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Honda Element Prices Paid and Buying Experience

729 messages,  Last post on Jul 18, 2009 at 2:11 PM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Element, Wagon, SUV

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#690 of 729 Re: Please help! confused, ready to buy Element [gmitch7] by heyheyjude Oct 02, 2008 (7:13 am)
Replying to: gmitch7 (Oct 01, 2008 4:27 pm) gmitch, I wanted to thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post with such detail. That was really nice of you and you helped me a lot! This is where I am now: The only local dealer in my area has made me an bottom line offer (on the '08 EX Manual) of $21,588. That includes title, taxes and something else I can't remember. He also said it would include floor mats, cargo tray, exhaust cover and wheel locks. I received a less expensive price from another dealership, but it's in another state, so the local salesperson cautioned me about the title and tag expenses I'd have to pay which would consequently drive the price up to what he's offering. Is that a good price?? I'm SO disappointed in not being able to get the color I wanted; he checked the 4 state region. He stated the 08's were getting few and far between. I just wonder if I should lay back for a few days or accept that price. Thanks for anyone's help and again, gmitch, much gratitude to you! Replies to this message: gmitch7 (Oct 02, 2008 4:26 pm)
#691 of 729 Re: Please help! confused, ready to buy Element [heyheyjude] by mplshondadlr Oct 02, 2008 (1:18 pm)
Replying to: heyheyjude (Oct 01, 2008 1:35 pm) gmitch7 almost got 100% (apologies to gmitch). There is a huge difference between AWD and 4WD.   All Wheel Drive (AWD) means power is being sent to all four wheels all of the time - hence AWD. Some people like to have the added power to the four wheels at all times but, having AWD will cost you at the pump.   Meanwhile, 4WD is a term that means power can be sent to all four wheels if needed. Honda offers what is called, "Real Time 4WD". That means that 90% of the time you're driving your Element you'll be in front wheel drive. However, when accelerating on to the freeway for example, the Real Time 4WD sends power to all four wheels to provide firm and steady acceleration. The other time(s) your Element will be in 4WD is when the front wheels begin to lose grip again power will be shifted to the rear wheels to help gain traction and once the added traction is no longer needed, you'll once again be in a more fuel efficient 2WD.   To address one other thing, some accessories (or added options) do require installation and you're not a very handy person, I would suggest purchasing those items from the dealer and having them install them. Other, simple installation items can be found online at deeply discounted prices. So do some shopping and figure out what take serious labor vs. easy install. Just my .02 Replies to this message: gmitch7 (Oct 02, 2008 2:27 pm)
#692 of 729 Re: Please help! confused, ready to buy Element [mplshondadlr] by gmitch7 Oct 02, 2008 (2:27 pm)
Replying to: mplshondadlr (Oct 02, 2008 1:18 pm) Hi, gmitch here Sorry if my post wasn't clear! In my post, when I said that they are used interchangeably, I did not mean that they are mechanically the same. What I meant was, that in his specific case (buying an Element), the terms being used by the various Honda persons responding to his request for a price quote are using them interchangeably even if inaccurately . There are two kinds of Element, front wheel drive and real time 4 wheel drive. He mentioned that dealers referred to the other kinds which don't exist in the Element trims. Sorry!!!
#693 of 729 Re: Please help! confused, ready to buy Element [heyheyjude] by gmitch7 Oct 02, 2008 (4:26 pm)
Replying to: heyheyjude (Oct 02, 2008 7:13 am) You are welcome! About your second post, I don't know where you are (for some reason I thought Washington state?), but it could make a difference in how much inventory they have. In my experience the volume dealers (the ones who sell more cars) are likely to have a larger supply of Elements (its my understanding that they are given "x" number Elements for "x" number of the good selling cars (think Accords and Civics), and because Elements don't sell as well they tend to pile up (a dealer around here would have a lot of Elements if had 7 or 8 since their sales are rarer) Most of the dealers here have a browseable online inventory (not 100% accurate but close enough), if not you can go to the dealership and count the Elements and trims for yourself (don't forget to look on the back lot). You can even go after they are closed so that you don't have to talk to anybody! You need to have a good idea how many they have of the type you want (even though they might only have 2 or 3 in the trim that you want, that's plenty since they don't sell that many per month. Look at how often there are post in the Element price paid forum compared to the Accord forum). Respectfully I doubt that they gave you a bottom line offer until they are sure that you are not shopping their price at other dealers, plus a bottom line offer at the beginning of the month might look very different at the end of the month when he might need just one more deal to make his quota or qualify for the next level of bonus (this is the advantage of buying on the last day or couple of days at the end of the month). I can't evaluate your offer because I don't know what the tax, title, license, Doc and other fees are for you area (give us the price of the vehicle before those fees). Buying out of state is no more expensive than buying locally, except for the travel cost since the taxes and other fees are generally the same (call your local tax office and get an estimate). You won't pay double taxes. You can call the out of state dealer and tell them that you are going to "tag and title" it in your area and they can tell you what you will pay. It is not uncommon for them to throw in cargo tray, mats, and wheel locks (they have a cost, but the actual cost to the dealer is nominal). About your color, it might not be available (but then again, it might be that he simply wants to sell you what he has), you can easily get a list of Honda dealers and their phone numbers on the internet and call them yourself. You can not know that what he said is true, and you are responsible for yourself. Ps the 2008s are all that there is, the 2009s have not yet been introduced. Should you lay back?? In my opinion YES! Nothing to lose everything to gain (gives you more time to research the details and gives the dealer more time to get desperate for one more deal). I only buy at the end of the month and it has served me well. The only other thing I can tell you is to feel free to mention the other dealers sales person's name during the negations (they are very competitive and don't want to loose you to another dealership, and it shows that you have other sources of information). Good luck!!!!   gm
#694 of 729 Re: Please help! confused, ready to buy Element [heyheyjude] by moviesla Oct 07, 2008 (8:26 pm)
Replying to: heyheyjude (Oct 01, 2008 1:35 pm) May I make another suggestion--delay as long as possible the purchase of this Element. The reason or the strategy--the U.S. economy is about to crash. The DJ diving at 500+ points a day is going to continue sending this country and the world into a real bad recession. Soon the auto dealers will feel this impact and will be devastated and dealership failures will result. It's happening already. Maybe the beginning of 2009 might be a good time to walk in and tell them you want this car "way" below invoice, and make it clear you'll walk if they don't accept. Most likely they will be desperate enough to accept your terms. I'm in the So. Calif area, and there has to be at least twenty dealerships. You'll be soon holding all the trump cards. Good luck.
#695 of 729 Great Canine Vehicle by skang1 Oct 16, 2008 (2:46 pm)
Great, choice. I have an '03 Element and will be getting an '08 probably in another wk or 2. I show dogs and I can fit up to 2-400 crates and a 300 crate in the back of my Element after taking both back seats out. It has been an outstanding car. I currently have 217k miles on my Element...and next to no mjr repairs...I replaced 1 strut and had to replace some kind of clip/holder (can't remember the exact part) on or near one of the front wheels. Both of those repairs were in the neighborhood of $500...not cheap, but I still wouldn't consider it major. I have had new breaks once and have also been doing very well with Yokohama tires...I seem to get about 85k miles on them...I am now in need of my 3rd set...the factory tires only lasted about 45k miles if that much. I think with the taxes, title, and license and the thing you can't remember the price they are telling you sounds very good. It seems that the good prices are in the 20,000 ball park. Good luck and I hope you have many happy outings with your pups.
#697 of 729 2008 LX manual - $17,630 - central N.C. by johnfromnc Oct 28, 2008 (2:41 pm)
Price of $17,630 includes everything except actual cost of taxes and tags, which, of course, vary from state to state. Dealer was Auto Park Honda in Cary. No options purchased. Nice car. Very pleased with the deal. I don't think 5-speed manuals are selling very well, but the 5-speed makes the car quite zippy.
#698 of 729 very pleased by husker13 Nov 06, 2008 (10:56 am)
Hello everybody, this is my first post...i recently purchased an 08 element EX awd (gray) on Oct. 15, 2008...The sticker price was 23,860 but my cost was only 20,200 plus doc fee of 200 for a total of 20,400 excluding taxes and plates...The dealer said the mark-up was only about 1600 and there was dealer cash of a 1000. There was no trade.    I sold toyotas for 2 years and learned alot about the car business during that time...Many times I sold vehicles for well under invoice, sometimes even under holdback...To get these kinda deals everything had to fall into place just right...For example, year-end model, slow day, manager's mood, they need to move a car for future allocations...However, it never failed the biggest winners were the shoppers who were either threatening to go outta town for a better deal or had just driven quite along way to get a better deal than what they found in their hometown. And while the internet is a great way to get a good price you will still get the best price negotiating in person.   Here's how it all went down...I live in Omaha and got my best price at all three locations, the best quote was 20,860..The quotes varied by as much as 700 between those three..I then went to Williamson Honda in Lincoln(50 miles away) and they matched my best price in Omaha...Still not satisfied (I know traveled miles equates to dollars saved), I called a Honda dealer in St. Joseph, MO and told them the price I was trying to beat, they essentially said they could match it and I asked them if they could beat it, to my surprise they said yes by a couple hundred dollars and the next day I drove down(about 150 miles)...Being in the car business before I wasn't going to settle for their quote of 20,660, so after driving the element we went inside and I told them during the presentation of numbers that the total I was willing to pay was 20,400 including the doc fee ( find out what the doc fee is before making your offer)...It took a while but they eventually accepted my offer especially knowing if I left they would never see me again...   remember, never act to eager!!!

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