"Ctenos" <SPAMctenos@att.net (reply w/o spam)> wrote in
news:ctswd.1125$uM5.469@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:

> 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

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