On Mon, 01 Sep 2003 16:41:49 GMT, MelvinGibson@mailcity.com wrote:

>I don't believe Mercury offers a NS but it does have those nifty
>power adjustable petals and steering wheel. I believe the rebate
>was $4,500, for retired military along with 5% carryover on
>leftover models. The big bucks, in the lower drive home price,
>was in the ZERO interest.

The current deal on Taurus is $3K or 1.5K+interest between 0% and 5.9%
(depends on term and credit history?). Honda has 2.9% for 60 months
on the Accord. The difference between 0 and 2.9% is about $1,500.
Don't know about retired military rebate except that most people won't
qualify.

You can usually save money on a closeout - a good deal if you are
keeping the car for at least five years. Otherwise the increased
depreciation cuts into the savings.

You can probably negotiate about 10% off sticker on either car. List
price on the top of the line Ford is about $23.7K. The Accord is 25.9
including the Navi which is about a $1,500 option last time I checked.
Without the Navi the Accord would be about $24.4K list price. After
haggling you would expect to pay about $600 more for the Accord. With
the we-have-to-give-these-things-away $3,000 rebate the Taurus would
be about $3,600 cheaper.

With the Ford, either you sell it after four years and get zonked by
depreciation, sales tax and finance costs or you keep it and run the
increased risk of being zonked by repairs.

Financially, it is probably about a wash if you don't count the hassle
of getting repairs. The big difference is in driving an Accord vs.
driving a Taurus.

>
>
>mike hunt
>
>
>Gorton McGrew wrote:
>>
>> On Sun, 31 Aug 2003 15:11:22 GMT, IleneDover@mailcity.com wrote:
>>
>> >That depends. What was the MSRP before the dealer added all
>> >those high priced low cost, and smoke an mirrors options? I
>> >would suggest you add together all the money you gave the dealer
>> >and the total of your payment to find the amount you actually
>> >paid for that car. My one son just bought a 2003 vehicle. When
>> >he shopped a top of the line Camry the selling price he
>> >negotiated was $1,500 less than for the top line Accord
>> >negotiated price, but the total drive home price for the Camry
>> >was $1,200 more. He bought a Mercury Sable because the total
>> >drive home price was $8,400 LESS than the Accord. You have to
>> >add in the interest, government fees, dealer fees, dealer options
>> >etc. to the negotiated price to get the true cost, before you
>> >buy.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >mike hunt
>> >
>>
>> So he paid $14,800 plus TTL for a top of the line Sable? Did he get
>> navi with it? I know that they are really desperate to unload those
>> domestic cars these days, but that sounds like ~$3000 below dealer
>> cost to me, even after the $3000 mfr rebate.
>>
>> >
>> >
>> >Roberto Andrade Jr wrote:
>> >>
>> >> I just bougt the 2003 Honda Accord Coupe - EXV6 with 6 speed manual
>> >> trans and without the Navigation system. It also included Mud Flaps,
>> >> Moonroof Visor, Door Gaurds, Tint, Wheel Locks, Window Etching, Rear
>> >> Spoiler and Trunk Liner. Sticker price with all these options was 28K+
>> >> . . .I got them all the way down to $23,200. Also got in on the 2.9%
>> >> Financing...so, I think this is a good deal.
>> >>
>> >> Did you get all these extras with your price? I've learned to be a
>> >> pain at dealerships and usually get the price I want . Though, it is
>> >> a 2003 and 2004s are on their way, so I think they are trying to make
>> >> room anyway.
>> >>
>> >> -Robert
>> >> Dallas, TX
>> >>
>> >> dsjflsa@netzero.net (John Smith) wrote in message news:<48ed0503.0308091454.2d0b24f6@posting.google. com>...
>> >> > Just bought a 2003 Accord EX V6 today 09 AUG 03. Paid $23,000 for it.
>> >> > Invoice price on various websites shows 23,900. Consumer Reports
>> >> > judged the actual invoice to be at 22,900 after dealer holdbacks and
>> >> > incentives. Thought this information would be helpful for anyone
>> >> > shopping for this car.