Any Good Price for Honda Pilot in N. California?

[Pilot-Vision]

Hello.

I'm new to this forum, but I find this forum very helpful.

My parents are in San Jose and trying to buy the Honda Pilot EX-L and was wondering if there is any good dealer.

The best price they got it for the EX-L without the navigation and DVD player is $29500 which is like $1000 less than the MSRP.

Does anyone know of any hook ups in prices?

Please let me know.

Thanks.

[shutrbug]

I got my EX-L Navi from Jason Lervold, the Internet manager, at Anderson Honda in Palo Alto for $700 below sticker back in June. While that doesn't sound great, they also gave me $2K more on my trade-in than any other dealer was willing to do. I used one of the car shopping sites like cars.com, carsdirect.com, or one of those to get my quote. Seems like the prices are a lot better in Southern California, so if it's a straight purchase without trade-in, it may be worth a few phone calls down south to check out the prices.

Good luck!

-shutrbug

[kadiir]

Originally posted by Pilot-Vision
Hello.

I'm new to this forum, but I find this forum very helpful.

My parents are in San Jose and trying to buy the Honda Pilot EX-L and was wondering if there is any good dealer.

The best price they got it for the EX-L without the navigation and DVD player is $29500 which is like $1000 less than the MSRP.

Does anyone know of any hook ups in prices?

Please let me know.

Thanks.

IMHO & experience, that's the best price you're going to get. I got $1850 below MSRP in LA - totally worth driving down there. We made a vacation out of it & I still came out "ahead" as it were. At that time (negotiations were 7-8 weeks ago, picked up 6 weeks ago today), I saved $2,500 out-the-door (my accessories were 10% over dealer cost supposedly (I didn't verify, but it seemed about right)).

kad

[ichigopan]

Hi. I'm also new to this forum and a new Pilot owner and I have to agree with kadiir. You're not going to get any better than that. I bought mine for roughly about the same.

In my buying experience the dealers weren't too hungry. They know there are a lot of interested buyers out there so they are not too willing to come down on price.

[MellowMama]

Originally posted by kadiir
IMHO & experience, that's the best price you're going to get. I got $1850 below MSRP in LA - totally worth driving down there. We made a vacation out of it & I still came out "ahead" as it were. At that time (negotiations were 7-8 weeks ago, picked up 6 weeks ago today), I saved $2,500 out-the-door (my accessories were 10% over dealer cost supposedly (I didn't verify, but it seemed about right)).

kad

kadiir, which dealer in LA did you use?

I've contacted dealers in and around Sacramento, Stockton, and San Jose and they're all about the same -- around MSRP, plus or minus a couple bucks -- and this includes the Costco dealer. $32,558 for EXL with Navi is the best quote thus far.

We can always use another excuse to go play in S. CA!

Also, what are all the extra expenses I should expect to pay in CA?
- tax (8% -- gack!)
- license (?)
- dmv? or is that license fee?
- what is document prep?
- what else that is non-negotiable and/or required by law or whatever?


I really appreciate all the wisdom on this board. Can't wait to go from wannabe to actual Piloteer! Thanks.

[kadiir]

Originally posted by MellowMama
kadiir, which dealer in LA did you use?

Airport Marina Honda. I dealt with the internet sales manager (Brett Whiting) via email. I also negotiated with Kaiser Brothers Honda (they were $10 higher) and Honda of Hollywood (they were even lower (someone else got $2,000 under MSRP from them) but weren't getting one in for about 2 months).

I've contacted dealers in and around Sacramento, Stockton, and San Jose and they're all about the same -- around MSRP, plus or minus a couple bucks -- and this includes the Costco dealer. $32,558 for EXL with Navi is the best quote thus far.

Yeah, that was my experience, too. I contacted 35 dealers between Roseville and LA, fyi (see the "Dealing on an 04" thread for the details).

[snip]

Also, what are all the extra expenses I should expect to pay in CA?
- tax (8% -- gack!)
- license (?)
- dmv? or is that license fee?
- what is document prep?
- what else that is non-negotiable and/or required by law or whatever?

8% sales tax? I paid 8.25%, so that's a bargain

Let's see, there's destination charge ($460, although some places will quote with this already added in, so be sure to clarify), documentation fees ($45), sales tax on the preceeding, VLF (Vehicle License Fee aka DMV fee aka license fee aka lic. fee) (I don't know what it is now as I paid the pre-Governator repeal of the increase - estimate 1/3 of $727), and tire fee (like CA Redemption charge for aluminum cans - $5).

I really appreciate all the wisdom on this board. Can't wait to go from wannabe to actual Piloteer! Thanks.

Me, wise? When did that happen? Is this when people start calling one 'old' and 'sir' and other hurtful things like that?

kad

[kadiir]

Oh, you can try negotiating those fees (other than VLF) but good luck - most won't. However, if a dealer charges you more than what I listed for the non-VLF fees, negotiate it down.

kad

[MellowMama]

I posted a reply but in the wrong thread (started a new thread under SF Bay Area). Oops.

[calbear]

Just bought my Silver EX last week at Honda Serramonte for $28k ($2k under MSRP/$1k over invoice) incl. the destination. No other fees. I think this week is best to get something as they want to make deals for the calendar year.

[kadiir]

Originally posted by calbear
Just bought my Silver EX last week at Honda Serramonte for $28k ($2k under MSRP/$1k over invoice) incl. the destination. No other fees. I think this week is best to get something as they want to make deals for the calendar year.

That's an excellent deal! I, unfortunately, couldn't wait as I needed a new car (my old camry had broken down at the time), but I still got a really good deal - I just had to drive down to SoCal to get it!

kad

[calbear]

How funny -- I bought the Pilot to replace my Camry too!

[p_iturra]

FYI: Honda Pilot EX Automatic Transmission with Leather and Navigation System

$32,870.00 + Destination & Handling: $490.00 = $33,360.00

====

Your experience will vary from mine due to tikjing, demand and supply!

But here's my Internet Price Quotes for an 2004 Pilot EX-L w/NAV during Sept/Oct. 2003 ...

• Autowest Honda, Fremont

Fri 9/26/03 - $33,000.00 plus fees

• Capitol Honda San Jose - was the best internet price quote ...

Fri 9/26/03 - $32,818.10+ Tax/License (includes destination)

• Anderson Honda Palo Alto

Fri 9/26/03 - $33,330.00

This price includes destination charges and is only valid through Monday.

• Stevens Creek Honda, San Jose
- Never received an email w/price quote, but after this email ...

10/2/03 - If you didn't purchase a new vehicle before September 30, 2003 the new DMV fees are in place and are required, but you should know that politicians of all sides are questioning the fee and "any" outcome after next Tuesday might impact the fee.

If the politicians (and it does not matter who) decide to reduce the fee, eliminate the increase or change it in any way it is most likely that action would be retroactive to October 1, 2003. So the cost of buying a car including DMV fees is not likely to be any different today then it is in two months or in two weeks. (yes that is the point I wanted to get across).

Please let me know if you are still in the market for a new car. We have Pilots.

... I called and their price was MSRP $33,360.00 !


• San Leandro Honda San Leandro - received two emails ...

Mon 10/6/03 - I can appreciate that you want to get a good deal on the Pilot with Navigation System. I would like to earn your business, however the vehicle is selling well at the MSRP. You mention getting the Pilot from a person at the Credit Union, but where is that person getting the Pilot from. I know of no dealers offering a price $1,000 below the MSRP. As the model is offered in different levels, the Credit Union personnel may not be aware of how difficult it will be to get that EX-Navi model.

If you are still interested in acquiring the vehicle from me, I am willing to sell the EX-NAVI from the vehicles in stock for $32,830 . The three colors available are silver, sagebrush, and black.

Mon 10/27/03 - We do have a Sage Navi available and i can give you 500.00 under the MSRP. I don't know of any dealers letting them go for 1,000.00 under the MSrp as of yet. Let me know if you want this Pilot as it will sell fast at our price.

====

Anyway, we ordered thru our Credit Union for $32,330.00 + Tax**/License (includes destination) - took delivery on Nov. 7th, 2003 w/4 miles (MFG. Date: 10/03) from Capitol Honda San Jose!

Yep, ... our Credit Union Rep confirmed a 'lower' price than Capitol Honda's Internet Rep (9/26/03 email)!!! Approx. delivery from order ... was about a month ... because my wife changed the color from Silver to Sage Brush Pearl!

**Tax estimate was $699 - but we just recently received $440 rebate check!!!

Phil

[sungchang]

Just got a Pilot EXL with Navi in Midnight Blue Pearl from Thomas Ho, Fleet Manager, at Larry Hopkins Honda in Sunnyvale, CA...actually this is my second car from him in less than two years.

I would highly recommend him for his honest pricing and professionalism. His pricing is higher than LA; however, it's probably one of the best up in the Bay area. Les from Anderson Honda in Palo Alto told me that the best he can offer was $1000 below MSRP. When I told him Thomas' price, he told me to get it from him and I did

More importantly, Thomas was able to locate me one of the last Midnight Blue (as it is discontinued as of 2/29/04), which my contacts in Southern Cal were not able to do for 6 weeks.

Thomas also had my paperwork ready, so that I was in and out in less than 30 minutes.

[Edog]

Has anyone had any recent experiences purchasing a Honda in the NorCal area? I am looking for a good dealer to use to purchase a 2005 Pilot.

[osteome]

The "word" out there is that due to the enhancements that will be standard or available on the 2005, that dealers will be back to a premium pricing plan on all 2005s once they arrive.