Sky High prices in CA
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Joined: May 2001
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From: Fremont
Very informative Forum!!
I've been reading many of the posts here, and have come across many different prices for the S2000. I live in the Northern California area, and would like to know if there are any dealers in any part of CA selling at MSRP (?) I have been quoted from 5000 to 9999 over MSRP, and this was during the month of may. Also, has anyone ever purchased the car out of state and driven it back to CA?
If you know of any dealerships/etc please email or post- your help will be greatly appreciated. Hoping to become a "real" member soon.....
I've been reading many of the posts here, and have come across many different prices for the S2000. I live in the Northern California area, and would like to know if there are any dealers in any part of CA selling at MSRP (?) I have been quoted from 5000 to 9999 over MSRP, and this was during the month of may. Also, has anyone ever purchased the car out of state and driven it back to CA?
If you know of any dealerships/etc please email or post- your help will be greatly appreciated. Hoping to become a "real" member soon.....
Joined: May 2001
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From: Nowhere
If dealers are trying to get 5000+ over MSRP on a 2001, I'd consider going out of state - it'd definately be worth your time and money, unless you have money to burn (if you do, send it to me instead 
). Drive it back too - just keep the revs down, the road trip home should be a good start towards break-in. Shipping a car (at least in the midwest) costs around $500-800 for a 100-150 mile ship. Drive it!
Good luck on your search, I know how frustrating it can be.
). Drive it back too - just keep the revs down, the road trip home should be a good start towards break-in. Shipping a car (at least in the midwest) costs around $500-800 for a 100-150 mile ship. Drive it!Good luck on your search, I know how frustrating it can be.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 93,305
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From: Nowhere
Oh, if you haven't already, go to honda2001.com and do a dealer search, and start calling or visiting ALL of them close to you. Many of the dealers also have online inventories so you can eliminate a dealer that doesn't have any.
I found a dealer selling at MSRP that was 8 miles from another dealer selling for $3000 over. Tough choice on that one, eh?
I found a dealer selling at MSRP that was 8 miles from another dealer selling for $3000 over. Tough choice on that one, eh?
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: San Francisco
deal
There is good advice on the board about how to find the best price, so you might benefit from a search.
A few pointers:
line up finacing ahead of time- and make it clear to the dealers that you are serious and know what you are talking about.
You can likely get the car for MSRP or near that, based on what others have posted. As westside said, get a list of dealers- and phone numbers- I kept a list with over 40 dealers just over a year ago and kept calling as dealers got Vin numbers and ship dates. An addendum to Billy's point- just because a particular dealer doesn't have one in stock currently doesn't mean they aren't getting one soon- so I think it may be worth a call to all bay area dealers, but don't be afraid to spread out and call Sacto , Salinas, North bay dealers as well. Its a fair amount of legwork, but worth it. Dealers that are nearby and have the s2000 in stock (very few were keeping them in stock this time last year for any significant period of time), drop by and offer MSRP, and leave if they don't want to sell it for that. You'll get soem return calls I'm guessing... I couldn't get anyone below 37 or so here at the time, and flew to SD and got the car for about 2k less than around here. Go in with your checkbook, and make firm offers. I know that they all are posting dealer markup, but I'm sure they're selling for less. And, as others have pointed out, you can always buy elsewhere and have it shipped...
Good luck!
Don
There is good advice on the board about how to find the best price, so you might benefit from a search.
A few pointers:
line up finacing ahead of time- and make it clear to the dealers that you are serious and know what you are talking about.
You can likely get the car for MSRP or near that, based on what others have posted. As westside said, get a list of dealers- and phone numbers- I kept a list with over 40 dealers just over a year ago and kept calling as dealers got Vin numbers and ship dates. An addendum to Billy's point- just because a particular dealer doesn't have one in stock currently doesn't mean they aren't getting one soon- so I think it may be worth a call to all bay area dealers, but don't be afraid to spread out and call Sacto , Salinas, North bay dealers as well. Its a fair amount of legwork, but worth it. Dealers that are nearby and have the s2000 in stock (very few were keeping them in stock this time last year for any significant period of time), drop by and offer MSRP, and leave if they don't want to sell it for that. You'll get soem return calls I'm guessing... I couldn't get anyone below 37 or so here at the time, and flew to SD and got the car for about 2k less than around here. Go in with your checkbook, and make firm offers. I know that they all are posting dealer markup, but I'm sure they're selling for less. And, as others have pointed out, you can always buy elsewhere and have it shipped...
Good luck!
Don
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Hi deal2000,
There is a silver/black S2000 in Reno, Nevada at Bill Pearce Courtesy Honda...about a 3 hour drive from the bay area. I had my name on that one, but I recently lost my job so I'm not getting it anymore. If you're interested, call 775 789-7999, and ask for Bill Artemis (General Manager) and tell him that Jeffrey referred you. Let me know if you need any more information. Hope you get one.
There is a silver/black S2000 in Reno, Nevada at Bill Pearce Courtesy Honda...about a 3 hour drive from the bay area. I had my name on that one, but I recently lost my job so I'm not getting it anymore. If you're interested, call 775 789-7999, and ask for Bill Artemis (General Manager) and tell him that Jeffrey referred you. Let me know if you need any more information. Hope you get one.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Monterey
I bought my car in Maryland for MSRP and a car cover. I shipped the car back using Intercity lines. They are an official sponsor of this site and the car was shipped door to door in an enclosed car carrier so it will be safe at all times. Cost for delivery from Maryland to SoCal was $1500. Considering the savings it was a small price to pay. Good luck!
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Madeira Park (Sunshine Coast)
May I suggest the Search function of this forum? It's really quite useful. It will, for example, turn up this thread:
http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...?threadid=15311
where you'll find that someone just got a silver/black at San Leandro Honda for MSRP.
It will, for example, turn up this thread: http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...?threadid=15311
where you'll find that someone just got a silver/black at San Leandro Honda for MSRP.
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Joined: May 2001
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From: Torrance, CA
I considered buying out of state, but I heard from several sources that CA charges a significant fee for CA emissions on cars bought out of state.
I definitely suggest buying within state lines.
Things to consider...
Out of state purchases...
1) Don't get to see / test drive the car first
2) Things happen during shipping (rock chips, strap burns on paint, etc.
3) Shipping fee
4) CA emissions fee
5) Have to pay your local tax anyway.
Try this...
1) Find a list of all the Honda dealerships local to you. Down here, the L.A. Times prints this in the end of the Automobile Classifieds section.
2a) Call them and ask for the color combo you want. If they have it, tell them one of the other dealers local to you is selling it to you for MSRP, but it's not arriving until next week, and you don't want to wait.
2b) Tell them someone in SoCal is selling for MSRP (with no options), but you'd rather not make the drive.
This was the only way I could get dealers to move on the price. I was guaranteed MSRP OVER THE PHONE, no dealer options! Try this out...
If you can't get a Bay Area dealer to give you MSRP, call Hardin Honda in Anaheim. It's where I got mine for MSRP.
http://www.hardinhonda.com/
Good Luck!
I definitely suggest buying within state lines.
Things to consider...
Out of state purchases...
1) Don't get to see / test drive the car first
2) Things happen during shipping (rock chips, strap burns on paint, etc.
3) Shipping fee
4) CA emissions fee
5) Have to pay your local tax anyway.
Try this...
1) Find a list of all the Honda dealerships local to you. Down here, the L.A. Times prints this in the end of the Automobile Classifieds section.
2a) Call them and ask for the color combo you want. If they have it, tell them one of the other dealers local to you is selling it to you for MSRP, but it's not arriving until next week, and you don't want to wait.
2b) Tell them someone in SoCal is selling for MSRP (with no options), but you'd rather not make the drive.
This was the only way I could get dealers to move on the price. I was guaranteed MSRP OVER THE PHONE, no dealer options! Try this out...
If you can't get a Bay Area dealer to give you MSRP, call Hardin Honda in Anaheim. It's where I got mine for MSRP.
http://www.hardinhonda.com/
Good Luck!
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Joined: May 2001
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From: EG
I just purchased my new MY2001 S2K in Sacramento for MSRP. It took me awhile to find the color I wanted but I finally found it. Call around the Sacramento area and you maybe able to find one. Mel Rapton sales at MSRP but often forces options. Carmichael Honda has been sitting on a Silver/Black and Red/Black for sometime now and would probably sell for MSRP if you negotiate. Email me if you want more info.
