A dealer has a new 2009 and is offering it to me for $2200 below MSRP. Thoughts? It is very tempting since it is exactly the same as a 2010, and the warranty still begins on the day of purchase.

Corresponding by email, he dodged my question about how long it has been on the lot. Should I be concerned?

 

That would be a great deal. What color? Manual or auto?

 

did you ask how many miles it has on it?

any chance they were using it for test drives?

 

Go for it. BUT, inspect the car carefully -- May 2010 is kind of late to be finding a "new" 2009 model still with a dealer. You may be able to get the dealer to shave some more off the price, or more likely, to throw in something extra like a center console, rear cargo mat, and floor mats, (in that order, as far as I am concerned for desirability).

 

I just heard back that there are 150 miles on it. I just asked for some more money off and floor mats, so we'll see what happens. I guess that's about 15-18 test drives, which isn't enough to get me worried.

Thanks for the ideas!

 

Sounds like an awesome deal! I wouldn't worry about the test drives because it actually helps to break it in, but I wonder WHY it sat for so long. If it's a dealer trade or even if not, I would closely inspect the whole car inside and out to make sure it didn't have port damage or was repaired on the lot... of course you should do that with any new car (ask me how I know).

 

Interesting update! I have put money down, but there is a big question still looming:

This is a 2009 Fit Sport w/NAVI, orange (identical to the one my girlfriend totaled recently). Their first offer was $18372 out-the-door, which is $2200 below MSRP. I countered with $18k out the door including floor mats. They accepted, BUT...

At this time, they disclosed that the car received hail damage a month ago on their lot, as did every car there. They say it has been repaired by a special team sent in by the insurance company doing Paintless Dent Removal, and that I won't be able to tell that it was ever damaged. It also was not enough damage to go on the record, so the car will still have a clean carfax report.

I live 2.5 hours away, so I haven't seen the car yet. I put money down contingent of course on inspecting it in-person. What should I look for?

Quoting from a news article about the hail, "Hail that fell there was the size of a quarter, he said, and there was so much of it that 'at first, it looked like the ground was completely white.'"

I have no experience with hail damage to a car. I figure the best thing to do is look for distortions in the reflections I see in body panels. None the less, where should I draw the line? This is almost $2600 off MSRP, plus free floor mats. Will someone with a trained eye be able to spot the damage down the road if I try to trade it in? How would that affect the value?

Thanks for all of the advice. This forum is a tremendous resource.

 

It should be pretty easy to get your eyeballs at roof level. The Fit roof is pretty thin metal, and if it looks OK at eyeball level, go for it. If not, you're going to have to make a choice.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhrivnak

Interesting update! I have put money down, but there is a big question still looming:

WOW Man, this is an important time to be extra prudent and cover you A__, especially if you choose to buy it.

I would stay far away from that car. AFAIK they are only required to disclose it to you if it's over a certain $dollar value of damage, and most likely it WILL appear on the vehicle history report as hail damage in spite of what they tell you.

Hail damaged cars carry a stigma for a reason.. why do you think that is?

You will also be legally required to disclose hail damage to any prospective buyer or if you ever want to trade it in.

Now, if you decide to rush in and due something rash (and buy it), you need to get them to document the date and cost of repair and put in writing that that the honda warranty will be 100% in effect at the time of purchase (including paint warranty!). Nothing they say that's nice and rosy outside of a written contract is legally binding. You should check the markings on the windshield to see if it is Honda glass (they may have put in cheap aftermarket glass if it was broken). You will also want to call honda corporate and confirm with them if a hail damaged vehicle would be 100% covered, because that piece of paper might be worthless if that dealer goes under.

You will want to check each panel for anything that resembles a ding, and check for secondary damage caused by the PDR technician (check the interior and inside of accessible panels).

Might end up being a can of worms. I would stay away.

 

Very good advice. I asked for these two things just now by email:

1) Statement in writing that full coverage under the Honda warranty will be in effect, specifically including paint and rust.

2) Date and cost of repairs to this vehicle.

I am also going to call Honda Automobile Customer Service in the morning to confirm. For anyone else who finds this thread and needs the number, it is (800) 999-1009.

 

There's an '09 TW Auto W/Navi on my local dealer's lot. I test drove it the other day since i'm interested in auto's more than I used to be. Nice car and the Navi is awesome. I'm tempted to see what price they'd go to on it, but i'm short on cash the way it is and am running late on this month's payment.

 

i like how the dealer waits until the end to tell you the car had hail damage.

good advice from jondotcom about the windshield.
be wary of that thing. even if it's the original windshield, take a really close look at it.
the windshield on the fit is funky... i've got a couple weird internal defects in mine which are invisible unless the sun hits it just right, at which time they look like cracks. they were not there when the car was new.

 

Now the dealer says this car was one of 6 that was protected and received no damage.

Clearly, I am suspicious that they suddenly changed their tune. He did agree over the phone that I can take it to a body shop and have them verify that it hasn't been damaged and repaired.

Will a body shop be able to spot the results of Paintless Dent Removal?

 

Oh man i would stay away. It seems wierd now that they try and say it had no damage to it. I rather pay a little more or keep looking than buy a bad car. There is a reason its been there so long and that they want to sell it so bad. I just don't trust car dealer ships any more at all. Hope u take youre time on this don't rush in and buy it.

 

If the car had PDR work on the roof panel, that means the headliner had to be dropped at least partially. The moldings and screw fasteners that support the headliner are one area where I would look closely to confirm headliner disassembly.

It's a nice chunk of savings, but I wouldn't trust the dealer either way. Also, if you total a 2009 vs. a 2010 (even new), be prepared to take a year's hit on depreciation.

Here in Maryland, pre-delivery damages must be over $250 to be reportable to the buyer. Damage incurred at the factory does not have to be disclosed at all, even if it totals thousands of dollars.

 

Considering how many time the dealer has been changing his story, forget about. If anything, check with Honda Corp to see how this dealer rates against other Honda dealers. I know here in Canada, Honda dealers fight dearly to maintain a certain status "level" rating with Honda Canada, as part of their advertising(Platinum vs. gold. vs. silver etc.).

 

If hail damage had occurred and they used any kind of filer, or repainted, this can easily be determined using a paint gauge. I can't remember the official name of the gauge, but by running the gauge across the surface of the car, irregularities will show up, in paint thicknesses. I think the device is based on sound impulses, like radar. When paint is originally put on the car, the thickness is so consistent that no irregularities are present. Repairs will always show irregularities in thickness. Even feathering of the paint during a repair will show up as an irregularity. So, your car, during resale, probably won't be checked with this gauge, but could.

 

Did you buy it?

 

A lot depends on your intentions with the car; if you intend to drive it until the wheels fall off, and are confident that there was only hail damage (if that), it's still a good deal. On the other hand, if you expect to trade it in a couple of years, resale value is more important. However, after the various surprises from the dealer to date, I'm not sure I would want to go back there for service.

Good luck in your quest -- you're doing your due diligence, which is more than many car buyers.

 

I agree with the above statement. I got a new 08 Fit, but opted, as a second car, for a 09 Fit that was totaled. It cost me very little compared to new, but, if I tried to sell it I would have difficulty. Instead, I'll just run it until it drops. It will work out for me. You'll have to decide if it's worth it for you. But, that dealer does seem shaky, so make sure you know everything beforehand.