Justification

Civic Hybrid 2005


Why do we feel the need to justify our choices?

We made a good decision. We decided to trade on our 2005 Civic Hybrid for a 2009 Civic Hybrid.


The reasons were many and included the need to trade out before the more costly battery needed to be changed. The IMA battery will be $4000, the drive train is $525 and the shift differential is $400. Not that all these things are needed now but by the time you add it all together - the car is just not worth that much. Especially when you figure it will be three to four years down the road when the actual value will have plummeted.

We got a card in the mail that the Cash for Clunkers program had really depleted stock and that Honda wanted our Civic. So after crunching numbers, we went down to the dealership, an appraiser looked at the car and offered $7000, we balked as NADA and Kelley Blue Book was closer to $8000. We settled at $7500.

Then found out they had no Civic Hybrids in stock and they would have to get from another dealer. We were asked to pay MSRP of $26,000.

No way.
We'll take our car and go. After all, this vehicle is paid for and I don't really need another car note.

Civic Hybrid 2009

Wait, wait! Let's see what we can do. The salesman was a real doofus. Actually laughing at us when we told him no way were we paying MRSP. He told us we had to pay for the accessories and options. I told him it isn't really accessories or options when the dealer puts all that on the car before it even arrives. It really pissed me off to have him tell me I was wrong. I said, So how are you going to remove the window tinting (even though I want it) once it is on the car?? And fabric protection? and cruise control? Finally, he went and got the general sales manager. Now we're talking!

So we finally were able to deal with some one who spoke English as a primary language and was savvy enough to realize we weren't stupid.

Civic Hybrid 2009 in Metallic Pearl (our color choice)


We were able to come up with a deal to have a vehicle from another dealer sent to them and only pay $1700 more than invoice. GO VERNON!! But we won't get the car until today. And they are going to switch out the Pirelli tires that we had just got in April to the new car.

Bad news, we just got another car note, but I think it is justified.