ouch! My glass-half-full side thinks that it must mean "liberal fountainheads of cash who spend freely on anything" (thus the Invisible ribbon stuck to the back of my car, that says "I support anything trendy") but then my glass-half-empy side thinks it might mean Liberal = Hybrid Car + $4000 upmarket charge, while Conservative = Hummer(the first one, not the new shrink-o #3) - $8000 rebate. It's all in the way you do New Math (pardon me now while I slowly remove tongue from cheek)

It is time to think "outside of the box." I can't speak to the Civic technology, I'm a Prius owner, but I ran into simular problems in Huntsville AL. The local Prius dealer wanted to tack on a $4.5 profit on new Prius (discounted to $3.5 if you have SAMs club membership.) The Ford dealer excluded the Escape hybrid from their employee pricing sale. But then I remember the anti-hybrid crowd claiming, "you'll have to replace those expensive batteries" and suddenly it hit me . . . buy used!

Via Ebay, I found two, 2003 Prius for sale and one was listed "Buy me" at $1,000 below Blue Book. After I verified I could drive it home, I flew out to Texas and for $17.3 k picked up the last model year, 2003, Prius with 49,300 miles on it. It was a steal for the following reasons:

1) Last model year, Prius I, has all of the engineering changes from the previous years
2) Engine is derated to 70 hp vs. 108 hp version of same engine in wife's Echo
3) Engine and battery are 'drive by wire' -- no operator abuse!
4) One owner, non-smoking car

Folks often don't realize that a used hybrid doesn't get the same abuse as a regular gas-only engine car. The computer control system means the whole drive system is operated within a well defined set of control laws. They don't have the same wear patterns as ordinary cars and that extends beyond brake-shoes that show no wear after 100,000 miles.

The suspension and rubber parts will need lubrication and replacement like regular vehicles. But the engine and battery are likly to have a lot more life than the "anti-hybrid" crowd believes. Their foolish fears will keep the resale prices of hybrid-electrics in an affordable range.

BTW, I used Ebay but there are other online, car services. Like I said, think outside the box and there are bargans to be had. One caveate, buy from a dealer. On interstate sales, you won't have to worry as much about the vehicle inspection and a clear title and your local banker will finance the deal. Also, you'll find folks are including 'non-Prius' cars in the Prius listing of Ebay by including in parenthesis "(like a Prius)" . . .

Bob Wilson

In Sacramento, make sure you talk to the fleet people at Carmichael Honda. That's where I got my 2005 HCH (about a year ago) for a couple hundred over invoice, and I sent two other friends their way who ended up doing the same. At the time, all other dealers I talked to were asking MSRP or more, and were not willing to deal.

I'm not saying with certainty that they operate this way with the hot new 2006 model, but it is an indication that they don't mind utilizing the fleet/internet sales route.

Nothing. It's just this online forum thing makes it difficult to convey exact meanings. I mean that there is higher demand for hybrids there so dealers can get away with pricing them higher. That's all. In more liberal areas I would expect there to be higher demand for hybrids.

I spend a few hours on the phone this weekend.
I Heard 1 of two things from everyone.
either
a) we will take your deposit and let you know what we want to charge when the car comes in
or
b) MSRP and we have no idea when the car will be here.

I just happened to be at the dealer when the car came off the truck.
I put a deposit on the car before we test drove the car.
I overheard the people in the next cubby at the dealership talking about the car.

We're now less than 8 weeks away from 2006, which is when the Civic Hybrid will be eligible for what appears to effective amount to about $1500 worth of price cut in the form of the new federal tax incentives for hybrids. Maybe just wait the 8 weeks until a little of the excitement dies down and hopefully pick one up at MSRP and enjoy the tax benefits as well?

Two problems ... er... challenges with that, though: 1 - No tax credit since it only applies to the first owner of a new car. 2. At 49k miles you're probably out of the new car warranty. If anything breaks, it's on your dime.

(now... having said that, our first HCH here was a Certified Pre-Owned 2004, so we got the Honda CPO warranty on it, and bought enough HondaCare to cover it for as long a I'll be making payments on it.

The other-other side of the coin is that a CPO car (if you can find one) is going to cost slightly more than a regular used car, but at least you have a bit of a warranty on it.

Meanwihle, as the warranty wains on my BMW 325, it's going to be replaced in January (or thereabouts) with the 06 HCC. Since I plonked down serious $$ to get the car, I'm hoping it's on the January allotment. If not, just any time before that BMW warranty expires is good enough for me!

That was my experience with the local Toyota dealer when I went in and asked to test-sit the Prius (some cars, unfortunately, the S2000 is one, just DO NOT FIT a person over 6'6" tall) The reply I got back was that they would gladly take $500 deposit on one if I wanted to buy it, otherwise.....


Since the local HONDA dealer has a much better working knowledge of the whole concept of Customer Service, I combed down my Toyota-Bristled hair, and ordered a Civic instead.

The thing is, dealers in both cases may not know when the cars are coming in. Dishonest dealers, however, will lie and tell you the car is coming in very soon, and then they'll just keep saying it got delayed until it really does come in. The idea is to keep you from considering another dealer while they wait for the car to arrive. This is especially why you should never outright buy a new car if it isn't even there yet, as many dealers want you to do.

One impressively honest dealer I spoke with offered MSRP, no accessories, no fees, with the only caveat being that while they put my name down for one of the cars, they turned down my offer of a deposit on it because they want to be able to sell the car to anyone willing to pay for it in full ahead of time. I can't really blame them though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by S2000 Driver I spend a few hours on the phone this weekend.

Check out my comments reply #12 in the following, post:

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/quot-why-quot-i-originally-cancelled-the-2006-hch-must-read-update-on-saturday-22nd.4197.html?page=7&pp=10



While different parts of the country might be different, I got a fair deal and if I wanted to piss off my local dealer, could probably have even gotten even a better deal.



I suggest if you are a member of a Sams Club or Costco, you use them, as their "Negotiated price" was $250 below MSRP (at least here) and then I used their "1% below the best price" match to save even more.

Larry
'06 Magnetic Pearl HCH #7264