Posted on 05/06/2021 6:05:29 PM PDT by NewJerseyJoe
Hello FReepers. Looking for any advice on negotiating the best price for a new car. (I'm getting a 2021 Honda CRV-EX, no options). I've put together an email (see following) that I will send to the local Honda dealers. Asking for any suggestions or wording to make it the most effective. Thanks in advance.
The highway pickup is terrible, it's noisy, the turbo lag sucks and it's under-powered. I know several people who had 2019's and 2020's. None owned them for more than 6-8 months because they just couldn't stand the horrible lack of power. There's a reason there are so many 1-2 year old CRV's sitting on the lots as trade-in's.
Toyota vehicles hold their value, especially the ones built in Japan.
PJ Rodgers says the semiconductor shortage is due to poor supply management and is a temporary problem. The fabs have adequate capacity but they need the proper lead time.
The only company that allowed proper lead time is Toyota but they won't be offering any bargains until this is over, most likely in a few months.
Two-year old used cars are going for original list price now. The dealers have trouble getting them too.
If you do buy anything, let the dealer finance it. You may get a slightly better sale price. Then pay off the note right away with a credit union loan or similar financing. Dealer financing is usually a bad deal.
Bad time to buy. Dealers aren’t budging on prices. Had word from some astute shoppers. Best prices were 13 months ago, Prices have been rising steadily since January. Been watching but don’t have a need right now. Not worth it given the current sellers market.
Buy on the very last day of the quarter when the sales reps are all eager to make their nut. We once bought a Jetta at 11 PM on a Friday which was the last day of the quarter. They all wanted to go home and get me out of there, but they wanted that last sale.
We also used a broker friend of my brother in law. He got us the best possible price on a Volvo in the late 80s and had it delivered. I don’t think we could have possibly beaten his negotiating skills and price. He had connections with dealers all over the West and had a large volume, hence getting good prices. His fee was reasonable. I don’t know if such guys are still around.
Agree. I’d get a Hyundai Elantra or something like that in that price range if I wanted a compact. Honda CRV is a torture chamber. The better brands like Toyota are going to be more expensive.
American?
Wow. That’s the same size engine I have in my Volkswagen Jetta. 1.5 L turbo. It moves my Jetta around just fine. But I can’t imagine using that same engine to move a much bigger Honda.
“German technology also terrific.”
Not my experience. We bought a second Jetta and it gulped about one quarter of oil per tank of gasoline. Every bit of plastic in the cabin broke or fell apart at the four year mark.
Second, right now new cars are at a premium because of a Chip shortage that has manufacturers storing cars that roll off their assembly lines until they can get the parts required to complete them. Here is just one article about the problems that Rental car companies are having in trying to buy new cars for their rental fleets:
Third, you're trying to haggle down the price of a base, stripped down, no options model that not many dealers carry in the first place. And you're being specific on color. I took all of your specifications (CR-V EX, 2WD, Modern Steel Metallic exterior, Gray interior, zero options) and there isn't one at any dealership in Metro Detroit, Lansing, or Grand Rapids. So you're trying to find a Unicorn model.
Your best bet on getting close to what you want is to first find a dealer that has what you want on their lot, then go haggle with the salesman on the last day of the month. February is the best month because of the fewer days, but at the end of each month, the dealership needs to make their monthly quota of sales and are much more willing to cut a deal as the clock runs out.
If I were comparing a CRV to a Santa Fe, the Santa Fe wins hands down because of the drive train itself. The interior is better, the touch screen is better, the tech is better. It rides quieter and has a smoother, better ride.
I bought my oldest son a used Sante Fe Limited his Senior Year in College. Great vehicle. Almost kept it for myself.
A used one in Virginia is selling for about the MSRP in your post.
https://www.carmax.com/car/20314866
Two-year old used cars are going for original list price now. The dealers have trouble getting them too.
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You ain’t lying. A few days ago I was on one of my favorite automotive blogs and a professional auto buyer actually was showing a screenshot from a dealers inventory on a 2019 Ford Fiesta. What about 40,000 miles. They were actually asking more than the MSRP of that same car when it was brand spanking new.
We have a 2003 Toyota Sienna, the day we decide
to replace it, we’ll be replacing it with another
Sienna.
All American made donate 98% of their donations paid by union dues to Democrats. No American made vehicles hold their resale value or match the dependability of a Toyota/Lexus nor do they make as many vehicles in the USA as Toyota/Lexus.
Dealer financing is usually a bad deal.
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Wrong. Dealer financing is usually a great deal. If you have a good credit. I just checked current Honda finance rates. On some models you can get 0.0% financing. And other models it’s 1.9%.
Better than the credit unions.
And if you don’t have good credit? Keep driving that junker you currently have and save your money to pay cash when you can afford a car.
I've been a Honda fan (bought Honda's for the ex-wife) because of their durability and reliability. That 1.5L Turbo is one steaming pile of crap in that CR-V.
GF was looking at the RAV4, CR-V and Nissan Rogue last year. The CR-V was ruled out within two blocks on the test drive. That's how bad it was.
Last year's RAV4 had this horrible engine whine while accelerating and she really liked the Nissan Rogue. (I'm not a Nissan fan, but hey, it's not my vehicle.) So far her 2.4L Rogue has done really well. MPG is great, acceleration is quite good and it rides pretty nice for a a small SUV. She bought the fully loaded SV model, it has way too much technology in it IMO. I fear for my life every time the GF reaches for the touch screen to change something while driving...
OK my buddies brother’s Opel was junk back in the day.
My daughter and her hubby love their BMW and VW SUV
Sad we’ve come to this.
Buy a low miles 97 Buick Park Avenue for $3000 and drive it for the next 15 years.
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