I've seen a few new '05 S2000 in Northern California...MSRP: $33,150 Invoice: $29,820 (from Edmunds).

It's listed at MSRP now, but realistically should I start at/below invoice for my negotiations? I am waiting to hear how many miles, hopefully under 500 but we'll see. What's the dealer holdback? I read $750 somewhere.

 

I paid 29.4K in Feb for a new '05. The dealership would not go any lower.
I think if you made some calls and were willing to pay transport fees, you could possibly get one in the 28 and change range.

 

paid 28320 for my new 05 back in march...had 30 or so miles on it.

 

Being that it's an '05... I would say no more than 26-27k.

 

I had a local dealer (eastern KY) offer to sell me a leftover SB '05 for 28.5 OTD. Poor thing has been there for almost two years. Too bad i'm not in the market right now (was helping a family member buy a new Accord).

I did test drive it though. I can't wait 'til I have one of my own...

 

whats the most u guys would pay for an 02' with 20k miles?

im trying to get an idea from people who have experience buying from dealerships.

 

The Bay Area is a hot market for S2000s because of all you rich engineers jacking up home prices as well as car prices.

I would forget about negociating a good deal with the 05 and go straight for an 06. I doubt the dealers will go low for an 05, and I've seen dealers for below invoice already for an 06 in SoCal. The price difference, then, between and 05 and 06 would be offset by the new features from the 06 (airbag disable, DBW, VSA, headrest speakers,etc)

 

Wow thanks guys.

So this dealership is in Fairfield (just outside of the Bay Area). One white, one red, one blue S2000 (all '05...and they have '06 too).

About the added features...I'm worried about the DBW for the '06, that's why I'm thinking of getting the '05. I'll use all the "added stuff" as leverage though. Where in SoCal did someone get an '06 under invoice? Insane. This weekend I'll go and negotiate around SoCal, since I live here, for new '06 (new '05s are probably rare), see what I can do. Hopefully I can get some good quotes and use that to get me a real good price on the '05.

One final twist. The internet sales rep claims that they just bought these from another dealer. All have under 100 miles on them. What does this mean?!? Better or worse for negotiating? I'm wondering why/how the manager got these cars. I mean did he get it in a firesale? How much under invoice would he have paid to the other dealership? Why would a dealership do that? I'm just wondering because this added twist takes a bit away from the "this-has-been-sitting-on-your-lot-for-2 years" argument. Of course unless they're straight lying. Thoughts?

 

Also...the internet sales rep (sounds like a nice young lady mid 20-30s) asked how much I'm looking to pay. I told her I'm still getting all my paperwork together and that we'll talk when I get there. I hope that was an OK response.

That said, if I'm set on buying an '05 Suzuka from them, should I negotiate the price beforehand? Or is it more effective to show up and negotiate? Cuz I'm looking to get an aggressive price, at least 3 grand but more like 4-5 grand under their listed ($33 grand MSRP).

 

You are gonna have to go down there to negoiciate. Be careful when you get into the finance dept. they tried to charge me a much higher rate for my loan since I pulled off a good deal.

That said, you might want to look at a used '05. There are many ultra clean ones out there with full maint records. Try and find one that was delivered to the owner with low miles. Then ask if he broke it in acc. to the owners manual.

The MY 05 can take many more off the shelf mods if you are into that.