A few weeks ago I purchased a 2003 TL and traded in my 2001 BMW 330i. I paid $27,700 (msrp$29,480) for the TL with 2.9% apr. Did I do ok?

While the BMW is, overall, a better car the TL seems like a better value. MSRP is about $11,000 less for the TL and I like the overall quietness and ride comfort of the TL.

My experience with the dealer turned sour when, after taking delivery, I found out it would it would cost $150.00 to get an ashtray and a cigarette lighter installed. Since I rarely smoke in the car it's something I will not likely need, I just didn't like the way I had to find out the ashtray is a dealer installed accessory. Some car mfrs. offer a "smokers package" as a no cost option or an option that is under $30.00. Most simply include ashtrays and a lighter. I found out about these added costs when I went back the following morning because the service dept was already closed when I took delivery. My dealer was off that day and I explained to another salesman that when Acura calls me for the survey they are gonna hear it big time. He didn't seem to care. The following day my voice mail got a follow up call from my salesman to see if all was ok or if I had any questions to give him a call. Either he didn't know what happened, or he didn't care.

Now I got another call from him telling me that he lost his commission on the deal because of the survey. I didn't want to see that happen and I asked to speak with the manager, because on the survey my issue was mainly with the man who "crunched the numbers" for the financing and tried to sell me accessories. While his English was very hard to understand he offered me just about every accessory except the ashtray/lighter. When the lady at Acura Corp. asked what the dealer could do to make it right I said as a goodwill gesture they could put in the ashtray/lighter and waive the charge because right now I have a very sour taste in my mouth over that dealership. She said that she would pass that information on to the dealer. The dealer never offered to make ammends and left me with the impression that they don't care about giving service to their customers, they only care about getting all "excellents" on the customers initial survey. Since that didn't happen they have no reason to offer me anything.

 

What dealer was this....

 

curious as to which dealer in nyc

 

I think like with any car... you should've done enough research to know that the TL doesn't come with the Ash Tray, its clearly listed on the website and even the price for the add on. On top of that, your saying you dont even smoke, so I feel that you are making a big deal out of this entire issue, to the point where the sales man lost his commision, which I highly doubt he did. I mean if the salesperson had to ask every customer, weather he smokes and mention no ash tray comming with the car, I find that to be a tad ridiculous. Im sorry if I was blunt or said something to offend you. This is just my Honest Opinion.

And as far as the price for the TL you paid, judging on the MSRP you posted, its for just the Regular TL not an S type or Navi model, and people in our area, that is NY area are paying about 25,900. Since the 2004 is comming out, they are going below invoice now, so you might've been able to do better. These numbers that I pulled are listed in Edmunds.com Here's the link:

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/acur....num1.1.acura*

And btw, I purchased my car last month, and got it just below invoice at 30,200, and I believe Invoice is at 31,010. But ne wayz... welcome to the club man!!

 

I didn't say I don't smoke. I said that I rarely smoke in the car. Even when I do I try not to use the ashtray to extinguish a cigarette. If there is a cop behind me or the ground is dry I will use the ashtray. The dealer knows I smoke. They tried selling me all kinds of other accessories and never mentioned an ashtray/lighter. I didn't see it when I researched the car, an obvious oversight. This is my 5th new car in less than 10 years and a lighter/ashtray was never an isuue, they were always there. A friend recently bought a new Ford and it was there too. I never initiated a discussion about floor mats either because they came with all of my previous cars as well as this car.

The dealer told me he offered the smokers accessory to me and I told him there is no way I would have forgotten that, especially for that price. When I took delivery and he showed me the ins and out of the car and I saw that there was no ashtray/lighter I asked him what was going on he looked a bit surprised. We went to the parts dept and I paid $43.00 for the items figuring I would pop them in and be on my way. But, the housing for the ligther needs to be done by a mechanic.

The price has just dropped. Up until 9/2 Acura was offering 2.9% on the 03 TL's. Now that's gone and there is a $1,500. mfr to dealer incentive in its place that took effect on 9/3. When I bought the car Edmunds price showed $27,300 and Cars Direct showed $27,800+ (ballpark), though I'm sure I could have done better.

All in all I think I did reasonably well, in part, because Acura gave me $1,300 more than BMW offered and $700 more than Infiniti offered for my trade in.

I don't want to name the dealer because this was my only issue with them that I had and I wouldn't want to put others off from purchasing there, because up until then I was quite happy with my experience. What annoys me me is the denial I am getting from them. Also, when I asked to speak with his boss after he told me he lost his commission he wouldn't put him on the line saying it doesn't matter at this point, let's forget it etc...

They take the time to try and sell window etching, alarm upgrade, spoiler kits and other useless accessories. Another 5 seconds to mention an ashtray and lighter wouldn't have hurt them. While most people don't smoke about 35% of adults still do. They could probably sell more of this this rip-off accessory than any of the others.

 

I see your point.

 

Dude, smoking's bad for you.

BMW's still come w/ashtrays b/c the Germans are big smokers (at least that's what the dealer told me). My 02 M3 has an ashtray and lighter, front and back. BMW charges for the non-smoker's package, and it's pretty expensive for some stupid plastic.

Getting the wife a TL-S w/navi this weekend. Negotiated dealer down to invoice and then walked away, gambling on the fact that Acrua would offer a better incentive than the 2.9% financing.