Part ex 2.2 Type S GT - where's the deal?

[hallbrooke]

Had a test drive of a 2.2 Type S GT a couple of weeks ago at my local dealer in Ascot and since then have had a couple of calls from him asking whether I wanted to place an order (ie. he sounded keen).

Confident with the vibes I was getting I went in to the dealer on Saturday, looking to negotiate a deal...

Told him that I was after a diesel S-GT in either NHB or Deep Bronze and not fussy whether it was new or pre-registered. Dealer replied that there were no pre-registered ones around & that most garages tended to only pre-register Jazz's and Accords. New cars would also be hard to get as all Type S's were on 20 week special order at the factory. He then looked at stock in his franchise and said he could get me a new Deep Bronze at £17,995. I was more than a little surprised at this, knowing the kind of deals people seem to get on this forum. After a bit of haggling he said he would be prepared to take a couple of hundred quid off!

Anyway, we then moved on to talking about my part-exchange (BMW 1 series on a 54 plate, with trade-in value in Parkers/What Car of £10k). He took a look and after phoning a BMW dealer gave me a value of £8,250! When I asked him why so low, he said that the dealer would have to spend £400 on servicing it and another £600 on a new rear tyre and repairing a scuffed alloy!! Surely these are retail prices and don't reflect the true cost to a garage of preparing a car for resale?

I pointed-out that basically he was offering me virtually nothing off the new car and a part-ex well below the market rate. I also mentioned this site and the kind of deals I have seen at online brokers. He shrugged his shoulders and said that at those prices the other dealers "must be giving them away". Strangely he then followed this up by asking "so what do we have to do to get your business?" - clearly unable to grasp the fact that the awful deal he was quoting was the problem. Just kept on about me talking to their finance guy who he was sure "would be able to put a package together", despite me saying several times I didn't want one of those final payment, fixed mileage schemes.

I then casually mentioned that perhaps I would go back to my local BMW garage and see what deal they would give me on a new diesel 1 series instead. Unbelievably he agreed with me - he reckoned BMW would be able to offer me a better package given that my trade-in would be one of their own cars!!

Needless to say I walked away in disbelief. Encouraging a potential customer to go away and talk to a competitor - do dealers want to sell cars or not?!

Is my experience a common one? Are all Honda dealers like this, or are there some genuinely good deals to be found out there?

[coolio]

If you want to buy, best bet is to call around the 22nd+ a month around a whole load of dealers with the spec you want, and see who does the cheapest, state you're ready to sign. Then when you get the lowest, go back to the next 3 cheapest and ask them to beat it, then when they agree, call the original lowest, and see if they go lower. Finally, go to the overall lowest and get some free stuff thrown in.

[dougl65]

Print out a quote from drivethedeal.com and ask your dealer to match it. Mine did it within a couple of hundred pounds meaning WELL over £1k off a 2.2 ES. And try selling the 1 series on autotrader... price it a bit below the others as a private sale and it should sell well within the week, maybe at around £9-9.5k.

[robbo51]

Have you tried other Honda dealers?

[sambuca2907]

Honda dealers just seem to be really good at holding their prices...
I was after £1,000 off mine, after dissappearing 3 times to "check with his manager" I finally got £600 off...

I think baisically that they work off... "if you don't buy it someone else will"...

[coolio]

Carfile - these prices are too tempting to miss out on! seems pretty cheap too, and they allow you to add other extras on at the normal honda price.

[Jack The Lad.]

With the waiting time for some Civics ---- Should Honda or the Dealers, worry too much about a decent discount for the punters.

[psykik]

hallbrooke: The chap you met was a waste of time. However, you cant generalise. Deffo go to other dealers, sometimes you can make them compete with each other. But go prepared, print out autobytel prices and what Doug said:

Originally Posted by dougl65

Print out a quote from drivethedeal.com and ask your dealer to match it. Mine did it within a couple of hundred pounds meaning WELL over £1k off a 2.2 ES. And try selling the 1 series on autotrader... price it a bit below the others as a private sale and it should sell well within the week, maybe at around £9-9.5k.

[gb110430]

in terms of the drive the deal price it can be matched, actually know that drive the deal gave business to Wolverhampton honda and the prices reflected the cheapest they would go too.... and they offered me the same price without haggling and just a simple conversation quoting drive the deal.

[psykik]

to add to wot gb11 said, autoebid do the same with actual HONDA dealers bidding for your target price BUT you do have to pay up front for that. Consider either one as an alternative or better still as a bargaining tool. Keep at it, you will secure a decent deal. Best of luck!

[hallbrooke]

Thanks to everyone for their replies - just thought I'd update you all, a couple of weeks on from my disastrous visit to Honda Ascot.

You guys were right - if you visit enough dealers you get a good deal in the end....

Have just bought a pre-registered (Oct'07) S-GT in DBP, delivery miles only from really helpful Honda dealer in Birmingham. £16,500 & almost £9,000 part exchange for my BMW 1 series. I'm well chuffed. Picking it up on Saturday - I can't wait !!!!

[TTDegs]

nicely done!

[freddo1]

A happy ending