It was beautiful yesterday, so we decided we'd find a dealer and test drive an SI because that is on our top three list to replace the Prelude. So we call Herb Chambers in Seekonk, they confirmed they had one in stock so we decided to take the ride. We get down there and are immediately attacked on the way out of our car by the hungry sales vultures. We promptly eluded them by claiming that we were on our way to the parts department then slipped out the rear down.

So we're out in the lot and there is this random sales person and we start chatting and we ask him to get the keys so we can sit in the car. No problem....off he runs. He comes back we sit in the car, chit chat with the salesman, then we ask if we can take it for a test drive. His response "these cars don't go for test drives!". WHAT??? OK - here we go - so I ask the guy - "well - how are you suppose to know if you even like the car if you can't take it for a test drive?" His response "well you fill out the paperwork to buy the car, we agree on a price, financing, etc. then if the car on the lot is the one you want you can then test drive it - if you decided it's not what you thought it was going to be we we rip up the paperwork. If the one on the lot isn't the exact car you want we will take $500 as a downpayment, pre-order you a car, then you can test drive "your" car when it comes in.

SO....long story short if you are in the market for an Si make sure the dealer will let you test drive before running down to the dealership to drool. We actually know someone that use to work for Herb Chambers and he said that he has NEVER heard of that practice being used in their dealerships. So needless to say if we decide to purchase it won't be from Herb Chambers.

 

Hi, please check your pm.

 

ya, I've had bad experiences from Herb Chambers. Would not buy from them again. Come to CT, every Honda dealership I've been to asked me if I wanted to take one for a test drive (Liberty Honda in Hartford and Hoffman Avon). I declined both offers.

 

Yup....Erin and I went to Ragsdale Honda in Westboro yesterday, and they didn't have any SIs. Salesman was telling me that they are selling every inbound as they arrive.

Although I've heard of the tactic for paperwork first, this is really a tool to find out your level of commitment.......still, it is complete .

If I got that response.. ..whew...the older I get the more "Go F yourself" I get.....

Herb Chambers FU!

 

send a pm to Tommi1980 - he now works for a honda dealer in CT - if anyone will help you guys find the right si it's tom... i know it's a bit of a drive BUT trust me - i would ONLY buy my next honda from Tom!!!!

btw did they say the trade in vale of that old 'lude was only three hundred bucks

 

That's the same bit I got over the phone w/ Herb Chambers (I think) in Boston. I want to test drive an SI because I'm debating between that and a used s2k...doesn't look like the test drive is going to happen.

 

I was able to drive one today at Herb Chambers in Boston (Allston/Brighton). The salesmen only let me drive it in heavy traffic after making sure I would be "serious" about doing business. Heavy sales pressure from his manager and everyone around. Anyways, the car is great, except they want $2500 over MSRP and that isn't negotiable. I'd rather get a TSX if I were to pay that much. I'd be willing to wait however long it takes for prices to go down. They only had 2 in stock, and one was in the showroom. They were both an ugly grayish color, and I wanted blue.

 

Herb Chambers sucks in sales, period. Their service depts are pretty good though.

 

The si is a hot item. Dealerships have the upper hand with this one unfortunately...

I'm with Ben on Herb Chambers. Bought a couple of cars from the one in Burlington. Come to find out I could have gotten a better price elsewhere. Service dept. is thorough and curtious which is a plus.

I like Ragsdale where I bought my car. Gotta try the service dept. in the Springtime.

 

Simple economics. Sales people are not in it for charity or for long term customer relationship with you(think about their high turnover). If the demand is high and the supply is low, they will try to squeeze out as much as they can from you.

Buying a car from hot car dealer like Herb Chamber in Boston is kidding yourself. A lot of customers (eg.rich college kids) are willing and dumb enough to pay msrp or above msrp for just about anything they have there.

Combined with the high demand of the new Si, the sales people have absolutely no need to cater your reasonable demands (such as test drive).