Hey guys. I'm a sales rep at Downtown Acura in Toronto. We're FINALLY starting up the process of selling the 09 TL's with painted beaks with 3M gaurd (I tried telling them this 3 months ago and now they're finally giving it a try).

Any feedback into pricing the painted "piece" + 3M gaurd on that piece would be greatly appreciated. If you've heard of other dealers' pricing, can you share please? If not, what would you suggest. BTW, by stating "piece" we're not doing the whole front, but the inside "sheild" as seen in other posts here.

 

Not Canadian, but there are two ways to look at this. A: use it to increase your margin/vehicle and thus increase profit or B: use it to increase your volume of vehicles sold and thus increase profit (using your normal markup on sales). If you take a look at A: then charge what other dealerships are charging (roughly 100-120% of cost markup if it is the same as the US). Or B: sell them for what it costs you to get done and be happy to move the cars.

So the right answer probably lies somewhere in between.

 

Yeah, myself...I'll probably end up "throwing it in" if someone really wants it and it helps me to close a deal. I'm not even sure what we're going to sell it for, but I'm thinking $700 (cost is roughly $400).

 

then sell it for 500, or give it as a throw in depending on what deal is made

not canadian btw

 

The folks at Burrard Acura (in Vancouver) told me they get that piece painted for only $100, and that they wouldn't tack anything onto the price of the car if that's what it took to get it off the lot.

Mind you, the black paint that was used for the beak was not the same metallic black that's on the rest of the car. I'd prefer they just leave the car the way it was intended, if I were the customer.

 

There is probably a formula someone uses to convert the currency. If this helps any - the dealer sent mine out and charged $250 USD for the painted beak and $50 USD for the clear bra (beak only).

 

Yah, that's pretty ghetto if they are doing it that way. We are only doing if the customer requests it.

 

That would be the easy thing to do if everything here cost the same to do as it does in the states except that when it comes to accessories, everything here apparently costs 70% more.

Dude, your ride looks fookin' sick btw

 

I quite liked the WDP I saw in December at Acura 2000 with the white painted beak. I think that it should be a no cost option as the design was Acura's unfortunate error.

 

Sterne Acura is doing them up here in Aurora now. Not sure what they are charging but they had 2 on the lot that they did one was a demo. A friend of mine works in the shop there so I will ask when I get a chance.

 

Unfortunately we can't send the bill to the designers in California for their error.
If it's a deal breaker and there's still some margin in the deal, then that's something I'm sure all dealers are willing to eat.
There's two TL's in our showroom side by side, of which one of them will be painted...I'll be sure to take some pics when ready.

 

I am from London Ont Canada and believe the dealer should throw in the painted beak but I would paint everything that is silver. I dont mind paying for the 3M protection. I am in for a new one in June 2009. Bottom line dont try and make a profit on these as you will lose the customer. Customers are educated and know when you are ripping them off.

 

As mentioned, if the customer WANTS it as an accessory and there's room in the deal to throw it in, then it won't be a problem.

 

based on the crappy design and ugly beak you need to throw something in to try and get people to buy them... I still wouldn't buy one but the the painted beak is better than the factory design

 

so Eric - are you still undecided on the new design then? lol. by the way did you test drive one?

 

I'm in Thornhill and just went to test drive one at "Acura of North Toronto." The painted "beek" as everyone likes to call it was going for $699.00 Personally, I love both the design and the amenities and I think it's about time Acura comes out with something that isn't so conservative and Honda looking.

But I digress, my wife prefers the painted beek and in black, I have to agree with her. Regardless, for me it's a deal breaker. No way I'm spending extra for a new car that should already be painted.

 

I live in the Markham area.

If i were getting a new 09 TL, I would prefer the beak to be unpainted.

I guess it is just me. When the new MDX came out about 2 or so years ago, it was very different. The grille wasn't like anything i'd seen before but now I like the MDX.

I think the same can be said with the new TL. I give them credit for coming out with designs that are different. When I had a loaner, a lot of people looked at the car. I didn't care whether they liked it or not but because it was so different, it caused people to look and there's no doubt the new front design makes the TL look bold, big and powerful.

But I guess a lot of others out there disagree with me but oh well.

What if the paint starts chipping off? then what?

 

The one's we're doing (and mostly every other dealer is doing) have the 3M Clear Protection on it to protect from chipping.

I gotta say...I like the painted beak. I'll take a side by side picture on Monday for a better comparison.

 

yes I've have test driven both.. but I can't get by the looks, for me no matter how good everything else is I would have to look at it every day and I can't stand the looks of them on the road, never mind in my garage, I will take a pass and move on to some thing else for now, with hopes that in the future they fix the design and I will come back