How much for your car? RESPOND!
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Try this:
1. visit in person or via email the Honda dealerships within a 50-100 mile radius and get them to quote you on your s2k and your trade-in (it'll be harder to get a quote from a dealer on a trade in if you aren't in person but kelly blue book trade in value is a pretty good estimate).
2. Take the best s2ki price that you get from this search and put in a bid at priceline.com for the s2k that you want at that price minus $1000.
3. If you don't get any immediate takers on that bid, you will at least get some counteroffers.
4. Use those counteroffers as leverage to negotiate a deal at a dealership that has your car in stock.
I did this and got my s2k last year for $31700 while trading in my accord for $500 over kelly trade in value. The bottom line is that you should you all the wealth of information available via the internet to put you, as the buyer, in the drivers' seat in your negiotations. Make these dealerships compete against one another, especially in this down economy. If I went to my local dealer and based my search and negotiation on what they told me, I would have gotten screwed!!
Good luck
1. visit in person or via email the Honda dealerships within a 50-100 mile radius and get them to quote you on your s2k and your trade-in (it'll be harder to get a quote from a dealer on a trade in if you aren't in person but kelly blue book trade in value is a pretty good estimate).
2. Take the best s2ki price that you get from this search and put in a bid at priceline.com for the s2k that you want at that price minus $1000.
3. If you don't get any immediate takers on that bid, you will at least get some counteroffers.
4. Use those counteroffers as leverage to negotiate a deal at a dealership that has your car in stock.
I did this and got my s2k last year for $31700 while trading in my accord for $500 over kelly trade in value. The bottom line is that you should you all the wealth of information available via the internet to put you, as the buyer, in the drivers' seat in your negiotations. Make these dealerships compete against one another, especially in this down economy. If I went to my local dealer and based my search and negotiation on what they told me, I would have gotten screwed!!
Good luck
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 364
Likes: 3
From: bay area, ca / socal
Originally posted by M3KVB
Tell us about your Civic. How many miles, any upgrades, color and price. Someone on the forum might want to buy it!
Tell us about your Civic. How many miles, any upgrades, color and price. Someone on the forum might want to buy it!
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 691
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
Originally posted by wingz
The thing that worries me is that my monthly payments will be reallly high. Someone Honda.com quoted me $450 a month and thats too much for me, although I can afford it. I really want it $300 or less if possible. Willing to put down some more downpayment to put down the month payments if possible. Advice please!
The thing that worries me is that my monthly payments will be reallly high. Someone Honda.com quoted me $450 a month and thats too much for me, although I can afford it. I really want it $300 or less if possible. Willing to put down some more downpayment to put down the month payments if possible. Advice please!
Maybe your should lease...
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Mesquite
When you are negotiating a price just focus on the price. If they want to know if you have a trade in just say "let's discuss the price first." If they argue with you just dismiss it a little nonchalantly "I'd like to get the price out of the way first." Don't discuss whether you want to finance, lease, or drop your bomb cash. None of that matters and no matter what you answer they'll try and use it to their advantage.
It helps me to take a notebook (or for you bomb cash droppers, a PDA) with a list of points about the car (good and bad) and a list of points that I can use for negotiation. I also write down the low, mean, and high lending rates for car loans for that day, the MSRP for the car, the target price I'm shooting for. A short list of things to keep me focused.
If there is a particular color you want and they have it in stock, try expressing interest in a color they don't have in stock (if you are buying from the stock...if you are ordering to have one shipped, it won't work). Make it seem like it's a hassle to go for what they have in stock (the one you want).
Be willing to spend a lot of time negotiating. When I was working on the price for my S2000, the guy constantly had to get up and talk to his manager. It's just a stalling tactic. Eventually I actually did meet the manager, but that was when I had already agreed to a price. Sometimes I wonder if they draw from a pool to see who will play the manager for the day.
Don't settle until you are happy and comfortable with the price and make them write it in paper. Don't be a punk though...making the other guy angry isn't going to help you.
Shrug. This is just from my experience, I may put too much value in my over-preparedness.
It helps me to take a notebook (or for you bomb cash droppers, a PDA) with a list of points about the car (good and bad) and a list of points that I can use for negotiation. I also write down the low, mean, and high lending rates for car loans for that day, the MSRP for the car, the target price I'm shooting for. A short list of things to keep me focused.
If there is a particular color you want and they have it in stock, try expressing interest in a color they don't have in stock (if you are buying from the stock...if you are ordering to have one shipped, it won't work). Make it seem like it's a hassle to go for what they have in stock (the one you want).
Be willing to spend a lot of time negotiating. When I was working on the price for my S2000, the guy constantly had to get up and talk to his manager. It's just a stalling tactic. Eventually I actually did meet the manager, but that was when I had already agreed to a price. Sometimes I wonder if they draw from a pool to see who will play the manager for the day.
Don't settle until you are happy and comfortable with the price and make them write it in paper. Don't be a punk though...making the other guy angry isn't going to help you.
Shrug. This is just from my experience, I may put too much value in my over-preparedness.