Not sure if you guys remember me (probably not) - but a while ago I was asking advice on buying an S2000.

Just as a matter of principal, I always expect to buy a car for a few bucks under MSRP - no matter what car it is. After all, it is my hard earned money and I want to think I got someone of a "deal".

Anyway, I finally decided that last week I would grab an S2000, a 2002 model prefferably as it is the end of the year and I wanted the glass window.

I basically called up most Honda dealers in Ontario, and visted most in the GTA. Nobody wanted to move on MSRP and basically treated me like a moron. One guy in Toronto even went as far as to offer me a 2001 for (his quote) "$48,500 - its MSRP but you will save the PDI."... Yeah, give me a break.

2002 were $48,500, and 2003 were $48,500. No deal on the 2002, the only deal is that you get it earlier. However, I was really insulted because I know - especially in Toronto, you can even pick up new boxster S' (with the rear glass window) for about 2grand under MSRP.

So - I ended up with the picture below - and paid $3000 (yes $3000!) under MSRP and only 200$ for registration. No PDI. This is a 2003 model, and one in demand at that! I spent a little more money, but the dealership treated me like a human.

Yup, I lost out on the best user forum on the internet (s2ki, benzworld.org totally sucks) - but I left the dealer feeling good about myself that I could a deal (heck, maybe I didn't in the overall picture, s2000 sure would be more fun to drive), and didn't feel hijacked by the arrogant Honda dealers.

Just thought I would rant a bit - but would like to mention that S2Ki has been a wealth of information. You guys really do have the best member group on the net.

PS - I would have taken a 2002 for 500$ under MSRP!!!

 

Nice car, but.. you should have looked a little harder. I was dicked around by countless dealerships because I don't look old enough to afford one and yes when you walk into the Honda show room you can smell the arrogance.
The one dealership that I did end up purchasing my car from made me a killer deal and treated me with the respect any car dealership would, let me list.

2002 Car with 3 miles
Hard top
Front/side spoilers
100K warranty
$229.00 car cover
$1400.00 clear bra
I got all of this including the install for under $39000.00 including tax you do the math!
P.S. I spent 2 years looking for my deal

 

whoa, is that the new e-class, dayuuum.
what is it e320? e500??
great car

 

Perhaps you are right... However I asked for $4000k off MSRP (I am in Canada - it is a workable price, especially for a 2002., some guys can prob get 2003's at this price) right off the bat.

They didn't even try and haggle... either laughed at me or walked away, or acted as if I couldn't afford it.

Admittedly I was driving a rented Toyota Echo (I sold my GMC Envoy beforehand).

 

E320.

I looked at the E500 but couldn't justify the extra $10000 (in canada) for that engine. The E320 and E500 are basically the exact same car. E500 has 17" inch rims with the exact same rim design.

 

OK well congratulations and all. Nice car but are we not comparing apples to oranges here? You were treated badly at a Honda dealership looking for 2-seat sports car so you bought a SEDAN?

I was insulted and laughed at at several Honda dealers as well, I just kept at it until I found what I wanted at a price I wanted to pay. Enjoy your Benz but it's no S2000.....

 

Now drive back to the Honda dealerships and strut your new car. They lost out on a potential buyer.

 

I can see what you are saying, a sedan is a far cry from the s2000 - but my buying list was as follows:

1. S2000
2. E320
3. C32 AMG

The S2000 was the most impractical and would be a purely emotional buy (I was going to even drive it in the winter with snows)... but it is what I wanted ... if I could get a deal.

 

Sorry to hear about your bad experiences at Honda dealerships. At least you ended up with a very nice car. I say you drive it back to those Honda dealerships and show it to those idiots.

 

I feel your pain. We went to several Honda dealers around the Vancouver area only to be either ignored or no serious talk. It's either my age or baby-face look (not to mention my short height) no one took us seriously. In the end we went back to a dealer far away from home and one that we've bought pretty much every car from.

Recently we went out shopping for a new CRV, same thing - we actually had to wait for the receptionist to call out a sale person. At one of the dealer no one even bother came out to talk to us after 5 minutes of paging by the receptionist. It's understandable that they're all busy, however, at the time we saw 3-4 sale guys sitting in a room talking and joking. The disappointment in all this is it happened at a dealer that I have a liking for their service department - Pacific Honda. We ended up going back to Westwood, sad thing is Pacific and Westwood are both own by the same group of people.

One of the thing that frustrate me the most about buying a Honda is getting those scums at the dealer to respect you. The irony in all this is that Honda market their cars to the young and middle age group - yet a young looking couple walk into the dealer only to be ignored or no serious talk.

I must admit Benz and Porsche have a much better sales support, I can walk into any of those dealer and expect to be offer a test drive after a few minutes of inquiring. Where as at Honda I sometime have to literally BEG to get a test drive even in a Civic. So I can't blame you for going with something this nice