years ago, i wanted a Honda S2000

allocated,
and each and every one I found had a stupid 'market adjustment' price added, usually $3k or #5k

after a year of looking, I bought a Cooper S,, no damn dealer adjustment

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:

Prefontaine yeah I know that. Many car buyers, once they've made up their mind what they want and go shopping, have become emotional to the car and are at the mercy of dealers who lull them in then further ratchet up the price with doc fees, financing, service contracts, etc.

Oh I wasn’t saying you didn’t know that. I was just venting because of the car market today, and far too many don’t know it. That in turn, makes this process exceptionally difficult for people like us. ADM, added warranties, dealer packages, service this and that. Oh my. I buy Japanese, specifically Honda and Toyota for a damn good reason. I don’t need an extended warranty! I trust the manufacturer to build high quality reliable shit! I’ve owned a number of Si’s. 3 in total. And an Acura RSX Type S which was a “fancy” Si. So 4 in total. Solid cars in my experience. Just enough power and fun, to be sporty. And can be frugal and easy on the wallet for MPG’s. Good handling and a solid overall car for an economy car. It’s the sporty economy car. I can tell you if you wer remotely interested in a WRX, new, you can get them for thousands off right now. I mean get a killer deal, for not much more than a new Si. $4k off sticker with mildly hunting around. Damn good deal and a lot of car for the price in 2025.

I can tell you Honda and Toyota stealers are exceptionally difficult 2020 to now. It’s hard work finding straight shooter dealers. Best found on the forum for the car. That’s what I do every time. Surf the forum for said vehicle, read the buying experiences. IM someone on there if need be and you’ll find some dealer somewhere that is solid. My 2023 experience..I had gone into the local Yota dealer in ‘21 to put down a deposit before the car was even press released by corporate in the States as I wanted to beat the herd. They refused to take a $1k deposit and after punching through a salesman’s bullshit, he admitted they were charging $10k ADM on EVERY model they sold. Sienna, Highlander, 4Runner, name it. Then same said local dealer, while I had a deposit down at a MSRP only dealer 200 miles away, got a slightly used one, same color, trim, everything I wanted. Like you found looking at used Si’s they were charging new pricing on it. I test drove it. I didn’t want a used one where I didn’t know how the motor was broken in but figured OK, they let me test drive, I’ll hear them out. They wouldn’t budge on the price. The last one shipped to the port in my entire region, in the color/trim I wanted, was being shipped to the dealer 30 miles where I own land out of state. They wanted $5k over MSRP because I was an “out of state” buyer. I said no but he kept my number and texted me when it came in on the semi. “Your car is here.” I didn’t want to play games so I texted him a copy of my TX DL, then sent him links to my land, both parcels, 30 miles away from his dealer. I told him to take all that shit to his sales manager and said sell it at MSRP with no dealer add ons, don’t even wash the damn thing and I’ll buy it. Otherwise pound sand. 5 minutes later “The car is yours”. Puddle jumper flight was $100. Easiest buying experience of my life post text negotiation on a rare car. It was one signature at the stealer on the pricing sheet and that was it. Got home, went into my CU, couple signatures and / Now the salesman at the dealer is a friend. Went back in November to check on my land and met up with him a few times while there. Solid guy. And he’ll get my $ for a GR86 within a year. Looking at the Yuzu edition when it hits end of year.

Stick with it. You’ll find it. If more consumers would put up even a mild fight none of this would be going on. Around where I live now, I don’t even bother. Buying here is fools play. Every Honda dealer in the region adds pinstripes on all models. Window tint, wheel locks, some LoJack bs, and I can’t recall what else. They hammer with you “it’s mandatory”. Nah that’s all dealer add on bs, and MSRP’s are already inflated. Man I can’t wait for a buyers market. It’s been 6-7 years since there was one.

Thanks for the tip, I may look at a Subaru WRX. I haven't paid attention to them in a while but when I test drove one 10 years or so back I felt it was just a bit "too racy" for me, noisy, low geared, and stiff ride on my rough road. I imagine a Si will have some of these attributes too, at least compared to my Corolla.

The Civic Si must be in high demand! Out of curiosity I checked 5 dealers in the Denver metro area. Only 2 had any. Both manual transmissions. 1 dealer had a black one for sticker plus $699, total of $32,099 and the other had a red one for sticker plus $599, but had 2 incentives of $500 ea (recent college grad and military appreciation) for $32,454 excluding the incentives.

Nice looking car. They'd probably deal on a plane Jane Honda, but those Si models are probably hard to find.

Red Civic Si - Mile High Honda

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:

Man I can’t wait for a buyers market. It’s been 6-7 years since there was one.

AMEN!

I'm SO FREAKING discouraged right now. In the market for a new/newer car later this year and the prices are insane and the financing rates are just stupid right now.

I'm half inclined to drive my junker for another year or two or until it blows up hoping this market finally improves for the buyers out there.

Something's gotta give eventually.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
The Civic Si must be in high demand! Out of curiosity I checked 5 dealers in the Denver metro area. Only 2 had any. Both manual transmissions. 1 dealer had a black one for sticker plus $699, total of $32,099 and the other had a red one for sticker plus $599, but had 2 incentives of $500 ea (recent college grad and military appreciation) for $32,454 excluding the incentives.

Nice looking car. They'd probably deal on a plane Jane Honda, but those Si models are probably hard to find.

Red Civic Si - Mile High Honda

Yes Si is only available with the manual transmission.

I think the problem is limited supply, Honda simply doesn't make very many. One dealer I spoke with said they generally only get 2 each model year. I haven't heard back from a dealer 2 hours away that has a white one. Kinda boring color but it'd match my Honda truck, and doesn't show dust too bad. The one you linked in Denver is about the price I'm willing to pay, wish it was closer.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
And he’ll get my $ for a GR86 within a year. Looking at the Yuzu edition when it hits end of year.

There is a Yuzu edition? Seriously? That's funny.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:

The one you linked in Denver is about the price I'm willing to pay, wish it was closer.

You could take a Frontier flight to Denver.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
Thanks for the tip, I may look at a Subaru WRX. I haven't paid attention to them in a while but when I test drove one 10 years or so back I felt it was just a bit "too racy" for me, noisy, low geared, and stiff ride on my rough road. I imagine a Si will have some of these attributes too, at least compared to my Corolla.

the current WRX, while not a looker, is actually quite refined. I think you’d find it very enjoyable to drive. 6MT, Turbo 2.4L, center diff. For the money it’s the best thing out there providing you can snag one at 4k under sticker like I’ve seen many do.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
And he’ll get my $ for a GR86 within a year. Looking at the Yuzu edition when it hits end of year.

There is a Yuzu edition? Seriously? That's funny.

Yep. Gazoo Racing (GR) has a healthy sense of humor. I have one of their cars currently from the Motomachi factory and the color I have is called Heavy Metal. On the GR86, they do a “special” edition every year that is really just the color. Previous one was the Hakone edition. For 2026, it’s the Yuzu. One color only, and only 860 units.

https://pressroom.toyota.com/t...w-gr86-yuzu-edition/

I never, ever buy brand new (of anything) unless I have to. I'd keep an eye on FB Marketplace and be ready to pounce if one pops up.

I've bought so much stuff off of FB marketplace (and Craigslist too) and I've saved a ton of cash. I just bought my son a set of barely used skis 2 weeks ago!

quote:

the current WRX, while not a looker,

That’s an understatement.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
They need my money. I don't need their car.

I’ve told people this for decades and they still don’t listen. They are always in the I have to have it now!!!!! Mindset. It’s all fucking business to me until it’s bought for a good price and home. You can jerk off on it once you get it home. Until then it’s straight business and the consumer should be a hard ass. You know why it’s so fucking hard to get a new vehicle at a decent price these days? Because most consumers are absolute dipshits. They get suckered into extended warranties, service contracts, wheel and tire packages, paying the stealer for their shitty tint, OEM wheel locks, etc, etc, etc.

I've helped a few in the office with car deals.
My first thing I always tell them "you don't need to buy a car today"
If you don't like the numbers, walk out. You'll usually have a better deal before you hit the parking lot. And, there's 10 other XYZ dealers in Houston, so plenty of chances to get a better deal elsewhere.

Walking out works except the one guy let me get all the way to my truck in the pouring rain before he met my terms.

The Nissan dealer called me a week later and asked if my offer was still good.

The Kia dealer called me a week later and came down on there price, but not to my offer. A week after that, the called again to accept my offer.

I like to screw with the salesman . In the middle of negotiations we tell the guy that my wife is a diabetic and we need to go eat lunch , etc. This makes them panic and they tell me to take the car and go eat . No , I'm not taking your car . And this is after I have refused to give them my phone number . They do NOT want you to leave once you have started talking numbers . Especially without giving up the phone number .

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:

I have refused to give them my phone number.

Car saleswoman asked me for my phone number. I told her, "You don't have to call me. I'm standing right here."

Dealerships need to bring back the gimmicks of years past. A number of interested buyers would place one hand on the designated car. The last person with their hand on the vehicle won the car. {There were so many bathroom breaks allowed}
It really brought in the crowds.
Sadly there were professionals doing this from town to town. They practiced for weeks before the contest.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
For 2026, it’s the Yuzu. One color only, and only 860 units.

https://pressroom.toyota.com/t...w-gr86-yuzu-edition/

Yuzu, you may know, is a type of citrus. We usually associate with a lemon. Tastes similar to a lemon.

Naming a car after a lemon Probably don't have that slang in Japan.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Naming a car after a lemon Probably don't have that slang in Japan.

Like trying to sell a Nova, in Mexico.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
I never, ever buy brand new (of anything) unless I have to. I'd keep an eye on FB Marketplace and be ready to pounce if one pops up.

I do use Facebook Marketplace but from what I've seen re Civic Si, sellers are asking high prices for nice used ones. Not unlike it was with Jeep Wranglers or Tacomas a few years back.