Well I put down my deposit, for a lunar blue base MT. "In transit" as of 12/18, with a VIN number. I contacted about a dozen dealers in southern arizona and new mexico. MTs are hard to find. Dealer is saying here by January, seems to mesh with what folks here are saying. OTD for $16,192, or $2310 above invoice. Not nearly as good as the spanking deal by ciara1 (whose otd price was only $1,848 over invoice, 7.2% above msrp)! I could have gotten it for $16,130 if i were willing to order one (8-12 wks supposedly), but an ace in the hand was worth ten in the bush. As I discussed in previous posts, the dealer at first insisted on $600 tint/door guards, then $500 tint, finally agreed to none of them. I got an emailed "disclosure of numbers" listing the vin#, model, color and down payment etc; not sure if this is the same as a "buyer's order." If the deal goes through as planned I'll post specific dealer info to help others.
In short, it can be done: You can get a Fit delivered within a month at msrp plus 12.1% overhead.
I just got an email this morning from the internet manager at Hansel Honda in Petaluma CA (North of SF) They have an orange Sport AT ready to go at MSRP. I got the feeling they may be willing to deal on this. Maybe things are going to loosen up a bit on Fit pricing.
Has anyone figured out how much their dealer has made on their Fit? I guessemated--assuming 2.5% holdback and buying at msrp (but with $369 doc fee)--my dealer is making $1370 off my car. I'm assuming this is higher than one finds with new cars not so much in demand?
We ordered our Silver Fit Sport with 5 speed manual in late July. We worked directly with the owner of the local Honda dealer here in Columbia SC who is a personal friend. Even though we are pure Honda people, we have two other Hondas and a brand new Acura TLS, it still has taken 5 months and it is due in next Friday. The wait has been a little frustrating but it will be well worth it. I like the fact that the 5 speed manual sport will be a rare car. We paid nothing down,no add ons and out the door price is $16,158.00.
I have a Fit supposedly built 12/11, supposedly in transit 12/18, supposedly arriving in january. Salesman emailed me today asking if I wanted one he had in stock with tint for $300. It was tempting but I turned him down. If the dealer didn't include a $369 doc fee (high even by Az standards) I might have considered it; but damn if I'm going to give him another $200!
soon after i ordered my MT fit in aug. (from CT), i noticed a market adjutment of $850. dealer told me i wouldn't have to pay it because i locked down the original price with my deposit. i was also told i may get it earlier if they can swap with another dealer, but i think they're dragging their feet because they'll make $850 more on the new ones that come in.
why does this take so long? did people wait this long for the new VW bugs?????
We ordered our Silver Fit Sport with 5 speed manual in late July. We worked directly with the owner of the local Honda dealer here in Columbia SC who is a personal friend. Even though we are pure Honda people, we have two other Hondas and a brand new Acura TLS, it still has taken 5 months and it is due in next Friday. The wait has been a little frustrating but it will be well worth it. I like the fact that the 5 speed manual sport will be a rare car. We paid nothing down,no add ons and out the door price is $16,158.00.
Will you ask your personal friend a question about the manual transmission cars?
Is it most likely true or most likely hogwash they are feeding me about the timing of the manual trannies?
I got word from the dealer that the less common MT Fits are taking longer because they are later in the production line. Does this sound right or is it possibly a dealer allocation issue? (they get just so many a quarter and my MT was late getting in...or was it that they werent going to make the MTs until some time in dec/jan?)
I ordered mine around the same time as you, so your story gives me hope.
Now....how much longer???
Anything you can tell me on this issue would be helpful.
soon after i ordered my MT fit in aug. (from CT), i noticed a market adjutment of $850. dealer told me i wouldn't have to pay it because i locked down the original price with my deposit. i was also told i may get it earlier if they can swap with another dealer, but i think they're dragging their feet because they'll make $850 more on the new ones that come in.
why does this take so long? did people wait this long for the new VW bugs?????
What do you mean by market adjustment? The MSRP they list is still the same but a friend ordered an MT and will pay slightly higher delivery charges because at some point they crept up (slightly but by no means 850 bucks).
I am thinking just the manual tranny cars are taking the longest?
i guess the market adjustment was applied because certain cars were in high demand. we noticed it also on the civic hybrid, but not on the regular civics. pure dealer profit. i recently read that honda's been producing only 10-15% MT and the rest automatic.
I put my deposit on a blue Fit sport AT today, it is supposed to arrive the middle of February. The price quoted to me out the door was $17495. The only thing I added was the cargo tray because of all my son's sports equipment and that was included in the quoted price. I am getting it from Appletree Honda in Fletcher, NC. Does this sound about right including all the fees, tax, tags, etc?
I've done alot of shopping in the Boston area for a Fit...Originally for the manual transmission sport. It took a couple of weeks of hunting before eventually finding an automatic to test drive...I liked how it handled, color I wanted, I was ready to buy until the salesman smacks me with an opening offer of nearly 18K...I told him I wouldn't pay over MSRP, we bargained for a while eventually coming to the conclusion that our differences were irreconcilable. I did some more searching, found a few more available above MSRP...finally coming across a dealership, Hondacars of Boston whose salesman tell me they have a Fit coming in next week...it's an automatic but it's available at MSRP. I come down that day, make my deposit and wait...every other dealership that said I could buy at MSRP told me the wait would be 2-3 months for an automatic...longer for a manual. The gottcha was they couldn't say exactly when or provide a VIN number, but I was assured the car is in the country. Very unuasual I thought but was hopeful. One week goes by so I call the salesman if he had any news. The basic jist was don't call me I'll call you. Christmas is coming and shipments have been delayed, it should be here the week after new year. I wait some more...Yesterday I got a call from the salesman saying the car has been delayed till the end of January at the earliest. At this point I cancel my order realizing I am being lead along. The kick in the teeth was I went to the dealership today to get my refund of my deposit...What do I see sitting in the lot...the exact Fit sport I was waiting for. The salesman I was dealing with wasn't around but so we confronted the salesmanager about this situation. He lies to me by telling me someone had put a deposit on the exact color/style of Fit I had a couple of weeks earlier. All I can say is I asked if the car I was putting a deposit on was in the country, was told yes, was told when the car was going to arrive...it arrived...wasn't sold to me. I was in a position where I needed a car pretty quickly, if I was going to have to wait a few months I could manage this expectation, but to be lead along like this to be told the car was delayed along with the CRV's because they are in Japan, then to see the actual car I had expected on the dealer lot. Never is a long time, but I will Never, Never consider visiting a Honda dealership in my lifetime again. Dealerships asking over MSRP and being hard negotiaters is one thing but this deceitful is beyond me. Am I wrong? Is it possible that someone the salesman forgot about put a deposit on the exact same Fit I did? While in the middle of my Fit search I had also visited several Nissan dealerships. I can't believe how polar opposites the buying experience is very up front and positive. I bought a Versa. It wasn't my first choice but dealer integrity means a lot to me. The car has, in my opinion a more comfortable cabin than the Fit...it's a bit larger than I wanted but overall the Nissan dealership made me a satisfied customer.
I can totally relate to wanting to deal with a dealer with basic integrity. While it could be a simple mistake it sure sounds like they sold the same car to two people, quite deceitful. However, I don't think this has to do with Honda or Nissan or any other make, but rather the individual dealership. I was surprised how different all the dealers styles were whom I solicited. Some were straightforward, some were classic car salesmen with every second word full of sh-t, and others were somewhere in between. The truth is auto sales is not the den of integrity, even at best. However as long as you keep your ethics, as you did, you can eventually find a dealer whose style matches your own. Enough to make a purchase anyway.
"The price quoted to me out the door was $17495. [...]Does this sound about right including all the fees, tax, tags, etc?"
Sounds like a good price to me. I'm starting to wonder if the Sport ATs are selling cheaper than the Base MTs due to supply and demand right now? I noticed the last few people posting who bought sport ATs here paid out the door only about $900-$1200 above msrp including taxes and title etc --with something like cargo tray or mats or tinting thrown in for free. I felt lucky to find a MT with no add ons at $1750 over msrp otd (including taxes and title). Has anyone else noticed this discrepancy in their neck of the woods? Or perhaps I got a lousy deal or it's just Az. In Arizona you'd be paying $1325 sales tax on those Sport ATs so I don't see how you guys are getting away so low.
What's an appropriate (reasonable) deposit when ordering a new vehicle? Are we talking five or ten percent here?
Also -- is it reasonable for me to expect that the dealer will either order or search out a Fit that does not have all sorts of extra add-ons that I don't want/need (e.g., racing stripe, mud flaps, etc.)? There are precious few Fits available in area dealerships (finally test drove one today after much searching!), but I really don't want to jack up the cost of the vehicle by $800-1200 simply for things that I don't really need, even if it's in the dealer's own interest to pad the bottom line. I'm willing to wait (five months if necessary) to get the right Fit. Is my stance reasonable? Do you imagine I might prevail, or am I crazy here? Thanks for any thoughts/advice!
I wonder if the difference in the sales tax state to state is the difference you are seeing. Here, in North Carolina, the sales tax for vehicles is 3%. My taxes ended up being just slightly over $500. I'm thinking it was $505 or something like that. Also, to the last question on deposits...I put down $500 deposit for a car that the dealership already had coming in next month. I got to choose the add-ons.
While I sympathize with your situation, I think you are being short sighted. Think about it - when it comes to owning a car, the actual purchase experience represents 0.000002% of the actual time you spend with the car. I'd rather deal with a poor purchase experience and end up with a superior car (that I'll live with for YEARS) than having my butt kissed at a dealer and live with a mediocre car.
Unethical dealers are not exclusively Honda. The same thing happens at *all* dealers when demand for a car exceeds supply. Go try to buy a Mazdaspeed3 or a Sky Redline and you'll get the same treatment.
"The same thing happens at *all* dealers when demand for a car exceeds supply."
While it's true that the buyer loses leverage with "hot" cars, different dealers have different ways of handling this, and not all of them violate common decency. I noticed some dealers took your name, and then when a Fit came in all the salesmen did a race to see who could reach a buyer first. Other dealers had an organized waiting list, so that you didn't lose your place if you were at work and didn't pick up your phone.
You should do a search of this thread to get the answer to your question, it's been discussed a lot. My summary: Most people seem to have put down $500. Make sure you use a credit card and get something in writing saying it's refundable. Get a VIN# if possible (so you know it's a car which is built)--that's just my opinion but if you're putting down a deposit on an entry level vehicle you deserve some reassurance it will come. Most dealers try to do add-ons, especially since demand is greater than supply. With effort you can find dealers who will not do add-ons. I did that, as did others here. Watch out for doc fees too, go for "out the door" price. I personally was not successful in finding a dealer without a high "doc" fee, but I was not willing to wait months. Others here have found what you want, but you'll need to solicit as many dealers as possible in your region, and be willing to wait. My sense from having read the whole thread and my own search is that about 1 in 10 dealers are willing to avoid add-ons (and not always without pressure). Given the hoard of buyers wanting this car, and the temptation to bait-and-switch, I'd make sure you find a dealer with some integrity in this whole process.
It's absolutely reasonable to expect to find a dealer willing to order a fit without the extra add-ons. The majority of those are added by dealerships when the car arrives to increase profit margin, but if you order a car, you should be able to get it without them if that's what you want. It does take some doing to find a dealer willing to work on those terms, but they're out there, and as long as you're willing to keep walking out until you get what you want you'll find one eventually.
I found that contacting dealerships via email worked better than visiting in person. Internet managers are accustomed to the idea that their customers are savvy shoppers and are probably collecting multiple quotes. Watch out for the ones that won't give you a quote over the phone or via email even after being told exactly what you want -- they're typically the ones wanting to do whatever it takes to get you into the dealership in hopes of plying you with high-pressure sales tactics. Also, make sure you ask for the out-the-door price so you're always sure you're comparing apples to apples, because far too many will claim to sell somewhere between invoice and MSRP -- what sounds like a great deal for you! -- but then turn out to have all kinds of non-negotiable extra add-ons or fees that jack the price up well above MSRP. If you ask for the out-the-door price with all fees itemized, they can't sneak anything by you.
But since the Fit is in such high demand, they know that people will buy them with the extras, so they'll do that for the added profit. They figure if someone won't buy it with the extras then so what?? There are plenty of others who will buy it.
You are correct. Which is why only about one in ten dealers is willing to sell it to you without add-ons. The good news is: You can usually find dealers in your area willing to do so, though you may have to drive to get there.
I bought mine without extras and the finance guy didn't even bother to offer me the extended warranty. His exact words were, "So I guess you don't want the extended warranty." They also didn't try to sell me any extra paint or seat protection. I didn't order my Fit. I just called around and found a silver Sport Auto that was arriving in a few weeks, put down a $500 deposit, MSRP and that was it. I think the dealer was hoping that I'd pass on to others that they are a good dealership (it's the Honda dealer in Springfield Ohio, Marina Honda), plus I think they're hoping that in the future I'll give them more business.
Yep, that's definitely most dealers' approach -- load it with extras and expect someone will buy it. They're willing to lose sales to people like me because someone else will come along, probably before too very long. I had several dealers say they'd 'see what they could do and get back with me' after I told them that I wouldn't buy unless I could get one without add-ons, then not bother to get back with me after all.
With enough searching, though, it does seem to be possible to find dealers willing to snag the car before the extras are added and sell it to you for no more than MSRP just as it arrives on their lot. I'm not sure the odds are as high as 1 in 10 -- I found 2 out of 40 or more -- but at least they're out there somewhere.
We picked up our new Fit 5 speed manual Sport today from Honda Cars of Columbia in Columbia SC. We paid MSRP with no forced add ons. We added 3 accessories by our choice and he discounted those for us. We are extremely pleased.
for all the people waiting patiently for their fit..... has anyone contacted "the" honda company itself? am i wrong to think that they can supply us with some inside info, such as when a certain car is slated to be delivered to a certain dealership? i figure, since my name is on the order form from the dealership, will honda know who the car is for and when it's being produced?
I've got another good one about dealers....I purchased my Honda Fit Sport at Falconi's Moon Twp. Honda in Moon, PA the end of May 06. I called the salesman in April and told him which model and color I wanted and the car came in as promised. When I placed the order I was out of town so my husband went to the dealership and put the deposit down and was given paperwork showing the price of the car, my trade in and the deposit. When I picked up the car I also paid for extended warranty and paint and underbody protection and ordered a steering wheel cover. All was handled well. I paid the balance due in cash. The salesman then called me and told me that the steering wheel cover was not avail. for the Sport model and they would send me a check as refund. When the ck. did not arrive as told I called the dealership and talked to the sales mgr. who informed me that they had actually only charged me the price for the basic Fit model and not the Sport model and that they didn't owe me a dime! After looking over my paperwork....yep they were right....I got a fabulous deal on the car. Although, shame on me for not paying closer attention.....I could have been the one out the $$ not the dealer. As it turns out, they never did refund my money. I filed a complaint with the Zone office but was told that if the dealer did not want to refund my $$ they could not force them to do so. I also filed a complaint with the BBB. Needless to say, I WILL NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH FALCONI HONDA AGAIN. I will also tell anyone thinking about buying from them to think twice. Granted, I paid a very low price for my car but they also lost a good customer. caconner
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your message, but I think you said you got a Sport model for the price of a Base model. That means due to dealer error you underpaid by about $1370. And now you are going to report them to the BBB because they won't refund for a steering wheel cover? Forgive me, but that doesn't seem totally kosher. Sure they should have explained to you how you underpaid, and they would not refund any more money. But why not just be happy you still underpaid by a lot?
for all the people waiting patiently for their fit..... has anyone contacted "the" honda company itself? am i wrong to think that they can supply us with some inside info, such as when a certain car is slated to be delivered to a certain dealership? i figure, since my name is on the order form from the dealership, will honda know who the car is for and when it's being produced?
The survey is your way of talking to them but I pondered contacting them directly, but I would not know who or where to call.
I got a glimmer of hope the other day tho when I called my dealer back.
I had expected to hear from my rep before xmas, but never did. SO I called a few days after the new year and come to fnid out my rep had just left the dealership.
Of course I am a bit nervous about this, but the gal patched me thru to a knowlegable sales manager who I would have loved speaking with months before but just figured I cant rush the folks making my car.
He let me know that my car is slated for production this week (1-11 YAY) and it is 4-6 weeks after that which is par for the course, and when it is built I can get a VIN.
Apparently the first two times they tried to order the MT sport, they would not take the order at Honda manufacturing. He could not say if it was because of parts availability or other issues, but I did find it reassuring that he had a build date.
At this point I do not know if I could have made any difference calling every week because the guy I laid a deposit down with is no longer there and probably knew he was leaving and possibly didnt give a crap.
I was happy that the sales manager had someone call me later that day, and now I have a new rep. We will see.
I had to read your post twice because I couldn't believe it the first time!
They made a mistake which caused them to lose a ton of money and you have the audacity to file a complaint with the BBB and slander that store on a public forum???
Over the price of a steering wheel cover???
Maybe I'll go back and read your post again because I just can't believe this!
Maybe in the end, the BBB will direct the dealer and the buyer to "make things right", i.e. the buyer gives the dealer the difference in price between the base Fit and Sport Fit... and the dealer will refund the price of the steering wheel cover to the buyer.
I started emailing dealerships the week after Christmas and took delivery yesterday on a red Sport automatic with no extras. I paid MSRP plus $95 document fee and I was out the door. Very pleased with the deal and the car.
It actually had nothing to do with them refunding the money for the steering wheel cover.......it had everything to do with how I was treated by the Sales Mgr. He tried to make me feel like I was the one responsible for making the mistake on the price of the car....he was rude and insulting. Isn't it his responsibility to know what to charge for a car.....helloooo??? I reported them to the BBB because of his attitude.
I've been reading this thread and it seems to me that getting the Fit I want at MSRP without any add-ons is a pretty fair deal. My wife and I are buying this car together (though I'll drive it pretty much exclusively). She has a lot more experience than I when it comes to buying new cars, and she scoffs at the idea of paying more than $200-$300 above invoice.
Here's the situation so far:
I began researching new cars a few weeks ago, and have pretty much settled on a Sport Fit MT (but also considering the Versa). A liitle over 2 weeks ago my wife put down $500 on a silver Sport MT already on the water. We received in the mail a signed buyers order with the VIN and itemized cost:
$15,765.00 selling price 58.48 documentary service fee 1,028.53 sales tax (DuPage county, Illinois) 143.00 state license and title -500.00 deposit/down payment $16,495 balance due dealer
Destination charge is not on this bill, though prices I've seen on the internet show that MSRP $15,170 + destination $595 = selling price quoted above. I'm assuming the dealer won't add $595 to $15,765. The only option I'm interseted in is a cargo cover.
The car is supposed to be at the dealer this Saturday. If, after the test drive, I've confirmed this is the car I want, I'd be inclined to accept the deal at MSRP. However, I'm pretty sure my wife will insist on walking out if the dealer doesn't meet us halfway between invoice and MSRP. If we walk out, does anyone here think I'd stand a good chance finding a Sport MT elsewhere for less? I'm willing to order and wait.
If we walk out, does anyone here think I'd stand a good chance finding a Sport MT elsewhere for less?
I think if you walk out, they'll have the car sold before the day is out..
At some point, the Honda Fit will sell below MSRP. I'm not sure when that will be. How long are you willing to wait? I'm a lot like your wife. It bothers me to pay MSRP. But, in this case, a great deal on a normal car in this price range is only around $500-$800 off MSRP, anyway.
So.. you can wait.. it may be three months from now.. or six months from now.. or longer. If you really want this car anytime soon.. and this is the exact model that you want, you should grab it. Assuming that they don't try to add bogus charges.
If you don't buy your car, won't you lose your $500 deposit? If not, why do dealers bother with deposits if they're going to give them back anyway if the buyer backs out of the deal?
why do dealers bother with deposits if they're going to give them back anyway if the buyer backs out of the deal?
The customer is invested in the deal.. It is the same reason that a dealer tries to get you to make an offer, no matter how low. Once an offer is made, the decision to buy the car is set... the only thing after that to decide is the price.
Technically, a dealer could make the deposit non-refundable, I guess... It rarely happens, though.. Too much work for the dealer.
Of course, the customer might not know this.. The whole purpose is to get them to commit to the deal. 90% of sales is playing a mind game.
My wife is certain the $500 deposit is refundable (she's the financial guru in the family).
kyfdx, I'm sure you're right about the dealer being able to immediately sell my Sport MT at MSRP if I turn it down, which tells me the dealer has no reason to sell it to me for less. I think the real negotiation will be between me and my wife, who as a matter of principle will want to walk out if the dealer won't budge on MSRP. Maybe I can get the dealer to throw in the cargo cover, which ought to be standard in the first place.
One thing on the buyers order form arouses suspicion:
NOTICE: TO THE NEGOTIATED SALE PRICE OF EACH VEHICLE, NO MORE THAN $_____ MAY BE ADDED FOR DEALER COSTS AND OVERHEAD. THE ONLY OTHER ADDITIONAL CHARGES PERMITTED ARE DEALER-ADDED OPTIONS, WARRANTY AND SERVICE CONTRACTS, INSURANCE AND THE ACTUAL COST OF LICENSE AND TITLE REGISTRATION AND TAXES.
I'm wondering if the dealer will try to tack on "DEALER COSTS AND OVERHEAD" in addition to all the itemized costs already listed. If so, that would certainly be a deal-breaker.
I would certainly suggest trying to negotiate a lower price.... you usually don't get what you don't ask for. I'm not sure of your chances of success, though..
I'd try to work out the negotiation with your spouse before you go. Maybe you can agree that you are willing to pay MSRP, but allow her to try and negotiate a discount.
Perhaps you could get her the phone numbers of the ten closest Honda dealers, and have her call and check on the availablity of a manual-transmission sport model? That might open her eyes a little.
Good luck.. I hope you get it for a fair price.. You've picked a nice vehicle.
"But, in this case, a great deal on a normal car in this price range is only around $500-$800 off MSRP, anyway."
I think this is a good point that has not gotten enough attention. Although paying msrp is normally crazy when buying a new car, the total dollar difference is not all that much on a $15,000 automobile. The difference between invoice and msrp on my base MT is only $563.
I guess I still don't get it. How is the customer "invested" in the deal if the deposit is refundable. That's like having a deposit for an apartment so you don't trash the place, but if you do you'll get your deposit back anyway.
So again, if it's refundable, how is that any investment to the customer? There's zero risk to them, but the dealer has a car coming in for someone that might buy it, while there could be other folks around willing to immediately buy it.
Plus you hadn't already settled upon the final price of the car?
I guess the deposit is more of a psychological hold on the customer?
Once again, I'm struggling. I'll try to be nice however.
You agree to a deal at MSRP and shake hands on it. You seem to think it's a "pretty fair deal". You put down a deposit and the dealer reserves the car for you. You wait for your new Fit to arrive.
But now, you think your wife will want to reneg on the deal and walk out of her demands aren't met?
After agreeing to a deal?
****sigh*****
I wonder what your wife's reaction would be if, when you arrive they were to say..." Ah, we want another 500.00 for the car now or we won't sell it to you!" Do you think she would have happily sat down to redo the numbers?
There is a lousy 623.00 markup between the invoice and MSRP!
Please tell me if I'm missing something here. I really hope I am! Unbelievable!!
I guess I'm showing my age. I grew up in a different time.
I cna't speak for that Sales Manager. I wasn't there.
I have to wonder if he treated you rudely AFTER you demanded he refund what you paid for the steering wheel cover. Yes, it was certainly his responsibility and he made a stupid mistake and he should have sucked it up. If, however you had known all along that something was terribly wrong and that he had made a mistake, you should have had the integrity to bring it up to him. It sounds like you discovered this after complaining about the steering wheel cover and you should have been delighted, not petty
But, that's just my not so humble opinion. Others will probably disagree.
I'm sure he would probably have a totally different story to tell.
It's not so much a mind game as it is simply a commitment.
Whenever I'm asked " Is this deposit refundable" I always say "Yes, it certainly is". I also think at that point I really probably don't have a deal. I have a wishy washy customer who may be tying up a car only to go shop for a lower price.
A handshake doesn't mean as much as it used to I suppose.
Comments
In short, it can be done: You can get a Fit delivered within a month at msrp plus 12.1% overhead.
it's a surprisingly peppy little car. I'm 6'1" and bought it for the wifey who's 5'2". we both enjoy it.
happy new year
why does this take so long? did people wait this long for the new VW bugs?????
Will you ask your personal friend a question about the manual transmission cars?
Is it most likely true or most likely hogwash they are feeding me about the timing of the manual trannies?
I got word from the dealer that the less common MT Fits are taking longer because they are later in the production line. Does this sound right or is it possibly a dealer allocation issue? (they get just so many a quarter and my MT was late getting in...or was it that they werent going to make the MTs until some time in dec/jan?)
I ordered mine around the same time as you, so your story gives me hope.
Now....how much longer???
Anything you can tell me on this issue would be helpful.
Thanks!
why does this take so long? did people wait this long for the new VW bugs?????
What do you mean by market adjustment? The MSRP they list is still the same but a friend ordered an MT and will pay slightly higher delivery charges because at some point they crept up (slightly but by no means 850 bucks).
I am thinking just the manual tranny cars are taking the longest?
Anyone?
i recently read that honda's been producing only 10-15% MT and the rest automatic.
Sounds like a good price to me. I'm starting to wonder if the Sport ATs are selling cheaper than the Base MTs due to supply and demand right now? I noticed the last few people posting who bought sport ATs here paid out the door only about $900-$1200 above msrp including taxes and title etc --with something like cargo tray or mats or tinting thrown in for free. I felt lucky to find a MT with no add ons at $1750 over msrp otd (including taxes and title). Has anyone else noticed this discrepancy in their neck of the woods? Or perhaps I got a lousy deal or it's just Az. In Arizona you'd be paying $1325 sales tax on those Sport ATs so I don't see how you guys are getting away so low.
Also -- is it reasonable for me to expect that the dealer will either order or search out a Fit that does not have all sorts of extra add-ons that I don't want/need (e.g., racing stripe, mud flaps, etc.)? There are precious few Fits available in area dealerships (finally test drove one today after much searching!), but I really don't want to jack up the cost of the vehicle by $800-1200 simply for things that I don't really need, even if it's in the dealer's own interest to pad the bottom line. I'm willing to wait (five months if necessary) to get the right Fit. Is my stance reasonable? Do you imagine I might prevail, or am I crazy here? Thanks for any thoughts/advice!
Unethical dealers are not exclusively Honda. The same thing happens at *all* dealers when demand for a car exceeds supply. Go try to buy a Mazdaspeed3 or a Sky Redline and you'll get the same treatment.
While it's true that the buyer loses leverage with "hot" cars, different dealers have different ways of handling this, and not all of them violate common decency. I noticed some dealers took your name, and then when a Fit came in all the salesmen did a race to see who could reach a buyer first. Other dealers had an organized waiting list, so that you didn't lose your place if you were at work and didn't pick up your phone.
I found that contacting dealerships via email worked better than visiting in person. Internet managers are accustomed to the idea that their customers are savvy shoppers and are probably collecting multiple quotes. Watch out for the ones that won't give you a quote over the phone or via email even after being told exactly what you want -- they're typically the ones wanting to do whatever it takes to get you into the dealership in hopes of plying you with high-pressure sales tactics. Also, make sure you ask for the out-the-door price so you're always sure you're comparing apples to apples, because far too many will claim to sell somewhere between invoice and MSRP -- what sounds like a great deal for you! -- but then turn out to have all kinds of non-negotiable extra add-ons or fees that jack the price up well above MSRP. If you ask for the out-the-door price with all fees itemized, they can't sneak anything by you.
Good luck with the shopping process
With enough searching, though, it does seem to be possible to find dealers willing to snag the car before the extras are added and sell it to you for no more than MSRP just as it arrives on their lot. I'm not sure the odds are as high as 1 in 10 -- I found 2 out of 40 or more -- but at least they're out there somewhere.
that's my suspicion i've been dealing with while waiting for mine.
has anyone contacted "the" honda company itself?
am i wrong to think that they can supply us with some inside info, such as when a certain car is slated to be delivered to a certain dealership?
i figure, since my name is on the order form from the dealership, will honda know who the car is for and when it's being produced?
caconner
And you'll want to make sure the the VIN on your title and actually on the car match.
for all the people waiting patiently for their fit.....
has anyone contacted "the" honda company itself?
am i wrong to think that they can supply us with some inside info, such as when a certain car is slated to be
delivered to a certain dealership?
i figure, since my name is on the order form from the dealership, will honda know who the car is for and when it's being produced?
The survey is your way of talking to them but I pondered contacting them directly, but I would not know who or where to call.
I got a glimmer of hope the other day tho when I called my dealer back.
I had expected to hear from my rep before xmas, but never did. SO I called a few days after the new year and come to fnid out my rep had just left the dealership.
Of course I am a bit nervous about this, but the gal patched me thru to a knowlegable sales manager who I would have loved speaking with months before but just figured I cant rush the folks making my car.
He let me know that my car is slated for production this week (1-11 YAY) and it is 4-6 weeks after that which is par for the course, and when it is built I can get a VIN.
Apparently the first two times they tried to order the MT sport, they would not take the order at Honda manufacturing. He could not say if it was because of parts availability or other issues, but I did find it reassuring that he had a build date.
At this point I do not know if I could have made any difference calling every week because the guy I laid a deposit down with is no longer there and probably knew he was leaving and possibly didnt give a crap.
I was happy that the sales manager had someone call me later that day, and now I have a new rep. We will see.
maybe mine will be in with that batch, too!
(hopeful thinking).
MY CAR MY CAR....being built! YAY!
They made a mistake which caused them to lose a ton of money and you have the audacity to file a complaint with the BBB and slander that store on a public forum???
Over the price of a steering wheel cover???
Maybe I'll go back and read your post again because I just can't believe this!
That is what SHOULD happen!
Here's the situation so far:
I began researching new cars a few weeks ago, and have pretty much settled on a Sport Fit MT (but also considering the Versa). A liitle over 2 weeks ago my wife put down $500 on a silver Sport MT already on the water. We received in the mail a signed buyers order with the VIN and itemized cost:
$15,765.00 selling price
58.48 documentary service fee
1,028.53 sales tax (DuPage county, Illinois)
143.00 state license and title
-500.00 deposit/down payment
$16,495 balance due dealer
Destination charge is not on this bill, though prices I've seen on the internet show that MSRP $15,170 + destination $595 = selling price quoted above. I'm assuming the dealer won't add $595 to $15,765. The only option I'm interseted in is a cargo cover.
The car is supposed to be at the dealer this Saturday. If, after the test drive, I've confirmed this is the car I want, I'd be inclined to accept the deal at MSRP. However, I'm pretty sure my wife will insist on walking out if the dealer doesn't meet us halfway between invoice and MSRP. If we walk out, does anyone here think I'd stand a good chance finding a Sport MT elsewhere for less? I'm willing to order and wait.
I think if you walk out, they'll have the car sold before the day is out..
At some point, the Honda Fit will sell below MSRP. I'm not sure when that will be. How long are you willing to wait? I'm a lot like your wife. It bothers me to pay MSRP. But, in this case, a great deal on a normal car in this price range is only around $500-$800 off MSRP, anyway.
So.. you can wait.. it may be three months from now.. or six months from now.. or longer. If you really want this car anytime soon.. and this is the exact model that you want, you should grab it. Assuming that they don't try to add bogus charges.
Just my $0.02,
kyfdx
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The customer is invested in the deal.. It is the same reason that a dealer tries to get you to make an offer, no matter how low. Once an offer is made, the decision to buy the car is set... the only thing after that to decide is the price.
Technically, a dealer could make the deposit non-refundable, I guess... It rarely happens, though.. Too much work for the dealer.
Of course, the customer might not know this.. The whole purpose is to get them to commit to the deal. 90% of sales is playing a mind game.
Again.. just my opinion..
regards,
kyfdx
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kyfdx,
I'm sure you're right about the dealer being able to immediately sell my Sport MT at MSRP if I turn it down, which tells me the dealer has no reason to sell it to me for less. I think the real negotiation will be between me and my wife, who as a matter of principle will want to walk out if the dealer won't budge on MSRP. Maybe I can get the dealer to throw in the cargo cover, which ought to be standard in the first place.
One thing on the buyers order form arouses suspicion:
NOTICE: TO THE NEGOTIATED SALE PRICE OF EACH VEHICLE, NO MORE THAN $_____ MAY BE ADDED FOR DEALER COSTS AND OVERHEAD. THE ONLY OTHER ADDITIONAL CHARGES PERMITTED ARE DEALER-ADDED OPTIONS, WARRANTY AND SERVICE CONTRACTS, INSURANCE AND THE ACTUAL COST OF LICENSE AND TITLE REGISTRATION AND TAXES.
I'm wondering if the dealer will try to tack on "DEALER COSTS AND OVERHEAD" in addition to all the itemized costs already listed. If so, that would certainly be a deal-breaker.
I'd try to work out the negotiation with your spouse before you go. Maybe you can agree that you are willing to pay MSRP, but allow her to try and negotiate a discount.
Perhaps you could get her the phone numbers of the ten closest Honda dealers, and have her call and check on the availablity of a manual-transmission sport model? That might open her eyes a little.
Good luck.. I hope you get it for a fair price.. You've picked a nice vehicle.
regards,
kyfdx
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I think this is a good point that has not gotten enough attention. Although paying msrp is normally crazy when buying a new car, the total dollar difference is not all that much on a $15,000 automobile. The difference between invoice and msrp on my base MT is only $563.
So again, if it's refundable, how is that any investment to the customer? There's zero risk to them, but the dealer has a car coming in for someone that might buy it, while there could be other folks around willing to immediately buy it.
Plus you hadn't already settled upon the final price of the car?
I guess the deposit is more of a psychological hold on the customer?
You agree to a deal at MSRP and shake hands on it. You seem to think it's a "pretty fair deal". You put down a deposit and the dealer reserves the car for you. You wait for your new Fit to arrive.
But now, you think your wife will want to reneg on the deal and walk out of her demands aren't met?
After agreeing to a deal?
****sigh*****
I wonder what your wife's reaction would be if, when you arrive they were to say..." Ah, we want another 500.00 for the car now or we won't sell it to you!" Do you think she would have happily sat down to redo the numbers?
There is a lousy 623.00 markup between the invoice and MSRP!
Please tell me if I'm missing something here. I really hope I am! Unbelievable!!
I guess I'm showing my age. I grew up in a different time.
I have to wonder if he treated you rudely AFTER you demanded he refund what you paid for the steering wheel cover. Yes, it was certainly his responsibility and he made a stupid mistake and he should have sucked it up. If, however you had known all along that something was terribly wrong and that he had made a mistake, you should have had the integrity to bring it up to him. It sounds like you discovered this after complaining about the steering wheel cover and you should have been delighted, not petty
But, that's just my not so humble opinion. Others will probably disagree.
I'm sure he would probably have a totally different story to tell.
Whenever I'm asked " Is this deposit refundable" I always say "Yes, it certainly is". I also think at that point I really probably don't have a deal. I have a wishy washy customer who may be tying up a car only to go shop for a lower price.
A handshake doesn't mean as much as it used to I suppose.