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2025 Honda Civic — dealer keeps discussing monthly payment instead of OTD — anyone dealt with this recently?

TireGal160Community StarterMar 18, 20262025 Honda Civic Sport Touring HybridSan Diego
2025 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hybrid, about 25,500 miles. Every time I ask for sale price and fees, the conversation goes back to monthly payment. I am bringing my own financing. Is there any reason not to insist on a full buyer order before going in? I am in San Diego.
apr
8.73
location
San Diego
trade in
ppi planned
term months
60
asking price
36500
dealer doc fee
899
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24 replies

CanyonNomad647Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 18, 2026permalink
Insurance and tax belong in the comparison, not as a surprise. Ask for out-the-door on the 2025 Honda Civic with fees, add-ons, and rate on separate lines. I'd rather lose the car than buy a foggy deal. On “dealer keeps discussing monthly payment instead of,” that was the fork that mattered for me. If you share a photo of the worksheet, easier to sanity-check. Climate here is different, so treat that as a local data point. Wrote this up on my lunch break.
FlatSixDetailer35Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 18, 2026permalink
Treat this like a math problem, not a vibe. A written buyer’s order on the 2025 Honda Civic is worth more than any verbal “we’ll make it work.” Do that before you talk monthly again. That's the sequence I'd use. I'd rather be boring and correct. Going to re-read the worksheet tonight.
ColdStartDIYer320Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 18, 2026permalink
Treat this like a math problem, not a vibe. Call your insurer in San Diego before you fall in love with the 2025 Honda Civic. I'd rather lose the car than buy a foggy deal. I'd want that in writing, not as a promise. If this is nothing, great. I want that in data.
GarageDaily128Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 19, 2026permalink
The trap is a pretty payment hiding a worse car price. If one piece looks too good on the 2025 Honda Civic, hunt doc fees, accessories, and the APR next. That's the part that actually changes the decision. Stop there until you know. Not letting add-ons ride along because everyone does.
UsedCarHunter970Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 19, 2026permalink
I'd slow the salesperson down here. If they're pushing term length to shrink the payment, the 2025 Honda Civic price probably got worse. That's the part that actually changes the decision. I'd want a dollar figure or a measured spec, not 'should be fine.' Calling insurance in the morning before I reply to the desk.
NoMarkupLearner282Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 19, 2026permalink
I'd want competing paper, not competing stories. Ask for out-the-door on the 2025 Honda Civic with fees, add-ons, and rate on separate lines. I'd rather lose the car than buy a foggy deal. Keep sale price, fees, and rate as three different conversations. PPI guy I use is booked until next week, so I'm waiting.
TireGal160Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
PPI is scheduled. I'm not depositing until I see the 2025 Honda Civic notes. Not letting add-ons ride along because everyone does.
RotorShopper925Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 19, 2026permalink
Get the messy numbers in writing first. Keep sale price, trade, and financing split on the 2025 Honda Civic so a “good payment” cannot bury a worse deal. Do that before you talk monthly again. On “dealer keeps discussing monthly payment instead of,” that was the fork that mattered for me. This is from a 2025 Honda Civic in San Diego with 25,500 miles. Time, temperature, and whether it's in gear are the notes that actually help a shop. If GAP is bundled I'm making them unbundle it.
QuietNerd168Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
Not convinced that's the whole story. If one piece looks too good on the 2025 Honda Civic, hunt doc fees, accessories, and the APR next. Then the comparison gets honest. This is from a 2025 Honda Civic in San Diego with 25,500 miles. Have you gotten a second quote in writing? I'm keeping receipts and dates in one folder.
TireGal160Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 19, 2026permalink
OP here. Still looking, but I'm waiting on inspection notes before I send money on the 2025 Honda Civic. Doc fee is the line I'm watching.
RotorShopper925Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 19, 2026permalink
Get the messy numbers in writing first. A written buyer’s order on the 2025 Honda Civic is worth more than any verbal “we’ll make it work.” Do that before you talk monthly again. On “dealer keeps discussing monthly payment instead of,” that was the fork that mattered for me. Write the result down so the next test isn't a repeat of the last one. If they get vague again I'm shopping the deal elsewhere.
ShiftMom825Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 19, 2026permalink
Compare apples to apples or you'll get spun. GAP, paint, and nitrogen are optional until you run the 2025 Honda Civic numbers without them. Do that before you talk monthly again. This is from a 2025 Honda Civic in San Diego with 25,500 miles. Post the numbers (or the code) and people can get more specific. I'd sleep better after that step, even if it finds nothing. PPI guy I use is booked until next week, so I'm waiting.
RotorShopper925Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
Agree — and I'd add this: A written buyer’s order on the 2025 Honda Civic is worth more than any verbal “we’ll make it work.” I'd rather lose the car than buy a foggy deal. On “dealer keeps discussing monthly payment instead of,” that was the fork that mattered for me. This is from a 2025 Honda Civic in San Diego with 25,500 miles. Keep sale price, fees, and rate as three different conversations. I asked for the buyer’s order in email, not a text.
CityNerd482Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 19, 2026permalink
Don't send a deposit on a phone quote. I would not wire money until I've seen the 2025 Honda Civic and the title situation in person or via a trusted PPI. Then the comparison gets honest. No need to make it theatrical. If the VIN lookup is clean I'm still doing PPI.
DailyGeek732Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 19, 2026permalink
Treat this like a math problem, not a vibe. Ask for out-the-door on the 2025 Honda Civic with fees, add-ons, and rate on separate lines. If they balk, that's your answer. Learned this the expensive way on a previous car. I'd rather be boring and correct. If this is nothing, great. I want that in data.
UsedCarHunter970Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
Get the messy numbers in writing first. GAP, paint, and nitrogen are optional until you run the 2025 Honda Civic numbers without them. Do that before you talk monthly again. On “dealer keeps discussing monthly payment instead of,” that was the fork that mattered for me. This is from a 2025 Honda Civic in San Diego with 25,500 miles. If it doesn't change the out-the-door or the repair estimate, it's noise. This is the filter I use when the thread starts repeating itself. That's my plan before I call anyone.
TireGal160Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
Update from me: I finally have sale price, fees, and trade on separate lines for the 2025 Honda Civic. Might be overthinking it, but I'd rather overthink than overspend.
UsedCarHunter970Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
Hard-won lesson from my last deal: Keep sale price, trade, and financing split on the 2025 Honda Civic so a “good payment” cannot bury a worse deal. If they balk, that's your answer. On “dealer keeps discussing monthly payment instead of,” that was the fork that mattered for me. I'd want a dollar figure or a measured spec, not 'should be fine.' Wrote this up on my lunch break.
CanyonNomad647Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
Fair point. Counterpoint: In San Diego, insurance quotes flipped a 2025 Honda Civic comparison for me more than the sale price did. That's the part that actually changes the decision. Post the numbers (or the code) and people can get more specific. If the title is messy I'm out, full stop.
TireGal160Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
OP update: I got two written quotes on the 2025 Honda Civic and the out-the-door gap is bigger than the ads made it look. Wrote this up on my lunch break.
RotorCommuter84Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
I'd push back a little: I would not wire money until I've seen the 2025 Honda Civic and the title situation in person or via a trusted PPI. Screenshot the worksheet if you can. I'd want that in writing, not as a promise. Make the next action something you can finish this week. I'm in no rush to be a hero on it.
SleeperEnthusiastCommunity StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
I would not stare at the monthly. In San Diego, insurance quotes flipped a 2025 Honda Civic comparison for me more than the sale price did. Screenshot the worksheet if you can. Had a similar mess a couple years ago and that's what finally sorted it. If the VIN lookup is clean I'm still doing PPI.
GarageDaily128Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
If I were shopping this, if one piece looks too good on the 2025 Honda Civic, hunt doc fees, accessories, and the APR next. That's the part that actually changes the decision. Do that first. Doing the boring step first on purpose.
ColdStartDIYer320Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 20, 2026permalink
Walk if they won't put it on a buyer’s order. If they're pushing term length to shrink the payment, the 2025 Honda Civic price probably got worse. Then the comparison gets honest. This is from a 2025 Honda Civic in San Diego with 25,500 miles. Verbal 'we'll take care of it' is not a plan. If they only talk monthly I'm walking.
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