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From: wildbill@ucbvax.UUCP (William J. Laubenheimer)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Honda CRX
Message-ID: <691@ucbvax.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 21-Apr-84 18:33:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.691
Posted: Sat Apr 21 18:33:38 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 12-May-84 10:04:42 EDT
Organization: U.C. Berkeley
Lines: 61

Jim Kent:

> Does anyone out there have information on the new Honda 2-seater. I
> know its been chosen as "import car of the year" by Motor Trend,
> but do they actually exist?

Yes they do. I have seen a few here in the Bay area.

> I ordered one 2 months ago at a dealer
> in the Chicago area. At that time, quoted delivery was to be within
> 2 months. They now say I wont get one for another 2 to 3 months!
> Anybody getting a different story?

Sounds like the same story a friend of mine has been getting. He placed
his order on December 13 of last year -- "2 Months". He was #5 on the
dealer's waiting list. February -- "#2 on list, probably next month".
March -- "Top of list, the next one's yours, but it didn't come. Next
month". April -- "Nope. Next month, maybe." So, you see, things can be worse.
We're still waiting. Lucky for him, I'm rooming with him and my car's working.

> I know they are now selling
> these cars at a BIG markup over list. When I ordered mine, the price
> was still around list. Could it be that the said dealer is delivering
> the cars based on the amount of profit he makes, and not on first come
> first served? Nah, that wouldn't be ethical and we all know car dealers
> are ethical. Don't we.  (:-) ALso, I didn't put on any dealer applied options.
> I think I'm in big trouble.

Yes, you are in big trouble, but it's probably not your dealer's fault.
If you really suspect it is, ask if he keeps a waiting list, and ask to
see it if he does. If not, ask him if he would show you his invoices for
cars he has received. Explain (politely) that you are interested in finding
out what has happened to your car. This should uncover any shady dealing.

Odds are you won't find any, though. Last week, my friend decided it was
time to apply some pressure. Working through another dealer, he got hold
of the regional sales representative for Honda and told him about the
problem. The sales rep revealed that the Honda allocation algorithm was
probably the cause of the problem. Allocations for dealers are based
on last year's sales, and shipments are COMPLETELY RANDOM! The dealer
has no control over which variety he will get. Since the cars are selling
like cold drinks in Death Valley, this doesn't hurt the dealer.

> 	An appeal to anyone who has taken delivery of a CRX, is the car
> worth the wait? What are they currently selling for in your part of the
> world? How long did you have to wait to take delivery? I heard a rumor
> that Honda is only making a small number for export to the USA. Any
> comments welcomed.

Obviously, no idea whether it's worth the wait. My friend got his for $8500.
Still waiting after 5 months. Can't say  about the rumor.

> P.S.  The car I ordered was the 5-speed with the 1.5 liter engine.
>       I hope it gets here before the snow flies.

According to information we have gotten, this is far and away the most
popular version, particularly if it's blue. Good luck!

                                        Bill Laubenheimer
----------------------------------------UC-Berkeley Computer Science
          ...Killjoy WAS here!          ucbvax!wildbill