rouxeny

I'm on the verge of purchasing a 2003 CL-S 6-MT, Anthracite Metallic without Navi and I'm interested in finding out what people have paid for the car.

The numbers from Edmunds show the MSRP to be 30,550 and I'm guestimating the Invoice to be about 28,200 based on the price of the 2002 model. Edmunds suggests that people in my area (New Haven, CT) are getting their cars for 29,800.

The guy at the dealer gave me the usual line about how the car is rare and that I'll have to act fast or they'll be sold out of their allotment. However, I know that the exact car I want has been sitting on the showroom floor for the last month at least. I'm hoping, but doubtful, that I'll get some small discount for it being the "floor model." It looks immaculate, the only concern I have is that the shift knob is very easy to unscrew, which is different from most Hondas. I wonder if too many people have been playing with it.

Also, I haven't bought a new car in a while and I can't remember what other fees get tacked on. Obviously destination ($450) and tax, but I don't remember the rest. Money is somewhat tight.

Any input would be appreciated.

Andrew

Shawn S

My car has the NAVI and the following options:
Rear spoiler
Gold Emblems
Gold inner Grill
Gold “Type-S” emblem
Splashguards

Including the 480 delivery charge, I paid 33,500 before taxes.
I think that comes to about 700 off what it adds up to on the Acura Website.
Tax was only 570 because I had a high trade value (24,000) and in PA you don’t have to pay tax on that.

Shawn S

rouxeny

That spoiler is an expensive piece of plastic. I definitely like the car more with it on than off. As my roommate said, it's got less of a "big butt" that way. Unfortunately, I don't think I have the financial ability to swing that right now. I guess there's always later.

EricS

34k even (including destination) before taxes and crap.

6speed, Navi with:
Spoiler
Splash Guards
Wheel Locks

Austin dealer sucks, no dang competition. They started me out at $999 for spoiler, $199 for splashguards, & $99 for the lugs. So basically, I talked them down 500 bucks.

jts1207

29500 plus tax..........03cls 6spd non-navi............muds locks and trunk liner

DJF

rouxney...You've done the first "No No" when it comes to getting a deal on a new car. Drooling over that new car on the floor. It's a signal for the jerk salesman to screw you. It doesn't hurt to go looking, but as the written "rules of buying a car" say, don't discuss any serious $$ until you are ready and have your finances all lined up.

When you're ready, do your homework and have an idea of what a good price is on the car. Then you can seriously negotiate.

When you finally go serious car shopping, are you able to shop where there are several Acura dealers? This way, a single dealer won't have your balls in a vise. Dealer competition is the best tool for getting what you want. Before I settled on an '02 w/NAV (I wanted auto) I was quoted $31,500 on an '03 w/o NAV (out the door). I always felt if I got a car for MSRP including tax & lic I was doing good. Due to dealer incentives on my year-end '02, I paid $30,300 out the door. I would not expect a dealer to do the same on a new car, but I try starting at $500 less than MSRP out the door. That where competition helps...when you get laughed at, you just drive to the next one. Again, my one piece of advice: Have your finances lined up. Do not try to negotiate if you are not serious and ready to purchase!!

6speed

If you can get it for under 30k (no options) you're doing good. I got mine the day they came available and paid 30,500. MSRP is 31,050. Prices might be softening a little now.

BTW, you are going to love the anthracite. The color is even better after you put your own wax on it.

2003_cl

i didn't get 6 speed, and i heard that these are actually in pretty high demand, so the dealer may not be messing with you when he says that. but then again, he's probably messing with you just cuz he's a dealer

mine:
2003 CL-S, anthracite/ebony, no navi, mud guards, wheel locks, trunk mat, 29200 not including tax, destination etc. so it came out to just under 32k out the door (tax + fees etc = ~10%). i think MSRP is slightly higher in 2003 than 2002, around 28500

MikeyB_TLS

Go to carsdirect.com, take "their price" to the dealer (if it is advantageous, else you have an idea) and negotiate from there.

Also, you can see the car price varies wildly throughout... My buddy leased a BMW and he just sent a fax to about 30 dealers in within 150-miles with an options list, the greatest difference was ~60/month.... you could then negotiate via phone from there.

I negotiated my last car price over the phone, the only thing I would do different is to haggle them more over my trade in.. i concentrated on bottom line car price more so than trade in, and they f-ed me with the "low" number for my trade.

Everytime they tried to F- me on bottom line price on an option (except the spoiler) than is a bolt on.... I'd say well, I looked on the CL board and their price is this.... I fought for every dollar like it was my last because 100 bux is 100 bux... just so you know bottom line car price 26k for 2002 leftover... I got the car for invoice price plus a 2000 dollar incentive!!!!!

Slimey

check out Carbuyingtips.com for a good tutorial on how to buy a car. You learn how to get a fair price. You learn where the dealer/sales rep is coming from. You learn where they try to scam you.

I think that I got a fair price for my CL-S 6Speed - I don't think I got it for a steal, nor did I get ripped off. With Navi and a couple extras I got it for 32K. Their invoice cost is about 30.5K (with Navi).

I also actually got a reasonable deal on my trade-in at the low end of blue book (at the dealer!). This is what ended up clenching the deal.

I followed the rules that I learned:

I went for test drive and didn't act excited.

We sat down and I had him make an offer.

I haggled over the offer and got up to leave twice when it wasn't looking good (I had quotes in hand that I got on-line and from other dealers, not necessarily great, but the guy knew I was shopping and was willing to walk).

I then told him about trade in. I haggled the trade-in SEPARATE from the selling price. It gives them less chance to play the money shell game.

I then haggled the loan rate. I brought in a copy of eloan quote and ended up gettting a loan from the dealer just 0.05% lower from the eloan.

I had a copy of my credit report in hand so they couldn't dick me over and say that they wouldn't discuss loans until they ran the credit.

My credit rating is over 800. I pay my bills. I have a good job.

Smitty02CLs

get the 2002 if you still can and don't care about the six speed, that's what I did a few months ago. There are still plenty on the lots.

2002 Cls
Navi
Spoiler
mudflaps, wheel locks, moon roof visor....everything...

$30,800 out the DOOR , see the pricing difference now?

EricS

It's hard comparing what everyone paid for their cars, cause people are in different situations (trade in or no trade in) and live in different parts of the country.

It is true, Acura is only producing 2700 6 speeds.

6speed

If you can get one for under 30k go for it.

jts1207

hey mikey.............where the hell does your buddy live that there are 30 BMW dealers within a 150 mile radius