Current CR-V deals?

I'm helping an aged friend near Boston, MA buy a car. He's pretty much
settled on a new 2005 Honda CR-V LX in 4WD, no extra options. No financing,
no trade-in, simple sale. Three questions:

- Is there any special advantage to buying right now, after Christmas, or in
January? There may be a slight difference in excise tax, but otherwise
timing not critical for the buyer. Any special pre- or post-year-end dealer
inventory deadlines, hold-backs, etc. might help.

- Are the Consumer Reports numbers accurate for this sort of thing? Saving a
few hundred bucks could help a lot for this buyer, so an informed
negotiation would be good.

- Can anyone please suggest an actual fair price right now for this car, no
extra options?

Thanks very much for advice - this ain't my thing, exactly.

-Ctenos

P.S. - Haven't been able to get the Honda.com web-quote thing to work, but
will keep trying.

 

Since they're the current model and only came out a relatively short
while ago, I'd say you can all but forget about "driving a hard bargain".

If a dealer has any 2004's left, then you might be able to get a break on
the price, but a brand-new 2005? Fuhgeddaboutit.

Rick

 

I have to agree with the other guy who replied to your question. With
the 05's just coming out the Dealers aren't going to break their necks
trying to deal if they have lot's of 04's on the lot. I know the
dealer here in town has 5 or 6 2004 EX 4X4's on the lot. I would
try and see what kind of deal you could get on a 2004 model.

todd

 

Depends on a number of factors, but deals can be had on the 05's as well.

I believe dealers get allotments of the higher profit cars, i.e. odysseys
and pilots based on how many of the civics, accords and cr-v's they sell.

There are a number of negotiating techniques described throughout the net.

Try them and see if you get a deal you like.

Remember, just because you negotiate, does not mean you have to buy.

Have fun,

HG

 

For reference, in October 2004, the 2005 CR-V SE was going for $1200
below invoice in NYC...

 

Disregard. Make that " $1200 below MSRP"...

 

Much obliged for all these helpful thoughts - please keep 'em coming! The
buyer actually was aiming at a 2004. My concern was that many of these lack
ABS, which I regard as an important safety factor, especially for someone
with limited reflexes. We'll ask how much lower prices are on last year's
model.

Thanks again-

Ctenos

 

I can't tell for sure about the LX but my 2002 Ex 4X4 has ABS.

 

When I deal on a new car I go late in the day, an hr or so before closeing,
that way the salesperson isn't going to try and waste all of your day.

Tom

 

ABS is too emphasized, because people rely on it to do things its not
designed to do. It won't shorten stopping distance and you really have to
hammer the pedal down to create a skid. If you drive intelligently, you
don't need ABS. Insurance carriers have realized that by eliminating ABS
discounts as it didn't reduce accidents. Side curtain airbags are another
issue, as they have proven to add a safety factor in side impact crashes.
Seems I saw an LX advertised here in Calif a couple weeks ago for $18,900,
if that gives you an idea. Can't remember if it was on 04 or 05 though.