Went to dealership experience with trade in!

[Alex26]

So I have an appointment at a Norm Reeves Honda/West Covina to pre purchase a basic 2006 SI in Fiji blue! For $22,040 plus $995 special package**note must purchase special package!(wheel locks, mud guards,tint) out the door! Well we get there and they dont have the Vin # for the Fiji Blue but they have Vin Numbers for two silvers for the same price so I change my mind on the colors to silver! and We start working out numbers! And there used car manager starts appraising my car! 2002 Honda Civic Ex Manual, 37,323 miles, body kit, aftermarket wheels, Premium audio, and moonroof in excellent condition inside and out!



I had already gone on Kbb.com and appraised it with what the dealer would give me And i had gotten about $10,550! So I had figured I owe $4000 on it I'll get $6500 for it! Use that for down payment! With My excellent credit my payment would be no more than $300 at 5.99% for 60 months!
They come back and offer $7000 only! Due to the fact that it will cost them some $cash to get it Honda Certified! The car has low miles for a four year old and is very clean in and out! Mobil One 5W-30 oil changes at Metro Honda and Chevron mid grade 89 goes into it only! I tell them I want $10,550 for it! Due to the fact that I want my payment to be no more than $350! The best they can do is $369 at $6.75% for 72 months!

I have two options: #1 put the original air box, exhaust, and wheels back on and replace the trunk to get more trade in value Or #2 sell it how it is and hope to get as close to 10,500 as possible?
I don't know what to do I really want this car color is no longer an issue just as long as it's not Habanero! Only 5000 Si's coming this year! Well Who knows if this year or next year will be the end of the Si Coupe! Not having one makes me just want one even more! What should I do help me out!

[schnellsy]

I have no experience with them, so don't know if this is good suggestion or dumbest suggestion ever. But what about going to Carmax and seeing how much they offer?

[Janizary]

Can't see your pictures for whatever reason so I can't comments on the vehicle's appearance. As long as it does not look like a ricer, or cheesy boy racer car and is in good condition you should be getting more than that. (What is wrong with the trunk, btw?)

While many dealers will not give the Kelly 'excellent' rating, somewhere between 'good' and 'excellent' should be expected if the car is in immaculate condition.

I am seeing $9,900 for "Good" and $10,600 for "excellent". Even at "Fair" it is still "$8,750".

$7,000 is an insult. Find another dealer.

[John2009]

If you can swing the bridge financing, consider selling your current car yourself.
I went to a dealer I've bought several vehicles from and I always ask them to quote me an outright cash price on the new car and what my trade is worth to them. This way there is no confusion with new car discount and trade in value. The sales manager told me I could easily get $1,500 more than he could give me for my '01 LX sedan with 140k miles.

[Alex26]

Originally Posted by Janizary

Can't see your pictures for whatever reason so I can't comments on the vehicle's appearance. As long as it does not look like a ricer, or cheesy boy racer car and is in good condition you should be getting more than that. (What is wrong with the trunk, btw?)

While many dealers will not give the Kelly 'excellent' rating, somewhere between 'good' and 'excellent' should be expected if the car is in immaculate condition.

I am seeing $9,900 for "Good" and $10,600 for "excellent". Even at "Fair" it is still "$8,750".

$7,000 is an insult. Find another dealer.

It has a spoiler and I had to drill holes in the trunk!

[Janizary]

Not a giant 'space wing' I hope? (again, I cannot see the pictures for some reason)

That is a guaranteed reduction is trade-in value if so.

[Jaranath]

Dealer trade-in is convenient, but that's all. It's quite typical, expected even, for a dealer to try to make his money off your trade-in. Nevermind that he's already making money by charging you MSRP, PLUS requiring a dealer add-on package (personally, I'd have abandoned the dealer already when he brought up that little "requirement.")

Sell your car yourself, if practical. Won't happen right away, probably, but at least you can dictate your own terms.

[m1k3]

part it out, see if you can sell your parts on 7thgencivic.com or something.

put your car up on auto trader sell it your self, you will get more money, that civic you have holds its value really well, so return it to stock and you should get more money, plus the money you get from your parts.

then go get your si with the money :)

[Apex77]

Don't let your impatience to get the SI cause you to make a bad decision.

Sell the car yourself. Dealers always lowball trade-ins. Dealers make most of their money from used cars. Therefore they have to get trade-ins as cheap as possible.

Also, I would not compromise for a different color either. If I am going to spend $20K+ on a car, then I AM GETTING EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.

Seriously. You might have to wait a bit, but it will be worth it. I also do not buy into the "We are only making X amount of SI's this year" argument. It makes no sense. Honda is a business like any other. If there is a demand they have to ramp up production to satisfy it. The dealers will not tell you that. They just want to move the cars in their inventory.

By the way, MSRP for the SI is about $19K, why is your qoute so high over ? Is it due to the "package" they have on it?

Good luck.

[Alex26]

Originally Posted by Apex77

Don't let your impatience to get the SI cause you to make a bad decision.

Sell the car yourself. Dealers always lowball trade-ins. Dealers make most of their money from used cars. Therefore they have to get trade-ins as cheap as possible.

Also, I would not compromise for a different color either. If I am going to spend $20K+ on a car, then I AM GETTING EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.

Seriously. You might have to wait a bit, but it will be worth it. I also do not buy into the "We are only making X amount of SI's this year" argument. It makes no sense. Honda is a business like any other. If there is a demand they have to ramp up production to satisfy it. The dealers will not tell you that. They just want to move the cars in their inventory.

By the way, MSRP for the SI is about $19K, why is your qoute so high over ? Is it due to the "package" they have on it?

Good luck.

I know it's $19,990 but I havent had a dealer agree to that price here in cali! They are all marking them up, adding special packages, or ordering them with everything to make more money! $22,040 is the cheapest I can get it for they will not budge on price I've tried other dealers across Southern Cali! They all want more than two grand over sticker!

[YOGIx213]

I don't know much about dealer trade ins but I know a little about Norm Reeves Honda.

I went there back in 1999 to get a Civix LX and had the worst experience there. The Civic LX came standard with an AM/FM stereo with Casette deck but they took out the casette deck and tried to charge an extra 300 bucks for it. They also would not even consider a single price quote below msrp (the car was not as hot like this year's model, so price negotiating back then for the LX was not supposed to be a problem). The dealer even tried to tell me that it was a special Civic, straight off an assemble line in Japan, lol.

The dealer spoke to my father like he was a young punk (he was about 57 years old then) and that's when my dad and I blew up. We were about to kick the dealer's ass when his colleagues came to his rescue. They saw how visibly upset we were and switched the guy out with a much nicer dealer but the damage was done. I will never shop at Norm Reeves and if I see that dealer again, I'll still raise hell. I'm pissed off just thinking about that day again.

[Compaq888]

I went to Norm reeves and they insulted me when I asked how much they wanted for a used 06' coupe. They wanted 19K for a used EX that had like 3000 miles. The guy insulted me that I offered him 12k for the car and left back to the building. My dad bought his 05 accord there but we had to hassle them for 2 hours to finally get the car close to invoice. They earned their money back on the alarm and the lo jack. They even forgot to tighten the oil pan drain plug at my dad's last oil change. My dad leaked oil for 4 days before I saw it all over the garage.

[Jaranath]

Originally Posted by Alex26

I know it's $19,990 but I havent had a dealer agree to that price here in cali! They are all marking them up, adding special packages, or ordering them with everything to make more money! $22,040 is the cheapest I can get it for they will not budge on price I've tried other dealers across Southern Cali! They all want more than two grand over sticker!

I had interpreted your earlier quote as just including TTL and whatever plus the package they were forcing on you. That stinks.

Obviously I don't know what it's like where you are, but yeah, this dealer is trying to screw you, and you should cast your net as wide as you can stand to. There's gotta be some reputable dealers left in Cali. At the very least, you should be able to find one who has a policy of never charging above MSRP. Plenty of Sis around the country are being sold for at or (rarely) below MSRP. If you can't find one remotely near you...well...that REALLY stinks.

[Jaranath]

Originally Posted by YOGIx213

The Civic LX came standard with an AM/FM stereo with Casette deck but they took out the casette deck and tried to charge an extra 300 bucks for it.

Now THAT is...remarkable. It sounds borderline illegal, or at least in violation of some sort of Honda policy, perhaps.

[Kroze]

please understand that they will tried the damn hardest to low ball you as much as possible. just be patience. My situation was just like yours with the trade-in.

My purchashing experience for my 06 dx 5 speed included a trade in, dealer added $495 worth of accessories to the car and stated i have to buy it like that.

according to the kelly blue book, it's $2000 for my 96 accord ex coupe in good condition and they came up with $1200 for it. You just got to be firm and let them talk whatever they want (they're going to tell you sobs story of how it's going to cost them this and that to "restore the car"). But just stick to your guns.

In the end, i got exactly what i wanted from the moment i went into the dealership: 5.44% 60 months financing, $2k for my trade-in, $9xx off MSRP, and $495 worth of accessories that they added to the car and try to make you pay for it for free. It's not easy but...they gave me so much BS that at one point i was getting ready to say **** you to the manager and leave. But i didn't, instead i keep my cool and calm composure and just keep saying no. hey'll tell you SOBs story and make you think your car is worthless and make you feel shitty in general.

Just stick to your guns!!! Be prepare to spend at least 4-5 hours at the dealership! If you're just in there for like an hour and played the "i'm going to pickup and leave"..they're not that willing to work with you. If you stay there long enough and work with them, i'm sure you can get what you want.

as for the financing part, before i even talk to their honda finance manager. I called up my bank and put them on speaker phone, i was going through the entire car loan process in less than 5 minutes and got quoted 6.2%. I said give me 5.5% and they say ok. The look on the finance & sales guy was priceless. They were pissed and told me that if they can give me a better rate, will i take it instead? I ended up with 5.44%....my time started at 9:30am and i didn't get to leave the dealership till 2:00pm.


before you said that the SI is high in demand....i called 5 different honda dealerships around my area and none of them have it. They only have 4doors & autotragic. The salesguy where i got my car from knows that too. he said the car is very popular and goes pretty fast once they get to the dealer.

[Kroze]

This is the price quote given to me from one of the dealership. the internet price is what they're going to give me. i didn't even have to haggle with them, just a simple email and this is what the sales guy sent back.



Honda of Turnersville
3400 Route 42 (Black Horse Pike)
Turnersville, NJ 08012
(888) 4TA-MALL
(888) 482-6255


Dear ,

Thank you for your interest in our 2006 Honda Civic Coupe quote via the Internet. We've got some great prices on our 2006 Civics so don't hesitate! Honda of Turnersville considers our Internet Shoppers to be our most informed customers, so we are proud to offer you Special Internet Pricing.

Dan Geyer, Internet Consultant, is your contact in the Honda store and may be reached at (856) 728-2700 ext. 8428. We will be contacting you shorty in order to assist you with your search for a NEW HONDA! We will do our best to give you any information you need and answer any questions you might have. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached either by replying to this email or by phone. I can be reached everyday with the exception of Wednesdays. Please ask for Frank Stella in my absence.

These Price are exclusive to you as our Internet Customer.

Tax, tags and any dealer-installed options that may be on a specific vehicle are not included in this pricing.


Please bring this coupon below and ask for Dan Geyer or Frank Stella in order to receive the following pricing!


Model MSRP Internet Price

Civic DX 5 Speed Manual $14,910 $13,910

Civic DX Auto $15,710 $14,710

Civic LX 5 Speed Manual $16,860 $15,860

Civic LX Auto $17,660 $16,660

Civic EX 5 Speed Manual $18,810 $17,810

Civic EX Auto $19,610 $18,610

Civic EX Navi 5 Speed $20,560 $19,560

Civic EX Navi Auto $21,360 $20,360

Civic Si 6 Speed Manual $20,540 $20,540
Civic Si Navi 6 Speed $22,290 $22,290





So for $22k, that dealership better give you the SI with navigation.

[duncan0802]

Take your time, Im in talks with dealerships and one on their website already has an SI below MSRP, and one has even promised to beat any other dealerships price, so we will see this week when I plan to walk away with an SI for near invoice. I will keep you updated.

[John2009]

I got pricing very similar to this list from a couple of Internet inquires (and the dealer I visited in person) in Illinois.

Any time a dealer insists on add-ons, additional dealer mark-ups, packs, etc, the pack needs to include a tube of Vasoline because the experience will really hurt without it.

[Kroze]

Originally Posted by John2009

I got pricing very similar to this list from a couple of Internet inquires (and the dealer I visited in person) in Illinois.

Any time a dealer insists on add-ons, additional dealer mark-ups, packs, etc, the pack needs to include a tube of Vasoline because the experience will really hurt without it.

what you do in those situation is to tell em to give it to you for free. which i did.

[John2009]

Originally Posted by kroze

what you do in those situation is to tell em to give it to you for free. which i did.

More power to you. Dealers that try to add this crap deserve to have the car sit on their lot until it rusts away.