Ok, I originally got an offer of $31,500 for an 03 TL-S w/navi. This is from a dealer that's 2 hours away. I told him that I could probably get the same price locally, and he asked what it would take to get my business, so I said $31,000, and I'd be willing to drive down. No reply (e-mail). My uncle knows the GM at a local dealer and he matched the $31,500. So I e-mailed the first dealer and told him I got the same price and that I would just buy locally. He comes back and says I win! $31,000 and he'll order any car I want. Now, I did say I'd make the drive for $31,000. So, do I take that offer, or try to get the local dealer to match again?

 

Hey, it's all about the money game. If your local dealer can match that price, I'd say you save yourself a drive and go with the local deal. I would even go further as to try and lower the price even more with the local guy. If he can't match it, you can always go back up to the original price of $31,000.

axleback

 

This is a tough one. If you're good for your word, then you should buy it from the 2-hour away guy for the $31K you agreed to. If you keep playing the dealers off one another you may save a few hundred more dollars, but you really don't have room to complain if they "fudge" the facts with you since you're playing the same game. I would say that you're getting a good deal at $31K, so go for it!

 

Try to get a better deal from the local guy, tell him, beat this price by 100 and I will be in with a check tomorrow... worst case he matches and you win! Don't feel obligated to ANYONE they try to sucker you like that, it is all a game, realize they'd f you in a heart beat.

 

I would go local if I were you. Sure you can play the game a little more, but in the end I think I would go local. Get the local dealer to go $31k and go for it. Its not like your "word" means anything to the sales person. Most sales people are soo pushy don't always tell the truth anyways. (i know that is a nice stereo type)
Have you ever read the fine print when you sign for the car. It says that nothing the sales person said basically means anything.

 

I realize that I am a naive idealist, but my word means something to me, even if it doesn't (as you suggest) mean anything to the salesman. From a more selfish standpoint, how can you expect the salesman to EVER be honest with you if you go into the negotiation being dishonest yourself? Of course I'm cautious when buying a new car, but I find that life is a lot more enjoyable if I assume people are basically honest unless/until they give me a reason not to. Like I said, I'm a naive idealist!

 

I like the way you think Iceman. But this is the real world and in the real world, people scam each other. I don't want to be way off topic here, but by the time you find out a person is scamming ya, it's most likely too late. I would like you as a friend but definitely not as a used car saleman. Btw, I'm low on funds, can you spare me a few hundred dollars for a spoiler?

Just to give you an idea how dealers can screw you over, I have a friend that already had all the verbal agreements on the phone with a dealer where he wanted to purchase his car from. A couple of days later when my friend goes in to supposedly close the deal, the sales guy says the car isn't there anymore and the deal is off. His lame excuse was that he had looked at the wrong car in his inventory and that the car my friend wanted was more expensive. Needless to say, he was furious. He just left and bought the car from a different dealer with the same price. He thinks the salesperson sold the car to a different person at a higher margin. Moral of the story is, if you don't play the game with them, they will. My model is...get everything is writing.

axleback

 

I'm with ICEMAN, Karma is a muthaf*cker cheaters.

 

$100 is really nothing. Now if he can get you $31K with a spoiler then its a different story

 

Dealer wouldn't budge. What's the best price anyone's got on the 03 TL-S w/navi? Besides the guy who got the free navi cause of a few dings!

 

got '03 tl-s, no nav for $29,300 + tax & tag last week ... played 3 dealers for all they're worth.

 

31,500 TL-S w/ nav.....500 over invoice, I doubt youre gonna get lower than that. Maybe you cant start with the accessories, spoiler, bodykit at cost...stuff like that.

 

personally id rather buy local because there gonna treat u better when u come in for service n stuff and if u have any problems u wont have far to go ,,,,,,do u really feel like traveling two hours for a few hundred bucks ???

 

31,900. TL-S w/Navi. They included the wheel locks and trunk tray (and the spash guards which I made them take off )

Salesman was very professional, and locked me into a very low finance rate even though we did not finish the deal until more than a week after that special deal was over.

I would say anythign under $32k is great especially if you have a positive experience with the dealer.

-Randy

 

Argh!~ Went through all that dealing, and my loan through my credit union was denied! Can dealers swing deals in financing also, or are rates and qualifications preset based on your credit? I can't justify paying some outrageous interest rate....

 

31k with Navi is a great deal! . I got my 2002 Cls W/Navi + Spoiler at $30,800 . I think a Compaiable TL is only valued at 200.00 more than the CL.

 

I tried the dealer duels too, and the last time I called one of the dealers he hung up on me. I wasn't getting half the deal you are getting.

 

'03 TL-S w/Navi and Wheellock for $31,600, just like sssick got with about $600 over invoice. I guess if this is a real good deal around Bay Area (San Jose to be precise) than $31K is really a sup deal there.

 

(and the spash guards which I made them take off )<<<<<<< why the hell would u take the splash guards off....unless u love those little paint chips on the lower half of ur car ?

 

1. I saw the pictures of what they do to the underlying paint.

2. They were mega fugly on the silver TL.

I like to look so much better without them. They look much better on a dark color.

-Randy

 

Well, even though my credit union rejected me, both dealers offered me financing. The local dealer wanted more for the car, but was able to offer me a better rate, so they were able to match my overall monthly payment that the other dealer offered me, plus they had the car in stock and ready to go! However, I would still recommend the other dealer.

For those in Oregon, check out Kendal Acura in Eugene! Wayne Phelps the internet salesman will bend over backward to help you, it was just too far for me to drive though...

Proud new owner of an SSM 03 TL-S w/navi~

30 miles and still rattle and squeak free!

p.s. Gotta get those mud guards off ASAP!