kadams64

I have a new 2004 TL Navi with automatic transmission on order, supposedly in the March 15th shipment. The delivery is expected any time between March 15 and April 1.

My dealer called me today and said he had a 2004 TL that had been driven by the dealership manager. It has 3000 km (a couple thousand miles) on it. He offered it to me at a $500 discount.

I said "no, thanks, that's not enough to justify the mileage. I'll wait".

Did I make the right decision? My brain says "yes, that was the right decision", but the part of me that likes instant gratification is sayin "Dummy! You could have been driving your TL today!"

Thoughts?

Vffr1

I can't imagine anyone hear taking that "used" hot-rodded car.

I like my cars like I like my women - Fresh!

Mike Smeezy,

PS That dude is off the Hizzel fo' shizzel

ravi

yea it was a good choice
why would u want a car with that much milage on it ..who knows how its been treated
and 3000 only 500 off
no thanks

Norse396

kadams64,

Every single "dealer driven" car I have ever seen gets the crap beat out of it. You made the smart decision in my mind. $500.00 discount is what you should be able to get off of a new undriven one.

I make sure my cars only have the miles used for testing by the factory.

mitchdeerfield

That's only 1865 miles. I would tell him you will take the car today if he takes off $800 , take it or leave it. Then with the savings, you can get a free extended warranty!

KilroyR1

If you're considering the deal, how much would it take to change your mind? Start lower than that and see what happens - you never know.

Having said that, I'd wait for the new one.

Cheers,

Don

Novice

I would've taken it if I got $5000 discount, not $500. My recent loaner was 03 TL with 8000 miles on it. It felt like the car was 10 yrs old probably because it was abused by many drivers.

You made a right choice.

Bartman_RENAMED

You made the right choice. Chances are this car was used by every salesman and possibly even test drivers to "test the limits" of the car. This means that it did not receive a proper break-in period and most likely will have a shorter life than your new one. I guess you have to ask yourself what is it worth to you to have a car that is more likely to have problems.

vtechbrain

No you were smart! When I test cars I put them through the ringer. You never want to buy a demo.

jdimaria

I would take the car because the dealer manager drove it, it may not have been used as a demo, and they take 1000 off

VTEC=happiness

Honestly Smeezy...you are freaking hilarious

danno

Geh ife, I wonder how much that car is worth if they sell it as a "uSED CAR

JoganJani

Kadams64,

Right decission. You did good. You'll get more discount on the new one.

Vffr1

Vtec=happiness

I thought my wife was the only one that appreciated me in that way.... Glad you enjoyed my sense of humor too. The only sad part is that it comes so naturally.

Mike Smeezy

TLXLR8S

its worth the wait. new is aways better then pre-owned

meathead

right decision, without a doubt bro. those offers always seem like a slap in the face to me. tell the dealer you want to drive a car off the lot, use it for 3,000 miles and sell it back to him for 500 off what you paid for it.

Z Factor

You made the right decision.

jimthegreek

Just to give you a point:

Just sold a 2004 Acura TL-Navi with 1800 miles to someone for 500 below sticker price... IT WAS USED!!!.. The selling point was acura signature certified pre-owned vehicle that extends the warranty.. That alone was worth 1000 bucks.

How did this vehicle come upon being used, you might ask.. Well someone bought this vehicle new about 4 weeks ago, paid $500 under sticker for it, came back 4 weeks later, and wanted a 6 speed instead. Took his vehicle in on trade for invoice, which was 32100.00 and sold him the new 6MT for $500 under invoice. Do the math on that.. He paid 34695, he got 32100, so he lost 2595.00.. Its actually not that bad of a hit for a 4 week old car. Turned around and sold his car 4 days later for 34695 again, and now its USED!!!!!! The guy that bought it didnt want to wait for a car, so he bought the one that was there. Yeah he paid almost full sticker, but he got the free warranty... and all season mats.

No dealership can sell their dealer demo TL right now until April 1st.. They have been given this demo vehicle, and the sticker price clearly states in a splash watermark, DEMO across the entire sticker. Now the vehicle can sell teh vehicle as a NEW DEMO, because the vehicle was never registered to anyone..... Now a EXEC. DEMO is a vehicle that was used by the general manager or a sales manager.

jimthegreek

Oh and to answer your question.. You did the right thing...


If you really want that car, tell them you'll by it right now for 1500 under.... dont pay more than that for it.

kadams64

I appreciate the responses!

I had a momentary flutter of uncertainty as I visualized myself driving around in an Acura TL today as opposed to, perhaps, a month from now. But $500 just didn't sound like enough of an incentive to give up that new car "joy joy" feeling.

I'm glad to hear my first reaction wasn't completely off base. And its funny: a couple folks in this thread put numbers to the tradeoff that came pretty close to what it would have taken for me to reconsider. $2,000 off, and then it would have seemed more feasible.

Thanks again, folks- I will just sit tight for another few weeks now

avs007

If I didn't realize you were in Canada, I would've thought you are from Portland. Similar experience, when I bought the wife's TL. Local dealer wouldn't budge on price, and told me I couldn't get anywhere near the price I wanted unless I go used. So I drove 120 miles to another dealer, and paid a little over invoice for my wife's 03'. (this was 2 years ago. If I knew what the 04' was going to look like, I woulda waited )

Anyways, when I went to the local dealer to have a spoiler installed, the salesman remembered me and asked me if I bought a used one . The brand spankin' new one I got only had like 14 miles on it, and was still cheaper than the demo car with 4,000 miles on it that the local dealer tried to offload to me. :wow:

Vffr1

Does your math include the taxes paid, not once, but twice, for starters we'll add taxes of $2,887.50 for the first car, which equals just under $6,000 loss, that's $1,000 per gear. That's one expensive 6 speed.


Mike Smeezy

PS. Please don't take this as a roast, it's not, just putting out the real deal.

5Zigen

I see that you are from BC, I went to Burrard Acura to put down a deposit on a SSM AT/navi but said that I had to wait a month. They said there is a white AT w/navi driven by one of the managers and was asking for 800 less MSRP...I said no thanks, I'll wait for a month and get a brand new one with a later build date. Did you go there also??

Bxscig

A lot of people tear up those cars especially the dealers... and in 500 miles who knows what they did.

jimthegreek

Its a lease, he doesnt pay taxes up front..

casooner90

There was a post a while back asking how many miles on your TL. The overwhelming response was, count me in on this, majority of the owner hammered some other lot car before buying their own car. That some other lot car is probably a dealer demo. Most test drive stretches the limits of the cars on acceleration, top speed, handling and rapid stopping - all before the engine even has time to warm up. Yes, you made a good decision and $500 saving is not enough to justify all the torture the car went through.

6speed

Good call. I paid -500 for a car with 6miles on it.

Vffr1

Okay, I'm trading in my 5AT for a 6MT (it's leased)

J/K

legendguy

kadams64

You did the right thing. Maybe if it was a family sedan, but the TL is a sports sedan and reasonable chance that it has not been gently treated.

kadams64

5Zigen said...
No, my dealer is Langley Acura. But I'm getting the sense from this thread that a lot of dealers have low mileage demo cars that they are trying to sell to "over excited" TL buyers at minimal discounts. I guess I can't blame them: it must suck to have the manager or what have you drive around for a week or two in a car and knock several thousand off its resale value. Then you get a customer who is really enthusiastic about the car, and maybe will value having it "now" more than getting a good price.