10/25/2005 Archived Entry: "Car Shopping: Part 3 – Epilogue"
When came time to sign the contract, instead of reading 603, it said 603.96$. Asked why the price was higher, the salesperson couldn’t really tell and went to ask the Bad Cop who told him it was for “self locking rim nuts” which are essential in such a car. Big Lie.
Phong had told me about this previously. Once the deal has been made, and price agreed upon, dealerships will try to make you pay for more. They figure that you’ve gone through all this trouble and have finally found the vehicle you want at the price you wanted it at that they can push you around a little bit at the end and you wont put up a fight because you don’t want to redo all this work. Well, this is where all my preparation, observational powers, and aloofness as a person…failed. I was completely in the mindset described above and I even realized it. It was a similar case to "I hate it when I know that something bad is going to happen, that I could and should stop it, but yet take the opposite action of the one I should and get screwed in the process", as discussed in the poker post. I should have put my foot down, threatened to leave, anything. Instead it was a complete deer in the headlights moment. Unforgivable. This will never happen again!
In the end, the car came to 603.67$ (it went down a few cents between the initial signing and the second signing??). No regrets in choice of vehicle, as it’s just a simply beautiful car, engineered the hell out of, and handles like a dream. I do, however, wonder if I could have gotten a lower price. For the 3, we went from 535$ to 486.5$, a difference of 2910$ (!!) while for the Accord, it was from 637$ to 603.67$ or a total of 1999.80$. Respectable but there’s a nagging feeling that I could have gotten away with more. Although, I hear Honda dealers are notoriously difficult to get discounts from and this was for a 2006 that had just come out.
One fun anecdote: I picked up the car on Thursday, the guy forgot to get a blank check from me and still has not called about it. Free car!
Replies: 8 comments
From the exterior, the Accord carries itself with elegance and class, but isn't necessarily "jaw-dropping". However, once inside, my perception of the vehicle was completely changed. I felt like that overweight tow truck driver in the Echo commercial...the car is SO "roomy". I felt like there was more space than a van could afford. The body seemed to extend so far back when looking towards the rear from the passenger's side...I was surprised Gosia didn't look smaller...:P! There were so many other elements that caught my eye, but my descriptions cannot suffice. Get in his car already...!
Posted by dAN @ 10/26/2005 10:26 PM EST
Thanks dAN! Although, I like the exterior a lot more than you! It's reasonable yet agressive.
Posted by Rayne @ 10/27/2005 11:07 AM EST
Trust me, I don't look at that car the same way anymore...:P.
Posted by dAN @ 10/27/2005 11:24 AM EST
well, the 2006 models are better than looking any previous ones =)
Posted by Rayne @ 10/27/2005 12:53 PM EST
I want pics :(
Posted by Dave @ 10/27/2005 05:57 PM EST
Posted by Rayne @ 10/27/2005 11:56 PM EST
Awesomeness, the '06 accord is one of the most reliable cars this year.
Posted by Rayne @ 10/28/2005 01:39 AM EST
Honda has always been strong when it comes to reliability.
Posted by dAN @ 10/28/2005 03:59 PM EST