Well, finally found a dealer that was halfway reasonable and got a quote of around 42K for RL w/tech. Dealer is about an hour or so away.

Hope to set up an appt on Saturday. Just hope the trade in goes well. Last time I was good on a price on an RL back last fall, but they wanted to short change me on my trade in and I walked. Hopefully this dealer will be a bit more accommodating.

Wish me luck. Regardless of what happens, want to thank all on the forums for their input and help!

Any suggestions before I go into the dealership (besides the cyanide capsule )?

 

Good luck. You should have 2 separate transactions. First buy the car for the agreed on price- $42K is a very good price for the RL with tech. Take care of all the paperwork for the buy. Secondly, make it very clear that you may not be trading your car in if you feel the price is too low. Be prepared to leave the dealer with the car you drove their in- I'm sure you're bringing someone with you. If they low ball you buy the car for a good price and you sell the car yourself.

If you don't do it this way you may de facto be paying $44K- not $42K- for the RL if they low ball you by $2000. Be sure you have some hard numbers from a couple of sources; be realistic the numbers you bring. Trading is very convenient so you can't expect that they'll give you as much as a private buyer would, but you obviously don't want them taking advantage of you either

 

Thanks for the good advice. Wife and I have discussed the possibility of selling our old car ourselves, although other has told us that, after tax issues and other such things, the amount of money gained is not all that much.

I have no issue with walking out of dealerships, and have done so not infrequently in the past. I think that is an important mentality to have in mind when dealing with dealerships. If something doesn't smell right, I will leave.

I do plan to bring the printout of my 04 TSX's blue book value. I may also bring a few other copies. Im hoping that an Acura dealership would be at least willing to buy a good condition TSX that has less miles than typical and would be an easy car to get into "certified" condition. Then again, I thought that way back last fall as well...

 

You may want to get a CARMAX purchase quote. They seem to stick closer to BB values then the dealer song & dance. If that is an acceptable offer to you, likely the dealer will match it, and you will get the sales tax differential with a trade.

Documentation of prices & offers seem to lessen the sales waffling.

 

If you haven't agreed on a price for your trade, expect to be very disappointed. I've never had an offer for a trade that's come anywhere close to what I thought it was worth based on the research I'd done.

LL

 

Indeed. Even if the car has not a polishing swirl on it, they will lowball with "GOOD" or "FAIR" condition quotes. Of course every used car they sell is 'EXCELLENT'!

But we all work to make a living. And we have some sales reps out here who have offered candid information (and thanks fort that!) Just have a researched & supported price in mind (in your market area) for both the purchase and the trade. There are several online tools to get fair market pricing to your home area. And if the dealer meets your tolerances of those price, just be happy and enjoy the ride. Some people will stress they could have saved $5 more, or stress over a better price someone posts in another market across the country.

Buy the car for yourself, not for others opinions.

 

Correct. Dealers will offer at best "GOOD", and sell at "EXCELLENT". Every car I have traded in has been spotless with paint that has a shine that rivals new cars on the lot. Best I've been able to get was the high end of the "GOOD" range.

 

When I traded my '04 TSX 6MT with 70XXX miles I finaly talked them into $16900 for trade in. First offer was for $14500. I bought my '06 RL for $41140.

 

When I bought my last two cars (MDX, RL from the same Acura dealer), each time I told them the other dealer I was working with gave the same deal on the purchase but offered $1,000 more on my trade-in. Both times my dealer (after b!tching and moaning) coughed up the additional $1,000. I did this after I had all details of the purchase ironed out (included accessories, etc.).

LL

 

Hope it goes well for you and you get what you want.

I don't have the patience, desire or extra time to deal with negotiating so I for one wouldn't care if I don't save a couple grand on a big item purchase.

I guess when I was created I didn't get the male ego gene that always has to try and get the best deal on cars/houses and will spend hours doing it but all the power to those who have that gene. Hehe.

 

Now, Rob. You knew that "male ego" comment would get you a response.

All I can say is you're the kind of guy salesmen love. For the rest of us, it ain't a matter of ego, it's a matter of not overpaying. We not only consider overpaying to be dumb, but we also know if we try we can save enough on an average car negotiation to finance a Caribbean cruise or a new sofa for the den or a year's worth of steaks for the grill.

Car buying (unfortunately) is a rather ugly game, and he who refuses to negotiate has simply surrendered.
.
.

 

I agree with Mike. I won't take the negotiating to an extreme and walk out of a car dealer that I've been doing business with and have been very happy with to save $50 somewhere else. BUT, my local dealer knows that if there's a $500 difference I'm walking and they won't let that happen.

Rob, you don't care about saving $2000? I don't care how much your net worth is, that's just silly. Save the $2000 and donate it to your favorite charity- don't give it to the car dealer.

 

Rob, I hear you about not negotiating. You would be an ideal customer for an online service like Edmunds, or CarsDirect, both of which I used in my two recent car purchases.

The negotiating was over REALLY fast once I had numbers offered by others.

Worked out even better for me on the Honda Pilot I just bought for my wife in January--we paid only $30k (MSRP=$36k).

 

I agree ^. Go to carmax get a written quote which I believe is good for 7 days (I may be wrong) and see if the dealer can at least match it or get close.

If he/she can't match the purchase quote sell it to carmax and go buy the car for 42K from the dealer.

If I didn't already spend soo much on my TL, I'd be all over an RL. The other day in Houston I saw a debadged, dropped RL with some 18's or 19's it looked sick.

 

Actually, Im probably more like Rob....its my wife who is the master negotiator. She is an accountant, so I leave the numbers business to her.

hopefully things go ok tommorrow...

"red five, I'm going in!"

 

Things did not start off well. The salesman we had been working with got stuck in WisCONsin on a trip due to the bad weather. However, we arranged for the sales manager to meet us, and he arranged for another one of his salespersons to work with us.

From then on, however, things went well. The saleslady was very professional, with no attitude or problem covering for her fellow salesperson (I honestly felt that she should have got some of the commission...hopefully she did). Actually got above KBB price by a hair on the trade in and 42K for a lakeshore silver RL w/tech. Even got a trunk tray (oooooh!).

LOVE the CAR! I didn't think it would be this great! I still can't believe it

Very impressed with this dealership (Spitzer, between Pittsburgh and Washington, PA) Very professional, even down to their building, which is the nicest Acura dealership I have seen. No theatrics or strongarming or games. I will definately be coming back to them in the future.

thanks to all on this forum for your help! Acurazine rocks!

 

Congrats!

Enjoy the ride. And welcome to our exclusive club of RL owners. So much of what you have been reading will come to light with each drive.

 

Thanks! I actually spent my teen years about an hour south of Tampa (Venice/Sarasota area) and lived in Tampa proper for a year back in 1999. I decided to move back up north and drive slow

Busy place. I seem to recall that there was a highway intersection referred to as "malfunction junction" or something like that...I bet the traffic info comes in handy!

 

Driving in Tampa is like flying thorugh an asteroid field. Lines in the road mean nuthin. Traffic lights and stop signs are mere suggestions. Those pretty blinky lights are just a waste since one hand must be holding the cell phone and the other has the latte. Right of way is defined by 'I think I can fit my car there'. And the left lane is the IDHTPA Lane (I don't have to pay attention lane).

I wish the RL had an idiot avoidance system (IAS), but that would cause the car to be disabled from operation and remain in the garage.

 

Godwhacker: Congratulations!

 

Another RL, like Cupid's arrow, finds its mark!

Congratulations on a wise choice and welcome to our (little) club. We love our RLs too.

 

Congratulations and welcome!

 

Im absolutely gaga over this car!!!

Great handling, incredible stereo, comfy seats, and I don't even have to take my keys out of my pocket.

Also, the looks. Im sorry, but when I saw my car in the hospital where I work's parking lot, with all the other cars, including all the BMW's and Merc's and Lexus (Lexi?), it just stood out as just damn prettier than the others. I love the lines and the look of the car... just nice and smooth lines. None of the Caddi harsh angles or BMW nostrils, etc. Nice streamlined flowing lines.... This car is gorgeous!

Still learning alot of the ins and outs. Still having a blast with voice commands. I think half the fun is guessing a command and either being right (which is cool), or dead wrong (which can be fun!). I spend a few minutes running over trying to memorize the specific words for the voice commands, but its kind of fun just
"winging it". About halfway through reading the car manual. Also spending time adjusting the audio settings to find that perfect set up...