I'm in Boca Raton. I won't pay more than what others are paying for a mass produced car, trying to achieve the 400,000 mark for sales. I'll first go to local dealers and tell them others across the border are getting done for invoice, which 3% dealer holdback is still plenty of profit. The money dealers really make is in the b.s. "junk" accesories that nobody wants or needs, like rustproofing (HAHA, isn't it warranted for 100,000 miles against that?) and taking a can and spraying the interior with "fabric protector" which cost $5 a can, but they sell for $250 or more), and paint protection, etc. Waste of money for consumer, and a total ripoff frankly for what the dealer's costs are. Then they make money on service and parts, big time in that dept., and last, more money normally is made on used cars, since no two used car is alike, so volatility is greater to get a bigger buck. Whereas with a new car, you can shop around the exact same car for the best price. By the way, all I'm mentioning is comingfrom an old college friend that's father owned a Lincoln-Mercury dealership. He'd laugh when he took out the can and spray the seats on cars, and what they paid for that crap. Moral of story is, DON"T LET DEALER'S TAKE CONTROL, AND DON'T BUY NEEDLESS JUNK FROM THEM TO RAISE THIER MARGINS!
Profit and loss are arbritary in the car business. Sometimes you can make money, sometimes you can lose. New cars sold need to be about $1500 profit, meaning 1500 above invoice and the dealer will break even. Now, on the trade-in; the dealer will lose money if he cannot sell that car in a month...IE Interest Payments. Now if that car cannot sell, it will go to auction where a dealer makes nothing, he actually loses. Like a grocer keeping an inventory of lettuce or tomatoes, if they go bad he loses money, sell them fresh and make money. So, we now address the inventory issue. Here, we cannot keep a V6 Accord in stock, no one wants to dealer trade for them, the next month's allocation is pre-sold w/deposits. So, demand is driving the price to be MSRP or just below. Now, if you can wait until next year when supply grows, you will get a better deal. We also have an issue with west coast supply shutting down the Honda Factories due to lack of parts; IE just in time delivery process. So all that said, show me a EX V6 accord being sold at invoice and I call BS, way too early in the game to begin Whoring out Accords. The Mazda6, woooo, words of advice there, resale, depreciation, maintenance, reliability. Mazda doesn't make many waves in the car market. They are giving away 2002s right now. Sure, I am like a consumer on my car, they worked a deal with me on it, it has to be ordered (High Demand), I will have to wait for it to come in and I will pay more to get it this year vs. in August when I can steal one like the rest of the public. If you can get a great deal by travelling or going over the border, by all means great. Remember, dealer fees, taxes, and add ons are different at every dealer. We only add what the customer wants here. Remember when you drive to get a better deal, you spend your time (what's that worth), gas money while driving there, and outting extra miles driving your new car home. Is a 1/2 day of work and $20 worth of gas worth saving $500? And maybe not getting the great deal you were promised on the phone at the dealership when you get there.
It's all different, anyway, good luck getting a great deal. I haven't seen them yet, but $1000 over invoice is pretty strong right now. If you can do better, consider yourself a minority of customers out there. Lastly, the best way to deal is buy what's on the lot. If you order it, there goes your bargaining chip.
I'm in Muddyland, you know, sniper country!? Did a trek to Bartlesville, OK (1300 miles) to save $2k back in 99. So 720 miles to Atlanta for $2K would be a piece of cake....probably a day trip:-)
Received a call from the dealership Saturday to remind me that their offer was only good till the end of the day. I told them to use it quickly on someone else before it expires.
Its the unmitagated gaul of sales people that gets me most. We the consumer control the market. If no one pays those outreageous prices that the greedy ask for they'll have to survive with only three slices of cheese on their hamburger instead of ten. Can't make 3-4 k on a deal unless we're willing to let them.
Although I didn't make a deal, I refused to budge on what i felt was a fair offer.
I learned a huge lesson on dealing with sales people. I did my homework, made a fair offer, aprised them of how I came to my offer and they just kept up their bull. I understand the cost of running a business. The fact that they can look you in the eye and offer you less than 3K than your trade in is worth reeks of their greed.
The thing i've learned the most is to do your homework stay firm and never, never be in a situation where you need to buy the car. Worse case scenario for me know is to keep my car and buy an exptended warranty from Warranty direct and they have a decent discounted price.
I'll eat the cost of the warranty and when my payments are over i'll have more to put down on the car in 2+ years.
If a good deal comes along from now till next year i'll bite otherwise i still have a 2000 Honda Ex V6 that's covered.
The crazy thing is i live in a metropolitan area in a big city. The dealers keep saying that they can't keep the cars on the lot. The only 2003 Honda Accord I've seen so far has been in their lots.
The economy isn't that great and people aren't running out to pay sticker price, bottom line, even for a car like the accord.
Compuman1, I'm from West Palm Beach also. I haven't yet visted any Honda dealers yet but just getting a feel for pricing. As for trade-in KBB doesn't even have a trade in value for 02 RSX-S so I'm going in blind. For a high-volume car such as Accord I want to pay no more than invoice for especially with holdbacks dealers are getting.
I requested internet quotes for an EX-L auto from all Honda dealers from Ft. Pierce to Miami. The out-the-door quotes ranged from $24,250 (Pompano Honda) to $26,128 (Ft. Pierce). An almost $2000 variance !. Somebody is trying to get rich(er) quick !
Pompano has the better deal, but still $1000 over invoice....Let's go to Atlanta.
No wonder I've only seen one 03 Accord on the road and it wasn't even from around here. What about you guys?
tnguyen74, pardon my ignorance, who makes the RSX-S?
If you people that want to buy a Honda for invoice would look at what our competitors are worth in 3 to 5 years , other than Toyota, you would realize what a great buy any Honda is at MSRP. Vehicles are a rotten investment so you might as well pay a fair price for the vehicle that is going to give you the greatest return on your dollar when you trade it or sell it. Also check the cost of ownership on any Honda product and you will find it is one of the lowest in the entire industry. I have a very good friend who is a buyer for a major department store chain. She tells me that the shirt that you pay $29.95 for costs the store less than $5.00, is that a rip off? I have sold 2 vehicles to my dentist and he always wants to buy for invoice, yet he is insulted when I want a discount, and yet his income is over $1,000,000.00 a year. How many of you are going to give a substantial discount to your auto salesperson or the owner of the dealership that you buy your Honda from? Needless to say I have found another Dentist. As you may have discerned I am a Honda salesman who just needed to vent and give you another perspective on buying Honda's. John Perry
Respectfully John, as far as thinking Msrp is a fair price, that's would i would expect a saleman to say. Honestly 26,000+ for an Accord is really pushing the limits. That goes for any car in that class as well.
Its fairly simple. Honda should adapt the same methodology as Saturn when offering the car for sale. Hire people who don't work on commission to show the cars,price the car fairly, and make it non negotiable.
Taking the profit-monger out of the equation should enable the manufacturer, dealership, and consumer to arrive at a more equitable agreement of sale.
If they deside to charge too much and people can't haggle they'll probably shop around for the best value.
If the car is fairly priced, even if the price is non negotiable, people will buy the car. The value will be there because there's no commision to pay.
Honda's don't need to be sold, people buy them on reputation and past experience. Does a salesman really sell the car or does the car sell itself ??
Sorry saleman, as in or corporate world today at least in my experiences, there's some confidence lost with fairness and honesty. When I know a dealership is making 2,000+ on a new car sale and trade in. Then a sales manager says to me he can't do it ... "how's he supposed to turn the light's on". How can you trust him ?????
John, when you make the department store comparison of the 5$ shirt that sells for $29.95.
Yeah that is greedy, I agree.
Difference is though, you don't have some smiley-faced "commision-oriented" sales person that is part of the cost equation, manipulating you and making you feel like your taking food out of his children's mouth when you don't pay sticker.
The last I heard the people who work at those stores make the same whether you buy the shirt or not.
I have to agree with the last comment on retail dept. stores pay the same regardless on how many shirts you buy or don't buy. Maybe they get some small incentive, but that's it. True, Honda's have a high percieved value, which is why dealer's want to tell you about resale values when asking for sticker. However, the marketplace is getting far more competitive in terms of quality, and style. Plus the times are showing not many people are rushing to buy new cars. Any fair profit, even if it's "just" the 3% dealer holdback on a Honda is more than a fair profit. Don't forget, when those cars are sitting on the lots more than 3 mos. after it's on the lots, they lose the holdback. Open the driver door and see when the car was built, that'll give you a good idea when the holdback money expires for them and will give you a better bargaining position.
Dealer was Mark Roberts and salesman was John Page who made room for me on the end of the 99 Ody allocation......in Nov 98. Yes, I waited 9 months for the savings.
Guess I am getting impatient in my old age;-) Also, they no longer offer discounts at this time. My original lead was Inky(4) who just bought an EX V6, but as of 9 Sep they no longer offer that price. Still, there appear to be other dealers in Hotlanta, and Mass that will sell for well below MSRP.
Edmunds lists TMV on 2003 Accord LXs in the SF Bay Area at MSRP, while people on this board are reporting much lower prices, and carsdirect shows them at $300 over invoice. I'm wondering if the TMV bears much relation to reality, based on this? There are a ton of LXs on the lots.
how often does Edmunds update this TMV value? It may have been accurate a month ago, but it certainly isn't true anymore. to me, i think Carsdirect.com is a great tool to find the "true market value."
It does seem like a good price. They're showing 18822 invoice / 19197 price for an LX auto with side airbags and PZEV. Though I'm more likely to want an LX-V6, which are rare, and going for more like $900 over invoice on carsdirect - I'm tall enough that sunroofs are a bad idea, so EXs are out.
Edmund's TMV for 2003 Accord LX V-6 sedan hasn't changed since September. It was always the MSRP. Well I bought my LX V-6 just $40 over invoice at Brown's Honda in Baltimore, MD.
I was just browsing and thought the post was pretty funny. That guy must be independently wealthy when he makes more than $500 in 4 hours (why are you even posting in the Honda Accord board, go to the mercedes benz/ferrari board). Yes, those poor poor dealers. How can they afford to pay for large color ads in the papers, annoying radio ads (why is it they always shout it and use loud echos, and loud voiceovers? and why does the end of the commercial always have a slew of fast worded legal jargon? um, maybe it's to protect the poor dealers from the shark consumers. yeah, that's the ticket. why use gimmicks? sell the damn car at a reasonable price? car dealerships always make more money by cheating and deception than have a 1 price only deal. what ever happened to autonation? they didnt make as much money as they initially thought without haggling is why. oh yes, autonation DID negotiate even though it was supposed to be a no haggling business.) Yeah, it can't be because they are making a killing off of consumers. How are they going to pay for those brightly lit as hecates dealerships and all those jewelry and fancy watches on those salesmen? The last time I saw 1/2 as much jewelry on guys were when I saw Puff Daddy's last music video.
You all are very helpful. I looked at carsdirect.com under the Atlanta area code and found they are offering 23,474 for the EX-V6, over $2000 less than for the Maryland zip code.
MY QUESTION IS (and I would love your thoughts), when a Carsdirect salesman called me, he told me since I didn't have a residence in GA, and they weren't licensed to SELL in MD (only to lease), they could NOT sell it to me at that price... was he full of it? What are your suggestions for getting that price up in the MD area???
Yes, I believe so. My family has a history of buying cars from the midwest and there is a tradition of vacationing Easterners purchasing vehicles built inland. There has not been a problem with licensing as this is always done at the state of residence.
Now, CarsDirect may say they cannot sell vehicle to out-of-stater but I have my doubts that the company officially forbids this. Likely, the salesman does not want the additional work involved for such sale (if any). I say call again and speak with a different salesman. Otherwise try another region; Mass had a dealer that was blanket discounting $2k for EX V6 and $1K for LX. Or try a dealer without CarsDirect involvement.
Dealer where i bought my 2000 ex v6 told me he could give me the 2003 ex v6 600 over invoice.
We agreed that he couldn't give me a fair price for my 2000, so i'm going to sell that privately. I live 100 miles south of ny. My car is clean to excellent, still under warranty, plenty of rubber on the tires, new brakes, never been hit, interior and exterior in excellent condition,recently inspected, and 33k. What should i ask for the car ??
Is this a good deal ???? 24,275 + 135 tags and doc fees
College Hills Honda lists: Retail $25,800 | Invoice $23,214.76 So the closer to invoice you get the better your deal. Second best price listed on new 03 EX V6 was Inky(4)s as I recall at just under $24k, but that Mark Roberts deal ended 9 Sep (invoice plus $340 plus 460 shipping-in round numbers=$24k). As I recall there was one buyere who got one for couple of hundred less, but that is getting painfully low for seller. Would then worry about a defective vehicle.
In view of that, I would say you are getting $2k below MSRP ($25,800+460=26,260-2,000=$24,260). That would be my target.
Ok, I'm still annoyed about that carsdirect thing and think I will just take the print out to local dealers for a matching price. I have two more questions
1. There are two dealers very close that if they are nice would likely be the one that I'd go to for all my servicing... if I told the sales manager that do you think it would give him any incentive to meet the $23,474 price?
2. When do the 03's with NAV hit the market? Do you think you could bargain those for invoice, which looks to be about $25,000? We have it on our TL and I love it...
Oh, and think a guy with absolutely perfect credit and going with Honda's "College Grad program" could get an interest rate below 3%?
1. Doing your servicing or promising to do it has nothing to do with the sale. You can service the car anywhere and they know that. If you bring it up you'll come across as inexperienced.
2. When a new product hits the market it usually makes a big splash. If you want the Nav you'll probably have to count on waiting for a better deal. Let everyone else pay sticker.
As to interest rates, 3% would have to be subvented by Honda, not likely this early in the year. You kids are spoiled! I remember telling customers 12% was good.
Just stopped in at lunch to see the new Accord and was impressed, but Holler Honda in Winter Park tacks on an additional 3,000.00 markup! I asked the saleswoman what the 3,000.00 was for and she said because the car is so popular that add it on but it is negotiable! I would say negotiable to .00! If it is so popular, why did they have about 20 on their lot? I still am interested in one, but will shop around even if I have to go out of the Central Florida area.
I know I can get it serviced anywhere, but doesn't the dealership make $ on that. I mean I guess it's true I can say "I'll take it to you" and not do it... but don't dealers make a fair bit of thier $ off servicing cars?
And while, yes, %3 is good and I'm lucky to be buying in this horrible market, still, given the market, isn't %3 or below fair to shoot for given the Ford, GM, etc., incentives.
Chrome hasn't updated us yet. Frustrating to say the least. We have to instruct our customers to bid the '02 and call in the explaination. Dealers are responding with 2003's on offers over invoice, and 2002's on offers under.
Stop and listen to your Uncle Ray. There is no way the dealer can lock you in to a promise to service with them. What if they have a lousy service department or charge $50 and hour more than your local mechanic? Would you still go to them?
And no, 3% is completely unrealistic. Ford and GM have to pay for it by something called a "buydown". Their customers lose the rebate to help pay it. Honda doesn't offer rebates. Check the Peoplefirst link here at Edmunds for a fair current rate based on excellent credit.
I knew you could not get the Carsdirect-Atlanta price out of state through Carsdirect, because I tried that previously. Either, do as stated earlier and shop the price around in Maryland, or get quotes from Honda dealers in the Atlanta area. If it works like I did it you will get the Carsdirect price or less. $200 under invoice on the 2003s is worth the trip for many.
What's the best way to shop the Atlanta dealers from MD ( AND what is the best way to approach the MD dealers)? Do I just call them and ask for the sales manager or what would you do seeing that I can't go in person until I pick it up (except in the MD area)?
Not to mention if the customer moves. How could he be expected to service with them. Any dealer can ask you to please service with them, but that's it.
Start closer to home. The Atlanta dealers can be reached by the internet if the locals fail you. Be prepared for high doc fees in Georgia, $300 isn't unusual.
Ok, I'll go local first, but does anyone have recommendations on the best approach when having this carsdirect price in hand?
Again, I assume I talk to the sales manager as that way the dealership doesn't have to pay commission and can go lower, but is there anything specific or any hints anyone has?
We've gotten cars through Checkbook Magazine's service (which is great but costs $160) where we just go the the sales manager at the dealer with the lowest bid, so the process is familiar to me... I just want any further suggestions.
Hi, I live in Atlanta and was looking to pick up an Accord in the Spring. What is your opinion--could the prices actually rise between now and then? They seem incredibly low here right now, and it might be worth stretching a bit to lock in a good deal now. Thank you.
Ok, I'll go local first, but does anyone have recommendations on the best approach when having this carsdirect price in hand?
Again, I assume I talk to the sales manager as that way the dealership doesn't have to pay commission and can go lower, but is there anything specific or any hints anyone has?
We've gotten cars through Checkbook Magazine's service (which is great but costs $160) where we just go the the sales manager at the dealer with the lowest bid, so the process is familiar to me... I just want any further suggestions.
I hope that those of you that read this really understand what it's like to be a car salesperson and to read all of the "ploys" that you conceive on these message boards is hilarious. I sell Honda's for a living, and I will tell you that it is one of the best products built, period. The MSRP for the new 03 Accord is a very fair value in comparison to all of the other vehicles out there. You cannot buy another vehicle for under $30 grand that has as much value, resale value, quality and performance as the new Accord. I happen to sell BMW and Mercedes as well, and own a Lexus SC400, and I still think that the new Accord EXV can compare. Basically, it just pisses me off when people try to buy at invoice, at my dealership we are a Honda President's award winner and give top notch service and back up our promises. We don't lie, cheat, or steal from any of our customers, and I think that you buyers out there need to understand a salesperson is paid on Commission. There are many different pay plans at different dealerships, but, basically a salesperson is paid on the gross profit. Selling at or around invoice means $100 commissions. Not worth it to me...you want good service and all these accessories for free or hardly nothing; well, I want to get PAID to do my job. I have never had a problem giving a "good deal", but let's all agree that price is not everything, you need to look at the whole picture. I may be just venting, but have patience when dealing with your local Honda dealer. If you had a bad experience, remember that you can always buy somewhere else. In ending, not all car salesmen are jerks and some of us make a decent living, but buying one of the best products for hardly any profit is completely unfair. If you really want a Honda, then pay for one, otherwise, there is always Hyundai.
Ok, I currently own 3 Hondas that I take to this dealership. Would using that as a leverage come off as being inexperience? I don't see how, as they can go and check their record and see how long I've been with them. There's actually another dealer just a bit closer I can go to and they would lose out on servicing up to 4 cars.
Anyway, the Atlanta price is insane, I just pulled up one for below invoice. Maybe I should shop there and drive it back up.
have you considered doing the consumer checkbook method yourself? i followed their method by emailing all the local dealers and one about 200 miles away when i bought my civic in 2000 and ended up with the car for 150 under invoice...which was pretty amazing since this was October 1999 when the car was just released. in fact, i think i had the lowest price i saw reported on the Town Hall for the civic at that time.
if not, $160 isn't too bad to pay for their great service. it takes all the work out of your hands. i would imagine though, you could do as well as them using your computer like i did and save the $160. good luck.
ps. i was going to use this method with our 2003 accord, but on a whim offered the deal an out the door price (which amounted to around invoice) and they accepted it! [this is in CA] maybe i didn't get the _best deal_ possible, but it was painless and invoice price (as i'm sure you'd be happy too) seems like a decent price on a new model year and generation car.
Umyaya, just take the printout with you and ask the salesman to match it. Don't walk out in a huff if he wants another couple hundred dollars, you'd still have to go to GA to beat it. You may want to try the Philadelphia area also.
Wesbc, your case is a lot different, you have a history with them.
Carsdirect called and said they can do it at the price quoted through a Georgia dealer ( again, I live in MD). The only thing is the dealer would want a $2000 non-refundable deposit. That sounds a bit odd. Is it? If they get me the finance rate I can handle I'll do it... though I'm very concerned that should there be some price hike when I get to the dealer I'm SOL.
Comments
Good suggestion, robtfl. I'm in WPB, where are you?
How about you, tnguyen74?
Profit and loss are arbritary in the car business. Sometimes you can make money, sometimes you can lose. New cars sold need to be about $1500 profit, meaning 1500 above invoice and the dealer will break even. Now, on the trade-in; the dealer will lose money if he cannot sell that car in a month...IE Interest Payments. Now if that car cannot sell, it will go to auction where a dealer makes nothing, he actually loses. Like a grocer keeping an inventory of lettuce or tomatoes, if they go bad he loses money, sell them fresh and make money. So, we now address the inventory issue. Here, we cannot keep a V6 Accord in stock, no one wants to dealer trade for them, the next month's allocation is pre-sold w/deposits. So, demand is driving the price to be MSRP or just below. Now, if you can wait until next year when supply grows, you will get a better deal. We also have an issue with west coast supply shutting down the Honda Factories due to lack of parts; IE just in time delivery process. So all that said, show me a EX V6 accord being sold at invoice and I call BS, way too early in the game to begin Whoring out Accords. The Mazda6, woooo, words of advice there, resale, depreciation, maintenance, reliability. Mazda doesn't make many waves in the car market. They are giving away 2002s right now. Sure, I am like a consumer on my car, they worked a deal with me on it, it has to be ordered (High Demand), I will have to wait for it to come in and I will pay more to get it this year vs. in August when I can steal one like the rest of the public. If you can get a great deal by travelling or going over the border, by all means great. Remember, dealer fees, taxes, and add ons are different at every dealer. We only add what the customer wants here. Remember when you drive to get a better deal, you spend your time (what's that worth), gas money while driving there, and outting extra miles driving your new car home. Is a 1/2 day of work and $20 worth of gas worth saving $500? And maybe not getting the great deal you were promised on the phone at the dealership when you get there.
It's all different, anyway, good luck getting a great deal. I haven't seen them yet, but $1000 over invoice is pretty strong right now. If you can do better, consider yourself a minority of customers out there. Lastly, the best way to deal is buy what's on the lot. If you order it, there goes your bargaining chip.
Its the unmitagated gaul of sales people that gets me most. We the consumer control the market.
If no one pays those outreageous prices that the
greedy ask for they'll have to survive with only
three slices of cheese on their hamburger instead of ten. Can't make 3-4 k on a deal unless we're willing to let them.
Although I didn't make a deal, I refused to budge on what i felt was a fair offer.
I learned a huge lesson on dealing with sales people. I did my homework, made a fair offer, aprised them of how I came to my offer and they just kept up their bull. I understand the cost
of running a business. The fact that they can look you in the eye and offer you less than 3K
than your trade in is worth reeks of their greed.
The thing i've learned the most is to do your homework stay firm and never, never be in a situation where you need to buy the car.
Worse case scenario for me know is to keep my car
and buy an exptended warranty from Warranty direct and they have a decent discounted price.
I'll eat the cost of the warranty and when my payments are over i'll have more to put down on the car in 2+ years.
If a good deal comes along from now till next year i'll bite otherwise i still have a 2000
Honda Ex V6 that's covered.
The crazy thing is i live in a metropolitan area
in a big city. The dealers keep saying that they can't keep the cars on the lot. The only 2003
Honda Accord I've seen so far has been in their lots.
The economy isn't that great and people aren't running out to pay sticker price, bottom line, even for a car like the accord.
02 RSX-S so I'm going in blind. For a high-volume car such as Accord I want to pay no more than invoice for especially with holdbacks dealers are getting.
I requested internet quotes for an EX-L auto from all Honda dealers from Ft. Pierce to Miami. The out-the-door quotes ranged from $24,250 (Pompano Honda) to $26,128 (Ft. Pierce). An almost $2000 variance !. Somebody is trying to get rich(er) quick !
Pompano has the better deal, but still $1000 over invoice....Let's go to Atlanta.
No wonder I've only seen one 03 Accord on the road and it wasn't even from around here.
What about you guys?
tnguyen74, pardon my ignorance, who makes the RSX-S?
John Perry
Its fairly simple. Honda should adapt the same methodology as Saturn when offering the car for sale. Hire people who don't work on commission to show the cars,price the car fairly, and make it non negotiable.
Taking the profit-monger out of the equation
should enable the manufacturer, dealership, and
consumer to arrive at a more equitable agreement of sale.
If they deside to charge too much and people can't haggle they'll probably shop around for the best value.
If the car is fairly priced, even if the price is non negotiable, people will buy the car. The value will be there because there's no commision to pay.
Honda's don't need to be sold, people buy them on reputation and past experience. Does a salesman
really sell the car or does the car sell itself ??
Sorry saleman, as in or corporate world today at least in my experiences, there's some confidence lost with fairness and honesty. When I know a dealership is making 2,000+ on a new car sale and trade in. Then a sales manager says to me he can't do it ... "how's he supposed to turn the light's on". How can you trust him ?????
comparison of the 5$ shirt that sells for $29.95.
Yeah that is greedy, I agree.
Difference is though, you don't have some smiley-faced "commision-oriented" sales person that
is part of the cost equation, manipulating you and making you feel like your taking food out of his children's mouth when you don't pay sticker.
The last I heard the people who work at those stores make the same whether you buy the shirt or not.
Guess I am getting impatient in my old age;-)
Also, they no longer offer discounts at this time. My original lead was Inky(4) who just bought an EX V6, but as of 9 Sep they no longer offer that price. Still, there appear to be other dealers in Hotlanta, and Mass that will sell for well below MSRP.
running car, only it has a bit of road noise. How does this compare with your experience?
You all are very helpful. I looked at carsdirect.com under the Atlanta area code and found they are offering 23,474 for the EX-V6, over $2000 less than for the Maryland zip code.
MY QUESTION IS (and I would love your thoughts), when a Carsdirect salesman called me, he told me since I didn't have a residence in GA, and they weren't licensed to SELL in MD (only to lease), they could NOT sell it to me at that price... was he full of it? What are your suggestions for getting that price up in the MD area???
Now, CarsDirect may say they cannot sell vehicle to out-of-stater but I have my doubts that the company officially forbids this. Likely, the salesman does not want the additional work involved for such sale (if any). I say call again and speak with a different salesman. Otherwise try another region; Mass had a dealer that was blanket discounting $2k for EX V6 and $1K for LX. Or try a dealer without CarsDirect involvement.
he could give me the 2003 ex v6 600 over invoice.
We agreed that he couldn't give me a fair price for my 2000, so i'm going to sell that privately. I live 100 miles south of ny.
My car is clean to excellent, still under warranty, plenty of rubber on the tires, new brakes, never been hit, interior and exterior
in excellent condition,recently inspected, and 33k.
What should i ask for the car ??
Is this a good deal ???? 24,275 + 135 tags and doc fees
Retail $25,800 | Invoice $23,214.76
So the closer to invoice you get the better your deal. Second best price listed on new 03 EX V6 was Inky(4)s as I recall at just under $24k, but that Mark Roberts deal ended 9 Sep (invoice plus $340 plus 460 shipping-in round numbers=$24k). As I recall there was one buyere who got one for couple of hundred less, but that is getting painfully low for seller. Would then worry about a defective vehicle.
In view of that, I would say you are getting $2k below MSRP ($25,800+460=26,260-2,000=$24,260). That would be my target.
1. There are two dealers very close that if they are nice would likely be the one that I'd go to for all my servicing... if I told the sales manager that do you think it would give him any incentive to meet the $23,474 price?
2. When do the 03's with NAV hit the market? Do you think you could bargain those for invoice, which looks to be about $25,000? We have it on our TL and I love it...
Oh, and think a guy with absolutely perfect credit and going with Honda's "College Grad program" could get an interest rate below 3%?
2. When a new product hits the market it usually makes a big splash. If you want the Nav you'll probably have to count on waiting for a better deal. Let everyone else pay sticker.
As to interest rates, 3% would have to be subvented by Honda, not likely this early in the year. You kids are spoiled! I remember telling customers 12% was good.
And while, yes, %3 is good and I'm lucky to be buying in this horrible market, still, given the market, isn't %3 or below fair to shoot for given the Ford, GM, etc., incentives.
And no, 3% is completely unrealistic. Ford and GM have to pay for it by something called a "buydown". Their customers lose the rebate to help pay it. Honda doesn't offer rebates. Check the Peoplefirst link here at Edmunds for a fair current rate based on excellent credit.
I'll go local first, but does anyone have recommendations on the best approach when having this carsdirect price in hand?
Again, I assume I talk to the sales manager as that way the dealership doesn't have to pay commission and can go lower, but is there anything specific or any hints anyone has?
We've gotten cars through Checkbook Magazine's service (which is great but costs $160) where we just go the the sales manager at the dealer with the lowest bid, so the process is familiar to me... I just want any further suggestions.
I'll go local first, but does anyone have recommendations on the best approach when having this carsdirect price in hand?
Again, I assume I talk to the sales manager as that way the dealership doesn't have to pay commission and can go lower, but is there anything specific or any hints anyone has?
We've gotten cars through Checkbook Magazine's service (which is great but costs $160) where we just go the the sales manager at the dealer with the lowest bid, so the process is familiar to me... I just want any further suggestions.
Anyway, the Atlanta price is insane, I just pulled up one for below invoice. Maybe I should shop there and drive it back up.
if not, $160 isn't too bad to pay for their great service. it takes all the work out of your hands. i would imagine though, you could do as well as them using your computer like i did and save the $160. good luck.
ps. i was going to use this method with our 2003 accord, but on a whim offered the deal an out the door price (which amounted to around invoice) and they accepted it! [this is in CA] maybe i didn't get the _best deal_ possible, but it was painless and invoice price (as i'm sure you'd be happy too) seems like a decent price on a new model year and generation car.
Wesbc, your case is a lot different, you have a history with them.
Carsdirect called and said they can do it at the price quoted through a Georgia dealer ( again, I live in MD). The only thing is the dealer would want a $2000 non-refundable deposit. That sounds a bit odd. Is it? If they get me the finance rate I can handle I'll do it... though I'm very concerned that should there be some price hike when I get to the dealer I'm SOL.
;^)
(again, try locally first)