat their deal. You'd think that wouldn't be an issue since all the dealers I talked to took my word for it when I told them what other dealers were offering me (as far as I know), but it could be an issue. I think if you've done a lot of back and forth negotiating with a dealer, have actually verbally agreed to a purchase, and simply want to take a look at things for your own piece of mind before you drive over, most would have no problem faxing it too you. You might have less luck if you ask for this in the early stages of your "Wheeling & Dealing". If a dealer is still not willing to fax you this after you've gone through the whole process and have agreed to buy, that might be a red flag that something isn't right. I felt a lot better walking into the dealer after reviewing this document in the privacy of my own home.
-IS THE DVD PLAYER A FACTORY-INSTALLED RES SYSTEM OR DID THE DEALER INSTALL IT?
Very important question if you get a quote on a RES system that is almost too low to believe (this was my situation). If the dealer (instead of the FACTORY) installed it, it's more than likely not worth the $1400 invoice difference between an EX-L and an EX-L-RES. Even if it's a good system, there will still be some inconveniences (DVD not changeable from the front, FM modulator required for movie to be heard through the sound system, etc) that you should consider. One of the biggest is that a factory RES system is covered UNDER WARRANTY at ANY HONDA DEALERSHIP. For someone like me who's moving soon, this was a huge issue. Luckily for me, the RES system was stock!
-ARE THERE ANY DEALER-INSTALLED OPTIONS?
You don't want to show up at the dealership with a great deal and find out that there are wheel-locks, pinstripes, window tinting, and rust protection that they "forgot" to mention and that makes your great deal not seem that way anymore. Be proactive, ask if there are options, and if so, get an emailed list of ALL of them. I made it clear in my initial emails that I didn't want any options and that if there were options, that I wanted them removed or INCLUDED IN THE PRICE.
-ARE THEY WILLING TO FAX YOU AN AFFADAVIT AFFIRMING THAT THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THAT NO PAINTWORK HAS BEEN DONE?
This can be a contentious issue that I would reserve for the most shady situations. If a van gets scratched/damaged at the port, in transit, coming off the truck at the dealership, on a test drive, etc, then (according to some dealers I spoke to) technically the dealer can't sell it as new. If you have this affidavit, then you have some legal recourse if the dealer repairs the damage and sells you a van as new. It's a total judgment call on asking for this; it might be a good call if the dealer seems shady or the van is a real steal but has inexplicably been on the lot forever. In my case, the Nalley Honda dealer said he would be willing to provide this, and that was good enough for me. I never actually had him produce it because he’d been nothing but straight with me from day one.
Anyways, those are some ideas you can consider if needed for peace of mine. Nalley Honda was great about accommodating me on all of them and I felt a lot more assured driving all the way up there.
(continued on post 10079)
In my case, things went absolutely perfectly. I walked into the dealership today with the price set, already having looked over the buyers order the night before (and finding everything as promised), my Silver Pearl Metallic Odyssey was sitting out on the lot drying off from a fresh wash, the plastic had just been removed from the leather seats, and the Internet Manager was giving it a final look-over. He showed my wife and me how everything worked and then we went inside. My wife and 2-year old son played in the kiddie room while the manager and I went over the paperwork. It went fast because he had already gotten our information the night before and had everything ready to go. No surprises. Not even a hint of an attempt to sell us undercoating, an extended warranty, or financing. It wasn't even brought up! In fact, the Internet Sales Manager was the ONLY person I talked to throughout the whole transaction (no other managers, one-on-one from start to finish). In fact, it was about as stressful as opening a bank account, except I never had to stand in line or deal with the free toaster. I did eventually meet with Al's boss, but only because I insisted on it on my way out the door so that I could thank him for a great price and experience (and put a good word in for the Internet Sales Manager). The whole process took less than an hour, with the meaty part taking maybe 15 minutes.
So at last my story comes to a close. The only way this could have been better would have been if they'd delivered the vehicle to my door (which, according to this forum, Nalley Honda has done in the past for people in the Jax area).
For the few of you still reading, I hope some of this helps and that you have as good an experience as I did.
The dealer is Commonwealth Honda. If you are planning to buy accessories, the dealer will charge full price. If you are somewhat handy, you can buy accessories at better prices at www.handa-accessories.com. This site was passed on from a very usefull Odyssey site called ww.odyclub.om.
I'm planning to pick up an EXL RES NAV tomorrow (Monday). I think I'm getting a good deal, but I'm curious about the "Honda July Clearance" starting 7/18. Do you think that I'd gain anything by waiting?
Also - I'm going to SW Michigan on vacation next weekend. Any thoughts on whether I'd get a better deal outside Chicago?
Thanks! :confuse:
After several trips to the dealer, to see the colors he has available, because he cannot find the car on the lot, that he thought was there, and then trying to sell me a trim and/or color I dont want, he finally does a dealer trade to get the car I want. The internet sales manager gave me a time and day to come pick up the vehicle.
On that day, I call to confirm the car is r eady, and tell him "I dont want any surprises". He then tells me that the general manager for the dealership wont honor that price because it is too low. :mad:
At that point, I just cut my losses and decided to find another dealer.
Now, they keep calling me and telling me about their sales, and I keep telling them take me off your list.
See my next post about the WONDERFUL experience I had at YUBA CITY HONDA.
After being jerked on a Wednesday by Santa Monica Honda, I send an email to Yuba City b/c of the good reviews they have received here. I ask for a quote on a Touring R/N, and get a quote under invoice! By the MSRP referenced in the quote I figured that they had quoted a price on a EXL R/N.
I reply stating that I would be happy to take their offer, but in all fairness, they have made an error in my favor, and I counter at $36,137 ($1,000 over invoice). Because of the "error", they accept.
The internet sales manager does a 3-way trade to get the vehicle color and interior that I want. I sent the email on Wednesday, and took a Saturday morning flight from LA to Sacramento to get the car. Took six hours to drive home :surprise: The drive was well worth it because nobody in Los Angeles had the car or those who did were not willing to give a good deal.
Everyone at the dealership was courteous and friendly. VERY HONEST.
I would highly recommend these folks.
Total price paid
$36137 Touring R/N
$45 Documentation fee
$2985 Tax
$308 License and Tire fee
========
$39,472 Total Paid
They are also offering the 7/100/0 for $1100.
Can anyone provide information regarding price paid/buying experience for Honda dealerships in the DENVER, CO area (including all of Colorado)? I am considering the EX or perhaps the EX-L. Once we decide, I plan to solicit offers from internet managers by email. I would buy a vehicle from a smaller dealership outside the front range area if they compete for my business.
Thanks for the assistance.
Mick
I'm from So. Calif (San Pedro) and I can tell you, that is one miserable marketplace down there. I'm surprised you had to go that far.
Glad it worked out.
After browsing thru these forums for few months now, finally I'm also in the market for a new Ody. Wanted to wait until the prices come down to invoice on this side of the country.
Would you mind sharing the dealer list that you started off the research with. Thanks in advance. guzzar@iwon.com from S'Side.
Thank you for considering Carson Honda for your next Honda purchase.
The pricing information you requested is listed below.
Vehicle Requested:
2005 HONDA ODYSSEY PACKAGE: TOURING.
MSRP: $39,010.00
Your Special Internet Price: $35,999.00 + FEES.
PLUS WE OFFER FREE LIFETIME OILCHANGE PROGRAM. PLUS $250.00 COUPONS TO
OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT + PARTS DEPARTMENT.+ 10% OFF THROUGH OUR SERVICE
DEPARTMENT AND 15% OFF THROUGH OUR PARTS DEPARTMENT.
PLEASE PRINT THIS QUOTE AS THE PRICE IS VALID ONLY IF THIS QUOTE IS
PRESENTED TO
THE Carson Honda INTERNET DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO PURCHASE. Due to our
very successful and high volume Internet Sales Department an appointment
is recommended.
Our Internet customers love the prompt, no haggle, no hassle, no
excuses, no surprises buying and delivery process.
We’ll get you in and out in about an hour!
I will attempt to contact you within an hour during our normal business
hours.
In addition, my Odyssey also had the following dealer accessories included in the price:
Cargo Tray
Splash Guards
Cross Bars
Wheel Locks
Needless to say, I visited the dealer that same day to make sure that the deal was as good as it sounded.
I did some emailing - I gave out my cell #, but didn't answer it all day long. Didn't want to spend the day on the phone.
Anyway, I got one email from Windy City Honda down by Midway saying, "We're aggressive and want your business, what do we need to do?" I wound up buying the car tonight for $2,847 below sticker - $31,963 incl. Destination (exactly $600 over invoice).
I tried to get a couple of dealers closer to me in the Western burbs to match or beat that deal, but they all said, "If you can get that deal, you should take it." I did. Went to the dealer tonight. No surprises. They were super-nice, made sure the car was all cleaned up. No accessory add-ons that I was forced to take, no craziness in the finance office.
I know the Honda Clearance will probably start in a week, and maybe I'll regret not waiting, but inventories seem pretty low around here (several dealers said they couldn't get the car in any color), and I want to take the car on a road trip vacation next week. Can't wait!
We wanted a slate Ody EX-L RES (no NAV).
MSRP: $32, 610
Inv: $29,386
Our price: $30,437 (plus they are throwing in all-weather mats, which we wanted)
Once you add tax, license, and doc fee, it comes to something like $32,745.
This was the absolute lowest price we could get in our area (lower New England), I think. I called every dealer with the quotes from the others, and once we bargained down to this price (which is the CarsDirect price as well), the other dealers said: "If you can get that price, take it."
So we did. It isn't the best price I've seen on this board, but we're okay with it.
Anyway, we put $500 deposit, and now they are looking for the car. (The contract says that the $500 deposit is refundable for any reason at any time.)
I hope that helps any other buyers out there.
Thanks,
Mausam
it's a great story. What is 1000$ "Internet Shopping Spree" ?
Thanks
We are facing a dilemma and wanted to share with members on this forum to get perspective whether to wait for 2005 price drop or wait for 2006 and pay above MSRP
We have been in market for about 1 1/2 month for odyssey EX-L R&N. The best offer so far I got on was about $1500 less than MSRP, in northern CA. To me it appears pricey, especially knowing that car will be soon replaced by newer version and depreciation of ANY new car is high in first initial years. I understand odyssey 2006 likely to come in next 2 months and perhaps remain popular in demand. It is therefore expected to command some premium over MSRP. Given this scenario, I have following questions, appreciate if any of you could share perspective that might help me making right decision.
Assumptions:
1 After a month or two , odyssey 2005 available around invoice price
2 Around same time, odyssey 2006 is available at MSRP + $1K
3 One would like to keep car for minimum for 7-8 years
4 We can afford to wait for couple of months for new car. Also, at this stage
we are not getting the first choice of color (Black with Tan ) that we want
Questions:
1. Do you think assumptions 1&2 makes sense ?
2. If so, which model (2005 or 2006) one should pick given that it is meant for long term
Thanks for your attention and help.
The important thing to consider is leverage. If the things offered on the website are valuable to you, then the gift certificate adds extra value to the deal (and gives the dealer some leverage). If not, (as in my case), then it really doesn't make much difference and I won't factor it into the deal. Now if it had been for Best Buy, I would have jumped all over it and wouldn't have minded paying a little more for the van.
In any case (according to the dealer I talked to), the DEALER isn't losing anything by offering this to you. From what I understand this is being provided to them by Honda in an advertising campaign at no cost to the dealer. So don't let them use this for leverage or to "Sweeten The Deal", because it's no skin off their nose. I haven't looked at the actual prices for the things on the website, but I can probably guess that Honda isn't out $1000 per certificate!
Still, though, maybe it will come in handy for birthday/xmas gifts sometime if we can find something decent . . .
I've bought new cars at about every point on the calendar and gone through the calculations you are doing now. I've concluded that it simply doesn't make much difference, especially if the car will be kept for years.
Here (unlike with, say, a new Cadillac), there will not be several thousand dollars difference in the price (or depreciation) between an '05 and an '06.
One thing you could do is fly to Ohio and buy the unit now for invoice or thereabouts.
What was the actual price you paid for your van? I only noticed one price listed in that novel and you said it was to high....can you please break down the number on your van....just the van...all the other fees are not needed...they vary....
I assuming you took the EX-L RES correct????
C'mon don't leave us in suspense!!!! lol