I am in the market for a 07-08 fit (since it is in my price range ~10K) and have found a couple with about 60K miles on them.

Before going to check them out, what are some things I should look for, problems, etc? Carfax can only tell me so much, but upon a test drive and inspection what should I keep an eye out for? I figure I would ask the people that know best.

Oh, and it's going to be an automatic and the sport trim.


Thanks guys!

 

Are you looking for a private seller, or from a dealer?

Ask the private seller for maintenance records. Ask them how they drove the car - highway miles/city miles/short trips, etc. Anything that needed fixing, other than normal oil changes, battery replacement, etc.?

I would get the car looked at by a mechanic and make sure they go over it for body damage. Carfax doesn't have everything, if it's not reported they don't have it.

 

Suggestion: Try to find a used GD that has not been modded at all, ever, by the previous owner or his/her children. Even if the owner assures you that no mods have ever been done, get the car up on a rack and look carefully at the entire underside. Watch out for damage to the bottom of the oil pan (evidence that it was lowered in the past). Be willing to pay an independent Honda repair shop (not a dealer) to find any reason why you should NOT buy the car. Check compression ratio, brake component condition, don't buy a car with badly worn rubber pads on the pedals, and get service history records.

If you want to mod it yourself, great. GD's have a lot of custom parts available, and they cost less now than they did when the GD was new on the U.S. streets.

 

I ordered an inspection and got mine professionally inspected since I wasn't able go see the car before I bought it. You might want to check the brake pads because the guy I bought my car from warned me about around 50k that the brake pads wore out prematurely. There is also 2 recalls for the car. The front low beam lights can fail and a fire hazard with the master power window switch. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary with the Fit. I bought mine used at 51k miles used. Ask the owner if they have any service records to show that the car was taken car of.

 

I just bought an 08 Blue Sport with 40k miles non modded for $9K out the door. I bought it from my local BMW dealership and use it for rainy weather and running errands. I drive a Z4 coupe as my primary.

I wanted to buy one when they first came out, but in CA they had a $2K markup so I went with a civic, but i'm happy to have it as a running around ride now!

 

Wow, 9K with TTL at a dealership? I can't even find a sport from a private owner for that price. I'm looking at one in SA right now 08 Sport with 60K miles, but i'm 3 hours away in Houston. Anyone recommend a mobile used car inspection in SA?

 

Don't buy it.

 

....Reasons?

 

Not that good on gas.
Not that comfortable.
Not that fun to drive.
Etc.

My own purchase is a choice I regret that I now have to deal with and try to make the best of.

 

Not even for a daily driver? For me it's between an 06 Civic, 04 Accord, or the Fit which I am leaning towards. I like the cargo room, the design, the reliability, and the gas mileage.

 

The Civic will have better mpg and equivalent reliability. More comfy, only loss is the cargo room.

 

Dilemmas dilemmas, i think the extra cargo room is a plus though, esp since the seats lay down and youll never know when you need it and it'll come in handy (i had a RSX-S before and the hatchback style came in handy at times) and to me, esthetically, the fit looks better. As of now, I'm looking for both and just trying to find the best deal.

but if anyone can give me anything to keep an eye out for that'd be great, thanks Mike!

 

Yeah i know, i really can't believe they sold it to me for that cheap. Originally they had me set up with a 6 year loan with $150 payments. Got into the finance office and she told me they couldn't only finance for 60 months b/c the loan amount was under $20K. I told her that my payments had to be $150, asked the GM and he agreed. She was like "i guess they really want to move this car by the end of this month." Nothing wrong with a little luck.

 

I disagree, 30-34plus is pretty average for me, which i think is decent...

I find it plenty comfortable, seats are comfy and with an armrest- it helps a ton...

I also find the Fit to be suprising nimble with no mods done at all, I think its a hoot to drive...

I drive an 07sport, I would recommend the vehicle to anyone. i do wish it was AWD, or at least RT4wd- thats my only real compaint... Really you should buy whatever car works for you...

 

I have to agree with billboard. My wife and I have a 07 Fit Sport automatic and we don't regret getting it one bit. We have only had it for about 2 months. We are not spirited drivers anymore but we aren't hypermilers either. I did a valve adjustment and we have ran through 3 tanks of fuel since it was done. 1 tank was 34.4 one 34.6 and one 35.1. That is actual calculated mileage too! We have a Ultragauge in the car which I think helps with the fuel mileage also. It makes you realize how your driving effects your mileage. I also run 40psi cold in the tires. I have new iridium plugs to install this weekend and I hope that will get a little more mileage out of it. We live in East Tn. and there are a lot of hills here so that kind of mileage in 50/50 mixed driving seems very good to me. Especially with an automatic! Like billboard said, Adding a center console armrest is a big improvement.

 

with 93k on our 08 Fit Sport, my wife doesn't have a single complaint. we are replacing front pads for the first time this weekend. we haven't had anything go wrong.

 

When I was looking for an 07-08, I found 2 (out of 6) that had water in the trunk and passenger floor. Make sure to pull up the trunk mat and look in the spare tire well. Also feel the rug in the back and make sure its not wet, sniff for any musty smell...

 

Thanks for that advice, i'll do that for sure.

Since I've just gotten into the fit market, I don't really have a good gauge on pricing. If someone had a 08 Fit Sport, AT, 54K miles, Blackberry pearl, and everything checked out as far as carfax and the mechanical inspection, what would be a good price? What would you offer and what would you think is an insult?

Thanks

 

From KBB (using private party sale, 54k, sport, auto, Houston zip):

Excellent
11,681

Very Good
$11,281

Good
$10,981

Fair
$9,881

Hope that helps!

 

I assume it's a one-owner? I think the numbers posted above are reasonable. But check around and find out what the lots are asking. That's average miles here in Houston, unfortunately. If you want fewer miles, you have to go up to Austin or farther north. That one in SA has too many miles. Don't drive 3 hours for that many miles. Hunt around on cars.com or autotrader.com and find one with fewer miles on it.