I picked up my 07 EX-L for 22,415, no trade. I could have got it $100 less but I the other dealer didn't have the color I wanted (Black on Black) and I didn't feel like bickering over a 100 dollar spread over 48 months.
I just called bunch of dealers. I told them that I was going to purchase by such and such date and that the lowest price would get my business. I kept going back and forth between dealers over the phone. Everyone of them told me that they don't ever go below invoice (yeah, right!), but after I started divulging the different quotes, the prices started to drop quickly, granted there was a $750 marketing rebate at the time of purchase that helped me in the deal.
I set up fincancing through my local credit union. All I did was walk in to the dealership, pick my color, and that was it. All the haggling was already done and I drove out of the dealership about an hour later.
I will never ever walk into another dealership without knowing the price I am going to pay ever again! The internet/phone is the best method of purchasing a new vehicle. Yes, trade-in's complicate the deal a little bit more, but I still recommend taking it to different dealerships and having them make an offer.
