Trim: 2025 Touring with no Factor/Port installed Addons: (MSRP 46,610 + Dest 1,395 =) $48,005
Color: Smoke Blue Pearl
Price Before TTL: ( less $5,000 off MSRP and add $189 Nitro + $399 VIN Etch + $899 Doc Fees) = $44,492
OTD: (+ 425 Registration, $7.50 Tier Fee, $10.40 Electronic Registration Charge, $2,783 Tax after reduction for Trade-in) = $47,707
Location: Union, NJ. Planet Honda (Lithia Motors). Recommended!! It felt like a win-win.
I had the price before TTL on a text message (proposal) before I approached the dealer. I ensured that the vehicle was available before the appointment. I received prompt text responses.
I did not haggle on the dealer add-ons because, based on the comments here before me, the effective price was great. Thank you to the members who shared. The dealer's office had one add-on ($999) on the first paper, which I could remove immediately before talking to the sales rep. They obliged as I was ready to buy and it was not part of the original offer.
The Sales Process (including a small test drive) took about 90 minutes. It was clear as long as I stuck to the numbers I had on the text deal. There was a small gimmick. The initial paper created has inflated Registration charges, which drop down in the second version. This reduces the final number—but that is just a mirage.
The Trade-in (a 2008 Honda EX-L with 130K miles on it and chipping paint) was not much haggled for. I got the middle of the KBB range I was expecting. It was a negotiation separate from and after the car price.
Then the Car Prep and finance process took another 2 hours. Most of it was waiting. The actual signing of papers was just 20 minutes.
