[Passporter]

At this point I’m feeling so burnt by manipulative Honda car dealers that I am looking much more seriously at the Subaru Forrester or Ascent.

Don't blame the Passport. Most(not all dealers) play that game. I would simply boycott that dealer. When I get that treatment I ask for the GM, and tell him the antics of the sales team cost them a sale. and yes, last time that happened I drove 50 miles to another dealer