Guest

Does anybody have buying experience with carsdirect.com?
Their price for TL+Nav (something like 30,360 before taxes) seems to be OK, they deliver in 7-10 busineess days in California. Everything looks good. Especially good for those who prefer computer to car dealers.

So, what are the minuses?

hcq_303

A friend recently purchased a '01 TL + NAV for a little more than $31,000+ OTD. That's better than the quote you received. Check out Cerritos Acura, Mitch Franklin. That's if you are in So. Cal.

Gomez

Price is a little high, but if you aren't into haggling then I guess go for it. If you are a member of a credit union they can probably do a little better. If not, then join one.

I negotiated the price myself, and got about $1500 off MSRP. It did take a week, though, and was a huge pain.

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'01 WDP TL
Momo shift, wing, tint, Whistler 6-band.
'88 White RX-7 Convertible
BBS, Kenwood 'Flip-face,' Fosgate Fanatic 4.9, Fosgate 8", Boston Acoustics.

Guest

Hmm... AFAIK, OTD includes taxes? But then $31,000 sounds as a _very_ good deal - 8.25% CA tax gives about $2475, so it's about $2500 off MSRP!

Anyway, I'm in SF Bay area

Guest

Gomez -
In which way the credit union membership affects the carsdirect.com price? Is there something like discount for members?

Gomez

Credit unions, at least the ones with which I've dealt, will work directly with select dealers. Here in Dallas, for instance, there were 2 Acura dealers from which you could choose to shop with my particular credit union.

The CU has pre-set deals with the dealers, and the dealer offers buyers a low price w/ no haggling. I bought a '97 Accord that way a few yrs back, and got it for about $500 over invoice. The TL will likely not be sold that low, though.

Dealers will discount very low on VERY popular cars such as Camry and Accord, and also on dogs that no one wants such as Dodge Stratus. TL is too hot to discount much. I think you can do better than that dod com deal on your own, or with a CU. CU will probably not deal with a dot com, though.

Sh*t, even at MSRP the TL is a good buy. I would have paid $35 grand if that's what it cost - it's that good! Bear in mind that I chose the TL over a '97 528i; once again, the TL is an excellent buy.

------------------
'01 WDP TL
Momo shift, wing, tint, Whistler 6-band.
'88 White RX-7 Convertible
BBS, Kenwood 'Flip-face,' Fosgate Fanatic 4.9, Fosgate 8", Boston Acoustics.

Guest

Gomes -

Thanks for the CU info. I'm American Electrionic Association Credit Union (AEACU) member. Just checked their web site and yes, all local Acura dealers are AEACU partners.

However, the benefits they provide seems to be only for financing. I'm going to pay whole amount in cash, so probably it's not important whether I'm AEACU member or not.

But just to make sure, I'll call AEACU and/or the dealership to ask if they have any price discounts.

Thanks!

Gomez

Good luck. My final buying advice, cut from one of my earlier posts:

"Enjoy, but don't let them sell you any of their add-on crap. Just not worth it at all; everything can be had better and cheaper elsewhere.

Whatever you do, don't get the extended warranty or that BS paint/interior protection package. Slik50 will give you extended engine warranty for $20, and Prolong will do the same for paint for the same $20. Just spray Scotchguard on the mats yourself for about five bucks.

If you still want the extended warranty (not even a warranty, more like an insurance plan for mechanicals - it's actually an "extended service contract"), you can always buy a better one later for less money than from Acura. Save your money for better things."

------------------
'01 WDP TL
Momo shift, wing, tint, Whistler 6-band.
'88 White RX-7 Convertible
BBS, Kenwood 'Flip-face,' Fosgate Fanatic 4.9, Fosgate 8", Boston Acoustics.

grishulia

You should be able to get that car for about $1K less at the dealer...
...a friend of mine bought his TL for cash $27100 non nav. Navigation costs $2K so figure $29000 - $29300.
I actually found that dealres could usually get you a better price than these online shops... but if you are scared of the dealers than just get it from the web.

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Just my 2 cents...

Gomez

Yep, I paid 27,100 after much haggling. Quite the antiquated process.

------------------
'01 WDP TL
Momo shift, wing, tint, Whistler 6-band.
'88 White RX-7 Convertible
BBS, Kenwood 'Flip-face,' Fosgate Fanatic 4.9, Fosgate 8", Boston Acoustics.

chiawei

Since you are in bay area, you have no room to negotiate unless you print out the carsdirect.com pricing.

I ended pay $30050 for 2000 TL with navi, trunk tray, wheel locks, cargo net, door edge trims...etc. (not include fees).

However, you can try to buy from carsdirect.com using L.A. area code. It would still be cheaper for you to buy the car and ship the car up north.

My mother was looking to by '01 Lexus RX. The price difference was more than $2000. L.A. was much cheaper. It does not cost you more than $500 to ship the car from L.A. to Bay area. In fact, i believe that the dealer may also be able to re-route the car to bay area as well.

Call any dealer in the L.A. area and ask them to reroute the car to you.

Guest

Gomez -

Thanks for the advise about extended warranty and other add-ons. I will not buy any of those now.

Regarding the price negotiation - I still can not get even the carsdirect.com price from them! And yes, I have the printouts. They just tell me - "we don't match online prices". Sticker price - take it or leave it, that's it.
Well, I keep trying other dealers.

Thanks for proposed carsdirect.com LA-SF route... But it seems too complicated for me Also, I need new car ASAP, as I rent a car. My previous car was totaled 2 weeks ago and insurance will pay for rent just one week more, and that's it.

chiawei

Try stevens creek. They are the one that matched carsdirect.com pricing.

Guest

Thanks chiawei!
BTW, I live just across the street from Stevens Creek Acura. They don't have any TLs available at the moment, so I didn't talk about the price with them yet. But I definitely will.