8th Member's Dealer Experiences - Locations - etc...

[4DoorWhore]

Originally Posted by radiocontrolhead

But how do you know for sure if it's build dates or delivery dates? Two dealerships I've tracked have had the car come in 2 weeks after those "target dates" on the Honda Interactive Locator. Does it change? I'll just keep getting updated with the dealership.

They want $500 for a deposit. I'm thinking that's way too much for a deposit, isn't it?

Nah that's pretty much standard. You can apply it top the loan or get a refund when you buy the car.

[BigMoney8481]

I put a deposit down at Majestic Honda in Lincoln, RI. The guy I deat with was real nice and another new salesman was fun to talk to. A month later I went back to see when my car was going to be there/when it was going to be built, and the asshole manager told me "I have no idea when your car is going to be here. I only get told when the car is shipped out. I'm not going to be able to tell you anything so just get out of here." I proceeded to tell him that he was an old prick and that I could take my business else ware. I ended up going down the sales floor and talking to the salesman I put a deposit down with and the new salesman a cubical over about what happened with their manager. They had a comment box so I left a nice one of those. Then when I left I was staring the manager down, I stopped walking in front of his desk, flipped him off and told him to go f*** himself. The next week my car arrived and a new manager was sitting in his desk. I couldn't help but laugh.

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

If I have a build date of 7/17-7/21 What should I be expecting as a good target date for delivery? I have been told 10 days from actual build date.. is this accurate? How good are my chances of getting it prior to 8/12/07?


Thnx

[sonej4]

Carl Gregory Honda, Columbus, GA
Best car buying experience yet(Terri Downing:internet sales manager)


I did all of my research and communications through email since I was in Iraq. I started doing research on this website as well as others. After some research, I decided what I wanted. A Fiji Si sedan with summer tires. I went to Honda's website and requested dealer quotes from about 10 to 15dealerships around Atlanta and south of Atlanta. I got many offers back, and Chris said I should ask for OTD prices from all the dealers. The one that gave me the lowest OTD price was Carl Gregory. There were a few other dealers that said they would match or beat the price I got, but no one stepped up when I asked for their OTD price.

Once I got the price I wanted, I got some paperwork from them stating the OTD price. I sent them a 500 dollar deposit and was told my car would be there right after I returned home. I kept in contact with Terrie, and when I got home I called to schedule delivery.

I drove to the dealer with a check in hand from my bank, and once I got there they stated there was still special financing on the civics. At this point I went ahead and filled out a credit app for Honda. The car was still being detailed when I arrived, but after filling out the credit app it was outside the door ready for the test drive. I went for a short drive and was happy with the car. I returned to the dealer to find the paperwork was ready for me to sign. I signed the paperwork and was out the door in about 30 min from the time I got there. I definately think it was worth the hour drive to purchase from Carl Gregory and will be buying from them again.

That is unless Chris has a way better deal.

[BluePhoenix]

I ended up getting my FBP Si coupe from Honda of Westborough (Herb Chambers). We got the price we wanted and the sales and service people have been very helpful so far. Car arrived when they said it would as well. Couldn't find a car in FBP with navi but gives us an opportunity to look for an aftermarket to carry from Si to S2000 and vice versa... I do have an issue with thin paint but they're assuring me they'll repaint at no cost to me..

[firmhonda]

Frank Kent Honda - DFW, Tx.

This is where I bought my 2005 civic dx/vp coupe. I went in and was just looking around at cars because I had until the end of the day to find/buy a car.. I had no way to make it to work and my supervisor was a ***** and said that if I missed the next day that he would make sure that I was fired. I looked around and saw an nhbp em2 and fell in love with it immediately so I started talking to a salesman. He went in for a minute and another salesman walked up to me and I mentioned that I really wanted the ep3 that was sitting up front.. we talked for a minute and I told him that I would give him $15,000 for the ep3 and he actually said okay. At this point I was shocked and really happy, but then he found out that I had been talking to another salesman and withdrew the offer and said he couldn't help me. When my salesman returned he said the cheapest he could go was sticker.. That is my only complaint about the guy that sold me my car.

After that we talked about prices on the em2 and everything and I got him down to $14,200 on it.. He was very nice and helpful and he's actually been there for me when I just called him up to ask financing questions in the couple of years since. Really great guy, but I will never buy from that dealership again. I've had several bad experiences with that dealership and they mark up everything they sell to a ridiculous extent.
Case in point, I found a website a while back (and haven't been able to find it again) that was a search engine for parts at all the local honda dealerships. It would list what dealership had the part, and how much they were charging for the part. Just for sh!ts and giggles I searched for the hfp rims for the 05 'vics and got a list of dealerships that mostly ranged from $160 - $200 a rim... at the bottom of the list was the dealership that I bought my car from, and they were charging $300 a rim. I was shocked.

I have a friend that also has an em2 and she clipped a curb one day ruining her 03 ex rim. For those of you that don't know about em2's that was the only year that they made the "fake si" rims. Well, she went to frank kent and they charged her $350 for the replacement rim saying that "These rims are limited edition and have never been produced outside of being put on the cars from the factory, so the price we're giving you is actually a steal."

All in all, Cecil @ Frank Kent Honda is a great guy and was nothing but a pleasure to deal with then and every time I've spoken with him since then... But the rest of the dealership is horrible.. And that goes for Frank Kent Pontiac, Cadillac, Chevy, etc. etc. etc.. Every since Troy Aikman sold that place they have been a horrible dealership.

[Need-for-Si]

Goodson Honda, Houston TX.

I was determined to buy a sedan Si with Nav at MSRP and nothing more. I went to Goodson Honda in Houston Texas, waited for a dealer and in five minutes I was in business.

First I stated that I would buy a car today if the price was right. The dealer escorted me to a small office and left me waiting for a minute. He came back with a piece of paper that stated that if the terms of the agreement were satisfying I would buy the car. This was pointless but he wanted to be assured I was serious, not fooling around.

After signing it, he left, waited for another 5 minutes and came back with an offer of 25k before taxes for the sedan si with Nav. I told him no way, I wrote down the MSRP and told him that what I am paying.

He left, waited five minutes, returned and gave me an offer for 24k. The MSRP is 23240+650destintion charge = 23890 but he did not specify if it included destination charges for the 24k quote. Plus he insisted I had to pay 300 on top of the 24k for the interior and paint protection which is a BS plan for dealers to make money. I replied I am only paying 23890 and I don't want the extra protection. He insisted about the protection plan saying any BS he could thing about it (he doesn't know I am a mechanical engineer), but I insisted I do not want this.

Then he left again, the floor manager dropped by, insisted that the MSRP was 23600 (based on an excel file in his computer), asked me why I thought that the MSRP is different, and "informed" me that the 24k price includes mud guards and door guards. I thought about it, for a little more than MSRP I would have installed mud and door guard, so I said yes, I will buy the car with mud guards and door guards for 24k. Everybody smiled, the dealer said: 'See we don't try to screw you here' and he left.

Then I waited another 5 minutes and the first guy comes back with another printed paper that did not indicated the extra equipment that the floor manager was taking about but had a 24k quote plus another 300 for the paint and interior protection as the only extra equipment.

I told him to go back remove the 300, add the door and mud guards in the 24k quote and then I will buy it.

Thats when he told me that the manager does not agree with it and I cannot buy the car and that this was the end of our negotiations.

I left with a bad stomach. The whole thing was quite stressful. The floor manager was playing stupid about the MSRP price, he questioned me where I got the 23240 MSPR price from and when I showed him the Hondacars website in his computed he did not say anything. I was trying not to get angry with their attitude and in the end when the salesman told me that the floor manager would not negotiate anymore I even wished them a good day even when I was boiling inside me.

My conclusions:

0) Be prepared to hear a lot of BS. Be patient with their BS. Smile every time you hear their BS.

1a) Always negotiate for cash even if you might need to use their finance. Capital One gives a loan in a open check that you fill in

1) write down the price of the car from the internet (KBB, Edmunds, both MSRP and TMV)

2) find out how much the taxes, and TTL in general, are in your state (about 6.2% for Texas)

3) calculate the total price with the taxes and everything so you will have an idea of the final price

4) have an idea of how much extra accessories cost so you know if the dealer is offering a good deal if he throws in some extra to close the deal

5) Dealer try to screw you as much as they can without any mercy. If you are cannot deal with negotiations, they will make the most of it.

6) no matter what extras they promise, make them to write them down in the purchase contract. Don't count on their word. After all they are car salesmen, and you where not born yesterday.

Last but not least, do you have any advice? Did I do the right thing? I mean, at the end of the day, I left the dealership without buying a car. This was my first dealership experience. I need a SI!!!!

[GeezerSi]

Lehigh Valley Honda Allentown, PA

I've purchased my '03 Pilot & '07 Si. They've treated me well on every aspect of my interactions with them. Too many great experiences to tell. They have a top notch facility, great mechanics. I would highly recommend them to anyone.