Buying new car...

[Camaroholic]

So the power steering pump on my wife's Montana minivan went out again (we have bad luck with them ). I'm freaking sick of working on the thing.

So I head over to the Dodge dealership during lunch. From what I can tell, I'm the only customer there. For almost 2 hours. There may have been 1 other customer, not sure.

We haggle pretty good on a price on a new Caravan (rather, I stand firm, they come down). We're not far apart, but I bail because I have to get back to work and I was shopping without the wife's permission. I came perilously close to getting my low offer (almost 25% off of sticker) accepted.

I go back after work to meet my wife so she can take a look (and return the minivan key that I put in my pocket and forgot about ). She liked the van, but we had to go eat dinner (I forgot to eat lunch). Again, I didn't see any other customers.

But my wife asked me to look in to other minivans as well. I rolled around late (almost 7pm) and looked quickly at the Hondas and Toyotas (no Chryslers in stock here). Sticker prices on the Hondas are higher by a significant amount. It was late enough that I wasn't hounded by salesmen, but the lot was still open.

Question for anyone that might know - do Honda dealers have as much wiggle room in their price? I know nothing about Hondas. My wife's friends all have Hondas though. Think the Honda dealer would throw me out if I offered 25% less than sticker?

Toyotas weren't all that interesting, very few on the lot.

PS - keep any snide minivan comments to yourself. We have 3 young kids and trust me - you do NOT want us to park next to you with a vehicle with regular doors. Kids throw the doors open (even when told not to) and have doordinged another vehicle (our Youth minister at church ). Sliding minivan doors are good for no door dings.

[AronZ28]

I'd go for the Honda Odessey or Toyota Sienna. They feel like they're screwed together a lot better than the Chrysler vans. With the way things are going now, Chrysler might be out of business in six months.

[BLK85]

I would tell your wife your getting the Caravan. Dodge is the one who started the Minivans. They know what there doing. And Ive only heard of high miles ones having problems. Friend of mine had one in High School, didnt have any problems with it until he rolled it.

Dont ask me about haggleing with Honda though. But I know when my parents were buying a Toyota Corolla my dad offered a little less and the salesmen more or less said sorry we cant budge on the price, these things sell like hot cakes take it or leave it.

[Nine Ball]

Caravans are pretty popular, never really heard anyone complain about owning one. If you can wait it out a bit, prices will drop even further. Remember that RAM trucks are 50% off MSRP and not selling.

Hold out for this one:
http://www.autoblog.com/tag/Caravan%20RT/
http://www.trucktrend.com/autoshows/...aravan_rt.html

[bjamick]

Ya well I think that honda and toyota both are slacking off on how well the cars are being built from the mid 90's. A corolla in the mid 90's would last you foreeevvvveerrr without an issue. Now'adays it seems like they have more issues as they step into the 100k mark.

I say stick it out with chrysler, and that RT Tony posted looks pretty cool for a minivan.

[-Ross-]

Buy American.

[RPM WS6]

Originally Posted by bjamick

A corolla in the mid 90's would last you foreeevvvveerrr without an issue.

False!

The wife and I had a '94 Corolla, until it hit about 120k miles. Started having various issues around 60k, and serious issues at 100k. The car was maintained very well by myself, so it wasn't due to a lack of maintenance. Had a '96 Bonneville at nearly the same time.... it was a much more reliable car. GM 3.8L V6 > Toyota 4 cyl.

Toyota =

If you must get a minivan, go Dodge.

[KBG]

I work for a honda dealership and we are selling all of the 08 Odysseys (we have a ton) for $6500-$7000 off if that gives you any idea.....We only have one child and don't really need a van but it is awesome to drive.....very comfortable for me as I'm 6' 3".....previously had a CRV

you are right though....all dealers are hurting right now and you can get a great deal.....please pass on the Chrysler though......just one drive in the Odyssey and you'll see what I mean

[KBG]

I am not a salesman by the way....send me a PM if you need any help or info....we have the EXL RES with the DVD player

[bjamick]

Originally Posted by RPM WS6

False!

The wife and I had a '94 Corolla, until it hit about 120k miles. Started having various issues around 60k, and serious issues at 100k. The car was maintained very well by myself, so it wasn't due to a lack of maintenance. Had a '96 Bonneville at nearly the same time.... it was a much more reliable car. GM 3.8L V6 > Toyota 4 cyl.

Toyota =

If you must get a minivan, go Dodge.

Really thats hard to believe. I've had good luck out of 2 corollas. The one I drive everyday is an 86 . Ill drive it till im offered enough to sale it or the wheels fall off.

Now the gm 3.8 is a very nice engine, I have an 02 firebird also that I drive ever now and again. Very good engine, even since the buick 3.8s in the late 80's.


I do say though help these american auto makers out a lil. Even though they are not very smart economically.

[Camaroholic]

Thanks guys. I might try to go haggle a bit with the Honda dealer then.

I sent her to the Toyota dealer to look at the Highlander today... I was in Dallas and went to a dealer at the exact same time to look at them. As soon as we talked afterwards, we were in 100% agreement. The "Crossover" SUV is too small for us. We need seating for 7 with enough room in the back for luggage. Highlander was way too small.

Wife likes the Hondas, all her friends have Hondas. The ones I saw last night didn't have cloth seats though (we don't like leather, especially with our kids ). The Hondas were stickering anywhere from $32k to $37k for the 08s (the 09 I saw was $39k, for a freaking minivan). I think if I could get a van down to the $24k-$25k range, I could swing it. Don't know if they'll deal that far, but as a buyer, it's FUN right now to know you have the car dealers by the balls.

[BLK85]

40 grand for a damn mini van????

[SparkyJJO]

A honda...

[skywalkrNCSU]

hmmmm I think I might head down to the Pontiac dealer this upcoming week and see what they can do for me on a G8 GT. If I can get them anywhere near 25% off I will be frequenting the tech sections of LS1Tech much more often

[Damian]

Andrew,

Honda's can't be beat. I used to work on them all the time when I turned wrenches for another shop. Bulletproof engines with great/long lasting transmissions. Not to mention some really nice interior and cool gadgets too. We used to get them in the old shop all the time with 200-300K on them with all original components.

The Honda Odyssey and the Nissan Quest are by far the two coolest and most reliable Vans I've worked on. Only problem is, they're not hurting near as badly as the American car makers to sell so they aren't going to budge on price as much.

[Camaroholic]

Well, I just got home. With the Dodge. The dealer met my one and only offer. Over 25% off sticker. It was a deal I couldn't refuse. No way could I get in to a comparable Honda or Toyota within $10k of what I paid for this. No way.

Dodge must be hurtin'. Yes, I am taking my chances, but I'm proud to say I bought American.

The van is pretty cool (for a van ). It's the SXT model with the MyGig entertainment system (hard drive MP3 storage, DVD player in dash, back up camera, etc). Power sliding and rear lift door. Pretty cool stuff.

[Vicinity]

Originally Posted by Camaroholic

Well, I just got home. With the Dodge. The dealer met my one and only offer. Over 25% off sticker. It was a deal I couldn't refuse. No way could I get in to a comparable Honda or Toyota within $10k of what I paid for this. No way.

Dodge must be hurtin'. Yes, I am taking my chances, but I'm proud to say I bought American.

The van is pretty cool (for a van ). It's the SXT model with the MyGig entertainment system (hard drive MP3 storage, DVD player in dash, back up camera, etc). Power sliding and rear lift door. Pretty cool stuff.

You gotta add it into your sig now. Its a new rule.

[Camaroholic]

Ha ha, naaah, it's "her" car. My wife's first 'new' car ever. Her 40th birthday present, I suppose.

Oh, it's got the 3.8L backed by the 6 speed auto trans. And illuminated cupholders.

I gotta figure out how to make the garage door opener work, and also I gotta clean off the stereo. I stuck my USB stick in it during a test drive, it downloaded all my Metallica/Megadeth/Alice In Chains/etc in there. Wifey won't want that.

[Vicinity]

Originally Posted by Camaroholic

Ha ha, naaah, it's "her" car. My wife's first 'new' car ever. Her 40th birthday present, I suppose.

Oh, it's got the 3.8L backed by the 6 speed auto trans. And illuminated cupholders.

I gotta figure out how to make the garage door opener work, and also I gotta clean off the stereo. I stuck my USB stick in it during a test drive, it downloaded all my Metallica/Megadeth/Alice In Chains/etc in there. Wifey won't want that.

Have you "tested" its speed? Does it get up pretty good for a minivan?

Consider a Hemi swap?

[unit213]

Originally Posted by Camaroholic

Well, I just got home. With the Dodge.

Atta boy. Nice work buying American.