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Honda Accord Prices Paid and Buying Experience

29858 messages,  Last post on Jun 19, 2013 at 12:15 AM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Accord, Coupe, Sedan

Messages Page 1762 of 2987

#17605 of 29858 Re: 2008 Accord EX I4 auto sedan quotes [jaxs1] by rusted_out

Oct 04, 2007 (2:21 pm)

Replying to: jaxs1 (Oct 04, 2007 12:48 pm)
When in doubt, walk out. This is always a good MO when car shopping, and dealing with the internet sales agents at each dealership also helps take some stress out of obtaining their quotes.
 
Using the internet quotes, you can determine right away which dealerships are willing to deal and which are holding out for MSRP.
 
If I get a bite at my target price, I made it very clear that I will head into the dealership. Until then that time, made it equally clear, I can (and will) wait all day long; I already have a fine running car. Selling cars is not my job, but buying one (at a price I deem fair) can help the dealership perform theirs. I am not asking for invoice (or below), not even going into holdback territory.
 
I am trying to use my buying power as a consumer to help the greater good (we the car shopping public). I am glad to know you all are watching my back! Strength in numbers, or be divided/conquered. These kind of forums help us share information that previously would have been much harder/slower to obtain (advantage: dealership).
 
I went in over Labor Day weekend, I was talking to them about a 2007 Accord sedan, somewhere around $250 over invoice. The salesman looked at me and said "you do will not let us make ANY money on this car? How much do you want to pay?". I replied that I am not looking for even below invoice, not even dipping into holdback, and it was the end of MY 2007; I told him I did not want to pay a cent more than I had to, why would I do that? He looked back with a blank stare.
 
I worked in software development at the software company that has a near monopoly on the automotive wholesale floorplan lending business, used by many of the largest banks and automobile manufacturers worldwide. Basically we write the software that all the major banks use to lend dealerships money to keep their inventory on the lot, plus dealership inventory auditing, owned by the automobile conglomerate that includes the largest worldwide distributor of the #1 selling car brand in the world. Yes, we get deep discounts but I prefer other brands. Part of our training includes numerous classes where we learn all about the auto industry financing, and supply chain, from manufacturer to dealership to retail customer.
 
Long story short, I am not looking to rip any dealership sales people off, but I insist on a fair price. If I cannot get that now, I will wait. If we collectively hold out on the dealerships who want to charge MSRP, believe me, they are going to be the ones who bend first. Every car sitting on the dealer's lot is costing the dealership money, every deal they pass-up that will yield a profit is a lost revenue opportunity, not even considering the time it may take to recoup that. Not to mention the sales quotas and incentives that dealerships have to sell cars; in the case of Honda's Accord, this is their sales volume leader, their bread and butter. This is still a Honda Accord we are talking about, it is NOT an Acura (statement of fact, not an opinion; unless someone plans to replace the H logo with an A). The law of dealership supply and consumer demand will sort itself out, as many others have already remarked. That's just my $0.02. Of course, I do want to be driving my new 2008 Accord sooner than later.

#17606 of 29858 Re: 2008 Accord EX I4 auto sedan quotes [luv_my_job] by jaxs1

Oct 04, 2007 (2:26 pm)

Replying to: luv_my_job (Oct 04, 2007 2:13 pm)
Toyota needs to make VSA widely available on the Camrys since it's standard on the Accord.
It's difficult to find VSA even on the V6 Camrys that aren't fully loaded. In some major states like California, it's impossible to find a 4 cylinder Camry with VSA.
 
If they want to be competitive with the 2008 Accord, the will need to start putting VSA in easily available option packages in California on 2008 models and maybe just make it standard for 2009.

#17607 of 29858 Re: 2008 Accord EX I4 auto sedan quotes [jaxs1] by dwynne

Oct 04, 2007 (2:37 pm)

Replying to: jaxs1 (Oct 04, 2007 2:26 pm)
Toyota needs to equip the cars in trim lines and drop all the options. They have been trying to "be GM" and have an option lists that looks just like a domestic car company. On top of that they are distributed in regions and the regional company decides which combinations are offered and can be ordered. The net result is you often really can't get what you want no matter if you are willing to pay and wait for them to build it.
 
The Honda way is so much simpler - all the cars have all the safety features so you just pick trim line and color.
 
When car shopping for my wife, we could not get the car we wanted from Toyota, but with the Accord she just pick the color she wanted and we got it. With Toyota you find the color you want on the lot, but it is missing side air bags, or ABS, or skid control and something else you want. You find the one with most of the options and it is a color you do not want.
 
They are smart enough to do this with the Scion product - you pick the color and the tranny and you are done.
 
Dennis

#17608 of 29858 Re: 2008 Accord EX I4 auto sedan quotes [jaxs1] by rusted_out

Oct 04, 2007 (2:37 pm)

Replying to: jaxs1 (Oct 04, 2007 2:26 pm)
Another significant difference to me is that the Accord uses double wishbone front suspension, and independent multi-link rear suspension.
 
Camry uses MacPherson strut front suspension with gas-filled shock absorbers and stabilizer bar; dual-link independent MacPherson strut rear suspension with gas-filled shock absorbers and stabilizer bar.

#17609 of 29858 Re: 2008 Accord EX I4 auto sedan quotes [rusted_out] by jaxs1

Oct 04, 2007 (2:56 pm)

Replying to: rusted_out (Oct 04, 2007 2:37 pm)
I don't think many people care about double wishbone suspensions in family sedans, but they have started caring about stability control the last couple years or so.
It's getting more and more expected in family cars.
Just having stability control on an options list isn't enough. They have to actually manufacture it, not just post it on their website and print it in their brochures.

#17610 of 29858 Re: 2008 Accord EX I4 auto sedan quotes [jaxs1] by rusted_out

Oct 04, 2007 (3:17 pm)

Replying to: jaxs1 (Oct 04, 2007 2:56 pm)
I totally agree. Safety should be standard, not optional. At least legislation is in place to require stability control on all vehicles by 2012.
 
Well done by Honda to make all their safety features available in the 2008 Accord as standard features.
 
On the suspension, I agree that most Accord/Camry buyers do not care, but there are some that do, at least in the net result of the driving experience. I prefer the Accord's handling to the Camry.

#17611 of 29858 Re: 2008 Accord EX I4 auto sedan quotes [rusted_out] by dwynne

Oct 04, 2007 (3:31 pm)

Replying to: rusted_out (Oct 04, 2007 3:17 pm)
Making them all the same helps keep the cost (and hopefully the price) down as well. If every Honda has all the features, you just choose moonroof/stereo/wheels/leather/nav for options then they can surely make them cheaper per unit that someone who has dozens of options that they have to install/not install on various cars as they come down the line. Ditto ordering and transportation and sales all get simplified and streamlined.
 
Dennis

#17612 of 29858 Re: 2008 Accord EX I4 auto sedan quotes [rusted_out] by mackabee

Oct 04, 2007 (5:26 pm)

Replying to: rusted_out (Oct 04, 2007 2:21 pm)
This is still a Honda Accord we are talking about, it is NOT an Acura (statement of fact, not an opinion; unless someone plans to replace the H logo with an A).
 
Seems like they already did. A long time ago. All Acuras are rebadged Hondas. Take a good look next time you go to Europe or the Middle East. Lots of them Honda RL's running around.
 

#17613 of 29858 Re: 2008 Accord EX I4 auto sedan quotes [rusted_out] by myranasser

Oct 04, 2007 (7:27 pm)

Replying to: rusted_out (Oct 04, 2007 2:21 pm)
Rusted-out; you're the man. One of the most thought-out and well written reviews.

#17614 of 29858 NADA invoice prices by oarsdad

Oct 04, 2007 (7:53 pm)

NADA now has the Accord 2008 invoice prices up for all the trims. Remember to add $595/$635 destination charge.
 
NADA 2008 Accord invoice prices

Messages Page 1762 of 2987

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