Let them do the swap and then decide if you're happy with how the colours
match up between the body panels.

Brian

Had the same thing with my 01 Sunfire and after they swapped the bumper
I couldn't see any difference. I would let them do it and then take a
look to see if you can spot any difference in colour.

If they do the swap, are you obligated to buy? I'd ask for the swap on
the condition you can back out, if they are that confident in their
work, they should agree.

OTOH, you may go through the bumper swap only to have some moron bump
you in the mall parking lot. ;)

There's no problem with doing this.

As an alternative, you could have them refinish the bumper cover.  
That's very inexpensive, and you won't know the difference.  I'm amazed
at what they can do with bumper covers.  I had one that was seriously
screwed up in a minor accident, and it came back looking better than
ever--as a repair, not a replacement.

But, of course, my car was a few years old at the time.  Why would you
accept anything like this for a new car?  You pay a premium for a new
car over a used one; why would you buy anything less than EXACTLY what
you're looking for?

Accepting this kind of a deal is good only for the dealer, not for the
buyer. He wants to move the car.  Why should you take it?

This is part of negotiating.  What do you get out of taking this car
with a swapped or repaired bumper cover?

If the answer is "I get the car I want NOW", then you're exactly the
sucker the dealer likes dealing with.  You let emotion get in the way of
a business deal--which means you lose, every time.

There's no need to get emotional about a silly car.  You know the same
car with zero damage is available somewhere else, or will be available
at this dealer.  Why would you spend that kind of money to fulfill a
very temporary emotional satisfaction?

Delayed gratification is just fine.  If the world doesn't offer what you
want when you want it, go with the flow.  It's not like they're not
selling Accords left and right.  It's not like this is some antique
Ferrari you're buying off of Ebay and you won't ever be able to find one
like it again.  It's a new Accord, fer chrissakes.

If you are paying for a new car it seems unfair to offer one that had any
type of body damage.
I had the same experience with a new Saturn SL2 where they damaged the front
bumper in transit (so they said) and offered me a brand new bumper.
I took their offer but found later that they had poorly mounted the new
bumper and, when I parked with the bumper barely rubbing the parking island,
the new bumper just came apart when I backed out.
When I brought the car back and demanded that they refund my money as they
promised within 30 days, they said:
Since I had incurred body damage the car was no longer new and the 30 day
return policy was voided. So ask for another car fresh from the production
line or go somewhere else.

I would rather have the swap than a repainted bumper.  The question is how
good are they swapping it without damaging the good one.

I'd get a little off the price if I was taking a car like this.  Maybe throw
in a few accessories or service?

G-Man

Waiving the right to remain silent, Patrick Maloney
<patXXrick_malXXoney@hotmail.com> said:

If they are plastic bumpers, then they are probably not painted at
the same time as the body.  Different paint formulations, IIRC.