CT TL

I know this should go on the CL post - but I know and trust your responses.

I'm thinking about trading our 00' Maxima SE in for an 01" ABP CL Type S with Navi. Here's the deal

Maxima: $300/mo. with 35 more months on the financing

CLS: Maxima + $2500 down and payments of $405/mo. for 60 months.

Seems like a pretty good deal. Plus I'll have a TL and a CLS in my garage.

What do think?

Plus what are the differences between the 01' & 02' CLS.

Thanks

av8torjim

CT TL,

We need more information. What are they offering for the Maxima? What is the price for the CL? What is the interest rate on the CL loan? IMO, 60 months is too long to finance a car, but the Acuras are holding their values, so . . .

The current NADA trade-in (Southeastern Edition) for a base 2000 Maxima SE is $17,700. Assuming an 8% interest rate on the Maxima loan, you still owe $9,337. That means that the down payment for the CL is $10,863! ($17,770 minus the $9,337 payoff, plus the $2,500 cash downpayment). And you then are paying the remainder of the purchase price over 60 months @$405, which, if the interest rate is 7%, must mean that you are financing $20,453.00. Is $31,316 a good price for a CL-S?

IMO, you should never buy based on payments. Negotiate the best price and the payments will fall into place.

Good luck.

CT TL

Yes, that's about right (maxima interest was 5.9% for 48mos). I have a different theory about car purchasing though. I think that the only important numbers are the amount out of pocket and monthly payment. Dealers tell you want you want to hear about car pricing. For example - if they think you want a lot for your trade then they will give you more but they won't discount the new car. Vice-versa, if they think you want to see them discount their car then they'll give you all the rebates in the world, but give you less on the trade.

Saturday afternoon the orignal offer was: the Maxima, $0 down and $520/mo for 60. Then it was: the Maxima $5,000 down and $400/mo for 60. They called today and said: the Maxima $2,500 down and $405/mo for 60. So somehow it's costing me $2,500 less than it would of on Saturday.

BTW the tactic on the phone call today was. We have five 01' CLS on the lot and the 02's are coming in anyday so we are going to give it to you for basically invoice.

thanks again

CT TL

ok, just got off the phone with the dealer and here are the real numbers:

CLS: 30,800 (including taxes, title, etc....)
TRADE: 18,000
PAY OFF: 9,500 (approx)
DOWN: 2,500

405/mo for 60

sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

Bitium

It sounds like an OK deal. As for the differences, one main difference is going to be manual tranny. I guess a lot of minor things and maybe some new features and maybe a face lift and body kit.