Any Honda Dealers here?

ColoradoClone

Well-Known Member
Apr 6, 2006
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My wife wants a Honda Odyssey EX-L... so I'm looking around. Sounds like they're going for about $27,000 in the edmunds.com prices paid forums. Has anyone here had any luck, or can anyone offer advice?

Ralph Schomp here in Colorado won't go below $29,500.
 

Cyclonesrule91

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
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We are looking to get a van here this summer and really like the Honda Odyssey. That was the front runner but I wanted to check around a little. We stumbled on the KIA Sedona top of the line and the Hyundia Entourage top of the line. What we found so far is the Kia and Hyundia are very equivalent to the oddysey in about every option but is about $9,000 cheaper for a brand new van. The three are 1, 2, & 3 as far as safety rating, each have the sliding window in the sliding doors. A few differences are KIA and Hyundia have the 6 yr 60,000 basic warranty and a 10 yr 100,000 mi power trainwarranty while the honda has a 3 yr 36,000 mile basic and a 6 yr 60,000 mi powertrain warranty. The big thing I like about the Odyssey though is the cylinder management system that basically cuts off fuel to 2 cylinders once you don't need the power giving you better mileage(by 2-3 mpg). I still think the Honda has the edge, but being able to buy a brand new KIA or Hyundai for the same money as a 1-2 yr old Odyssey is making our decision a little harder. Take them for a test drive and you'll see how nice they are.

Of course, that isn't quite what you were asking is it????? Sorry

You looking at brand new or used?
 
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bos

Legend
Staff member
Apr 10, 2006
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I only buy Honda. I know I know grooooooa. But I have had great luck and wont switch. Odysseys dont tend to fluctuate in price dealer to dealer. They are expensive but you get what you pay for. They maintain their resale very well. Its the best van on the market. You could always go certified used for a year back since it hasnt changed much between 06 and 07 if you're looking to save some cash. I think they have great financing right now on a 2006. 0.9 or something.
 

CyinCo

Well-Known Member
Mar 24, 2006
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Clive, IA
I just bought a Honda Pilot EX-L. Honda was running a financing deal of 0.9 for 36 months. They rarely do this so if you can get in on that, jump on it. It may have ended, i'm not sure. Also, when we bought, Honda of Greeley was offering $500 over invoice as a special employee pricing promotion along with free tires for life. The only thing I had to negotiate on was the trade and I feel like we got a good deal on that as well.

In my experience with Honda, just go to a lot of dealers and get a quote. Honda has their option packages simplified so if you want an EX-L, typcially, all EX-Ls will have the same equipment. This allows you to price check and know that you are using a fair comparison. Most dealers also have inventory listed on their website. So just find the color of the EX-L you are looking for on as many lots as you wish and then call them and get a quote.

Also, keep in mind that some dealers have a "local" tax that applies within some city limits. This tax can double the taxing on the vehicle if you aren't careful. Windsor, CO comes to mind.

Good luck.

PS...We absolutely love our Pilot. I've heard the Odyssey is nice as well but I couldn't bring myself to own a minivan.
 
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chadm

Giving it a go
Apr 11, 2006
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I want a Pilot!
top_gun_maverick_tom_cruise_suited.jpg
 

CyinCo

Well-Known Member
Mar 24, 2006
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Clive, IA
I want a Pilot!

Pricey little buggers but are well worth it. They hold their value very well.

This may sound dumb but one thing that really sold me on the Pilot is how the doors sound when you close them. Everything sounds really solid and well built.

3rd row seat folds flat and, while not great for adults, fits 3 kids easily and all can have shoulder belts. 5 star safety. Side air curtains.

Great buy.
 

Cyclonesrule91

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Apr 10, 2006
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We test drove an Odyssey EX-L that had a 8 passenger option. Basically it has quad seating but you can add in a middle seat and all 8 will have 3 point shoulder belts as well. And very comfortable. For someone who likes to be patient and think out your decision, driving that van did not help one bit, especially for my wife.
 

joepublic

Member
Apr 11, 2006
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Go into several dealers and tell each "I want to buy a car today and X is what I'll pay."

When they start their haggling say, "I want to buy today and I'll pay this."

Make a reasonable offer and see if someone bites. You have to be able to walk away to do this. I've done it a few times and sometimes get call backs later saying OK.
 

ColoradoClone

Well-Known Member
Apr 6, 2006
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PS...We absolutely love our Pilot. I've heard the Odyssey is nice as well but I couldn't bring myself to own a minivan.

I know exactly what you mean, but when looking at all the vehicles, a minivan seems to be the smartest thing. Mainly because its easy to get in and out of and has those power sliding doors with built in sunshades.

Plus, the wife will be driving it so I won't be completely immasculated.
 

cmoore_23

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2006
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Ankeny, IA
i hate Odyssey's!!!!!!!!!!! i have like a curse with them.. every where i go.. one gets in front of me and goes 5mph under the limit!!!! idk why... but ya... they are nice vans tho.. only things i dont like about them is my curse and the back of them..
 

pulse

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Mar 24, 2006
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Pricey little buggers but are well worth it. They hold their value very well.

This may sound dumb but one thing that really sold me on the Pilot is how the doors sound when you close them. Everything sounds really solid and well built.

3rd row seat folds flat and, while not great for adults, fits 3 kids easily and all can have shoulder belts. 5 star safety. Side air curtains.

Great buy.

I have one too. I agree on the closing of the door sound. I was sold on the suspension though. A nice smooth ride.
 

CyinCo

Well-Known Member
Mar 24, 2006
5,745
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Clive, IA
I have one too. I agree on the closing of the door sound. I was sold on the suspension though. A nice smooth ride.

We had a Ford Escape prior and I liked it a lot as well. But when you closed a Door on the Escape, you would have thought something was going to fall off the vehicle.
 

ornryactor

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Jun 3, 2006
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Hondas tend to be a bit more expensive in just about every category, but there's a really, really god reason for that- they are impeccable machines. They are well-designed and well-built, and (given proper maintenance, of course) they run FOREVER. My dad has a 1991 Civic with some absurd number of miles on it, but the thing still runs like a dream. Yeah, you pay more for it at first, but they hold their value really well because of their reputation for reliability. Hyundai is fairly reliable too, but not so much for Kia. If you anticipate using this van for quite some time (5-7 years anyway), then spring for the Honda. It will pay you back over time, I think.
 

CyinCo

Well-Known Member
Mar 24, 2006
5,745
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Clive, IA
Hondas tend to be a bit more expensive in just about every category, but there's a really, really god reason for that- they are impeccable machines. They are well-designed and well-built, and (given proper maintenance, of course) they run FOREVER. My dad has a 1991 Civic with some absurd number of miles on it, but the thing still runs like a dream. Yeah, you pay more for it at first, but they hold their value really well because of their reputation for reliability. Hyundai is fairly reliable too, but not so much for Kia. If you anticipate using this van for quite some time (5-7 years anyway), then spring for the Honda. It will pay you back over time, I think.

This is why Ford is pondering selling Astin Martin. American companies can't compete with the quality. And now that most Hondas and Toyotas are built at plants that employ American workers, it has removed one of the hurdles that some buyers had: American made.

My wife and I now own a Subaru and a Honda. At one time, I had a Chevy and she had a pontiac. Times have changed.
 

loboclone

Member
Aug 8, 2006
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Having spent 17 years in the car business doing everything from Salesman to General Sales manager, F&I, Fleet manager and Desk manager I love what this thread has. When I was in car business I loved you brand loyal folks, it was the cash register ringing. I only want this or that is good for that dealer, since dealer profits have declined 5%/year for the past 6 years nationally Dealers depend on "I want" as the only margin they have left.

there are many sites where you can get the dealer invoice, there is only one invoice. Many dealers post invoice on their websites so it is no secret what their cost is. remember that all vehicles have Holdback, it is a reserve built into invoice price usually 3-5% that is retained. If you buy for invoice you still left money on the table. rebates are everywhere and interest incentives. We just bought a new F-150 for 0% @72 months, would never go more than 48 but 0% is to good to pass up.

F&I is the only place a dealer has left for profit, Extended warranties, credit life etc. Be careful here, I made 8-10k month in West Des Moines doing this back in the mid 90's........it was just like stealing
 

goldmember

Well-Known Member
May 31, 2006
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Honda - The best engine builders in the world. You pay a little more, but the resale value more than makes up for it.
 

Bobber

Well-Known Member
Apr 12, 2006
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Hudson, Iowa
My wife wants a Honda Odyssey EX-L... so I'm looking around. Sounds like they're going for about $27,000 in the edmunds.com prices paid forums. Has anyone here had any luck, or can anyone offer advice?

Ralph Schomp here in Colorado won't go below $29,500.

We bought a Honda Odyssey EX back in November. I faxed bid requests to about 12 dealers here in Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. I told them what I wanted and asked for their best price. I got a fairly good response with about a $2,000 variance in bids. We took the bids to our local dealer and he got close to matching the low one. I was still ready to walk, but my wife(who was 8 months pregnant at the time) took the local one as she didn't want to drive 2 hours away to save $500 and she thought our dealer service would be better if we bought local.

Part of the reason Honda's hold their value so well is because they don't budge much on their new vehicle prices. They also have a good quality reputation.

We love the van. A ton of space and decent mileage for such a large vehicle. We just got back from a road trip to Texas and on the low end got 22 MPG and did get up to 26 MPG which I thought was great on a new vehicle that is barely broken in. The Honda also has so many standard safety features that only come in the high dollar versions of Toyotas and Dodges.

Kias and Hyundais look great on paper, but I didn't feel their quality stacked up to the Honda and no long term test data is available on them yet.

Good Luck!:biggrin9gp:
 

BigBake

Well-Known Member
Mar 17, 2006
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U'dale
F&I is the only place a dealer has left for profit, Extended warranties, credit life etc. Be careful here, I made 8-10k month in West Des Moines doing this back in the mid 90's........it was just like stealing

What is F&I??