[Avenger]

I've bought 2 new cars now........and really buying the Honda was a bit tougher to get a smokin deal like I got on my Chrysler. I eventually ended up getting a great deal though.

With my Chrysler:
Called all the dealerships in the area asking for their best price on the exact model I wanted with the exact options I wanted. Told them if they were the lowest price, I'd buy it from them and that they could call me back within a few days.
They ALL will probably call you back, because they all want to make a sale.
A couple dealerships gave me quotes of MSRP ($34500 + taxes), but a couple gave me dealer cost price at ($28800).........ended up settling on a final price at one of the two dealerships that gave me a price of $300 below dealer cost ($28500 they still make money on the deal).
In all, the price range was nearly $6,000 difference from the high range to the low range.


With the Civic, I ended up emailing a bunch of dealerships with what I wanted and still asked them for their best price stating that the lowest price I get was going to get my business. A lot of the dealerships I emailed didn't want to give me numbers over the internet and INSISTED I came in (to try to hook me in at a higher price). There were a few bad prices emailed back ($500 under MSRP), but then I got a price of $1200 below MSRP in the return email from a local dealer. Went in, signed a deal on an '07 RR DX coupe.........but then found out that there was an '06 GG DX coupe sitting on the lot that he was willing to let go for $800 less. Had him rip up the contract, and ended up getting the '06 for $2k below MSRP (remembering that this is a base model I thought that this was a pretty great deal).


Honestly, for a higher model Civic, I'd expect to get at LEAST $2k off the MSRP for a current model year.


So, my advice:
Phone and Email

I don't recommend actually going in, where they think they can break you and talk you into the car for more money than you're willing to pay. I find the dealerships aren't even serious about price dealing if I'm there.........they seem to think it's a done deal at MSRP.

The other thing that can be done is once you have your best price, you can call up the dealership you really want to buy the car from and ask them to beat that price........if they can't do it, go get the car from the other place.