I am looking to buy a used Honda Fit Sport with MT for less than $11k in Georgia somewhere.
When I go out to inspect a vehicle, is it normal to inspect the manual transmission fluid? Should this be something I am even concerned about?
I was not planning on having a mechanic look at it since I do most repairs myself and figured I will probably get a very good idea of the shape of the car and how well it is taken care of by my own inspection.

When inspecting the vehicle I was planning on using Popular Mechanic's Used Car Checklist: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cm/p...-checklist.pdf
If anyone thinks there is a better checklist to use, let me know.

Is it okay to redline the car a lot? Or are you decreasing the life of the engine a lot by redlining it? I have read on here people have mentioned the engine likes higher PRM.

Thanks!

 

I'd just bring it to a mechanic if you're going to be that thorough. I'm telling you if i'm in the seller's shoes i'm not letting you take any tools to my car before you buy it. Kind of worth it if you're going to spend $11k, not so much for $2k... that's what i'd do anyway.

We say the car likes revs to make ourselves feel better about doing it

Seriously though, as long as it's not a constant daily thing it's not anything to be concerned about. The limiter is set well below any RPM that's going to do damage.

 

Thanks for the input! Yeah I agree the tools in the checklist are a little much. I won't plan on jacking up the car or use a code reader. So, in that case I am not planning on using any tools on the car. I don't want to accidentally screw someone else's car up. I saw some used car mechanic inspection videos on youtube and I wasn't impressed.

I am feeling better already about getting to the red line when I get my fit! haha!
Very good!

 

The fill plug in a Fit is fairly hard to get at. You can get at it without removing the drivers side front tire but it is so much easier to do if you take it off.

When you find one get the vin and put it in one of the sites that check and see if any recalls were done.

 

Just to be clear for the OP: The only way to check the MT fluid is through the MT fluid fill hole. As stated, remove the plug. Then, stick your finger in there (if the car is not hot) and the fluid level should be up to the limit of the hole. You could then examine the drops that are on your hand for quality/age, but I have never seen our MT fluid age like engine oil ages. Every time I replace mine, it looks clear and good. It just smells a little worse than when new.

Let me make this simple for you: Your only real concern regarding the MT fluid is if there is no MT fluid in there. After you buy a car, you can change all the fluids yourself and know where you are at from that point forward.

Good luck.

 

And that would result in poor shifting or crunching on quick shifts (especially during those runs to red line).



I'd test drive a car by running it to red line. And try accelerating in 5th from a slow speed. <--- clutch test

 

AWESOME! You guys rock! Thanks so much for all the useful information.
I got it, don't worry about condition of manual transmission fluid, just test drive it and feel for obvious transmission problems.

 

+/- 100$ for a mechanical inspection is peanuts when dropping 11k on a car. N-e-way, 11k seems high for a GD, even a sport. IMO, using a code reader is not superfluous, it's actually a quick and easy way to see if there are engine problems.

 

Or, if an unscrupulous seller is covering up a problem by removing the Check Engine light-bulb. An operating CEL (with no codes, and the diagnostics in a READY state) are required to pass emissions testing in many US states.

 

Ill sell you mine. 08 5speed. 69k miles. Only had mobile 1 full synthetic oil changes, have every single reciept. All fluids have been changed. Even the coolant out of boredom. Bone stock adult driven. New battery last fall. 10500$. I have the title in hand. I'm in shreveport, louisiana.

 

Thanks for all the additional information. Sorry, I am just now responding, was going through a home refinance and couldn't spend any money. Now, I am back looking for a car again.
Yeah 11k is high for a GD sport, I have seen them go for $9,500 to $10,000 in my area. I think I put 11k just in case there was an 09 for sale.
I'll borrow a code reader and bring it along when I go to look at one. I hadn't thought about someone removing the check engine light-bulb!

Dougr320, thanks for letting me know about yours. It is a bit too long of a drive from where I am to you. I am hoping for one a lot closer, that way if I look at it and don't like it I haven't spent all day driving.

 

I see plenty of stock 07s and 08s going for under $9k with under 100k miles


Id say look harder.

 

The ones I have seen are ~65k miles on them that go for around $9,500 or more. KBB gives a 2008 sport manual with 65k miles on it in very good condition at $9,836.
Like this one that is just too far away from me:
2008 Honda Fit Sport

I saw a 2008 sport manual in Atlanta that sold in early June for $9,500 cash with 66,745 miles on it.

Then back in mid May a 2008 sport manual in Atlanta sold for $9,300 cash with 72,186 miles.

These are the only two I have seen sell within the past couple months near Atlanta.

There seem to be quite a few base model fits that are selling under $9k, but I'm wanting a sport. There are not a lot of sport manuals <$11k selling from private parties in or near the Atlanta area.

I have been checking craigslist, eBay, and autotrader.