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Buying a new Civic
NailbunnyPD
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
My 1999 Civic was stolen 2 days ago. 
As a result, I am expecting to have to purchase a replacement vehicle, which I would like to be another Honda Civic EX.
What's the best way to go about getting the best deal on such a car? I've never bought a new car, so I am totally clueless on how to work with dealers and car salesmen. I have 3 local dealerships I can play against each other, and then some others a bit further away.
I am looking for a 4dr, EX, preferably manual, some minor extras like wheel locks, steering wheel wrap, the rugged floor mats and trunk protector. The Honda site lists the 2010 models, but the dealers don't seem to have any in stock yet. Unfortunately, I don't think time will be on my side to wait for the 2009 model price cuts. Should I look Used, and if so, what should I keep in mind when doing so?
As a result, I am expecting to have to purchase a replacement vehicle, which I would like to be another Honda Civic EX.What's the best way to go about getting the best deal on such a car? I've never bought a new car, so I am totally clueless on how to work with dealers and car salesmen. I have 3 local dealerships I can play against each other, and then some others a bit further away.
I am looking for a 4dr, EX, preferably manual, some minor extras like wheel locks, steering wheel wrap, the rugged floor mats and trunk protector. The Honda site lists the 2010 models, but the dealers don't seem to have any in stock yet. Unfortunately, I don't think time will be on my side to wait for the 2009 model price cuts. Should I look Used, and if so, what should I keep in mind when doing so?
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I would recommend buying used in some form (you can probably find some used 2008s that were former leases or something similar). You will save money and it's usually not worth buying at new prices. I bought a new Civic Hybrid in 2008 but only did that because I could get the hefty tax credit for buying new.
As for buying the car: go through the Fleet Sales department at the dealer(s). Find one you like online, get them to quote it over the phone through Fleet Sales, and go through that salesman instead. They normally don't work on commission and getting a quote ahead of time will let you narrow down your choices. Don't let them try to sell you the bullshit addons like mudflaps for hundreds of dollars either.
God, I would die if I could get such a deal.
NintendoID: Nailbunny 3DS: 3909-8796-4685
Was that 17000 out the door or with a trade-in?
Buying a used car is a little different. If you can get one used from a reputable dealership usually they are in good shape. If you are buying something from a used car lot or some add in the paper, it helps to know a little about cars or bring someone with you who does.
Here are some things to look for
- Is the engine clean, free of dust/grease? Honda's are generally low maintainence, with regular oil changes and a tune up every 30k or so the engine should appear to be in good condition. Check the belts and hoses for holes/wear. Check the oil, it should be pretty clear if the car is in sellable condition.
- How does the car handle during the test drive? If you take your hands off the wheel does the car veer to the left or the right? This means it needs a wheel alignment. If it's a newer honda, it should run pretty quiet. Turn off the radio and ac and listen to the car. If you hear any high pitched whinning or ping sounds, steer clear.
- Do you know how to tell if a tire is bald? Bald tires are a clear sign that the owner isn't taking as good of care as the vehicle as they could. Take a penny, stick it in one of the grooves, with Abe's head facing down. If you can see still the top of his head, the tire is bald.
That's about the extent of my car knowledge.
Sorry about you're stolen car bro, that sucks. But on the bright side you get a new car, and it's a civic! Make sure you take time to enjoy the palindrome!
To pharaphrase Michael Weston, one of the most important parts of negotiating a deal is knowing when to walk away from the deal. Also knowing how your credit looks going in helps.
That said, the last major revision to the Civic was the 06, and the 01 before it. Likely the 10 will be a refinement of the 09. I bought an 07 Civic last year after my 98 Sentra was rear ended and totalled. It's a really nice ride. The only 'downside' is that on the highway it is very easy to blast past the speed limit because at high speeds it is an amazingly smooth drive compared to my old car.
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Nope. I've been browsing online as of this morning. They don't really list specials or clearance prices on the dealer sites. I see Honda has a financing special right now, 3.9% APR for 60 mos.
And now that I have dealt with insurance, I find that they wait 30 days before declaring my vehicle a loss. In the mean time, I have rental coverage for at least 30 days, so I am in less of a rush than I initial thought.
NintendoID: Nailbunny 3DS: 3909-8796-4685
Those were pretty much the two conditions I did for buying my car (ended up signing the papers July 30th) and I saved a ton of money compared to how much I would have paid for the same exact car back in February when I began seriously looking.
carbuyingtips.com is a great website that will give you most everything you need. Get your credit score beforehand so you can refute anything they throw at you that is incorrect. Do your research on the car, how much its sold for on average etc. etc. etc. Make sure they can't blindside you with anything. Get your quote, take it to the next dealer. Then the next dealer etc. until they just won't budge anymore on the number.
Believe it or not, most car dealers aren't the slimy guys that they are made out to be. Hell, the guy who sold me my car told me that if I can get more than X for my trade-in, to sell it to someone else. I shopped around and couldn't beat the number he gave me, so it ended up working out.
Another thing to do is to always check the carfax to see how many owners, whether they were commercial owners, where the car was owned, and whether any accidents have been reported to the DMV. If the car was owned in a part of the country where it may have been damaged (for example Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina), you might want to think twice about buying it. As for commercial vehicles, there are pros and cons - on the pro side, the cars tend to receive regular maintainance, on the con side, some people treat rental vehicles really badly and they tend to have high mileage. In addition to noting no accidents, you'll want to look for the vin stickers all over the car. There should be one on the doors, the door sidings, the engine, the hood, the trunk, etc. A lack of one of those stickers is a good sign the car has been in an accident with parts replaced.
Also, even though Honda has great financing right now, you might also want to get pre-approved for a loan by a credit union or bank. This does not obligate you in any way, but does give you negotiating power when you bargain the price of your car. You can also see once you get to the dealership, if they can beat that interest rate.
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The dealer I test drove with did not give me impressive numbers, though. They are only discounting $1200, which comes to $21,700 before taxes and fees. I will be heading to another dealer so my GF can see the car, and I can hopefully get more competitive numbers.
Odd, though, was that the finance manager told me that if I arranged my own financing, instead of using the Honda special financing, he would take another $1000 off. Seemed shady to me. Why would the financing create a $1000 surcharge?
Oh, and dealers will get another shipment of 2009 Si's in 4-8 weeks.
NintendoID: Nailbunny 3DS: 3909-8796-4685
Unless you love new car smell and the air fresheners don't cut it for you, I recommend buying a year old. You save a ton on depreciation and usually the car is in good shape. Take it to a third party mechanic and get it checked out first.
NintendoID: Nailbunny 3DS: 3909-8796-4685
I've often read that you can get a lower price on a used if you get your financing elsewhere, but never heard of the same applying with a new one.
NintendoID: Nailbunny 3DS: 3909-8796-4685
Nope, which is why I didn't bite.
NintendoID: Nailbunny 3DS: 3909-8796-4685
When I helped my mom shop for a Prius, we tried to do most of the bargaining online, between two different dealers. Dealers usually have an online sales person that is relatively no bullshit, and much easier to deal with.
That said, we weren't able to get a super deal, because the Prius was still flying off the lots, which may be similar to a Civic.
All I would advise is to do a little research (edmunds, etc...) and see what people are getting it for, and then play all three dealers off each other to get down to (or close to) that price. Whether you do that in the store or online is whatever is more convenient for you, but doing it online is definitely less stressful.