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Acura RDX Prices Paid and Buying Experience

2025 messages,  Last post on May 19, 2013 at 11:00 AM

You are in the Prices Paid - Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum.

What is this discussion about? Acura RDX, Car Leasing, Car Buying, SUV

Messages Page 136 of 204

#1343 of 2025 Re: Invoice [ltllady] by stickguy

Jul 12, 2012 (1:05 pm)

Replying to: ltllady (Jul 12, 2012 12:20 pm)
they like the internet as an advertising tool, and some are better than others with an internet department for responding to price quotes, but that is usally as far as they go. Once you have that, you need to connect to some sort of salesperson to build the relationship.
 
They also know that the closing rate on email only people is very low. And they play a % game. Just because you are the exception to the rule (maybe!) does not mean they are going to know that, or spend time.
 
so, you get the "here is our internet price, when do you want to come in to look at it" response.
 
my experience, once you have actually gone in, looked at the car, and become a "real" buyer (connected to a salesperson) it is much easier to then have email negotiations.
 
keep in mind that the majority of Email people are just fishing for a price to shop at other dealers (or take to your local preferred one). Again, not something they want to spend a lot of time with, if they have real live customers to work on.
 
Still, I just recently got an internet quote from a NJ dealer that was followed up by a couple of emails from the internet person (who was not a saleperson), answering questions, but heavily were geared toward "when can you come in to look"? I was not at the point to check to see if I wanted to accept their offer, if I could have just done it via email. Most likely it would have taken a phone call.
 
my local dealer also sent an email quote, with a contact name if I had quesitons, but again, that was the internet department that pretty much just connected you to a salesman, just with a preset price.
 
Why not go to the place you prefer, with whatever price you have to beat, and just take care of nailing it down?

#1344 of 2025 Re: Invoice [ltllady] by quakerwildcat

Jul 12, 2012 (1:15 pm)

Replying to: ltllady (Jul 12, 2012 12:20 pm)
Yeah, this may be the age of the internet, but if you hope to get the very best price possible, you will not get it by email (just as you won't see it posted on this forum).
Two reasons:
1) Sales people want to size you up over the phone to make sure you are somebody who is really ready to buy and willing to buy from their dealership today
2) They don't want to put some great deal in writing just so you can show it to their competitors

#1346 of 2025 Re: 2013 AWD TECH $40,315 [mlevinedc3] by stang1031

Jul 16, 2012 (8:35 pm)

Replying to: mlevinedc3 (Jul 11, 2012 8:15 pm)
I would, too. 2013 RDX - AWD & Tech I will buy between VA to CT -- live in Princeton. Color--indifferent. Lowest price with desti was $36,200 (not including TT&L) --haven't discussed trade-in or accessories yet (far from home -- go figure). I'm in no need for a vehicle, so I can wait for better offers / more inventory is released / interest wears off.
 
Questions for all:
 
--Anyone out there dealt with Montclair Acura yet?
--Thoughts of 2013 RDX when compared to the Q5? I need to drive one of those. My only concern is maintenance at the 5+ year mark. 1 year pre-owned would be OK.
--What is the invoice price for the 2013 RDX Tech AWD? MSRP $40,315.
--What are the cons/pros (if any) with buying out of state? Extra fees that I need to consider? (VA -> NJ or NY -> NJ, etc)?
 
Thanks, gentlemen and ladies!

#1347 of 2025 Re: 2013 AWD TECH $40,315 [stang1031] by stickguy

Jul 16, 2012 (8:57 pm)

Replying to: stang1031 (Jul 16, 2012 8:35 pm)
Edmunds has that on the new car page, but it is $37,860. So $36,200 is a good 1,500+ under invoice, which really seems odd since there are no reported incentives, and they are still selling well.
 
but, I know that Denville Acura is selling below invoice for in stock units, but I don't think they were even that low!
 
As to the Audi, my wife and I scoped one out but did not drive. Very nice, a bit small (but maybe not smaller than the Acura), and quite pricey.

#1348 of 2025 Re: 2013 AWD TECH $40,315 [stickguy] by m6user

Jul 16, 2012 (9:20 pm)

Replying to: stickguy (Jul 16, 2012 8:57 pm)
Very similarly equipped the Q5 is about $4k more than the RDX. I've read quite a bit about expensive Audi service and repairs after warranty expiration. Seems like every time I hear from someone that says Audis are great and don't have problems, they are the ones that lease and turn in the cars just prior to repairs being needed and paid for with their own dime. I love the Audi styling and interior refinement but am spoiled with virtually flawless vehicles the past few years.
 
As far as that $1500 below invoice price that was previously posted, you'll notice the person has not come back and answered several queries about where exactly they bought it. Not saying anyone is lying but I personally don't believe it.

#1349 of 2025 RDX Vs Q5 by mlevinedc3

Jul 17, 2012 (7:17 am)

I had an Audi 1998 A6 Quattro on a lease. Fortunately ALL the maintenance was up to Audi as was the warranty. The lease was 3y/36K. It had so many suspension problems in that time, it's a good thing I didn't have to pay for repairs. 2 oil leaks, several other engine sensor problems. The only good things were the 4wd performance in snow and the way it protected me when I got rear-ended while at a stop by a SUV going 50+ mph. The SUV hit the driver's side rear, rolled onto 2 wheels, then came down on my hood. $14,000+ damage (totalled) and EMS was able to just open the driver's door even with a small buckle in the roof.
 
Still, no more Audi's for me.
 
We have an 04 MDX with 156K on it. It's been at the dealer once, for the 105K timing belt. That's it. Not one problem.

#1350 of 2025 Re: Invoice [quakerwildcat] by billy3554

Jul 17, 2012 (9:18 am)

Replying to: quakerwildcat (Jul 12, 2012 1:15 pm)
Thankfully, not all dealerships remain in the dark ages of automobile sales. Some have actually embraced the internet and gained access to the large number of potential customers who choose to use the internet.
 
Savy buyers know any price given by a dealer is not the lowest price, even if given over the internet. However, selecting a dealer who provides a comptetive starting price rather than one who refuses to provide a price or provides one which is not comptetive starts the process at a much better price level for the buyer.
 
Regarding internet inquiries, sales people have no idea who is on the other end of the inquiry. Obviously, some may be serious and others not. So what? Not every sales lead results in a sale but surely sales leads which are ignored never result in a sale. Really, are sales people so busy on a weekday they cannot take a few moments to send an email?
 
Good internet sales people recognize a person asking for a price is expecting a price. Not responding to a specific customer request is most assuredly certain to drive that customer to another dealership.
 
Use of the internet gives the sales person one chance before the potential customer moves on. For every sales person ignoring an email inquiry there is another sales person who is most appreciative. In the age of the internet everyone knows pricing anyway. Ignoring that fact will not change it in any way.
 
A prime reason people use the internet is to avoid (1) telephone calls where a sales person can size them up and perhaps (2) to get a general feel of the sales practices of the dealership. As most of us understand, buyers should always maintain control of the process. Smart buyers use the internet to size up the sales person and dealership rather than allowing the sales person to size them up.
 
One might inquire, if a dealership is afraid to provide an offer, why do they bother with the charade of offering a price (click here for your special internet price) on their web site?
 
Oh, one final note, a customer does not need a written price from a dealership to show to a competitor. Anyone who thinks otherwise is ignoring the reality of today's market. In my experience, a verbal quote works just fine. If price is most important, a person need only tell the competitor the price and ask if they can beat it. If not, just go back to the other dealership. If the price is realistic, my bet is most dealers will match it or beat it.

#1351 of 2025 Re: Invoice [vaacurapro] by billy3554

Jul 17, 2012 (9:26 am)

You are correct about Radley Acura. They do seem to provide quality internet quotes. Also Pohanka in Chantilly. Perhaps that is why those two dealerships seem to have the most business in the DC area. Two examples of dealerships who have embraced the internet process.
 
I would also mention Norris Acura in Maryland which also seems to have a very robust internet sales department while saving a few bucks due to a lower doc fee.

#1352 of 2025 Re: Invoice [billy3554] by fastgst

Jul 17, 2012 (10:04 am)

Replying to: billy3554 (Jul 17, 2012 9:18 am)
I'd say if you use internet do not ever ever give them your phone number or call them up. Arrange as much as possible via e-mail, internet sales guys actually seem to take shifts and you may get alot of automated follow up e-mail next week, as long as you e-mail back and express interest in a car, someone will help you eventually.
 
Almost everytime I called a dealer / internet sales it got very aggressive and actually abrasive. Also some lies trying to lure you in. In my case, although not an Acura but I was trying to find out about the cars in their inventory what options does each one have. The person who answer the phone flat out refuses to tell you what it comes with. They are afraid the wrong options will turn me away. I was countered with 2 questions per each of my question.
 
Finally I improved my "e-mail only" rule and made it clear in my request that I will only consider your dealership if you tell me what options is on this car..
if you can't tell me this, I understand but I'm going to shop at another place.
And I started to get a picture of the MSRP sticker of the window or the dealer invoice listing exactly what the car has. A sales person who at least made an effort to walk out to the lot instead of trying some baiting tactics over the phone or e-mail was worth my sale even if I did not get rock bottom price.
 
Also never express too much interest in a car particular color or interior color etc. I made a mistake of trying to negotiate a set price on a car 8 hours drive away. I got excited and decided to give that "personal touch" of calling up the guy I had been e-mailing with, that's when they wanted me to sign a purchase order and put $1k on my credit card so I can pick it up that weekend, for that extra $200 off. I refused and the guy hung up on me. I could have done much better just flying in and do the offer. It was incredibly difficult to get each $100 off because I had expressed the interest and effort of wanting THAT particular car.
 
Although sometimes you WILL get a great offer via the e-mail or phone that blows the price of other dealers by almost $500-$1000. I ended up submitting a similar offer via e-mail ($2000 below invoice), after a consult with their GM it was accepted, oh cool, can you show me the car on saturday hopefully to close the deal? Of course. No phone call was needed.

Messages Page 136 of 204

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