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Pearson Honda.
I called the president of the dealership to complain. He called me back within 30 minutes of getting off the phone with the president. Cancelled the transaction; I refuse to deal with crooked salesperson.
I will now probably get Mazda3 hatchback when the 2007 model comes out, likely in September. MPG sucks compared to the Fit, but I only drive 6000 miles/year. I drove Mazda Protege in the early 90's and loved it. I am still searching for the driving experience I had with it.
I really wanted a Fit Sport after an extensive research, but the bad experience with the dealers have nudged me away from Honda. At least for a while.
Itching to ditch my 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee - POS. 12.8 MPG!!! :sick:
Secondly, why hold Fit responsible for dealer games. Just go to another dealer.
Both Mazda3 Hatchback and Honda Fit offer roomy interior/storage with sporty drive. Mazda3 costs a little more, but then again, my motivation for wanting Fit was never because I couldn't afford something else. I thought it was a great car regardless of the cost because of the innovative use of space and the MAGIC SEAT and the great MPG (more for less frequent stops than the actual cost - I only drive 6000 miles/yr because of short commute).
I still think Honda is more reliable than Mazda.
2007 Mazda3 also has AUX input to connect MP3 player among other nice ammenities.
If they release the specs for the next Fit that addresses some of its shortcomings (which I doubt since it's already a 2007 model) before I purchase the Mazda, I might be tempted to wait some more, but as I said, it's unlikely we'll have any info about the next gen Fit before the end of even this calendar year, much less September when the 2007 Mazda3 are supposed to come out.
So long, Fit. Wish I knew you...
Indeed!
How shabby. Thanks for the heads up. Ironically, their name came across my computer yesterday when viewing a Chronicle web article. I'm a couple thousand miles away and glad of it!
If you're interested, call them NOW, but be warned - while they don't jack up MSRP, they do have mandatory add-ons (which you may or may not want).
Honda Fits are extremely scarce on dealer lots here. I contacted all of the Honda dealers within 50 miles (MO + IL) and found only one that had a Fit available for a test drive. That was a white/beige AT base model at St. Louis Honda. This Fit was sold but St. Louis Honda had made arrangements with the new owner to keep it temporarily for test driving.
We test drove this vehicle, liked it, and had discussions with a St. Louis Honda salesman on price and availability. We were told that the price would be MSRP plus a $159 paperwork fee. A nonnegotiable $500 deposit would be required to be put on the waiting list. We were told that most if not all of their current allocation had been presold and that it would be November or December before we could get the model and color of our choice (a Fit Sport AT in white/beige).
We had previous good experiences using the Costco and Sam's Club auto buying programs so I tried them next. Costco referred me to a sales representative at Ed Napleton Honda. Sam's Club referred me to the sales manager at Frank Leta Honda. Rather than wait for them to call me, I called them.
The Ed Napleton Honda sales rep told me that Fits were not discounted under the Costco auto program due to short supply (I was not surprised). She told me that they had an unsold Sport AT model in white arriving within a month but that it had a black interior. She tried to talk me out of a beige interior, but since the main reason we chose white was the lighter and cooler interior color, I refused. Later, she called back to tell me that she could get one in white/beige within a month by doing an online trade. I asked her if the online trade was with a different Honda dealer, and she claimed that the car was scheduled to go to another Ed Napleton location near Chicago. After some negotiations on the phone, she agreed to sell us this car for MSRP. She agreed to waive their $99 paperwork fee if we paid highly inflated prices for the two accessories we wanted (carpeted floor mats and rear bumper applique).
I learned from the sales manager at Frank Leta Honda that Fits were not discounted as part of the Sam's Club auto program but that accessories were. He told me that they had an unsold Fit exactly how we wanted it on order that was due within a month. He also checked the network and determined that this vehicle was the only one on order in the MO/IL region that exactly matched our requirements. He was able to tell that no vehicles with this specific configuration were on order at any Ed Napleton locations. He agreed to sell us this vehicle for MSRP plus a $47 paperwork fee plus $106.40 for installed floor mats and $65.30 for installed bumper applique. Since the total cost of this vehicle (including accessories) was less than the quote from Ed Napleton Honda, we agreed to go in. Once there, he referred us to a salesman to write up the order. We were shown the Frank Leta order sheet that listed a white/beige Sport AT Fit with a build date of 7/10/2006. I made clear to the salesman, the sales manager and the business manager that we were not interested in and would not pay for any "dealer pack" items (etching, pinstriping, paint sealant, scotchguarding, rust proofing, extended warranty, roadside assistance, etc.). All of them told us that they would not put any dealer pack items on the car. I negotiated the required deposit down from $500-$1000 to $200 based on a previous bad experience we had with Huey Honda. We signed and received a copy of a sales agreement with a total price of $16,738.70 ($16,520 + $106.40 + $65.30 + $47).
Even though the Fit was not discounted, I feel that the Sam's Club buying program has helped us in three ways: First, I was able to negotiate directly with the sales manager. Second, we got discounted accessories. Third, the dealership knows that we will be reporting our buying experiences back to Sam's Club.
We have been satisfied with Frank Leta Honda so far. I don't feel that the price we got was a great bargain but neither do I feel that we were ripped off. I will be returning to the dealership in a couple of weeks to get an updated sales contract that includes the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The vehicle itself is expected within a month. I will post here what happens. Hopefully, the dealer will continue to be straightforward with us and will not try any funny business.
I've gone to several dealers to try and measure myself but the dang car is always sold out!! Thanks so much!
Supposedly he has one today for pickup tomorrow.. smells fishy...
anyway.. for those who used the sam's club or costco program, do they ask to see proof of membership at purchase?
Autobytel stated that remoted car alarm were standard on the Sport Fit.. can anyone verify? How about floor mats, are any included??
Are wheel locks necessary? will theives target the fit?
well best i could get was msrp-$50 for costco program..
plus tax and fees a little over 18,000.
Since it smells fishy.. i'll find out more when i call tomorrow AM...
Remote keyless entry with a basic car alarm is standard on the Fit Sport. A more advanced alarm system is available as an option. Floor mats are not included on any Fit. Installation of the factory Honda floor mats is trickier than you might expect -- it involves cutting holes in the carpet.
Wheel locks may be needed if you live or park in a high crime area. Personally, I don't have them and have never needed them. Thieves tend to target common vehicles with high status so that they can easily fence their stolen goods. Since the Fit is neither common nor high status I doubt it would be a particularly attractive target for thieves.
Was told that they had to run credit check on me no matter if i have finance already or not..
they gave me a rate .20% more than e-loan but it turned out to be about $15 more a year.. didn;t want to bother having to drive back within 5 days with the e-loan check..
Only dealer around who had a car in stock.. did i do the wrong thing by paying up front?
You'll probably be fine. Just say no to any dealer pack items they may try to add at the last minute. If they try it, tell them to take them off if they can but that you are not paying for them regardless. Also, don't accept any changes to the financing terms without comparison shopping for terms and rates.
Meanwhile, don't worry about it. Chances are, everything will go smoothly tomorrow.
Well the rate i could've gotten from e-mail was about .20% less.. about 1.50 a month less..
i didn;t feel like going back and forth.. they were ok.. except they wanted to run my credit check even when i told them i had financing..
pissed me off... but oh wells.. the finance manager said that there's a provision in the contract that states if he could not find someone to pick up the loan, they can take the car back within 10 days... i have a feeling that he may call me and say something ws wrong and he could only find 7%+ haha.. i will tell him to F*** himself when it happens haha...
so tomorrow i guess i will just test run it when he gets here.. then inspect for scratches etc.. anthing else i will need to do? any advice?
the alarm system that came with the car is really no alarm..
just a keyless entry car with a chip inside..
Do you know of a good place to get car alarm without them damaging the car in any way? circuit city does alarms?
How about the arm rest.. i read somewhere that people were able to buy them oversea, which were made for the jazz.. any recs? Thanks!
You could also try everything with a switch or a lever to see if it works. However, such a detailed inspection on a new car with warranty is not nearly as important as it is on a used car sold "as is".
I have not shopped for a Fit alarm system myself, so I don't have any recommendations.
The arm rest I am planning to order is the one from maxdax for $36 + $39 shipping. Since I haven't done so yet, I can't comment on the reliability of the vendor or the quality of the product.
I recommend that you check the Honda Fit Accessories forum for arm rest and alarm information and post further accessory questions there.
I out 81 miles on it and the meter is about 3/4 way from empty. maybe 320? wishful thinking..
Can you confirm the brand of tire you got?
I got a Dunlop, but they gave me Firestone and Bridgeston warranty pamplet, what brand does dunlop get warrentied under?
Since our Fit hasn't been delivered yet, I can't say what tires it will have. I think the dealer gave you the wrong tire warranty pamphlet.
i dunno why it would make such sound..
it went away after 5 or so minutes.. but annoying...
i've never had this issue with any car.. but then again i've never had a car where the gas tank is underneath the seat.. any thoughts??
i didn;t have the ac on in the mornign either..
it sounds futher above the tank.. might not be the gas thank.. weird..
I was talking to about four dealerships. I preferred one of them (Conicelli in Consohocken, Pa) to the one I went with, but they had a waiting list for the Fit until the fall, and I didn't want to wait that long (I was previously driving my mother's old car, which my dad wanted, since he's retired and can't really afford a monthly car payment). The place I bought my Fit from was much more informal than that dealership, but Conicelli offered better benefits from buying from them (and the saleswoman was so, so sweet). Guess that's why all their Fits were gone :-\
The dealership I went with (Piazza Honda of Drexel Hill in Drexel Hill, Pa) wasn't too horrible. They were very low pressure and low-key, which I liked. My salesman was fairly helpful, though I had to stalk him a lot to get information about whether this Fit existed (it was supposed to be at the dealership by July 2, but it wasn't there until the 13th), especially considering that, when I scheduled my test drive, I was told that the car was available that day. Bah.
The only thing I hated about my buying experience was that it was so hurried. I waited almost a month to get the car, and the whole signing paperwork and getting the car in my hands thing was extremely fast. I think I could have gotten a better deal if I hadn't gone in there after a long day at work, rushing to sign paperwork while trying to process all the information the business manager presented to me. I don't think I got a horrible price, though, especially considering that I'm a young professional with limited (not bad) credit. Wish I could knock a few bucks off my monthly payments, but what can you do, besides refinance later? Next time I buy a car, I won't make the rushing mistake, and I'll have better credit. Plus, this is my first time buying a car, and I went to the dealership by my lonesome and did all my research alone, so considering all that, I came out all right.
Oh, and the dealership still owes me a full tank of gas, because they "forgot" to fill it up before they gave to me, and I had already driven off without noticing the low fuel light. Thank goodness I did! Guess that "low pressure, low-key" approach shows in other ways, heh.
And, as far as specifics, my car's a Vivid Blue Pearl Sport, in automatic. Loving it so far!
how much did u get ur extended warranty for?
they said 1400 then 1200 then 1100 then 1000 and i said no no no no.. i heard someone got it for about 700.. he wouldn;t give it to me for that price..
the finance manager was a big jerk.. oh well.. he ain;t making anythign extra off me..
i got decent credit.. but the best rate they could give me was 6.20%.. if i had gone to e-loan i could;ve gotten 5.9% i think.. not much difference..
betcha having fun driving it huh?
sad thing is.. i have a quarter tank from the dealerships original fill up and only have about 200 miles on it..
i hope i'm not going to only get 23-26 mpg ...
Fill up and reset the trip counter, then drive, refill, and divide trip counter by gallons of gas pumped.
if the tank is 10.3 gallons.. if u top it off does it go pass 10.3? or will ti hit 10.3 with topoff?
Now, seeing who's going to volunteer to drive until they run out of gas, then let us know how much they can stuff into the car after the fact, is another thing...
perfect, no problems, I did not purchase anything but floor matts from them, (no extended warrenty, but they tried), the only problem was how long it took to do the paperwork, about two hours, and we have perfect credit and going through our credit union.
ours did.. they said it was routine that they run it on everyone... even people who pays cash.. baloony to me.. on well maybe it's true? they said everyone runs it now days...
no matter how u pay...
I filled up once 0.1 miles after the fuel light came on, and my tank took 9.3 gallons, IIRC. So to get the full ten gallons out of your tank you'll have to run on E for 30 miles.
But I understand that you are allowed a certain number of these inqueries and they don't coun't against your rating.
actually if they run your credit it will lower ur score, but they ask that if you need to have it run multiple times you should have it done within a week.
i went in unprepared, next tiem i will have e-loan check in hand.. maybe i could;ve gotten a lower rate! how's your A/C? mines ok.. nto super cold.. kinda weak..
the a/c on my corolla is even cooler.. could it be not enough coolant??
The MPG's are slowly getting better on my car as time goes on. I *still* haven't gotten my dealer's tank of gas; called the salesman today to redeem it, and haven't heard from him. Bah. American Honda called me today for my customer satisfaction survey. Had I known about him not contacting me, I would have given much lower ratings :X
The droid is getting pressure from up above to run it to run a counter offer, of course. If you have cash, just politely tell them to stop trying.
but they pulled that.. if we can't run ur credit.. i can't sell you the car.. it's our policy that we run everyone's..
i will maybe pretend to buy a car next time without really wanting to do so and then when we agree on a price.. i will say no to credit check then walk out haha.. let's see how they feel when i call the shot on a car i don't care about..
how are you guy's A/C? strong enough? mines feel pretty weak even at level 3 or 4.. i mean the air isn;t very cold.. just coool... is it cover under warranty?? maybe they didn't put enough coolant?
I use recirculate more than fresh - I only use fresh for the first few minutes before the car cools down.
how reliable is the cheapie car alarm that comes with the car? The horn alarm? I would like to avoid getting a more expensive one if this will work fine..
There literally are none available. I'll be suprised if there are any Fits that are available period (without markups).
AIR. Mine works great here in Sanramento, temperature was 110 yesterday and 109 the day before. Make sure its on recurlate to get the coldest air. There is a chance that the temp control knob is misalinged and will not let you get the coldest air. I read about this on another forum. Not on Hondas but Mazdas, but you never know?????
it was about 100+ in concord and berkeley and it felt as if the a/c was just cool.. i put it on full blast but it didn;t cool me down as fast as my corolla or my civic.. maybe it's just me,...
there were only 240 miles on it.. about 26-27 miles.. not good so far.. sport auto...
hope to get better.. assuming dealer did not fill up.. if they didn't then it might be a difference of 20-30 additional miles.. so best would've been about 30mpg.. not that great stilll.... oh well....
i drive auto.. and occasionally paddle.. does the paddle help save gas like the manual?