Thought I'd post this in the CA forum for those who come here specifically looking for experience with So. CA dealers. I've just completed a very positive shopping experience for my 2006 ELEMENT EX-P 2WD TRP MT. The 5 Spd. was the real kicker in this transaction. Seems like 99% of E's are being produced with ATs. Nonetheless, these dealers were willing to do the legwork to find me the models I would consider and still bargain down with me on the price to a very pleasant below-invoice price.
1. I ended up completing my transaction with HondaWorld
2006 ELEMENT 2WD TRP EX-P
$18,500.00 + TTL
Financing: 3.9%
Wheel Locks FREE
Bungee Cords FREE
2 Oil change & service FREE
Dealer: Honda World 13600 Beach Blvd. Westminster CA
Internet sales rep: Natalie - highly recommended, as is her partner, Kifah. Superb experience.
Contacts: Natalie:714.890.8931 nsmith@ochondaworld.com Kifah:714.890.8988 kkharou@ochondaworld.com
2. In the running right to the end was Pasadena Honda
Internet Mgr.: Danny Kong 213.272.1734
dkong@hondaofpasadena@dealerspace.com Danny has a history of being competitive with his ELEMENTS and he didn't disappoint me. He came up with one of the lowest quotes, earliest, and others had to catch him, just didn't have the inventory.
3.Also had good negotiations with Diamond Bar Honda
Internet/Fleet manager Jerry Ng
818.257.2583 196575@crm.cobaltgroup.com
Responsive emails, good guy
4. For a while it looked like Family Honda was going to be it. Had some good negotiations with Kip Carpenter there.
(949) 713-2000 kipc@familyhondadealerspace.com The EX he was working on trading to get for me just wouldn't come through, but I appreciated his efforts and his good communications.

Tess

nicely done!

any dogs in the pack of contacted dealers?

any dogs in the pack of contacted dealers?

Well, sure - the local San Diego dudes who start at MSRP and then add on that oh-so-special pin striping, mud flaps, and wheel locks and try to call it some sort of 'style package' for a few hundred dollars. :roll: The buyer may not want it, but it goes on as the vehicles roll off the delivery truck, so, tough luck.
Really, the sales staff were pleasant enough, the dealers' policies hobbled them.
I did email a few that did not respond, but those weren't dogs - I just figured they were amongst the many who had no MTs and had no access to any.:grin:
Besides, I like dawgs!

Tess

Thought I'd post this in the CA forum for those who come here specifically looking for experience with So. CA dealers. I've just completed a very positive shopping experience for my 2006 ELEMENT EX-P 2WD TRP MT. The 5 Spd. was the real kicker in this transaction. Seems like 99% of E's are being produced with ATs. Nonetheless, these dealers were willing to do the legwork to find me the models I would consider and still bargain down with me on the price to a very pleasant below-invoice price.
1. I ended up completing my transaction with HondaWorld
2006 ELEMENT 2WD TRP EX-P
$18,500.00 + TTL
Financing: 3.9%
Wheel Locks FREE
Bungee Cords FREE
2 Oil change & service FREE
Dealer: Honda World 13600 Beach Blvd. Westminster CA
Internet sales rep: Natalie - highly recommended, as is her partner, Kifah. Superb experience.
Contacts: Natalie:714.890.8931 nsmith@ochondaworld.com Kifah:714.890.8988 kkharou@ochondaworld.com
Tess
I don't want the "P", I wonder how much that would reduce the price....if I could get a deal like that I'd take the EX in a snap! The only thing I need to add is an alarm. Probably go to bestbuys or something...my dad installed my last and it didn't look that hard...maybe try it myself? eeekkk fat middle aged menopausal female installing own alarm, sounds like format for a melt down heh heh. Thanks!!!, I'm excited (will they trun on me when they learn I'm paying cash? saving forever for this). Should I tell them you sent me? Will they give you another oil change?

just realize you said +TTL...what was the total cost? right now I'm looking at 17,425. LX and 19,711. EX total.

just realize you said +TTL...what was the total cost? right now I'm looking at 17,425. LX and 19,711. EX total.

The tax and title fees are the same in CA, no matter which dealer. You want to make your DEAL on the price of the vehicle.

Tell Natalie (via email) that you have a $19,711 quote OtD, on the EX and see if she can beat it. You have a fair price, but even if she just saves you $50, you can spend it later on mods. :-D
And it's a great dealership - no pressure, great customer care. It won't matter to them if you walk in with cash - just one less form to fill out. You make your deal before you talk financing, anyway - I went in able to pay or finance. I chose the 3.9% for three years because I am earning more than that on my money. I just took the Honda-designated funds and banked 'em, then draw out of it for my payment. Again, not a huge sum - but the money stays in my account that much longer.
YMMV

Of the Honda Dealers who repsonded to my internet (dealix?) inquiries (all did initially, most dropped off as I kept asking about prices, so much for shopping on the internet). One was particullary awful and another was outstanding.

Outstanding...Gardena Hondas internet department (Will Elsasser, and Danny O.) responded with the lowest estimate, showed me cars, answered questions, found the one I wanted, mimimal attempts to sell "protection" package. Prompt call backs in general and up-front about fees. I was impressed, kept waiting for them to do something weird. Their manager (very handsome guy) was very friendly and stopped by several times to ask if all was satisfactory (it was). Only the paperwork guy was a little confused, offering me the Highlanders more costly warranty ;-).

Three small mistakes in discussions about what-is and what-is-not on the LX and EX was the full extent of any "problem". I had done my home work and wasn't perturbed. They take the stress out of car shopping, huge lot too.....

I bought my '04 E at Santa Ana Honda along with an '04 Accord EX the same day, and their after sales support was HORRIBLE. I bought my '06 here,

Norm Reeves Honda Superstore
Huntington Beach
19131 Beach Boulevard
Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Sales (714) 842-5431
Service 877-233-3900

Absolutely fantastic support after the sale.

Hello everyone. I am brand new to the board, and I plan to buy my new Element very soon. I wanted to find out from you other SoCal owners whether the price quote I am getting sounds competitive.

I am looking at getting a 2006 EX 2WD AT, and I have been quoted 18,925 which includes destination and handling. Does this sound about right? Is there anything in particular in the sales process that I should look out for? Thanks for your help.

This dealer gave me the lowest quote I found locally for my LX...this was his quote for EX2wd....about two weeks ago..I understand they change daily... I found my best offers through dealix (I had AAA and Cost co. too.), Long beach and Diamond bar were in the running.
Will Elsasser <WELSASSER@GARDENAHONDA.COM> wrote: Pleiades,
The cost of the Element 2wd EX is $17,987.10 and that's based on a MSRP
of $20,175. To get a total cost it's roughly 10% for taxes and fees.

My advice, if you need it, document everything. Carry a clip board and stick to your questions, watch the fees and extras like a hawk (I kept asking what the total would be...if you need to, if you are loaded with cash doesn't matter as much I suppose). Ask and ask, if they don't want to be up-front (mostly) move on, you have the money, they need you. If you are not a relatively strong person take someone who is to watch your back and the details (I brought a friend when I picked the car up, she thought of two things I forgot to ask, as it happened, they (GH) had not forgotten and had taken care of it).
I really liked Gardena. Talked first to Will on the internet. Danny O. is pretty low key, Will is a little more "car salesman" but he's east coast and they have a different style. Will made the best offer and when I went in with the intenet quote (from Will), Danny went with that. It actually turned out a bit less. I may not have bargained as hard as I might have, but they were so much lower than the others and they had to find the car for me and bring it over (my intuition said, go for it or lose it). They gave me the accessories that had been added to it at our original agreement (after a day:wink: ). Their whole depatment is very nice. Only one tiny song and dance about "protection package" when I asked about alarm. I had them install the alarm (a little higher than local quotes, but worth it to not risk my warranty). All in all I was very pleased, I had intended to use their service who-ever I bought from, most highly recommended in my area.
Only miniscule complaint, some small confusions about features, what is and what is not on the LX or EX, nothing crutial and I had done my homework anyway. Guy who did the final paperwork quoted me extended warranty for a highlander..."Oh, you are buying a Element, I didn't see that....oh, that is cheaper for warranty"...uh huh.




Scot Robinson was the worst, bad offers, corney dealers expressions...so bad it was funny (03 Ex 40,000 miles, $19,000 something, car was dirty, interior trashed, nicotine stains on interior, smelled like an ashtray....argued with me, insisting it was cleaned and certified or it would never be on the lot for sale, told me GH would NEVER sell me the car for my internet quote, nearly threw me out of his office, e-mailed yesteday asking what he could do to earn my business.....:roll: I thought, if the sales guys are like this, imagine what the service department is like! Actually I've been told what their service is like. (salesman Randy knew his E's but isn't in internet department)

above quote includes destination handling

Well, I went ahead and bought my new Element today! I ended up with a 4wd EX AT in Atomic Blue Metallic. I got it for $19,000 plus tax and license. I wondered how this compares with others in SoCal. Did I get a good deal? On the surface, it seems like it, as it is $1,700 below invoice.

By the way, the dealer experience was pretty good. I went in with a quote for a 2wd EX AT for 18,925 from a competing dealership. The dealership I went to, Hardin Honda in Anaheim, said they had the 2wd EX AT in ABM in stock, and that they would match my internet quote. They didn't, but they had the 4wd, and ended up selling it to me for $75 over the price of the 2wd.

Again, I just wanted to find out how this compares to some of your experiences, and if I made a decent deal.

I am very excited. I can't wait to go camping in this thing, with the mountain bikes in the back! Anyone else here in Anaheim on the board?

wow, great price!

with all that money you saved, you can start adding on!

just a tip:

NEVER GO TO HARDIN HONDA!!!

I had to sue them (LONG story) over illegal and outright dangerous service practices! Their sales team SUCKS too! DONT get your element serviced there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I went to Diamond Bar Honda, the sales people just stood there and stared at me. Same thing at Cerritos Honda. I found my best deal at Spirit Honda. 2006 EX-P 2WD 4A $19,575+TL

just a tip:

NEVER GO TO HARDIN HONDA!!!

I had to sue them (LONG story) over illegal and outright dangerous service practices! Their sales team SUCKS too! DONT get your element serviced there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Care to elaborate?

Not that anyone actually ever ventures out this way, but my experience at Riverside Honda was less than satisfactory. To top it off, the sales guy said that the rear seats could not be removed, and that it was OK to hose out the interior. I've been getting it serviced at Corona Honda as it is close to work, and their service has been great . . . .

I am a new initiate to the 'Church of E' ... purchased last Saturday, August 26. I did my research online-- looked at some others, but for price, *headroom* and cargo length-- I couldn't find a better choice.

(long story short...)

I went for a 2006 EX with 2wd-- manual transmission. 750 under invoice. I *did* call around and while a few dealers offered up to 1250 below invoice-- NOBODY else had the 5mt.

just a tip:

NEVER GO TO HARDIN HONDA!!!

I had to sue them (LONG story) over illegal and outright dangerous service practices! Their sales team SUCKS too! DONT get your element serviced there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Wow...I just bought my car there....and they were great. I had my deal worked out before I walked in tho....so it was a yes or no situation. My sales guy told me which service guy to go to....and it was simple! They even did the deal for me when Santa Ana AND Honda World said no. The GM did it on the phone!!!! I drove in... signed paper and drove off in a new (plastic wrapped...not one test drive) E following the safety inspection! Sorry you had bad experience there... I think car dealers in general are sharks (and mostly the bottom of the genepool if you think about it)....you just can't walk in and hope that they will hold your hand. They are trained to cut it off at the elbow.

Haven't had service yet tho...so whats the story?

I think the key to getting a good deal is just timing. That’s why some people get a good response and good pricing from one sales person and others don’t. If they need the sale to meet a personal, month-end, or quarterly goal, they will treat you well. Catch them on a good month and they are likely to treat you poorly. I have read positive and negative about the same sales people and dealers on this and other websites.
Nobody truly knows invoice, but for an 05 EX 4WD AT it was regarded as being $21,000. Honda has a built in 3%($630) markup in the invoice so anything less than $20,370 would be considered a “good’ deal. The destination charge is refunded back to the dealer from Honda, so never factor that in. Robertlewisca got a kick ass deal on his E. I’ve never heard of that model going for any less. They must have really needed that sale or he knows some Jedi mind trick. Hardin Honda rolled on the floor laughing at me when I mentioned a price under $20,000. Lots of dealers essentially told me to go f#ck myself, but a few were hungry and returned my calls/emails promptly. I just let them fight it out until the last day of the month. I know I could have gotten a lower price but it was better than I expected so I was content. I paid $19,300 for mine from Damon @ Santa Ana Honda.
I read everything from carbuyingtips.com, followed it religiously and everything on the site worked out to be true. I had them by the short and curly’s even before I arrived. It made buying my E extremely quick and totally painless.

I just want to say hello to everyone:wave: since my wife and I just joined the E club! I browse the forums just before looking into dealers and came up with this thread and what a godsend! Thanks Tess for the idea of HondaWorld. I give a :thumbsup: for HondaWorld and Natalie!!! She was great and HondaWorld had the E that my wife truly wanted...black 5spd. The deal was simple and easy, just called up Natalie, she told me she had the black color and 5spd in stock and we drove down and she gave us the best price I heard from 5 other dealers I looked into...seriously 1000 under invoice before +ttl. I want to thank this site as well for helping me find this incredible deal!!! What a way to get into the site. Now off to finding which mods to do...

Hey, cool!
I'm glad your experience w/Natalie at HondaWorld was as positive as mine. Can't beat a great price, the E you want and a great buying experience!

Robertlewisca got a kick ass deal on his E. I’ve never heard of that model going for any less. They must have really needed that sale or he knows some Jedi mind trick. Hardin Honda rolled on the floor laughing at me when I mentioned a price under $20,000.

Thanks for the compliment. No Jedi mind trick. Actually, what happened was that I spent about a week emailing all of the dealers in my area and getting quotes for an '06 2WD EX AT in ABM, and the best deal I found was $18.925. I started this wanting the 2wd. Hardin kept dodging me on price, so I finally got them to commit to beat the price I had if I just came down. I asked them if they had the EXACT E I wanted in stock (as described above), and they assured me that they did. When I got there, we spent about 45 minutes looking for it, all the while I was saying how pissed I was because I wanted to just walk in, sign the papers and walk out, and really didn't want to spend half the day there. It turns out all they could find was an EX-P 2wd AT in ABM, and an EX 4wd AT in ABM. I told them I really didn't want the EX-P, I wanted the black panels. Then they started in on trying to sell me the 4wd.

They offered it for $1000 more than the 2wd, to which I said, "I came down here, and wasted my time, because you assured me you had the exact vehicle I wanted, and I'm really upset that you're now trying to sell me something I don't want for more money!" They kept saying that it was a better car. I said, "I am going to end up paying more for insurance for a 4wd, and more on gas because it gets worse mileage, and it's really an inconvenience for me to buy a 4wd." When they finally got to within $75 of my original offer for the 2wd, I had to take it. It was a really good deal. Anyway, that was the story. I'm sure they also had some really aggressive sales goals for Memorial Day weekend, and that didn't hurt. Also, the vehicle was Mf'd. in Dec of '05, so they probably had it on the lot for a while and couldn't unload it. So, I'm assuming it was a combination of all of these things that made it possible.

Anyway, the email campaign really does work, and it certainly helped me with my negotiating position.

Hey, cool!
I'm glad your experience w/Natalie at HondaWorld was as positive as mine. Can't beat a great price, the E you want and a great buying experience!


Yeah I'm so glad I found this site after lookin around for a week on my own. This thread really saved my arse.
I mentioned your name to her and she seemed to remember but you never know she coulda just played nice about it. She really made the experience awesome and my wife just loved being able to making the deal.