It really does depend on the dealer. Rudy @ Whittier Honda was a great salesperson. MSRP over the phone, no options, no BS, and the car was present at the dealership.

When I was shopping around for the S2K, three dealers (Norm Reeves, Nelson, and Honda World in Garden Grove) told me they had the car when they didn't. They also would refuse to give me a price over the phone. I drove to them looking to see and test drive the car and was told that if I were to buy it they would get me the car that night. I angrily said no. Also, those dealers wanted either markup over MSRP or overpriced options on the car. However, with Whittier Honda I was told the truth over the phone and was able to negotiate the price over the phone. As soon as I arrived into the dealership (I'm quite young/young looking compared to some of you guys) they moved 3 cars out of the showroom so I could test drive the S2000. I was the first person to test drive the car, it had 8 miles. That night, after work, and after the dealership's usual closing time, Rudy offered to stay late to complete the transaction. That's customer service.

 

You did the right thing by walking away.

The dealers have no right to run a credit report for you if you are interested in buying the car. They probably ask that question to scare off tire kickers. But what they don't realize is they also annoy serious buyers with their arrogent dealer crap.

If they do this to you again, tell then you are paying cash so there's no reason to pull your credit history, even if you can't/don't pay that way in the end.

When I bought my last 6 cars (5 in 2000), not one of them asked to run a credit report, and 3 of the cars were high demand cars.

Just find a better dealer to buy the car from.

Remember the service and sales departments are run separately so you can buy the car from whatever dealer you like (including out of state, for Calif drivers, the S2K is a 50 state car)... this is very helpful in avoiding the dealer markups over msrp, especially in this market!

 

im 18 and i was asked to have a credit check (and they said 42k was the best they could do!!!)i left and went to a dealer who treats me with more respect, i can understand why a dealer would check the credit of a yourg kid but i rolled up in my dads m5! its crazy how they think the s2000 is an exotic, i have test driven many cars such as carrera, z06,& m3 and never had problems its crazy how dealers treat younger buyers.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by thunderchicken
[B]I think a lot of it depends on your age.