I have been trying to decide whether or not to buy a Rubicon now or later this year. My wonderful POS 200SX just doesn't ride worth a darn and its getting old having my friends pull along side me asking why I slowed down and having to tell them its just a hill and its floored I have $5,200 cash and could easily pay the rest off in 2-3 months. here are the pro's and cons of each side:

Pro's of Buying now: pay less as its the off season ($6,400), enjoy riding sled trails with moguls, be able to actually have fun, and just that plain old "WANT" we all have.

Cons of buying now: there may be a design change next year in the Rubicon (has Honda ever changed a model design after the first year?), I will have to pay interest for a few months as I don't have all cash and if I wait I could walk in with 7K in my hand and get a 2002 model... Hmm, help

 

My guess, based on the outstanding demand for the 1st year Rubicon, is that there will be no design changes in the immediate future. With all they have invested in this design, they are now looking forward to increasing revenue/profits. I would bet it will be 2-3 years b/4 any significant changes are made.

 

I highly doubt they will change anything for 2002. I would say that if you wait and you will have the cash in hand, the wait. Paying interest is like throwing your money away.

 

if you really want it now go for it. if you pay if off in 2 or 3 months, and you have a good interest rate you won't notice that big a of a lose. So why worry about it?

if its 10% thats like 150 in interest during those 3 months if the cost is 6200.

 

JRM,

Beaverton Honda (Bill Lanphear) had a sale on all Honda's two weeks ago. We went by on a Sunday & there was one Rubicon left, they were selling them for $5999 + 185 setup & freight. Thats the best price I have seen so far in Washington & Oregon.

My wife told me to get it if I wanted since we are in the market in the next month or two. I was SO SO SO SO SO close in getting one. Sat on the Rubicon five different times in the rain. Keep an out in the cycle trader. Cycle Sports has Rubicons for $6399.

 

I visited MT hood honda and the best they could do was $6,500 after the honda $300 rebate bucks card. it was 12% with $125 payments so I think I will save the cash, They got a shipment in when i was there and seen them assemble a rubicon, the only thing they do is put on the rear mud guards and air up the tires- now i know how much the setup fee is a joke.

 

JRM,

I called my dealer yesterday to ask him a bout the Kawasaki 650. His notes showed that I was interested in a Rubicon back in November. He kept stressing those $300 worth of Honda bucks. They are good until the end of the month. It has me interested. There is a dealer (Salem)in this weeks cycle trade who is selling the Rubicon for $6199 + 389 set up & freight. Another dealer has the Rubicon for $6499 (Portland) not including the $300 in Honda bucks which would make the price $6199, however the setup & freight was not listed in the fine print.

Did you deal for $6499 include setup & freight. If not check out the cycle trader you could save yourself some money.

 

I don't mean this as a bash, but I would wait to see if they throw any recalls on it, as they did the Rancher.

 

i held off, i wont buy until i get it in the low 6k range.. thanks for the updates on dealers As for the recal, its possable but honda is seeming to make good on every small production mistake so far, so i am not to worried about that. THe only thing that worries me is plunking down 6k on it and finding out next years model will have disk brakes and switchable 2WD.
Thanks, joe