Hi all,

I've been looking at getting a Honda Fit for a few weeks now. Dealer nearby is listing a 2012 Honda Fit (base model) with manual transmission. 26k miles at $14,500. The Kelly Blue Book on it is just shy of $12,000, and I was hoping to negotiate down to somewhere around there.

It looks like the 2012 is generally more reliable than the 2015? I've driven both, and despite the increased horsepower and fuel economy on the 2015, I felt more "at home" with the 5 speed transmission.

Your thoughts on price? 2012 vs 2015?

Thanks

 

Can u not splurge the extra 500-1000 to get the sport? What will this car be doing for you might be the better question. Commuting decent distances/short distances or some road trips (250mi +)?

 

I think you shouldn't accept a deal more than $13k with dealer fee, tax, tag & title. Don't let the dealership waste your time or play games. Be ready to walk away and come back in a few days - especially if it's not a Honda dealer. Used Fits might go quick on a Honda lot, but it's unlikely they are moving used metal fast enough on another brand's homeland.

It's definitely a great car but there's never a reason to overpay.

 

Availability in my region (Portland) is the primary factor in looking at this particular car. If a Sport option popped up, I'd prefer that.

It's going to be used daily for a 25 mile round trip commute. There will also be a few annual road trips thrown in at about 1,300 miles round trip. This will also end up being the primary vehicle for weekend trips for my family, so I'd expect a dozen or so 100+ mile weekends per year.

Seems like the differences between the Sport and non-Sport are largely cosmetic. Is that right?

 

Actually the sport has downshift controls on the steering wheel which makes it enormously fun to drive.

 

Is that still the case with the manual transmission, though?

 

No, manual is just manual.

 

I think since I'm looking exclusively at standard/manual transmissions, the differences between Sport and not significant for me. Thanks!

 

i have a 2011 sport w/ manual, and it has cruise control which i believe the base does not have, for long trips = cruise control really helps a lot...

 

Also, I have a friend with an 09 base. What you plan to do with the car is pretty much the life his fit lived. It was the family car till recently when his boys are 5-7ish. Until this year it was the family vacation car including a trip through the mountains with a cargo deck on the back & the roof loaded(it looked like a low rider on stock suspension). He put a lot of miles on it with few problems.
I think it would be a great car for you but agree with other posts about whittling down the price a bit.

 

I just bought a 2012 Sport from a dealer last week - 5sp MT, 43k and "Certified Honda"
meaning I get 12/12k warranty from dealer, plus Honda warranty for 7 yrs 100k
from the orig sale date Dec 2011 ... I do like having that coverage.
I did pay on the high side but I was on a short deadline and its immaculate.
It does have Cruise - which was important for me ...

One of the other threads said this is the diff between a Base and a Sport -

-leather wrapped steering wheel
-15in alloy wheels
-a better stereo system
-different shiftknob for MT
-foglights
-front/rear lip, side skirts, and spoiler
-cruise control

 

If it's what you want, it's a doable deal.

I can be pretty spartan, but if I foresee ANY usage on long road trips, I can't imagine NOT having cruise control. But that's just my personal feeling.

Also, since supply with Fits seems so low, I think dealers are marking them up, even the used ones.
I don't particularly like the idea of paying 2,500 more than Blue Book for a base model, with what is only about average miles for it's age. Yes, you could probably "deal" them down, but you'd be working towards getting it at the price it should be to start with in my opinion.
If you are talking Portland Oregon have you thought of expanding your search? I live in the Northwest and if you are in Portland the nice option you have is several Oregon dealers, plus relatively easy access to Vancouver Washington and some Washington Honda Dealers.

But anyway, as I said, I think if it IS what you want, you can make it a doable and descent deal. If you feel you are compromising right out of the gate? I'd try to be patient and keep looking.

I owned a 2010 Honda Fit Sport, I picked the "Sport" upgrade primarily for the keyless entry, cruise control and I really liked the leather wrapped steering wheel. Plus I think The Fit looks better with the hatch spoiler.

But most of these niceties are subjective. I suppose I could of updated aftermarket or lived without most of the extra's the Sport upgrade offered, except of course I feel today, cruise control is almost a must have.

I went to look at Fits a few weeks ago, and I really felt the lack of supply of new ones, had the dealers really fishing and pushing the used, and if you showed any interest, they weren't going to give you a great deal.

Also, having owned a 2010, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a Gen 2 to anyone. It was a real nice driving vehicle.
At least on initial release, it seems Honda had some fit and finish problems with the Fit's coming out of the new Mexico plant. And now? Due to switching over to HRV production supply seems to have dwindled to a trickle in some areas.
Unfortunately, it's not a buyers market for Fits right now, so if you really want one immediately, I suppose you simply do the best you can.

 

The 2012 base has cruise control. Earlier years did not, though I don't know exactly when the change was made.

I know this for a fact. I have a 2012 manual base and I have and use the cruise control.

 

Was that part of the base package or was it an option?

No flames meant, I bought my Fit Sport used so I don't know what was an option on the base and what was a stock feature ...

 

It's standard on the 2012 base model. They all have it.

Cruise control was about the one creature comfort that I was explicitly looking for on a car when I was researching and shopping around. I was rather surprised at how many low-end cars had other "stuff" like bluetooth or keyless ignition or automatic climate controls...but no cruise control until you got to the fancy trims.

 

I bought my 2012 lx manual (middle trim of 3 trims in canada) for $11,500 with 83k km on it (50*** miles). You're getting ripped off.

 

Some buyers say there's always another car like it down the block - but in all honesty, there ARE difference in used cars. I'm NOT a dealer.

Is his car "Honda Certified" used car? The Fit Sport I bought with 42k is.
I get 12mo/12000 miles from that dealer and the remains of the 7 yr/100k mile factory warranty. That extended warranty is worth something ...
I passed up a cheaper 2010 with 65k with no such warranty ...

 

Mine was from a Honda dealer and "Honda Certified". In Canada our warrantys are only 5yr/120k km.

 

Just purchased a 2012 Fit Sport (auto, sadly) with 59k miles on it. I had just gotten into a totaled wreck last Friday (hydroplaned on a highway). Walked out the door with it for $13k, including GAP and their 3 year platinum warranty ($100 deductible). I'll let you know how it goes. But this is the first Honda I've had in 7 years, had a swapped 96' hatch. Glad to be back in the Honda family again