I'm highly considering buying my '02 Spa Yellow out of state so I can find one at MSRP, or even a tad below.

Here are a few thoughts I had...

No test driving the actual car before buying it?

How do you actually say "yes" to the deal? Over the phone? By fax?

What papers do you sign? Are they faxed to you?

What payments are due at signing, and how do you make those payments?

This probably is a change of topic, but the used (I'm buying new) S2000s on Ebay have to be paid off completely usually within 30 days...that's crazy.

So, can someone write a quick walk-through of the procedure?

I guess I'm kinda worried if I buy from a non-local Honda dealer since I won't be able to actually touch it or drive it or even see it.

Thanks guys...and have great weekends

 

1) Can you do the test drive locally, either with a dealership or an owner? As long as you ensure that the new S2000 that you buy has few miles, it shouldn't matter which new S2000 you drive.

2) You can orally commit to the deal and send them a deposit to hold the car until you arrive. They may also fax you an agreement to sign and fax back. They will want you to come complete the deal ASAP.

3) If you arrange financing with your bank, credit union, or one of the online sites (www.peoplefirst.com has 5 year loans for 6.19%) before you go to pick up the car, then you will have very little paperwork to sign at the dealership. Reject the extended warranty, reject the LoJack, reject their insurance plans, sign the sales agreement, sign the registration info and you are done.

4) Don't use the dealerships financing. You will get ripped off, paying a higher rate to make up for any cost you negotiate off the car. Use your own bank, credit union or a website. They will give you a check to give the dealer.

Make sure you get all of the information (options, total price, mileage, everything) before agreeing to the deal. Most dealers will do their best to force the price up when you arrive since they know that you flew into town just to buy the car. Remember that you will have to pay the difference between CA sales tax and the out-of-state sales tax to CA (f*ing ripoff).

My 2 cents.
Tanq

 

Tanqueray

Why reject the lojack?
I was about to get a s2000 in florida and the guy said it came with Lojack and he promised it wouldn't cost me anything extra.
is it a bad thing in some way? or are they just being sneaky perhaps?

 

I figure what Tanq meant was that LoJack only works in a given radius. So if they install it in Florida, and I live in Los Angeles, LoJack would be pointless...

Although I think you can buy nationwide protection...which I think is a ripoff because what are the chances that your S2K gets stolen in Oregon and ends up in Maine.

 

Sorry, guys, I wasn't making a recommendation about whether to buy the extended warranty and LoJack. I was just listing off the things that I did at the dealership.

I personally did not get either one because:

1) You can shop around to any Honda dealership in the country to buy the extended warranty. The odds are that you will get it cheaper than through your own dealer (there is a long thread on this topic, complete with the name and phone of the cheapest dealer that anyone could find).

2) I don't particularly believe in LoJack. If my car is stolen, I don't want it back damaged or thrashed...I would prefer that the thieves keep it and I get a new car. Sure, the police may be able to find it within 45 minutes of my police report, but I may not notice that it is gone for a couple of hours.

Another 2 cents,
Tanq

 

the whole violated car is a dirty whore idea. i understand that.