The FL5 Dealer ADM Markup Thread

[mikercp]

I was minutes from placing a non-refundable deposit for a place on the waiting list (not a guarantee that I'll even be able to purchase) from an out-of-state dealer, when I got a message from Airport Marina Honda in Los Angeles. $2K over, no charge for installed options.

I suspected a bait and switch andI made up my mind to walk away if they did not honor their verbal agreement to the cent, but they did, no upsale, no pressure, just as agreed, MSRP + $2K.

It would have cost about the same to get it shipped (or fly and drive back), and there is always a risk in buying

Congrats!

Yeah 2K is reasonable.

My wife made a good point to me about some of the dealers who force the dealer add-ons.

If they can do MSRP + add-on to consider.

Since she said at least if you pay for 3K worth of accessories, floor mats, wheel locks etc random stuff you get something.

Versus paying 3K ADM and no accessories.

So...if a dealer is flexible enough on the accessory and I have some input on what..I may consider.

But at the same time, Im in no rush to buy. If a deal happens it happens, I'm not trying to force anything.

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[zumbooruk]

Yeah thats what I am hoping to avoid.

I have 3 kids busy schedule, I'm not trying to drive to 2-3 dealers a week to show how "serious" a buyer I am and play those games.

All buyers want is transparent pricing and no surprises when actually visiting the dealership to see the car.

I did not drive to a single dealership until I purchased.

I called, emailed, texted all dealerships within about 200 miles

I followed up every few months, letting them know that I am still very interested, and offering to help them take the car off their hands as soon as it gets off the trailer (so they don't have to prep, store it, etc), but I made it clear that I am not willing to pay over MSRP, nor pay for any dealer installed crap.

Eventually, after about two years, Airport Marina Honda texted me with $2K over. Bought it the next day. no bait and switch, all pre-installed crap was free of charge. Drove off in about two hours.

 

[Xmetal]

Congrats!

Yeah 2K is reasonable.

My wife made a good point to me about some of the dealers who force the dealer add-ons.

If they can do MSRP + add-on to consider.

Since she said at least if you pay for 3K worth of accessories, floor mats, wheel locks etc random stuff you get something.

Versus paying 3K ADM and no accessories.

So...if a dealer is flexible enough on the accessory and I have some input on what..I may consider.

But at the same time, Im in no rush to buy. If a deal happens it happens, I'm not trying to force anything.

Be mindful of the 2026 MSRP. Honda initially did a $1k price hike for 2026 vs 2025. However, I was made aware that Honda just did another $500 price bump on top of the $1k hike starting May 1st. So, my $2k ADM on my 2025 doesn't seem all that outrageous after all.

 

[zumbooruk]

Congrats!

Yeah 2K is reasonable.

My wife made a good point to me about some of the dealers who force the dealer add-ons.

If they can do MSRP + add-on to consider.

Since she said at least if you pay for 3K worth of accessories, floor mats, wheel locks etc random stuff you get something.

Versus paying 3K ADM and no accessories.

So...if a dealer is flexible enough on the accessory and I have some input on what..I may consider.

But at the same time, Im in no rush to buy. If a deal happens it happens, I'm not trying to force anything.

I always say that patience is a virtue, but it ain't one of mine

But I am also a cheapskate...

and patience did pay off

as far as ADM vs $3k "worth of accessories", in my opinion they are just about the same, since the "accessories" in question are worth maybe tops $50-$100.

 

[mikercp]

Wow I see what you are saying before MSRP was at the 48,545 now its showing 49,045

 

[Xmetal]

Wow I see what you are saying before MSRP was at the 48,545 now its showing 49,045

Look for a car produced before May!

 

[mikercp]

I always say that patience is a virtue, but it ain't one of mine

But I am also a cheapskate...

and patience did pay off

as far as ADM vs $3k "worth of accessories", in my opinion they are just about the same, since the "accessories" in question are worth maybe tops $50-$100.

Wow so you said you had been in the market for one for nearly 2 years?


What color did you end up with ?

Im only looking for CW

My 2019 CTR was SGP..and yes it was great, but deep down I regretted since deep down I wanted CW.

 

[zumbooruk]

Wow so you said you had been in the market for one for nearly 2 years?


What color did you end up with ?

Im only looking for CW

My 2019 CTR was SGP..and yes it was great, but deep down I regretted since deep down I wanted CW.

yes, from when they first went on sale till March 2025...

ended up with my prefered color SGP. they had two on the showroom, wanted to sell the other color (white iirc), but agreed to sell me the SGP at the same $2k over

my logic and reasoning for color: Black, too hot in SoCal, difficult to keep perfectly clean. Red, way too visible to CHP, esp the way I drive. Did not like the shade of blue, my previous 07 FA5 was a much nicer darker shade (Fiji Blue iirc). White was my second choice, but I don't wash my car as often as I should, and it seemed to me that white will show dirt more than SGP, and SGP might blend in with traffic better... though radar/lidar does not care about color...

 

[mikercp]

Didnt expect to be saying this so soon, but I picked up my R last night.

2026 CTR Championship White
7 miles

MSRP + included the protection package (since it was already installed) Free

No add-ons.
No accessories.

To be honest I didn't have an expectation of them following through, since their ADM was so high.
But the Sales person came through and Sales manager was willing to do MSRP deal over the phone.

They sent me video of car, and no surprises when I went to pickup the car last night.

I thought Id be shopping/haggling for a month or two longer.

GL out there

 

[rondre3000]

Didnt expect to be saying this so soon, but I picked up my R last night.

2026 CTR Championship White
7 miles

MSRP + included the protection package (since it was already installed) Free

No add-ons.
No accessories.

To be honest I didn't have an expectation of them following through, since their ADM was so high.
But the Sales person came through and Sales manager was willing to do MSRP deal over the phone.

They sent me video of car, and no surprises when I went to pickup the car last night.

I thought Id be shopping/haggling for a month or two longer.

GL out there

Congratulations! What region are you on?

 

[mikercp]

Congratulations! What region are you on?

Southern California

 

[rondre3000]

Southern California

Even better...there's hope for SoCal!

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