Advice on Accord Ex, Ex-L, Ex-L with navigation

[katsagirl]

hi everyone,

i'm completely new to this forum. this will be my first real new car. my dad originally gave me an 89 corolla. i'm looking at these three models. the best price i had so far was 23,384 (with mud guards and trunk tray) for the ex-l with navigation. is that a good price?

my parents are not too fond of the price so i was thinking should i just settle for the ex or the ex-l? any advice would be reallly appreciated. thank you. this is turning out to be a headache.

-Kat

[flcma99]

A couple of questions will help the forum answer.

4 cylinder or 6 cylinder?
Automatic or Manual?
Is that a "price plus fees" or a "price plus tax, title, and tag", or "price out-the-door"?

If it is price plus fees you need to know what "fees" the dealer will add. If it is plus tax, title, and tag that looks like a good price, if it is out-the-door many of us will probably want one too. :D

Check out carbuyingtips.com. They have helpful information for online research and a worksheet for price calculations.

[VTECaddict]

its for a 4cyl. V6 doesnt have EX/EX-L trims because they all EX-V6's have leather.

[phoenix]

Kat that price seems pretty reasonable for an EX-L w/ Navi. You may be able to shave off a couple hundred more due to the current factory-to-dealer incentives Honda is running :yes: Also see how much it would cost without the mud flaps and trunk tray, those options are simple enough to put in yourself with minimal hassle (mud flaps take about 10 minutes tops) and you can find them much cheaper online than at your local dealership.

Make sure you check out these websites too carsdirect.com and edmunds.com

Good luck and keep us posted!! :wave:

[RTexasF]

Consider the EX without Nav, cloth seats, and a manual transmission. The price will drop quite a bit, the parental units will be happier, and you'll have new wheels!

[OwAce]

a lot comes down to how long you want to keep the car. adding the leather and navi tremendously moves the cars appeal up IMHO. however it also adds to the price.

drive a ex (cloth), and then drive a ex-l. see what you like about the Ex-L over the EX. then get into one with a nav.

i for one love my nav system and dont think i can realistically keep a car w/o a nav system anymore.

you have preferences, let them be known and use them to determine your choice of car.

honda dealers have $750-1000 in incentives on the 06 accord right now.

[Pilot4Life]

I say no leather unless you're ready to take care of it. WHoever last owned my Pilot didn't give a darng about the seats in it, and they look horrible in the 2nd and 3rd row. Also, I'm not really impressed with the leather Honda uses. I like their cloth seats way better.

Your Price seems reasonable. It's about waht we paid in 03' for our non nav EX-L 5spd. So you seem to have a great deal there.

Karen

[katsagirl]

thanks everyone.

i'm trying to see if they will lower the price. 23,384 plus tax and fees. not sure what fees but i'll ask him straight out today. this is for the one with the navi and leather no V6. the best price i got for the ex alone was 20,171 plus tax and fees. the destination is included in all of them.

so you think if i don't ask for the mud guards and truck tray, he'll drop a couple hundred bucks?

thank you so much! as you can tell i'm totally new to this experience.

-Kat

[phoenix]

so you think if i don't ask for the mud guards and truck tray, he'll drop a couple hundred bucks?
I know that you can find the splash guards (mud flaps) online for around $60 + shipping. I haven't priced the trunk tray but I am positive it's cheaper online than what Honda regularly charges. I would think that they may try to charge you at least $100 for the splash guards since they would charge you full price plus install. See how much it is. If you are watching your pennies (like I am) then there is really no viable reason to pay the dealership to screw on a couple flaps and drop in a trunk tray. :yes:

Sometimes the dealer will throw those things in for free but if they try to charge you for them then just tell them you don't need it and you can do it yourself.

Also watch out for some dealerships that try to charge you for pinstripes and other things that you don't need. When my gf was looking at Camrys one of the dealerships insisted that she get the pinstripe package bc "it comes with the car" even though it wasn't even on the car yet!! The dealer was persistent but my gf wasn't about to be suckered in by their shenanagans.

The EX comes with everything you could want and need so if there is anything the dealer tries to add on at an additional cost to you DON'T TAKE IT and always question the cost breakdown because they try to find ways to bump up the cost.

Good luck!!

[katsagirl]

thanks phoenix!

i gave him another price lower and i'm waiting for him to tell me if he'll match that price. so far he's matched my lowest offer the other day. i'm still looking at the ex-l with navigation. i figure the civic ex with navigation is going to be 22,032 out the door. i can spring a little bit more for the accord. i have also been hearing warnings from people that there have been a lot of issues with the new civic. this is becoming more of a headache.

my parents and i are going to check out cars on sunday. probably going to come back with a huge headache. :(

-Kat

[greg-ster]

It really isn't a problem to maintain leather seats. Just wipe them down and apply a conditioner occasionally. Unlike cloth, leather doesn't stain or absorb smells. THe grey leather doesn't fade or discolor either...

That's a pretty good price for the EX-L Nav, and the mudguards and trunk tray are pretty nice items to have if they are included with the purchase - those are actually pretty useful accessories.

Good luck!

[katsagirl]

any advice on how i can push his price lower? he gave me 23,384 with free mud guards and truck tray and 1 free oil change. thanks again for all the responses. :thmsup:

-Kat

[stevencrosbie]

I really think that is good price for your Accord. You are looking at a model that is pretty rare on lots. I mean, you don't see many 4 cylinder NAVI models sitting around. Most people who spring for navi also get the V6.

[katsagirl]

yea it seems to be really rare. i have 2 silvers with grey and black interior to choose from. i spoke to a new guy and he gave me 22,900 so my dad and i are checking him out this weekend to see if we can work something out.

thanks for all the help. i hope all goes well. this is going to be my car and i'm nervous. LOL

-Kat

[phoenix]

yea it seems to be really rare. i have 2 silvers with grey and black interior to choose from. i spoke to a new guy and he gave me 22,900 so my dad and i are checking him out this weekend to see if we can work something out.

thanks for all the help. i hope all goes well. this is going to be my car and i'm nervous. LOL

-Kat
Personally I am a fan of the gray leather over the black. Which way are you leaning Kat?

[katsagirl]

i was leaning towards the black but the gray is cool too. i haven't seen the inside of the silver. i test drove a graphite recently. pretty nice in there. everyone's telling me the black will make it really hot in the summer. maybe i should go for the gray. hehe thanks phoenix :D

you talked me into the gray. too bad i have to get the 4-door. my parents didn't want to consider the v6 because they said it burns too much gas. plus my bf has a honda accord ex v6 but 2001. i've driven it a total of 5 times. LOL guys and their cars. silly!

-Kat

[katsagirl]

hey guys,

i am going to check out my car on saturday. i got 22,880 for the price of the ex-l with navigation from one dealership, the colors are carbon bronze and white. another dealership is giving me 22,900 but they have 2 silvers (one with gray interior and one with black interior). which color would you guys choose? :wave:

thanks so much for all the advice.

-Kat

[phoenix]

hey guys,

i am going to check out my car on saturday. i got 22,880 for the price of the ex-l with navigation from one dealership, the colors are carbon bronze and white. another dealership is giving me 22,900 but they have 2 silvers (one with gray interior and one with black interior). which color would you guys choose? :wave:
-Kat
Hey Kat, the color choice is all on you. No one else can make that decision for you, everyone here has different opinions and tastes regarding that. You have some great options there with price and color so just choose the one you like best :thmsup:

Have a good time tomorrow!! :banana:

[katsagirl]

thanks phoenix! i hope everything goes well. the guy seems very straight forward. no accessories though. how much do you think mud guards will be? my dad wants the mud guards. i'm leaning towards the carbon bronze color.

the bad part is that color for the dealership comes in the ivory interior. :(

do you think the price i'm getting at 22880 is good? destination is included.

-Kat

[Jay Gatsby]

I bought the '06 EX-L without the navigation system for $22,789 out the door (including everything). I didn't buy any of the extra accessories except for the wheel locks (which I got at cost). If I had just bought the EX without the leather, the price would probably have been somewhere around $21k even out the door.

The navigation system is nice, but you might do better with a removable dash-mounted system from a third-party manufacturer. The advantage is that you can put it in multiple cars, and the cost is less than 1/3 of the Honda in-dash navigation system.

As for color, the Carbon Bronze is a really classy look, especially when paired with a tan cloth or ivory leather interior. I compared the Carbon Bronze to the Lexus metallic-brown and they looked pretty similar. Likewise, the leather used in the Lexus is of a similar color, but of higher quality (naturally). Overall, the look of my EX-L is that of an entry-level Lexus (e.g., ES 300/330/350), but for HALF THE PRICE. The extra money went into an eSavings account with Citibank at 4.75% per year.

[stevencrosbie]

I used to think the same think, but the portable GPS is not such a great idea for 3 reasons.

1. Portable unit easily gives a theif a reason to break into your new Honda
2. Honda's integration of the Navigation is wonderful
3. More Robust. Honda's Navi has more POIs and information than a $700 Garmin unit.

Is it wortht he extra money...only you can decide. I never thought it was until I had it.

[katsagirl]

thanks...

yea i thought the intergration of the navi into the car makes it better. the removable will be easier to steal wouldn't it? will keep you guys posted if the car goes through tomorrow.

i welcome anymore advice. :) thank you

-Kat

[BenjiBoy650]

I used to think the same think, but the portable GPS is not such a great idea for 3 reasons.

1. Portable unit easily gives a theif a reason to break into your new Honda
2. Honda's integration of the Navigation is wonderful
3. More Robust. Honda's Navi has more POIs and information than a $700 Garmin unit.

Is it wortht he extra money...only you can decide. I never thought it was until I had it.
1) A thief will break into your integrated unit and steal it easily if they want. A portable unit allows me to hide it in the trunk, in the glovebox, under the seat, take it with me, etc.

2) Integration is nice but it also means you only have it in ONE car and you have to take THAT car to whereever

3) Maybe it has more POI's but portable units are much easier and CHEAPER to update. If you live somewhere that's up and coming, you would want this :yes:

[katsagirl]

thanks everyone.

i think i'm leaning towards the carbon bronze color (thanks to phoenix and the pictures i found from wolfpackbill). i really like the carbon bronze and i'll be getting navi. my dad says if the price is right, hopefully everything works out. :paranoid:

-Kat

[stevencrosbie]

1) A thief will break into your integrated unit and steal it easily if they want. A portable unit allows me to hide it in the trunk, in the glovebox, under the seat, take it with me, etc.

True, but would you really do this everytime you get out of the car. Chances are, no and if you do, you won't use the unit as much since its a pain in the rear to put away all of the time.

2) Integration is nice but it also means you only have it in ONE car and you have to take THAT car to whereever.

I only have 1 car. Chances are, this will be her car. Why would she care if anyone else could use it? Have you seen a TL w/o Navi? The NAVI units make the TL the car it is. As for the Accord, her car will be a rare find that I am sure will be nice to have as its unique.

3) Maybe it has more POI's but portable units are much easier and CHEAPER to update. If you live somewhere that's up and coming, you would want this :yes:

This is true. You have me here. If it was me...and I had a desire to have NAVI, I would rather have it integrated in the car. Insurance will not pay for a stolen garmin unit either....

[BenjiBoy650]

I lock my garage door opener in my glovebox every time I get out of the car. It's not so hard, come on you lazy Americans :nuts:

[katsagirl]

yup this will be my car. my dad drives a 2000 CRV and he has never offered to let me drive it. we have a policy where everyone has their own cars. when my dad handed me my car, he maybe borrowed it twice in 5 years.

although he's my dad and he's paying so if he needs to drive, the man can drive it. i know they won't let me drive it really far. maybe the farthest is to school. :/

i love this forum. i'm learning so many new things about my car before i even own one! my bf has the 2001 accord ex v6. he loves his baby. that's a pretty sweet car too. he has a silver. wait til i get mine, he'll take it away! haha.

-Kat

[katsagirl]

i got my car! the carbon bronze ex-l with navigation. just bought it today. everything included 25k out the door. thanks for all the advice. i'll post pictures in a couple days! :banana:

-Kat

[stevencrosbie]

Couple days...your going to make us wait? :thumbsdow :thumbsdow

Congrats on the new Car!!!! :worthless :salue:

[phoenix]

Congrats Kat! Great price on a great car! Now go for a drive!!
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

[katsagirl]

THANK YOU so much phoenix!!! :D for all the advice and to be honest i'm still in shock that i have the car...my dad was set on at first getting me a new corolla and to get a pretty loaded honda accord is a shock.

i didn't buy the extended warranty. the guy wanted like 1200 for 3 years.

my bf was up last night with me and he was loving the navigation and the voice commands.

-Kat

[phoenix]

[QUOTE=katsagirl]i didn't buy the extended warranty. the guy wanted like 1200 for 3 years./QUOTE]

Kat, you are welcome :)

As for the warranty, $1200 for 3 years??? Doesn't the 2006 Accord come with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty and 5/60k powertrain? You can find much better deals at other dealerships. There have been some threads going around about this lately so search this website. I paid $1200 for 7 years/100k miles + 2 sets of new tires (I think the tires were a dealer special). You can also buy a HondaCare warranty online, like I said just check around this forum.

That is one heck of an upgrade from Corolla to Accord! I hope you got daddy a nice father's day gift :D

[katsagirl]

hey phoenix! :) yea it's a big upgrade. i had a 89 corolla dx. nothing in there. luckily ac but i had to install a cd player. i was a new driver so it was understandable for me to have the old car and for him to buy himself a new car. i didn't really have to worry about paying for the 89 corolla. insurance, gas, and maintenance were taken care of by my parents. for this car, i have to take care of maintenance. probably gas when i start a job at school.

yea the extended warranty is outrageous. i just said flat out no. i'll post pictures in a couple days. i've got a huge statistics exam tomorrow and then i'm off to san francisco with my bf and his family so i won't be back til thursday or friday. :( sorry...

-Kat

[CometVR4]

Pictures first! Then you can leave!