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Comments
Thanks for the pics!
Thats why i didn't put down money now to "hold" me one. I want to exercise every option so i can be at least in a front seat.
I also can wait a couple of wks. I'd like to own one before June.
$15,170 MSRP + $550 destination fee + $300 window tint + $200 bumper protector and $200 cargo cover + TTL = ca. $16,420.
Each accessory (cargo tray, "hand painted" trim, wheel locks, etc.) runs $200-$300. Just letting you all know what they told me.
Dodge Caliber base SE $13985 - No Air Con, ABS, power window, power door lock.
Option add on + $1000 AC + $540 power package + $400 ABS = $15925
Does any one want a D Caliber?
Make mine a FIT.
Killerpiece :shades:
Question for you all on the accessory thing (thanks for that collegehill website, by the way, dewaltdakota). Do I show the dealer, when I'm ready to buy, the pricing from this website? Or do I just take it bare bones and get accessories from collegehill? Or will the dealer pricing, once they get cars in, match the pricing of collegehill? Thanks for any info!!!
I have a question about the keyless entry:
Does the Fit Sport, which has a keyless entry, use those keys that cost $100+ to replace? It looks as if the College Hills site keeps the cheap-to-replace key and adds the keyless part.
Is the Sport set up that way, or is it the pricey key way?
What do you think about getting a locking gas cap and/or the locking wheel bolts? I was pretty amazed to see the Fit didn't have a locking gas door. I think it'd be a pretty good idea for both, but I guess it depends on if you live in downtown big city or out in the middle of nowhere as to the amount of theft you want to avoid.
The Fit uses standard 4-bolt X*5.5 Civic/Accord rims with the exact same offset, so aftermarket and factory rims are easy to get.
There currently is a Civic 14 inch alloy that's available for the older Civic Hybrid that will bolt right on. $169 - and that is asking price. Figure $150 each plus something for the trade-in of the old rims, since they would be new/could be put back in inventory. It's a bit funky looking, though, but you could also make a whole slew of Civic and Del Sol rims work.
Factory rims are most often cheaper tha aftermarket as well, and you dont have a spare set cluttering up the place if you can get some trade-in/compensation when getting rims with it(new of course).
As for the foglights - the dealer installed version - I also asked about it. It's superior to the one on the Fit Sport, since it's also installed on a dozen other Honda cars. Adding a bigger swaybar and stiffer struts would bring you to about the same price as the Sport, but with much better handling. I think it's the way to go as what use is cruise with a stickshift, anyways?
I mean, Atari? Why? This is the 21st century!
The people who designed the site could learn a lot from the newest Pontiac commercials, every time one comes on I get sucked in... into a world that makes you think that Pontiacs are the best, coolest, sportiest cars you can lay eyes on! We all know that in the real world it couldn't be farther from the truth, but in that moment when your watching the commercial, the real world gets drowned out. If you take the Fit and apply the same idea and make it into a website you've got it made IMHO! They don't even have to lie about the car being awesome!
Killerpiece :shades:
Now, whether this is a bunch of bologna, or not, remains to be seen.
The base does look much better, unfortunately no cruise in the base.
"what use is cruise with a stickshift, anyways?"
Same use as an automatic - it keeps the speed consistant. :shades:
I'm about to place an order (tomorrow) here in MA, but my dealer has little info about options. Is the window tint factory or dealer installed? The JDM models seem to offer "privacy glass" as an option, and I'd like to get that rather than dealer installed film. If it is a factory installed option, could you post your dealer's name and location so that I can refer my dealer to them for option info? Thanks.
From what I've seen and been told No such factory option for NA at this time...
"When you think of an inexpensive car, you think of a Ford Escort or a (Chevrolet) Cavalier," said Bloch, 32, the operations assistant at the Santa Monica Airport. "But this has more character. Plus, it's big enough so I could fit my lab Marley in the back."
Uh, the Escort has been out of production (except maybe a few straggling rental sales) since 2000, over 6 years; the Cavalier is out of production 2 years; and the marketplace doesn't realize that?
And the marketplace will pay full list price, and get hammered on their trade-ins, and buy accessories when you can get highly discounted Focus ZX3's?
The Fit is WAY overpriced, as an "economy" car. If you view it in the same class as the MINI or Polo - premium Class "B" - it's competitive. But I am amazed how many people here think it has a good price on it.
The Yaris is MUCH more affordable - partly because you can buy a decontented version, partly because it is more aggressively prices, but mostly because in six months dealers will be discounting them aggressively, while Honda keeps playing the "take away marketing" approach that has served them well since they started importing cars to America.
over the midwest but none on the west coast.
Are they coming from Canada? A better buy
would be Ford's Focus with a huge discount
and longer drivetrain warranty.The quality
is the downside though.
- Yaris Sedan - Manual Transmission :$11,825/$11,115
- Option PQ - Power package without alloy wheels: $1710/$1539
(includes ABS, defroster, stereo(as opposed to NONE!), power windows, power locks, and split/folding seat - all standard on the Base Fit)
- Option GY - Side airbags. $650/$559
- Option KE - Keyless Entry $230/$184
With a $580 destination charge, you get for MSRP:$14,765
Suddenly it's not such a good deal, is it? Why MSRP - well, first off, dealers aren't discounting it at all, and to find one with all of these options, you basically have to order it and wait for it to be built.(ie - MSRP or darn close to it)
But let's say you want the "S" version. It's kind of like the "Sport" Fit.
MSRP Invoice National Base Price $13,325 $12,525 $13,325
Optional Equipment $2,775 $2,355 $2,775
PP Power Package w/Alloy Wheels $1,350 $1,176 $1,350
GY Curtain Side Airbags $650 $559 $650
RF Rear Spoiler $435 $348 $435
KE Keyless Entry $230 $184 $230
LF Fog Lamps $110 $88 $110
Destination Charge $580 $580 $580
Total with Options $16,680 $15,460 $16,680
Egads. I'll take a Fit.
Oh - add ~$700 for automatic.
If you are OK with a stripped version that doesn't have the same feature content as the Fit, yes, the Yaris starts at a lower price. But I want/need ABS, side bags/curtains, and a power package. Add all those to the Yaris and the Fit actually costs less. The Fit costs less than a similarly-equipped Accent or Rio also. So it's right in the ballpark for pricing for economy cars. Sure, you can get rebates and discounts on the Korean cars, and maybe in the future on the Yaris. But you won't get the Fit's magic seats, handling, or sweet shifter. If price is the #1 criterion, save some bucks and buy a used car.
I worry that a lot of buyers fall so in love with the Honda nameplate, that they accept Honda's aggressive pricing without a peep. I think over $17k for a Civic and over $15k for a "B" class Fit are just too high. It's great when you can get it (new model, people are scared of gas prices) but just two year ago Civic sales were way off and discounts were prevalent. Honda DOES discount, albeit a little more quietly than the domestics - in January of 2005, my family bought a CR-V LX 2WD for $18,500, plus with over allowance on our trade ins, so its hard for me to adjust to $15k for a much smaller Fit now.
If you want an import "economy" car, try the Corolla - with incredible discounts every weekend of the year (read your local Sunday paper ads!) and great resale/trade in value. Now that really IS an economy car.
But to me, this year, I see the Fit as a less expensive MINI - a niche vehicle that will be bought either by enthusiasts (great Car & Driver review!) or by people who aren't comparison shopping (and you know what we call those kind of people :mad: ).
Early buyers pay a substantial premium. I have seen it happen time and time again. While the MSRP might not go down, a lot of under the table discounting will be going on, and in two years a lot of people are going to feel they overpaid for Fits and Civics. Patience and a sharp pencil are rewarded in this business.
What possible advantage (other than price) would a Focus or Cobalt have over the Fit?
The Yaris? It can't carry enough cargo. The Matrix/Vibe? Gas mileage is not quite enough. None of the sedans can carry the cargo. That's why I picked the Fit, and plan to pick mine up in 10 days.
I currently drive a 1988 Mazda 323 hatchback with over 240K miles. I need better gas mileage than I'm getting (26mpg) and I would really prefer a flat cargo space. I'm sure my Mazda is good for another 240K miles, but it will have to go at $3 a gallon or more.
The Cobalt has been getting 35 mpg with a stronger engine than the Focus; Consumer Reports tested the automatic at 8.7 seconds 0-60, so I am assuming my stick shift is faster. It certainly feels quick. It comes with aircon with cabin filter, DRL (daytime running lights - I am a fan), automatic headlamps, and a trip computer that calculates remaining oil life based on a driving habits algorithm; two trip meters; an average speed calculator; a miles to refill calculator; an outside temperature display; an average mileage calculator. It has a drop in oil filter that uses less materials (no cannister) and retains less oil, making disposal easier. It is VERY well soundproofed - one of the reasons I didn't wait for the Fit, was seeing the noise levels (73db) in the Car and Driver test, vs. 70db in an earlier Car and Driver test of the Cobalt.
Right now there is a lot of prejudice in the minds of American car buyers against American cars, and in favor of Japanese. I think the perception is trailing the reality by about 5 years. Japanese cars are not as good, and domestic cars are not as bad, as what most people think. I have gradually phased out my ownership of Japanese cars simply because I want to support the traditional Big 3 - if they can give me a decent product and warranty. I'd hate to see the job loss in America as we outsource an entire industry.
I have no problem with the Fit. I have owned several Civics, one CR-V, and love small cars. BUT I do think the Fit is overpriced (I also think the new Dodge Caliber is overpriced, but that's another story altogether).
I would never buy a GM car again. My first car was a (GM) 86 Pontiac Grand Am.
Brought brand new, 1st Day, my alternator went bad, a week later, the battery had leak & oxygen rod went bad. The car never made it past 40,000 miles.
My second car brand new (GM) 90 Chevy Beretta at 50,000 miles. The engine started making clanking sound. Engine was bad.
I’m currently driving a 93 Honda Civic with over 200,000 miles no major engine problem, just minor service.
The Fit is way to GO, if you want to keep your car for a long time.
Buy GM if you want to keep for 2 years.
Yes, but early buyers aren't usually looking for a deal. They have found a car that fits (no pun intended) exactly what they need and want. If I was looking for the cheapest car, I would go get a base Yaris or a Hyundai, but there are sometimes more important things than price.
MSRP won't go down, and I don't think there will be discounts or deals particulary if the price of gasoline continues to rise sharply. I will be gladly taking delivery of my Fit when it arrives in the next few days.
"I'd hate to see the job loss in America as we outsource an entire industry."
Interesting that Japanese companies have significant R&D centers, manufacturing, and suppliers in the United States. "Foreign" cars like the Ridgeline and the Pilot were designed, sourced, built, (everything!) in the United States, by American workers supporting local economies. Meanwhile, many Fords and GMs are built in other countries. Thinking that you are supporting America by buying a Mexican-built "American" car compared to a US-designed and built "Japanese" car is the five-year old thinking.
Honda is marketing (at least from the press releases) the Fit as a "premium entry-level", not "economy".
That's my point! Is that how prospective purchasers are perceiving it? And does it deliver (Car and Driver and some others say the Fit has a very upscale interior, while the NY Times doesn't seem to see much difference between the Fit and the Yaris)? It certainly sounds like it delivers in the handling department, and has great acceleration....but how many people here are shopping on that basis?
(I guess lurking in the back of my mind, is that a lot of people are considering buying the Fit for the "wrong" reasons - that it is an economy car, but costs a lot; that it will carry a lot, when it's small; that it will get super duper gas mileage, when if it's anything like the xA I had, it is probably more in the 30-32 mpg range - no better than the Civic, Corolla, Focus, Cobalt, Rio, Accent etc.).
Maybe the universe of people who view the Fit as a reliable, sporty-compact alternative to the MINI is too small to support the marketplace! (Hey, in THAT kind of consideration, the Fit has a LOT of advantages, like a real rear seat and some "mini-wagon" hauling capacity.)
My prediction is that the Civic will continue to sell like crazy (its bigger and more traditional), that the Fit will find a niche like the Element, but won't be a break-out success due to pricing.
I will be gladly taking delivery of my Fit when it arrives in the next few days.
Congratulations! You'll have to share your impressions and experiences with us. There is something very special about being an early adopter, without having to pay a premium. (Early PT Cruiser owners got hammered into paying premiums during its early run.) I kept my xA for 12,000 miles and 12 months, and got almost my purchase price when I traded it in, so I think overall you are getting a fine deal. Usually for me, though, I am such a bargain hunter I groan if I don't get good discounts. The xA was one of the few exceptions (my only regret is my wife wouldn't let me get my first choice, the xB).
I'm in Dallas, TX dealing with Rusty Wallis. They do their window tinting at their shop. It's $295 for labor and all that. They do a great job, in my opinion. I don't think the factory does anything like that.
By the way, I took in the collegehillshonda.com accessory pricing and talked to the manager about it. He was amazed at the pricing and lowered all my options I wanted (bumper applique, sport grille, cargo cover) to the price on the website. Whew! I'd reccommend other people do the same. He was trying to tell me yesterday that labor is more than half the cost, but then I showed him that the bumper thing has a sticky backing and would take 2 seconds to install. Same with the cargo cover - you just snap it in. He sure did back down then. Don't take any more than collegehill's pricing!! You might as well just order from them and do it yourself if the dealer is holding out. This guy told me doing it yourself would not void the warranty too.
I will definitely share my impressions, so there will finally be a review of a base model. :P
The Fit will get 200k+, the ford not.
You cant compare these companies
keep your Colbolt/cavalier/nova, Ill keep my effient Honda and after 12 yrs give it to my kids to learn how to drive.
Thanks for the info. I think, though I'm not at all sure, that the privacy glass factory option is tinted glass, not a tinted film on the glass. If it is tinted glass, I was hoping that that was an option available for the US models. I've seen cars around here with purple and bubbled tinted film... maybe that was a do it yourself with cheap film job, but it makes me hesitate to go the film route. Have any forum readers had professional tint film added to a car? How has it held up over time? Any bubbles? Fading?
I'd like a cargo cover too. I'll definitely go for collegehillshonda.com if the dealer can't match their price.
A radio and power windows and a rear defroster - not optional, either. I might as well be driving an old beat-up Echo if I want that sort of box-on-wheels-look-the-car-even-has-a-cupholder level of driving.
Now, comparing the Sport to a base VW Golf, which has all the same safety and interior features, or darn close - is a fair comparison.
I was very Excited when saw the Front Page that I bought the Magazine. I recommend you do so.
Here are the Places:
7th Place: Suzuki Reno
6th Place: Dodge Caliber (Neon's replacement)
5th place: Hyundai (accent I believe)
4th Place: Toyota Yaris
3rd Place: Kia Rio (yes, your reading right a Kia over a Toyota!)
2nd Place: Nissan Versa
And First Place.....the one and Only......... :
HONDA FIT!
I like to Quote Car and Driver:"It did it in a Classic Honda way, Blowing the competition away"
Just to let you know: It was not only overall 1st place. It IS 1st place in each of the CATEGORIES... Impressive!
Just imagine the Nissan Versa that took 2nd place, is 25 points behind the FIT!!!
Not bad for a 2001 design!
Hope this gives you the excitement I have knowing that the impression I had/have when I bought ny FIT is being reassured.
I got professional tint installed in my car (Honda Accord) about 6 years ago. If I remember right, it cost around $185. Of course this was after I tried the DYI tinting myself and meeting with failure. So far it has held up very well, no fading and no bubbles. The only issue was that as soon as I got it installed, I noticed a difference in my view through the rear windshield, as it has the defroster lines and the film over the lines was not smooth enough. But I got used to it very quickly and very happy that I got it done. And I plan to do it once I get my FIT too.
Car and driver got the best-in-test mileage with the Fit, (I believe, if not, it was in 2nd place) with 35 MPG. Squarely in EPA territory. Combine that with a tie in best-in-test acceleration, and you have a winner. Consider how hard car mag/rags drive the things, too.
The Scion's gearing is WAY too low. Nobody should ever see 4,000 RPMs at 75MPH unless downshifted to pass! I believe you will find it better in the Fit.
They are already at Serra Honda, where I get my Accords serviced! No kidding!