8 Dealers later...

[NoRegrets78]

I live on Long Island, guess it shows...here are my results...

Atlantic Honda - 1000 over MSRP, after negotiating for 2 hours, then they told me to not tell anyone about that deal and there was no way I was gonna find a better deal! LOL

Huntington Honda - 1500 over MSRP and that was only because my friend worked there.

Babylon Honda - 2000 over MSRP

Nardy Honda - MSRP but no shot to get one till Sept and even that might be an 07.

Open Road in New Jersey - MSRP

VIP Honda New Jersey - 2500 over MSRP

DCH Academy Honda New Jersey - 2000 over MSRP

And the winner is...

PS Honda in Manhasset LI - $19,990!!! + tax title dest blah blah blah...(If you include destination, as some dealers do when they tell you price $20,540)

OTD: $22,060.08 8 weeks till delivery.

I have special financing needs (have a bankruptcy 7 months ago) so its now all about financing. I should know by wed if I'm approved and at what rate. I'm putting $6000 down so it should help some.

[2RotorMotor]

Originally Posted by NoRegrets78

I live on Long Island, guess it shows...here are my results...

Atlantic Honda - 1000 over MSRP, after negotiating for 2 hours, then they told me to not tell anyone about that deal and there was no way I was gonna find a better deal! LOL

Huntington Honda - 1500 over MSRP and that was only because my friend worked there.

Babylon Honda - 2000 over MSRP

Nardy Honda - MSRP but no shot to get one till Sept and even that might be an 07.

Open Road in New Jersey - MSRP

VIP Honda New Jersey - 2500 over MSRP

DCH Academy Honda New Jersey - 2000 over MSRP

And the winner is...

PS Honda in Manhasset LI - $19,990!!! + tax title dest blah blah blah...(If you include destination, as some dealers do when they tell you price $20,540)

OTD: $22,060.08 8 weeks till delivery.

I have special financing needs (have a bankruptcy 7 months ago) so its now all about financing. I should know by wed if I'm approved and at what rate. I'm putting $6000 down so it should help some.

Why so long to get approved??? the finance manager should know what company he could go with.... Usually when they tell you 3 days, they are just blowing you off.... Trust me, start looking for a cosigner...

[NoRegrets78]

Originally Posted by 2RotorMotor

Why so long to get approved??? the finance manager should know what company he could go with.... Usually when they tell you 3 days, they are just blowing you off.... Trust me, start looking for a cosigner...

REALLY don't want to do the cosign thing. I'll have plenty of time to get another bank...probably gonna hit up lending tree and see if that works. I used them a long time ago when I did a consolidation loan as a last resort before bankruptcy, and they worked pretty well.

I make enough, and have no debt, this shouldn't be that hard. We'll see...but thanks for the heads up!

[Blue_Civic]

I dont want to be a dick but given your history and sense your obviouslly not in a dire need for a car why dont you just wait and save up all the money for the car and then buy it out right. It would save you from taking out another loan. You dont want to get yourself into that hole again. I know how easy it is. There is someone at my job that is about to declare bankruptcy AGAIN.

[kaptr1d]

theres a galaxy grey Si coming in at Honda City in Levittown in 3 weeks that no one has spoken for in case you're interested.

I dont know how you're going to get financing if you just delcared bankruptcy...

[Cybergypsy]

Originally Posted by Blue_Civic

I dont want to be a dick but given your history and sense your obviouslly not in a dire need for a car why dont you just wait and save up all the money for the car and then buy it out right. It would save you from taking out another loan. You dont want to get yourself into that hole again. I know how easy it is. There is someone at my job that is about to declare bankruptcy AGAIN.

Ditto!

[Cybergypsy]

Buy a use honda for a lower price.....or you might be filing again!

[Blue_Civic]

Yeah you dont have to go for the top of the line model. Think about the future whne making this decision.

[NoRegrets78]

Ahhhh, yes I could just not get a new car or get used, but if I'm going to rebuild my credit, gonna need a loan with some collateral. Car is next best thing to a house which there is no way I can afford.

And before you say I'm driving now with no problems...you should know I have a 95 GMC Jimmy 4x4 that while strong now, I don't trust, and I dont want to throw money away on fixing it.

There is a long history here, and a reason why I'm pushing so hard for the Si. I had an 02 RSX Type-S that I gave up for the woman I loved to help pay for a wedding that in the end wound up getting cancelled and hurting me financially. I was fiscally irresponsible yes, but before you judge and say I'm just gonna do it again...I WILL NEVER GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN!!! I'd rather die. It was humiliating, exhausting, horrible. I have no credit cards, and I don't want any. I pay cash for everything or use my bank card with the Visa logo. Eventually I'll have to get a card to aid in rebuilding credit along with the car and that's next. I've learned my lesson. I don't honestly see how ANYONE can go through it twice. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

[2RotorMotor]

Originally Posted by NoRegrets78

Ahhhh, yes I could just not get a new car or get used, but if I'm going to rebuild my credit, gonna need a loan with some collateral. Car is next best thing to a house which there is no way I can afford.

And before you say I'm driving now with no problems...you should know I have a 95 GMC Jimmy 4x4 that while strong now, I don't trust, and I dont want to throw money away on fixing it.

There is a long history here, and a reason why I'm pushing so hard for the Si. I had an 02 RSX Type-S that I gave up for the woman I loved to help pay for a wedding that in the end wound up getting cancelled and hurting me financially. I was fiscally irresponsible yes, but before you judge and say I'm just gonna do it again...I WILL NEVER GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN!!! I'd rather die. It was humiliating, exhausting, horrible. I have no credit cards, and I don't want any. I pay cash for everything or use my bank card with the Visa logo. Eventually I'll have to get a card to aid in rebuilding credit along with the car and that's next. I've learned my lesson. I don't honestly see how ANYONE can go through it twice. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

I just find it almost impossible for you to obtain credit through any bank with a 7 month old financing... If you cosign, you will gain credit and it'l assure you that you atleast get the car..

[NoRegrets78]

Originally Posted by 2RotorMotor

I just find it almost impossible for you to obtain credit through any bank with a 7 month old financing... If you cosign, you will gain credit and it'l assure you that you atleast get the car..

If it comes to that, it comes to that...don't want to let it though.

I make enough and have no listed debt. The rate is gonna be insane but I'm prepared. The price to pay for stupidity...

Every 6 months I'll be refinancing though and dropping the interest points.

[Blue_Civic]

Well it sounds like you've got a plan but its drastic plan. You might not have any listed debt but all the banks can see your "erased" debt due to your bankruptcy and will be scared to loan you money. That is just a fact of life. I had no credit ether till I bought my Si. My EX was paid of so I traded it in. I decided to finance most of my Si so I can get some credit,lol I'm 20 and have never had a CC or loan. I thought it was time to start. I'm just too scared to get myself into a situation where I cant pay my loan.

[GalaxyGreySi]

I know bankruptcy is tough stuff man, and 90% of the time it's due to divorce, or something to do with something you just couldn't avoid. Hell, if you end up not being able to afford the car, you can always sell it. With an Si, selling to a private party you could get back nearly what you paid for it. As horribly embarassing as it is, a co-signer will save you cash, even if you do not need one to get the loan. Namely, a much better interest rate. I could only get 15.9% by myself, but with a co-signer, I got 6.9%.

[NoRegrets78]

Originally Posted by GalaxyGreySi

I know bankruptcy is tough stuff man, and 90% of the time it's due to divorce, or something to do with something you just couldn't avoid. Hell, if you end up not being able to afford the car, you can always sell it. With an Si, selling to a private party you could get back nearly what you paid for it. As horribly embarassing as it is, a co-signer will save you cash, even if you do not need one to get the loan. Namely, a much better interest rate. I could only get 15.9% by myself, but with a co-signer, I got 6.9%.

Hopefully tonight I'll know where I stand and take it from there.

[DNieves]

I'm also in Long Island, I placed an order for a Fiji blue SIs with Nav last Feb for MSRP . It should've been here last month but whenever my dealership places factory orders (out of their allocation of 2 SIs per month) the SI order has been ignored (or delivered without Nav) . Now I'm at the point the dealership is saying maybe I'll get a '07 in September (yeah right, don't hold your breath).

This is what I've encountered today:
Atlantic Honda -will tell you anything and promise you the moon just to get your non refundable $500 deposit. The best they can do is $1,000-$2,000 over MSRP, they are also convinced their prices are the best and will also make it sound as if there's a truckload of SI's waiting on the lot.

Huntingon Honda -don't bother they won't even talk price, if you leave them a sizable (large) deposit and a phone # they'll call you when a Si arrives and make you bid against other customers (of course most $$$$ over MSRP gets the car). One member of the sales team is a stereotypical slimey car salesman!

Baron Honda -will charge you MSRP but is a small dealership and be prepared to wait until the day after never to get a SI with Navigation (they haven't had one since last Dec or January). Salesman is nice but doesn't inspire confidence to complete the deal.

Honda City -won't take any SI orders because they are over their allocation limit and just aren't getting any in (as per salesman getting a Si with Navigation is Mission Impossible). Salesman and helpful but seems frustrated because he's losing money on SI deals he can't make.

Nardy Honda -will charge MSRP but be prepared to wait a loooong time.

Babylon Honda -$1000+ over MSRP and will tell you that any dealership that charges less is trying to waste your time and steal your deposit because they're making a deal they know thay can't fulfill (even if the car you ordered came in they'd sell it to somebody else for a premium).

Bayridge Honda -came within $500 of a MSRP quote with options but is not able to get the cars on the lot. FYI: this the ONLY Costco Auto Advantage Program member dealer in NY, don't bother it won't give you a discount at all makes me think all those other "Costco member benefits" are full of crap too!

Millenium Honda -charging $3,000-$3,500 over MSRP gets the cars in every so often, keep in mind -this is still a Civic for a few bucks more you can easily get a 350Z.

P.S. Honda -will take an order for a 2007 SI close to MSRP but won't discuss dealer installed items (unwilling to match another dealership price for things like fog lights & ipod adapter which cost the same everywhere it's just the price of installation labor that varies from dealer to dealer). They will also tell you that any dealership that charges less is trying to waste your time and steal your deposit because they're making a deal they know thay can't fulfill (even if the car you ordered came in they'd sell it to somebody else for a premium).

South Shore Honda -close to $2,000 over MSRP and didn't have any for sale.

Lessons learned: all salesman will tell you what you already know ("it's a hot car"), some play dumb and promise the car will be sitting there ready for you in 2 to 3 weeks just to get you to sign a contract (when they know full well that's not the case but atleast they have you non refundable $500 deposit).
The more over MSRP you're willing to pay the more likely you'll get the car of the sap that paid MSRP and has been waiting for months. Dealerships are limited on how many SIs they can order per month (small dealerships 2 at most, larger dealerships that sell more in volume are allocated more SIs). Next month's factory order is the last they can place for a 2006, if you have a contract for a 2006 and the order is placed next month expect to add another $200 and change to cover the 2007 price increase. If a dealership finds the car you want in another state expect a 100+ miles (depends how far away) when your care is driven over or spend extra $$ to have to bought over by flatbed too maintain is pristine condition. SIs without Nav are out there if you look hard and if you're willing to use a aftermarket GPS then you're all set.

Question:
If the 8th Civic wasn't the cool car it is today what would be comparable (keep in mind the 07 RSX is officially dead and buried)? 350Z?

[CopyJocky]

I'm in the same boat you are. I ordered a 2006 Civic Si. Mines scheduled to be built on the 20th but I'm getting sick of waiting.

The vehicle i'm most interested in besides the Civic is the Cobalt SS S/C

[DNieves]

You're lucky, atleast you have an idea of when you're SI will be built, my order has been in limbo since February. It's as if I might have started dealer hopping no because from the time I placed the order until now NOTHING has happened. I called my dealer in late April for a status (I was kinda expecting him him to give me a heads up but I had to initiate) since the car was supposed to be ready last month. What pissed me off was that he never told me there was a problem until I called him (no news is good news doesn't apply to SIs). Then he told me that the order got kicked out in mid March and mid April. Apparently the way it works is that the dealer sends the factory a list of the cars it has on order, then the factory sends the dealer a confirmation list. If the confirmation is missing anything (or is incorrect in any way) the dealer gets to overide it to set the record straight -a build date and VIN # shortly follow. My Civic's order has been overridden three times... no Civic.. no build date.. no VIN. He figures the same thing will happen again next month (last chance for a 2006) and maybe I'll have better luck in August (first crack at the 2007 along with the six people behind me). I can understand waiting.. but this isn't a Ferrari! I've called Honda Northeast customer support and they verified with the dealer the order was placed and other than that nothing has happened. I see how other people are getting their cars with less issues. I'm at the point that unless I get a build date I may be forced to consider another car. I have very little confidence in my dealer and the other dealers are playing games with prices or share the same inability to get the car built. I'm sick of this wait, rarity, and BS from the Honda dealers (so far I've had much better experience with Nissan.... even Hyundai was more pleasant to deal with). Friends of mine at work can't believe what I'm going through and it's actually turned them off to Honda (one friend bought an 07 Camry, another a 3 series BMW, another a 350Z, and another one a 07 Maxima).

[eric3621]

The more posts like these that I read the better I feel about having paid $2k over msrp for my Si with navi. Sure $25k is alot for a Civic, but I picked mine up right off the showroom floor and don't have to worry about when it gets built or if I'll ever even get it. What's $2k afterall after financing over 5 years?

Btw, I wouldn't worry too much about financing. If there's anything that my crap-credit has taught me its that somebody WILL finance you no matter what. I walked on the lot with no job, no bank account and a sub-500 credit score and still got financed on my Civic (through American Honda no less). Granted I am paying 13%, but I still got the car.

[psyshack]

I dont know why anybody would pay MSRP for a car. That just blows me away. I had the first Si secured at my dealer. A pretty black none navi car. They just wouldnt come of MSRP. This at a dealer known for discounting. They called back and offered me a Silver EX Sedan, 5MT w/Navi for 416.00 above invoice. The brocher car. I jumped on it.

As for the bankruptcy deal. Yes I had to do that many years ago. It was at a low point in my life. There was divorce. Ex wife turned out to be Bi-polar, Manic and split personality. Need I say anymore. Thankl god she's dead now. Whew. Anyway,, when I gave my lawyer 700 bucks to do the deal I walked out in the street and threw up. In my mind it was the worse thing i'd ever done. My credit rebounded very well. All I claimed on was credit card debt. 17k dollars worth of it. Paided off my personel bank notes and car notes. Ive bought 5 new cars since my BR. I have 3 creit cards with little to no debt on them and lifes good. With a very healthy high 780 FICO score.

Just make sure your house is in order. Dont over extend yourself... and for god's sake dont pay MSRP or above for a car. There a loss to start with. Dont make it worse and a dealer more happy with the sale. Cause that 1,2 or 3 grand is gone forever. WHAM,, you got took. What a shame.

[Cybergypsy]

If you are willing to drive to Gainsville, fl they dont mark\ up the SI or and civic, Plus no dealers fees