What is your experience using Acura's, or another site such as Edmund's, for emailing a dealer to request a quote? Is the quoted price you get back good or simply a starting point for negotiations.

 

My experiences in dealing with dealers via email/internet were not that productive-tend to get generic messages. It usually took me about 3-5 messages to certain salesmen to get somewhere. Then, I ended up calling those guys to get some specifics.

 

the price you get back is always negotiable. that is just their price they are willing to sell the car for without any hassle. you will have to go in and haggle a bit to get it down.

 

When I'd activated this quote email from the edmunds, I got emails from 3 AutobyTel dealers from local area. None quoted me the price. It did not go anywhere.

 

Have requested quotes from 3 acura dealers, but never received an actual selling price. Requested a quote from a lexus dealer for an ES330 and received a quote of $31,900 for a sticker price of $34,734. Pretty good discount if you want a lexus.

 

The "email" method may not necessarily get you your best price automatically but it lets the dealer know that you mean business in regards to purchasing and it lets you know what dealers are willing to discount. Use their quotes against each other and when it comes time to buy, shop at the dealer who gave you the best price. Chances are they may come down even more on their price.

 

I can testify here from experience that you can e-mail dealers until you're blue in the face. But the ONLY way you'll get anywhere near the best possible deal is by calling and then getting your ass in there and showing your face. Then, they'll know you're serious.

Keep in mind that anyone can send an e-mail. As far as the dealers are concerned, that e-mail quote request could have just as easily come from another dealer checking them out. This kind of stuff goes on lots more than you think.

 

Emailing dealers works! At least for finding out about inventory. I was finding a lack of inventory at our local dealers and emailing 30+ dealers allowed us to find the one we wanted. They even drove it 200 miles for us. Price was MSRP, but then again that was the price locally. Its supply and demand; the Navi are just too rare to get much, if any discount. At least here in CA...

 

I bought my TL via email including the quoting process, negotiations and closing the deal. I sent it out to 6 dealers in the Chicago area and got two serious offers back and settled on the one I wanted in two days. No hassles and real effective use of my lunch hours.

 

In Phila/Southeastern PA, the dealers responded immeditately to my e-mail with quotes of 30,600-30,999 for non navi 6 speed