Mandatory Dealer Installed Options

[jetdr]

Hello, I am new to this forum & I am in the market for a 2013 EX-L 4WD. I am finding that NO. Virginia dealerships have $450+ markup for mudguards & wheel locks. I told a sales lady that I have never seen a Pilot without these & was told that a "agreement" was made that this was to be in this region. On the Honda website, I do not see this as an available option. Can anyone shed some light on this? thanks in advance.

[richiebowen]

All the Honda pilots at the lot I went to had both the wheel locks and mud guards but they also had a different package name in the costs(sorry cant remember) that was just that and pin striping.

[N_Jay]

Dealer added profit enhancing crap!

[rocky]

X2.

[TomStromie]

I'm calling BS on that practice and would find a different SUV to buy. You have a lot of other very nice options out there. I certainly love my 2012 Grand Cherokee. I do not have unconditional loyalty to any brand.

[jetdr]

The mudguard slightly extends below the sheetmetal & is integral to the inner fender or wheel well liner. If the 4 original liners are removed & replaced with a longer one, then that closer explains the $400 bump. Do they come from the factory without them or is this BS?

[xGS]

Front and rear splash guards are standard equipment from the factory on all trim levels:
2013 Honda Pilot - Specifications - Official Honda Site

Wheel locks are an extra cost accessory (which can be installed either by the dealer or DIY):
2013 Honda Pilot - Accessories Detail - Official Honda Site

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by xGS

Front and rear splash guards are standard equipment from the factory on all trim levels:
2013 Honda Pilot - Specifications - Official Honda Site

Wheel locks are an extra cost accessory (which can be installed either by the dealer or DIY):
2013 Honda Pilot - Accessories Detail - Official Honda Site

If the spashguards are standard, then make sure they are not charging you for them.

Tell them to take the locks off and credit the cost.

[Armystrong]

<<<< x2

[pointech]

In my experience this is standard in Virginia. I was lucky - I found a good salesperson at a low price dealer, who called when a new vehicle came in and we were able to get it before they added anything. Remember, in the end it doesn't matter as long as you are happy with the out the door price.

As for mudguards - I debated with several salespeople about these. They said they added them, but they are clearly standard. Honda doesn't even list a mudguard accessory.

[pointech]

How close are you to Criswell Honda? I get emails from them every now and then with prices. These are from January 9. I did not buy from them and have never done business there so I am not recommending them, but if you are close enough it's worth sending them an email to see if they have what you want. Plus Maryland caps the processing fee at $199.

2013 PILOT
2WD LX - $25,739
4WD LX - $26,955
4WD EX - $29,049
4WD EXL - $31,987
4WD EXL RES - $33,345
4WD EXL NAV - $33,687
4WD EXL TOURING - $36,718

The fine print says "At Criswell Honda, your only addition is a small processing fee, freight, state taxes and tag fees." The emails come from Phil Kmiec.

[scorrpio]

Mudguards are standard on the '13. My EX also came with wheel locks installed, but they did not charge me anything extra for them. But this is NJ.

[2010exl]

I would call their bluff. If you don't want a Pilot with those dealer added items, tell the salesman "sorry, you don't have the vehicle that I am looking for".

Then let him know you are going back to (pick a name) Honda dealership where they do have the exact Pilot you are looking for.

I bet the wheel locks and mud guards will magically remove themselves from the Pilot you are looking at.

Salesman make stuff up all the time and will lie right to your face to get you to sign the papers. Nothing wrong with the buyer shoveling a little bull**** as well.

My favorite line when we cannot agree is to simply stand up with a smile, shake his hand and say thank you. The salesman thinks this is a closed deal. Then turn around and walk out!

They usually don't let you get too far.......but just keep walking and leave.

You'll get a phone call the next day and the power will be back in your hands.

These are not rare exotic vehicles. The Pilot is in its 5th year of the second generation. You should be able to get exactly what you want with nothing else added.

[1YESfan]

Honda of Dulles | Sterling New & Used Honda Dealer serving Washington DC, Arlington & Centreville Virginia

I would try these guys. They built a huge dealership and relocated after I bought from them in their previously very limited, outgrown space in Leesburg, VA after much online and real world investigations ( my salesman is no longer with them; hope it wasn't my fault ;-) ). Hands down the lowest price dealership at my time of purchase and as me and my wife were really firm and uncompromising ( and, we let them know didn't really need to buy a vehicle from the get go), I don't see how they really made any real money ( just a unit as a statistic moved) esp. for a vehicle that wasn't on their lot that they traded vehicles with another dealership hundreds of miles away ( white diamond pearl Tourings was very rare and expensive in the area for an 11 in May 2010). We told them what we would pay out the door and nothing more if they wanted our business; anything previously added, we weren't going to pay for and if they wanted to put their sticker or dealer advertisements on our vehicle, we would have to negotiate a multi-year endorsement/compensation deal.

I would look intohttp://www.truecar.com/?afsrc=1&SrcID=cj&CrID=2203897&Srtid=affiliate&cvo src=affiliate.cj.1927692-2203897&CmID=1927692 as well.

[richiebowen]

Mine also included the complete set of mud guards for the interior floor