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Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Honda Civic Prices Paid and Buying Experience
9204 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 10:11 PM
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Hi, I just got into a deal to lease a Honda Civic LX 2009 for $199/m $0 down. The dealer is also charging me $599 bank fee which I can either pay upfront or monthly added to the car monthly payments. They say this fee is charged by Honda Financial. Is this fee true? Is it that amount? When Honda financial called me to confirm the deal, I asked them about the fee and the agent referred me back to the dealer saying she couldn't discuss it. I've seen other postings with reference to bank fees but I want to make sure this fee is legal. If it is, am I better off paying it all upfront or in monthly installments? Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you. |
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Hello all, I recently bought a new Civic LX Coupe with an automatic transmission. Let me tell you my story (warning: it's long and detailed, skip to the bottom of my post for the Cliff notes). Location: Maryland and Virginia (I live in MD). I initially went through Edmunds in order to ask some dealers for quotes. I soon realized that a more efficient way would be to go through cars.com since it allows one to view all the dealers within a specified distance from your zip code, as opposed to only 5 dealers that Edmunds displays (making up new zip codes is a pain). After requesting quotes from roughly 15 dealers, I waited roughly 3 hours before the "good quotes" started pouring in. Let me explain what I mean by that. As soon as a quote request is submitted, a dealer's computer system sends out an automated response "Thanks for your request, we'll get back to you soon". A short time later, many dealers will send out a second email blast along the lines of "Hey, while we research the pricing for this car for you, are there any colors or accessories that you really wanted too?". Don't bother answering that email. After about 2-3 hours you'll get the actual information that you wanted (i.e. prices). Some of the responses will sound like they are computer generated (maybe because they are?), others will be more personal and obviously written by a live human. Note: don't write anything in the comments field when you first ask a dealer for a quote. It is useless. All the dealers look at is the car make (ex: Honda), car model (ex: Civic) and the trim (ex: LX Coupe auto). I first tried asking the dealers to provide me their price for a Civic with a number of accessories on it (more on that later). Not a single response I received acknowledged that part of my query. Save that for until you start communicating with an actual human being. Based on what I've read on this forum, my "target" price was $15, 500 (including destination as well as mud guards/wheel locks/door edge guards) with the tax + dealer fees and the MVA fees being extra. My strategy: once a quote was received, I'd send out a counter-offer with the price above. If more than one dealer accepted my offer, I'd them ask for additional accessories in order for them to earn my business. I clearly stated I was prepared to buy within a week but would prefer to make my purchase immediately. Summary of my communication with the dealers (their responses to my counter offer): Ourisman Honda of Laurel: Where are you coming up with the 15,500 number? It seems a little low. Criswell Honda: I am glad you are doing some research, but be careful! You have to compare apples to apples. The $15,500 was because of incentives that Honda has now ended, you have to sift through the forums to recent sales and check location as different districts get different incentives. With the Protection Package installed, you are looking at $16,118 plus doc fee of $100, tax and tags...I think that you will find my pricing to be very aggressive, are there a few more pennies to be had, only your presence will tell. Ourisman Honda of Bethesda: The prices you will be getting will vary between $100 to $300 give or take, you will not see a big difference in pricing. You as an internet customer all dealer's will give you the bottom line price's also please keep in mind that all dealer's pay the same amount for the car. I don't know if it is the right decision to hold off till next weekend or even by the end of the month. As you know Honda is a Hot selling car and there might not be as good as a selection toward the end of the month. The 2010 model will hit the showroom by next month and the price for the 2010 will be significant higher than the 2009. Regarding your offer, we are very close. I might be able to do your offer of 15,500 but I need you here so I convince my GM to make the deal. Your presence is your power. Fairfax Honda: I would like to help you out but my quote is plus the freight charge ($670.00). That I can do for you. We also already include the appearance package (mudguards, floor mats, clean-up) at NO extra charge. Landmark Honda: [They responded to my email with a counter offer by sending me the exact same quote. They followed up with 3 or 4 more automated emails but with little useful information (besides the original quote, which was above my "target price") ] Honda of Tysons Corner: 2009 Honda Civic LX Coupe Automatic Stock#9H504986 $14,291 as advertised plus all fees......when would you like to come in and finish this up? Looks like our price is quite lower than what you have received elsewhere....no need to continue shopping.... [and a follow up message]: $14,291 plus everything.....all fees. $670 freight, $299 processing, $495 for wheel locks, splash guards and the 8 "Edge" benefits, plus taxes and tags. It still should come out lower than any Out The Door quote you have received. It is a blow out loser deal on one specific stock #. Let me know how you wish to proceed my friend..... Leesburg Honda: The "PRICE QUOTE" that I have just sent you is a "REAL" competitive one. But, if you can get for $15,500 with the destination included and with protection package as described, then I would highly recommended you to confirm with that dealer before making a trip there. As for me, I will be here for you if things do not work out there. Thanks. Pohanka Honda: [Many messages. There was some confusion about the price they were quoting me but $15, 500 with the destination charge + wheel locks + splash guards + door edge guards included is what they were able to do. More on Pohanka below.] Herson's Honda: I think I can get close to your price request but the only accessory we add to our car is wheel locks. The other accessories I would have to charge for. If you can do without them let me know. Sport Honda: Yes the LX coupe auto, muds and locks is the pro pack Other dealers: I either didn't send them a counter offer (because I already had plenty of information by then) or they didn't respond to it, By now, I have had in hand 4 dealer quotes that were right around my "target price": Sport Honda, Honda of Tysons Corner, Pohanka Honda and Ourisman Honda (Bethesda). Herson's was pretty close too. Actual dealership experiences : First I went to Pohanka Honda. They certainly had quite a selection of Civics: 56 of them (so finding my favorite color was easy). I took a quick test drive and we started to work over numbers. They were willing to do $15, 600 including the destination charge & the processing fee as well as the wheel locks, splash guards and the door edge guards, with the tags and tax being extra. I asked for one more accessory to clinch the deal: Honda Bluetooth. They were unable (or unwilling) to include that into the purch |
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Continued from the previous post Actual dealership experiences : First I went to Pohanka Honda. They certainly had quite a selection of Civics: 56 of them (so finding my favorite color was easy). I took a quick test drive and we started to work over numbers. They were willing to do $15, 600 including the destination charge & the processing fee as well as the wheel locks, splash guards and the door edge guards, with the tags and tax being extra. I asked for one more accessory to clinch the deal: Honda Bluetooth. They were unable (or unwilling) to include that into the purchase price. After several hours of talks we could not complete the transaction. I remained firm on the price and refused to accept it as unrealistic. I appreciated that the dealer seemed eager to sell me the car and fought for my business (they only sold 80 cars last month as I found out) but others might be uncomfortable with having pretty much every standard car salesman phrase or “trick” (for the lack of a better word) thrown at them. My next dealer was Jim Coleman Honda in Clarksville. I sent them the quotes from Sport, Tyson’s Corner and Ourisman and was assured that they could beat them. Once I arrived I was instantly impressed with the size of the dealership and the size of their car lot (plenty of Civics of all trims and colors) – it seemed in a whole different league from Pohanka altogether. This might be important to quite a few people: all the cars (or at least all the ones I’ve seen) they have already come with several accessories installed: mud guards, door edge guards and pin striping (and possibly wheel locks, not quite sure). I’ve never asked if these accessories could be uninstalled should the buyer not want them (I did want them). I presented Pohanka’s numbers as well as the quotes from the other dealerships to my salesperson. Our negotiation process was brief – I offered $15, 200 (including the destination charge & the processing fee) + MD tags ($222) + MD tax (6%) and my offer was accepted. Accessories included with the car: wheel locks, splash guards, door edge guards and the pin striping. I was also able to qualify for the Honda financing (2.9% or 3.9% depending on the length of the loan). Overall, I found my car buying experience to be rather easy. I did not feel pressured at Jim Coleman but that of course depends on the car salesman that you get. I know I am not allowed to mention any names, but if you’d like to deal with the same salesguy I did, ask the receptionist or one of the sales managers to call the person who sold the second highest number of cars in June. His last name is pronounced like one of the seasons of the year. If you’d like to mention my name to him (Alex), he’ll recognize it. So, what’s the moral of the story? First, do your research on pricing here on the Inside Line forums (don’t even look at the TMV price, it’s way too high). Second of all, decide on the amount that you feel is realistic before you walk into the dealership’s doors, then stick to it no matter what. If it turns out you were wrong and guessed too low, you can always come back to that dealership later (if you liked them) or just go to another dealer armed with your new knowledge and experience. Third of all, while the smaller dealership might be more desperate to earn your business, the larger dealerships are the ones with the greater ability to lower the price for you (partly because Honda gives them larger bonuses for hitting their larger sales targets). Cliff notes as promised: I ended up buying a 2009 Civic LX Coupe automatic for $15,200 with all the fees included except for tax (6% in MD) and tags ($222). Accessories included with the car: splash guards, door edge guards, wheel locks and pin striping. Dealer: Jim Coleman Honda in Clarksville, MD. Hope this helps somebody! Cheers!
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One more point I wanted to make. If you are the kind of person who is very conscientious about keeping your car's interior and exterior as pristine as possible, there is something that you might want to do. Do not allow the dealer to do the cleanup on your car before you take delivery. Instead, drive away in the car the way it comes from the factory - covered with plastic. Then, either go to your trusted local detailer and have them clean/wax/detail the car or just do it yourself. Make sure to emphasize your wishes to your car salesman. Why? The cleanup crew at a dealership might or might not be too careful with your new purchase. They might be in a hurry. They might be eager to go home. They might have 10 other cars that they need to clean ASAP. They might just not care about the job that they do. After all, they won't be driving this car for the next several years - you will. Jim Coleman's cleanup crew wasn't good at all. There were spots of dirt on the interior plastic panels as well as well as some stains on the two front seats (to my salesman's credit, he personally got rid of them and has done a great job). The exterior was far worse - plenty of small scratches that became quite obvious once the sun came up the next day. I suspect this might not be as big deal if your car is silver or white. If it's a dark color, it might bug you quite a bit. |
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Hi all, I am in Bay Area, CA and got a quote for the 09 civic lx-s auto: Car price: $16958 (incl. dest fee) + tax + gov fees Final OTD is $18971.24 I want to buy the car this week. Is it a good price? Please give me some advices. Thank you very much and happy july 4!!
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Hi I am planning to buy Honda Civic EX-L Sedan (Auto) in San Francisco Bay area and the quotes I am getting are around $19,300 + Taxes + License. Is this the best price we can expect or has anyone got better price than that ? Do you think the prices will go down further as new models arrive ? I am flexible on when to buy the car so can wait few more weeks if required. Any tips would be of great help. Thanks for the adivce from this forum.
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I live in the Los Angeles Area. My current lease runs out next month and I want to get into a Honda Civic EX-L w/ Navi. I'm currently sifting through dealer responses and the best price I've received has been 20,959. That seems like a good price because it's well under invoice. Unfortunately, I think it includes 1000.00 dealer incentive which expires Monday! Just looking for opinions about that price. Thanks |
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I live in Charlotte, NC and I did not opt for the EX-L but did get the EX navi/blue tooth and love it. The car had wheel locks and and mud guards and was everything I wanted. With destination I paid 19,700. What really got me to purchase from these folks (Honda of Rock HIll, SC) was they offered me $1000 more on my 2001 caddy than any other dealer who had looked at it, and $2000 more than most. So, I figure I really bought the car for 18,700 or less. We subtracted the trade in price and added the doc fee, tax and license. (I know...people ask why I'd go from a caddy to a Civic...long story but gas and upkeep were two big issues.) My husband and I were at the dealer on the third Sat. of June right before Father's Day in the afternoon and the place was absolutely dead. I don't think they had sold anything all day and seemed especially interested in closing the deal. I didn't think they would take my offer but they did and it went as smooth as silk. I do wish I had bargained for a rear deck lid spoiler and back seat cup holders....but live and learn. Now I'll have to pay full retail if I want them. One question for you enthusiasts...it's so hard to see as you back up in the Civic and was wondering if anyone has added a back up sensor and if Honda does it or you have to find someone else. (Hubby and I can't). I don't need a camera, but the caddy had a sensor that I loved and counted on. If Honda doesn't do it, where do do you recommend I purchase one and have it installed? So scared to let just anyone mess with the new baby! Thanks! |
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Hi, I have a friend who is leaving the country. So he wants to get rid of his Honda Civic 09 sedan which is on lease. The car is in good condition 27k kilometres. The car is on lease till the end of 2010 with a monthly payment of $260. Can someone tell me if this is a good deal to take?? and also how much do i have to pay to change the leasing agreement from his name to mine? and the approximate residue value of the till the end of the lease?? Thank you very much.
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Replying to: bibilili (Jul 03, 2009 11:37 pm) Have you tried to go through the internet sales?
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