Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Thanks,
Steve
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
Since this topic is about Honda Fit pricing, you're better off visiting our Real-World Trade-In Values discussion. If you click that link, you'll be taken to the right topic.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
What kinds of fees, if any, should I accept as reasonable, or should I keep trying to hold out for sticker + destination + tax and nothing more, period?
We're in KY, in case it varies by state. Thanks in advance.
Dealer prep fees are a crock.
I guess we'll just keep on hunting for an honest dealer.
-MSRP or neg price off of MSRP.
-destination
-doc fee
-sales tax
note: doc fees can vary wildly from dealer to dealer. A doc fee can range from $50.00 to $700.00 in my experience so check around. Once a dealer sets their doc fee they have to legally charge everybody the same fee. It is not negotiable. Even the dealer pays the doc fee from a legal stand point, though he may cut himself a pretty good deal way below invoice . He better show a doc fee in his paper work. So don't try to negotiate the doc fee. Negotiate the price of the car and keep the doc fee in mind when deciding what you want to pay for the car. The doc fee is after all just built in profit especially when it's pushing $700.00.
A typical ploy are dealerships that advertise all their vehicles are $500 over invoice, but they have a $700.00 doc fee when you hit the finance office.
I paid a $249.00 doc fee at my dealer and MSRP, dest, tax.
Should I expect to have to pay an extra fee for temporary tags? One dealer said they'd have to charge me $400 for temp tags, but no one else mentioned anything similar -- is it perhaps built into the 'doc' fee, most of the time?
$400 sounds like their doc fee. There might be some other small fees but they should be very reasonable. If he is saying temp tags are $400 and their doc fee is $500 or something like that, run away.
-Fit including destination $16,520
-Dealer documentary service fee $249.95
-sales tax $1048.12
-license and registration 43.50
-fees: age based/property assessment $150.00
-state waste tire recycling fee $5.00
out the door for 18,016.57 for Fit Sport AT/paddles
I had the same problem with a dealer. The salesperson said the deposit was refundable. Since I purchased my FIT from another dealer, I called back the salesperson and asked for a refund for my deposit. He said he will credit my card to refund ym deposit. A few days later, still no credit. I talked to his sales manager and he said the deposit was non-refundable. I told the SM that was BS because I was told by his salesperson that the deposit was refundable.
Step 1: I called Honda of America (800-999-1009) to open a case against this dealership. HMA said they will contact the General Manager and will inform them a case has filed against his dealership.
Step 2: I called my credit card to dispute the charges.
Two weeks later I received my refund. Your deposit is refundable. You definitely need to get your money back.
Also, every dealer seems to be adding 800+ with the sealer crap for fabric and body? How can I avoid that? "It's because dealers aren't making much money on them"
Thanks.
I'm in So Cal where these cars are selling at quite the premium but using the internet I was able to get Base AT for MSRP + Tax + $45 doc fee. I'd recommend using the quote requests from Edmunds, KBB, and fit.honda.com to get quotes from as many dealers in your area as possible. The internet managers nearly always push the price below the "walk-in" price and they know that internet shoppers are informed, savvy, and not easily scammed (unlike the rest of the impulsive car-buying population). Take these quotes and shop around... you'd be surprised by how many dealers are willing to meet or beat their competitor's prices.
Another trick to getting the low price you want is to stress the fact that, with the right deal, you're ready to put money down today. Dealerships hate to pass up on an easy and sure sale, even if their profit margins aren't as large as they'd like (it's not like they're not making money).
The last piece of advice is, if possible, make appointments with the internet sales folks mid-week and mid-day. They aren't going to be very busy and they know that if they make the sale their managers are going to be pleased because there's not much action anywhere else in the dealership. This is, of course, in your favor.
Hope this helps and good luck!!
I got the base model in white (wanted black, but beggers can't be choosers eh) with MT and I absolutely love this car. It's so much roomier inside than it looks and it drives wonderfully. I bought it with 95 miles already on it (transfer) and now have 510 miles. I picked the car up with a full tank of gas and put 355 miles on it before having to put 9.2 gallons of gas in it.
I can't say enough GOOD things about this car! I've gone from a 16-year-old Accord to a brand new, tiny Fit and all I can say is... the FIT IS GO!
This car is the best
Thats an excuse dealers love to give, but frankly, its full of crap.
Yes, the Fit's MSRP is priced only about $600 or so above invoice, but its not like the dealer gets ONLY that $600... there's also another kickback (forget what its called) that goes to the dealer that's worth at least 3% of the invoice price.
So, even if the dealer sells you a Fit at MSRP, they're probably making over $1000 on it... not too shabby. Also, you now know why Honda dealerships have no problem selling oodles of Accords at invoice... they are NOT 'just breaking even' on the deal, they are still making money.
As the $800 'fabric treatments', 'rustproofing' and 'clear coating' stuff is nearly pure profit padding (actual cost to the dealer is a fraction of that, and its utility to the buyer is dubious, at best), I'd say 'adios' to any dealer who insists that you swallow such an add-on as part of the deal. Or who tries to add it in at the last minute.
Shop around 'til you find a dealer who's happy to make 'merely' $1000 off of a MSRP deal on the Fit, and/or wait a couple of months for the initial feeding frenzy to die down. You'll get your Fit for MSRP, without the stupid rip-off add-ons, if you're willing to do the legwork and/or wait a little while.
+550.
On the plus side, you got the car before almost everybody else. You'll probably get a lot of questions/compliments about it. :shades:
Gearhead, the dealer with the $400 fee for the temp tags claimed that it was necessary because he's in a neighboring state -- ie, we'd be registering it out of state. He also had a separate doc fee of several hundred dollars, so given what I know at this point, I'm going to just completely avoid that dealership in the future.
I think we're probably going to put our purchase on hold for a few months to see if the market calms down a bit, then go the online quotes route to find the best price. I really appreciate all of the helpful info I've gathered here so far and will probably continue to lurk around while we're waiting!
I put down a deposit for Vivid Blue Pearl, Fit Sport, 5M on May 15. It was not on thier list. They were going to dealer swap for it and order it to see what got there first.
I just got a call form the Salesman today saying North American Honda is not taking any orders for the 5 Speed Manual Fit. Is this true? Am I being fed a line?
He said they have looked in the 5 states that border mine and have not been able to find one. He was the first to offer my deposit back.
I am away on a deployment right now and won’t be back till the end of the month.
Thanks for your help
Like you.... I live in KY, and bought a car in a neighboring state... My total fees, other than sales tax were $114.. I don't have a breakdown, but this included temporary tags, registration, plates... everything..
Buying a FIT is kind of tough, as they are popular and in short supply, so I can't say you'll have an easy time... Just keep in mind that separate "document" fees that don't go specifically to the government for a specific purpose are only there to add to the profit margin.
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
So...do I trust this guy? Do I wait to see if this truly does go through? I have some people at the freakfit.net forums telling me I can't trust him. I'm sick to my stomach with myself right now. I can't believe I messed this up- I thought I was smarter than that. I'm most certainly old enough to do this on my own, but I still mess it up. Any advice is appreciated.
That said, don't bother buying Honda Care from the dealer that sold you the car because he's just going to screw you for more profit. Instead, take advantage of the fact that ANY Honda dealer can sell you Honda Care within the first 6000 miles of your new car without paying a penalty. Check out http://www.collegehillshonda.com/hondacare/warranty.htm and http://www.jayhondacare.com/Fit.htm for the best deals I could find online, and good luck getting your money back!!
Thanks.
In answer to your other question, there are at least two types of plans. The $100 deductible is about $100 cheaper at the time of purchase but they charge you $100 per visit (NOTE: this is not "per item" so if 1 or 100 things are fixed during a single visit you only pay $100 but if you go in 3 times for 3 different things then that's $300). The $0 deductible plans are $100 more expensive when you buy it but realize that if you use the plan just once you've broken even (chances are good that you'll use the warranty at some point in the car's life... these are complicated machines!). If I were you, I'd spend the extra $100 now and get a no-deductible plan so you don't have to fork it out again and again later. Let me know if I can help with anything else!
One more thing and I'll let you be. Does it cover more components or the "little things" than others?
Thanks again.
however, I just realized that Geico, through its new car risk package, has 7 year 100,000 mile coverage for mechanical break down of the same parts. And that's only $28 every 6 mos!
I have to go to the dealer and fill out a paper within 30 days of the purchase date to cancel the Executive service plan. you don't get a refund; the money gets send to Honda of America (the lien holder) and deducted off of the principal.
I'm in the AL/GA area and looking desperately for a base MT. You said you knew of several dealers who were getting some in July?? Anyway I can get that information from you? I need a car w/ in the next 3 weeks and am having a hell of a time finding a MT! Anywhere!
I have the option to have a little fun or just let the car drive in traffic when I want. Cool concept!!!
Some of these places if you google them have complaints or strict stipulations when having work done or they're fly by night co's. If you don't follow the agreement to the word they won't cover.
it was shipped and delivered to the dealer on June 13. I'm in Phoenix. It hit San Diego on 6/7 and took 6 days to get here. The dealer should get motification, or can find out, when it hits California
I'm curious as to how much info you were given during the process. I purchased a new TL several months back and my salesman was very responsive and helpful. I'm getting my Fit from the same dealer but on the Honda side, of course. I'm starting to get the feeling their "internet manager" knows this is popular car right now so he's not worried about selling this car to someone else, if not me - it seems he allots his customer service skills accordingly. I'll wait and see how the rest of this transaction goes - then I'll be sure to give the appropriate feedback when Honda calls with the post-sale survey.
The internet/fleet guy should have a print out. Vehicles with VIN have approxiamte shipping dates..the date it leaves Japan. Vehicles without VINs are 'supposed' to be built. Putting a deposit on one of these means you're still 8 weeks out, and the specs could change.
Price: MSRP plus $218 doc fees (16,738). Will be delivered end of July. Getting it from the Honda dealer in Eugene Oregon - about 150 mile drive away.
I'm very happy considering the many offers I recieved. Some dealers had up to a 8 month wait. Most had a 3-4 month wait. Only 2 out of 12 offered it at MSRP. One had it 3,000 over MSRP.
I used the honda website to contact dealers within a 500 mile radius and simply asked for a quote. A few calls and emails, and I had it wrapped up in one morning. No hassles. Using the internet is the only way to go
I've been given a buyer's order with a VIN number.
I made the deposit on June 4 and they said the car would be in next week.
Well obviously that was a couple of weeks ago. They told me the car would be in from the 26-30 now.
I'm just worried they gave me someone else's VIN or something.
I would think the car would be in by now.
I would highly doubt that is the case. I think all Fits are transported to a large port in the region. I wouldn't be surprised if the NY Fit would be taken by ship all the way to New York...or maybe a port in New Jersey? (Sorry, I don't know much about that region )
My car's Port of Entry was San Diego, but then again that is where the dealership is too.
I left and bought a Mazda 6. I paid 17046 delivered plus document fees and tax. I'm happy to have a nice car and be out of the Fit rat race.