MSRP is $33,060 ($32,600 base MSRP+$460 destination charge). Holdback on the S2000 (and all Honda cars I think) is 3% of base MSRP (ie. not including the delivery charge or options) which is $978 ($32,600*3%). Dealer invoice on the '03 S2000 is $29,785. There are no factory installed options which makes shopping much easier. So, the true dealer cost (after they receive their holdback money) is $28,807. If they sell to you at invoice, then they make $978.

One of the best things that you can do is talk to as many dealers as possible. You'll be surprised at how some will say they can sell the car all day long at sticker and others will be much more willing to deal. I called a large number of dealers in Atlanta and told them that I was going to buy from the first dealer that would sell me the car at invoice (they would still make money on the holdback). A few said no way, but most wanted me to come by for a visit. They would all say how hot the car is, but I would just mention the new competition, the fact that the car is in the 4th year of production, and others are buying at invoice. I would then follow up our conversation with "if you can sell it to someone else for more, then it would be dumb to sell it to me at invoice, but I'll wait until I can buy one at invoice". That would usually put an end to their trying to talk the price up. Anyway, one of the dealers called me back and said he would sell me a car at invoice if I would buy it that day. The funny thing is that they didn't even have another S2000 on the lot, but he said that another dealership had passed on delivery of an S2000 and he could get it from Honda. He didn't want to do that unless I bought one. He also told me that he thought one of the other dealerships that I had spoken with would have sold the car to me at invoice. They agreed to fax me the price break down including taxes and fees and I picked up the car later that day for what they had quoted.

 

you can negociate alot, i even got maintenance inlcuded in mince all oil changes for th next 4 years or anything else..

 

Most of us would like to think that we got a good deal, but the fact of the matter is that you get the price the dealer is willing to sell the vehicle for.

Sure a good negoitaitor might get a few hundred off the MSRP, but the really big mark downs are mostly a result of the dealers willingness to deal.

 

When I bought my Spa Yellow in December of 2001 I was still looking at WRX's and seriously considering waiting till August 2002 when the 350Z's would make their appearance. I would let the dealer know that not only are you going to shop around for the best S2000 price you can get, but you're still considering alternative automobiles as well. Tell them you're currently shopping 350Z's, WRX STI's, and plan to check out Mazda's new RX-8 as well. Don't give them the impression that you MUST have an S2000. My dealer finally gave me the old what would it take to make you buy this car today speech. I offered $28,000, they accepted.

 

I've bought two '02's in the last year. Basically, I gave them my offer (just above invoice) and didn't move on it. They knew I would walk otherwise. Alot of it is mindset going in.

 

i like this topic. good thread

 

Wow, $28k awesome deal!

 

definately shop around, dont just stay with one dealership. also, never buy a car on teh first visit. leave atleast 1 or 2 times, concluding with a sentence like "give me a call when you can match my offer".


it worked for me, i was willing to pay 29,500 and told them thats my final price. i left twice, after the 2nd time i left they called me and practically begged me to come and pick up the car. maybe they listened since it was back in february(very cold) and they had like 8 '03 s2k's just sitting on the lot. btw, this the same dealership who told me that it was "impossible" to sell the car under 32,600...yeah right. don't buy into the stealership bs, you need to play it smart.


good luck, and buy now before the weather gets too nice and warm and they mark it up to 40k+!!!!

 

go to dealer A tell them dealer B offers you 1500 under MSRP, and then go to dealer B tell them dealer A offer you 1500 MSRP as well, go home and wait, one of them will offer you 2000 under...repeat the method til it reaches your ideal price. I am in Canada and I managed to get the car 3800CAN under MSRP

 

Wow - impressed with some of the responses here. Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions and facts - I never knew there was any kind of holdback on a selling vehicle. Seriously, thanks guys. Where can I obtain stats and info on the declining sales of the S2K so I can present it to the salesman? Btw, I'm planning on leasing the car if that is of any consequence. Should I disclose the fact that I'm leasing at the very end or does it not matter? Basically I know that a lease monthly payment is arrived at capitalized cost (dealt price less trade ins and down pay) less the residual value at end of lease term divided by the number of months.

i.e. monthly payment = (cap cost - res value)/months

The only thing that I left out is the money factor (percentage rate) I believe. Is this rate negotiable or is it based solely on credit rating? And how would the money factor affect the aforementioned equation? I also plan to trade in my current car (which I should probably disclose after I deal).

TIA