Just wanted to know how much i could get an s2k for at the end of the year? With the whole "year end sale" I'd like to get the base model and call it a day... Or would it be better to buy it new? (although I'm scared people might have trashed it..)

 

You mean buying a new 2008 in December right? S2000's don't really have any options(CR is the only significant change other than a deck lid spoiler or front lip). You will likely be able to get an '08(non CR) for well under 30K at the end of the year or early in 2009. There are still a few new 07's floating around right now. They were going for $26,500 or so earlier in the year(they seem to have gone up a bit lately though for some reason). Go in to the dealer right around New Years Eve and hit em hard. They need to move cars at that time. Try to find one with a few S2K's in stock. Your only issue may be getting the color you want.

 

Don't expect to find much below dealer invoice, and that will probably have "doc fees" and such attached. Lowball prices often have strings attached that aren't immediately picked up on. Local ads here have new KIA RIOs selling for $5,500! Read the fine print and an additional $4k in trade in equity is required (plus doc fee!). There is usually a catch that appears when one calls to verify the price.

 

Which begs the question... what are these things going for... "out the door" price...? I shopped long and hard for mine and drove one away, tax, tags, money for the girl's in back, and college tuition for the service managner's nephew... $33,200.00 cash. Good?

 

My cap cost on my lease was right around $30,400 on May 31st of this year. They needed to move their month end numbers and I had contacted 8 dealerships and kept getting them to beat each other's prices. I told them I knew about the dealer incentives from Honda and I also knew the S2000 monthly sales numbers so far for 2008 and they weren't good.

On the 31st I called up the local dealership and told them if they could match the lowest price I'd been quoted I'd come buy the car right then. They did and I signed the papers an hour later.

I've learned it doesn't pay to negotiate in person. Get the price you want before you ever leave the house and avoid all the sales spin.

 

Everytime a dealer wouldn't commit on a price either on the phone or e-mail, I just ignored them. I didn't want to waste any more time with them in person if they kept giving me the run around on the phone or e-mail.

Anyway, I think if you go for a lease or finance through them, it'll be easier for you to get a deal. Paying cash outright doesn't seem to pull much weight anymore. At least that's my experience.

 

[QUOTE=EP Heart,Jul 22 2008, 09:09 AM] Everytime a dealer wouldn't commit on a price either on the phone or e-mail, I just ignored them.

 

Of course this is true- think about it. If you pay 30K cash for the car this is all they will ever see out of you. If you pay $29K, but finance/lease the car for 5 yrs- they get all the interest as well.

 

I don't find that concept hard to understand. But there was a point in time when paying for the car outright meant a bit more to dealers than it does now. Again, in my experience.

 

Agree 100%. When I was shopping for mine. I emailed a bunch of dealerships asking for their best price. All except for one gave me the usual BS invitation to come in, test drive, and crunch numbers. Only one straight up gave me their lowest price. That's the one I ended up buying from.