Hi all,

I wanted to ask you all for a quick opinion on a Fit that I just passed on (and some general Fit-searching advice)

I'm in the market for a Fit, and I wanted to stay under 100k miles, and under $8,000 if I could. I found a dealer locally w/ a 2013, 74k miles, for $8000.

I test drove, loved it, noticed a couple "funny" things (alignment was a bit off, there was a dent in the back door that was not mentioned, windows weren't working quite right)

I took it to a local mechanic, and on his test drive, the transmission flared. Also, he noticed that the rear door color was slightly different from the rest of the car. Based on the door/alignment diagnosis, I assumed the car had been in a small accident (that was not reported to Carfax, which was clean). The dealer didn't know anything about this.

This, plus the transmission flare, led me to pass on the car (without really trying to negotiate with the dealer). Now I'm second guessing my decision. The mechanic said is was a tough call, and it's a decent car, but the transmission flare gave him some doubt.

Did I make the right choice? What are my odds of finding a decent Fit in the $8k/100k mile range? What sorts of things should I be willing to compromise (i.e. should I be willing to overlook it if a car has been in an accident?)

If it helps, I live in Brooklyn, NY, but am looking all up and down Long Island, upstate NY, and Jersey.

Thanks for all of your help!

 

If you didn't feel good about the car, then the first thing to go wrong would have you wishing you'd not bought it. Go w/ your "gut" feeling...you will ALWAYS second guess yourself about somethng!

 

If you see the car was hit and paint and alignment of parts are off, pass on it. You will find a better one.

 

I agree. You did the right thing to pass on it. There must definitely be better choices out there. Keep on looking

 

Carfax only shows something if the PO turned it in, Its very possible to just have the car repaired and tell nobody that matters, IE insurance and no police report.

 

I'd say you did the right thing. But what's a "transmission flare"?

 

I think it's when an AT revs excessively between gears, before completing the gear change. I could be wrong though.

 

Yep slow engagement. Often a sign the tranny has been yarded on pretty hard.. Or run behind FI..

 

As far as the paint, in addition to a mechanic looking at it, find a good detailer. They can take paint measurements with a PTG (paint thickness gauge) which can read aluminum or sheet metal.

Factory paint should yield 85 to 120 microns on factory Honda Fit paint. Any more than that (in a significant amount), means it's been to a body shop.
If nothing registering, it means the PTG can't read surface which definitely means there is body fill