Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Comments
--jjf
wish I could order the Honda Care extended warranty online, but we are not allowed to by law here in Florida (unless it's from a Florida dealer). I was quoted $1695 for a 7 yr/100k warranty. I was wondering how much room there was in there for negotiation.
Dave
Correct: Pilots: up 6.6% over last year this time
[Odyssey down almost 20% though]
Great price! I understand TTL which stands for tax and title, but what does the P stand for and how much did you pay for that?
This forum has been invaluable in my quest for a new Pilot. I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their experience and I want to share mine.
I think it would be easier to compare price if everyone listed their price including everything except sales tax and title. Processing fee is taxable just like the car and can vary dealer to dealer and the terminology for this fee can change. Why does it exist? I think the dealer uses it to confuse us.
So negotiate based on drive out, but bring your total cost minus TTL to the forum.
I paid $22876 before TTL for a Honda Pilot 2WD LX on April 2 in Atlanta. Included in that price was a "customer fee" sometimes referred to as a "processing fee" of about $500.
If we break that out, everyone's going to have slightly different numbers. Include it, and it gives us the advantage of easy comparison.
So, I add 22 in title fees and 7% tax and I have a drive out of $24500.
I agree with stm378, that you have to balance how important color and particular model ex/lx leather/cloth res/nav is to you. If you have flexibility on color and you are willing to pay some price flux on features. I believe you may get a better price this summer. Ultimately, I really wanted a particular style and color so I took the best price I could get now.
I think the dealers use the dealer add ons to pick off another couple hundred from you and give themselves wiggle room on the internet quote. I got an lx so I can't speak beyond pinstripe, paint & cloth protectant and mudflaps which all get thrown in once you start talking drive out. On of my first quotes was $21800 on the 2wd lx and then the fine print "doesn't include processing fee, delivery fee, dealer add ons." Just skip over all that and go right to drive out.
Establish your drive out ask price by searching this forum using the search terms for the model and features you want and seeing the prices negotiated. I saw last summer one buyer got just below $24000 drive out 2wd lx, so I requested that price from the dealers. I didn't get it so I'm guessing I might have done $500 better this summer, but what will be the lx availability and color availability? I'm going to be driving this car for years to come and didn't want to risk it.
Like the other posters, I agree that you need to follow up your best internet quote with a drive out price and get it through email because the other dealers want to know you have it in writing.
I experienced the frenzy of the end of the month buying but my prices were still good after that and I bought at the begining of the next month. The dealer cash hadn't changed. The salesmen tell me that it could have changed and I know that it does but it didn't this month. My point is don't feel pressured to make the deal before the end of the month.
Will dealer cash return to $3000k? Will the dealer have the model and color you want this summer? How much of the extra $1000 will the dealer split with you? If you are comfortable with these questions then I recommend waiting. Worse case you can get the new 2008 Pilot at a lower feature set for about what you will pay for a higher feature set now.
EXL Fwd $27,083 -- MSRP $32,540 = $5,457 off
EXL 4wd $28,273 -- MSRP $33,840 = $5,567 off
We have not visited him yet and plan to buy last week of April per advice of stm378.
Based on what I'm reading here, do you think this is really the best quote or do you think we might be able to get another $2K off by way of "dealer cash". Appreciate any advice. :confuse:
We requested internet quotes on March 30. Dealer in Ohio gave us internet quote as follows:
EXL Fwd $27,083 -- MSRP $32,540 = $5,457 off
EXL 4wd $28,273 -- MSRP $33,840 = $5,567 off
We have not visited him yet and plan to buy last week of April per advice of stm378.
Based on what I'm reading here, do you think this is really the best quote or do you think we might be able to get another $2K off by way of "dealer cash". Appreciate any advice.
Which dealer did you get this quote from?
JJF, see that you are in Cincy and have learned a lot from your posts. I am really interested in what you think of Cincy market and where I might get the best bang for my buck? I am also getting quote from guy at Sam Swope in Richmond KY but he seems fishy as says he'll go $2K under best internet quote but all phone contact and he hasn't committed it to writing on the internet. Don't mind driving the 2 hrs. for a great deal but don't want to drive to Richmond if he's not going to honor the deal once I get there. Also got quotes from Superior and Honda East who were $300 and $886 over the best quote of $28,273. Thanks for your help.
JJF I would be interested in hearing your suggestions as well.
Are you getting quotes on 2007 EX-L 4WD as well? Not sure that I need 4WD in Cincy but took JJF advise in Msgs #8409 where he said to avoid the 2WD as limited supplies of 2WD mean better savings on 4WD. Right now the quotes are $1200 more for 4WD than 2WD at all dealerships even Wyler.
Interested in knowing if should hang tight for now and either recontact Wyler last week of April and/or send out for 10 internet bids last week of April? What savings can I hope to achieve during the last week of April off the most competitive quote received thus far of $28,273 as I am willing to wait for best deal? What can I hope to achieve in savings by waiting until Memorial Day weekend as need new car by June. Thanks for help.
I am not getting quotes for a 4WD EX-L as I have never seen the point of buying a 4WD car and I've lived in Colorado for over 20 years. I've had 4WD cars in the past where I have never used the feature. 2WD will also save you on insurance.
While you may be able to get the 4WD for a nominal amount more than a 2WD, I look at it the same as buying things at Sam's Club. You can get more for just a little bit more money, but can you really use 96 oz. of maple syrup?
I will actually be buying here in the next couple weeks, so I will keep you abreast of my dealings.
Per my experience, in mid-west markets like cincy, the dealers would not be able to match with the east coast sites and west coast sites, from where the most competitive prices have been reported last year. I did get better quotes from Columbus and such, the edge was like < 250USD. I was willing to buy at local deals to save some hassle.
My 2 cents.
As for the NE dealers I emailed:
Superior came in at $30,947 with 3.9% so that would be $28,947 with the $2K dealer cash (although they didn't explicitly offer that). That was their first offer and they didn't budge when I said I had lower ones.
O'Daniel came in at $28,997. Here was the accompanying text:
"We pride ourselves on being able to match or beat 99.9% of all other dealer offers. Please give us chance. If you received a lower written price quote, please forward the e-mail to me and I will present it to the General Manager of our dealership and do my best to beat the deal."
I sent them my best offer ($28,496 at the time) and this is his reply:
"Looks like good price for the polit, but I am going to stick with my quote."
I guess I was in the 0.1% (yeah, right).
Bellevue sent me an initial quote of $30,947 and said they would contact me in a day or so. They never emailed or called. At this point, I was at $27,996 and figured they weren't going to come down by $3K, even with the dealer cash.
I'm not saying Holmes is the best. I work with a guy who has purchased 3 Odysseys and all 3 times started at Holmes and went to Ames because he was treated poorly. Honda of Ames has been bought out by Lithia and supposedly the service is very poor there now as well. That is one of the main reasons I looked elsewhere. I had to email the guy at Lithia 3 times before he responded!
I live in C.B. but am very familiar with central IA and Holmes. My sister lives in Grimes and bought her first Accord out here at Superior because Holmes wouldn't deal but bought her second one from Holmes. How aggressive were the three Omaha dealers?
P would be processing, from my understanding some states have it and some don't. It is basically straight to the dealer money but you can't avoid it here. Here in MD where I'm from it's legally limited to $99, in VA it can go up to $399.
S
Car price is really too fuzzy. :lemon:
The GMC Envoy/Chevy Trailblazer was advertised a lot last year for 10000-11000 off MSRP. The Pilot was selling for $7000-8000 off MSRP last summer. The Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape about $6500-7000 off.
A good price on a 32000 Pilot awd EX is about 26000 now so go from there.
Don't buy anything in this segment near invoice. The Envoy and Pilot wholesale $13000 and $10000 off MSRP year one so that gives you a clue as to why the discounts.
The Acadia is new so no used values yet but after the newness wears off in a bit we are probably talking $5000-10000 off. The Envoy is probably poor in reliability compared to the Pilot but GM has given the 100000 mi warranty so that is a plus.
Happy Hunting
--jjf
I've been researching the Acadia but its invoice price is significantly higher. From what I've seen invoice is around $34k. I'm not sure it is worth $7k more than an AWD EX-L Pilot. Are there any incentives on the Acadia? Plus I'm not sure about GMC's reliability compared with the Pilot's.
It looks like I'm not going to get as good a deal as a lot of folks here. I've got quotes online from every dealer in Central Florida, and no one will go below $27,521 for a 2WD EX-L, even with much arm-twisting. Some are willing to give me a bit more for my '03 Pilot EX-L trade in, so I shouldn't fare too badly. I'll still get an '07 for a good bit less than I paid for my '03...
Dave
You really want about 6000 off this vehicle. 10 or 20 inquiries toward end of april should suffice.
--jjf
It looks like I'm not going to get as good a deal as a lot of folks here. I've got quotes online from every dealer in Central Florida, and no one will go below $27,521 for a 2WD EX-L, even with much arm-twisting. Some are willing to give me a bit more for my '03 Pilot EX-L trade in, so I shouldn't fare too badly. I'll still get an '07 for a good bit less than I paid for my '03...
Dave
Frankly, the Acadia looks very nice, but the interior quality is just not there. It all looks like it'll fall apart in 5 years. At MSRP, it's just not a good deal.
We keep our cars a long time (My wife's thinking about the Pilot to replace her 1997 CR-V w/ 130K miles), and so we value long-term quality over snazzy looks that fall apart.
I'd never buy a first year GM/Ford/Chrysler vehicle, just because they seem to view consumers as their test fleet.
Good luck to all honda buyers. I think it is a great truck..:)
I appreciate all the info. you guys shared here.
Thanks.
Can $6000 off apply to LX 2wd models as well?
There is a lot of talk about prices ... what is a good "starting" price for a Pilot ... 4WD EX-L with Honda DVD Rear Entertainment System ... If I can wait until summer will I get a better price ?
We are interested in purchasing 07 Pilot, still undecided on 2WD or AWD , but leaning towards an EX. below is the best quote we have received. my questions follow the quotes
MSRP: $27,690*
YOUR INTERNET VALUE SALES PRICE:
$22,084.40*
2007 Honda Pilot LX 2 wheel drive
Model #YF2817EW
MSRP: $28,990*
YOUR INTERNET VALUE SALES PRICE:
$23,270.88*
2007 Honda Pilot LX 4 wheel drive
Model #YF1817EW
MSRP: $30,240*
YOUR INTERNET VALUE SALES PRICE:
$24,411.71*
2007 Honda Pilot EX 2 wheel drive
Model #YF2847EW
MSRP: $31,540*
YOUR INTERNET VALUE SALES PRICE:
$25,598.18*
2007 Honda Pilot EX 4 wheel drive
Model #YF1847EW
Questions:
1) just noticed that she stuck model numbers on the quote, is this a set up for a bait and switch??
2) Can i do better than these prices near the end of the month?? i have read that the target off MSRP shoud be 6-7K and these are the closest ones i've found.
3) What is the advantage of purchasing from a closer dealership, this one is 50 miles away. do current Pilot owners visit the dealership much after purchase or are maintainance items usually done at third party
4) maybe trading in a 04 dodge neon sxt with front end damage (yeah i know). should i treat that as a seperate transaction??? offered 3-3.5K at dealerships and owe 7.5K (yeah i know) any other options for getting rid of this vehicle for a better price??
5) doubt we will use the AWD much, but have others really experienced a better deal with an AWD
6) please give me all opinions and i am sure that i am forgetting some things here and i will post them as they come to me.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE
Skip the 2wd as its not worth getting 30% less machine to save $800-$1200 (5%).
--jjf
Dealer $ Excl Taxes
Gwinnett Place 28,572.28
Curry 28,661.49
Sunny King 28,770.96
Team 29,031.98
Sons Honda 29,071.78
Honda Mall 29,074.26
Carey Paul 29,270.49
Nalley 29,404.74
Milton Martin 30,061.53
As for question #1, if those are model numbers from Honda and not stock numbers from the dealership, then it's not *A* specific vehicle.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
I like to get about 10-20 bids end of month and have the dealers tell me a price rather than I tell them. That said tho from Depreciation info and prices reported on this board we are talking between $29000-30000 or so for a good target.
--jjf
jfritsch, why is the 2WD "30% less machine"?
I can understand some folks not wanting to fork out 2800 or so for the 4wd/awd on other vehicles but with many getting the Pilot awd for $1000-1200(4%) more than the 2wd it just isn't worth chasing a 2wd. (there are at least 3x as many awd than 2wd made) If you get picky on color your problem gets worse. (There may be only one red 2wd EX within 150-200 miles of you and that dealer may be fat and happy with his sales that month)
The mileage estimates for the 2wd is within 7% of the awd, and since the epa estimates vary by 10% or more by individual vehicle and driving habits thats a wash. Add in a possibly complex cylinder shutoff mechansim to achive this huge 7% diff in mileage and I'll pass. The resale on them may take a hit, the demand for them is lower (thus fewer made) Please don't convince yourself you will save on insurance. (It's probably less than $10 a year)
Yeah if you had to fork out $2500 more or so I could see it but for $1200 or less its a no brainer. I have no idea why people actually seek the 2wd out. Like in message 8751....yeah like what she said.
Happy Hunting
--jjf
Skip the 2wd as its not worth getting 30% less machine to save $800-$1200 (5%)."
jfritsch, why is the 2WD "30% less machine"?
If I lived where there were 4 seasons I would definitely want 4WD. It doesn't make sense to pay for it in Florida, though.
By the way, thanks for all the great advice - your posts are very helpful!
Dave