Not withstanding the issue of selling leftover 2013s as noted in my post above, your dealer is completely full of shit:

From the Honda press room:
"The 2015 Fit goes on sale at Honda dealerships nationwide the second half of April, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP)2 starting at $15,525 for the LX trim with 6-speed manual transmission."

And a simple search on cars.com reveals clearly that the first cars being produced are EX and EX-L and EX-L Navi CVTs.

But your dealer is not alone. From years of experience, dating back to the introduction of the Acura NSX, I have always found the dealers are always always the least informed people in the automobile distribution system. Well informed consumers, like the folks found on these forums, who get information from factory or corporate sources are almost always ahead of the dealers in terms of timely, accurate, information.

 

I've got 3 dealers in close proximity to me.

Dealer 1: When I asked about pricing on the left over 2013 Fits he emailed me to let me know he had the 2014 Fit on the lot.

Dealer 2: I told him I wanted to test drive the 2013 Sport in Auto, M/T and if possible an auto with Paddle shifters so I could gauge the difference. He told me I must be thinking of the 2015 CVT equipped Fit because there are no paddle shifters on the 2013. I had to show him that he had one in inventory.

As a bonus, this dealer told me that if I wanted a 2015 Fit I was going to need to put $500 down to 'put my name on one' and that the car was sure to be selling for $1000 over MSRP. I suggested I may wait for the demand to die down, and his response was, "You're going to be waiting a long time"

Dealer 3: I got a sales guy who was clearly trying, and when he didn't know the answer, he scurried over to the guy who did know everything, one of the grandsons of the original founder of the dealership. There were some things that the sales guy couldn't answer without checking... so we sat down in his office and he checked various options. Such as can you get an M/T with Leather. (No) From this site, I now know about Clazzio, so no issues there. They also showed me the sheet showing the list of 6 or 7 2015s that are supposed to be delivered to their lot first. (All CVT, most black, one or two silver).

So I've decided which dealership and sales guy I would like to send my business to. I asked them to let me know when a CVT gets in as I will test drive one before deciding on M/T vs CVT.

Question:
Has anyone else had a dealer suggest their sale prices will be MSRP + $1000?

 

Aside from a dealer blatantly telling us that they are going to charge an extra amount over MSRP to increase their profit margin, they do it regularly by charging us nonsense items such as "Dealer Fees" over and above selling price and Freight/PDI.

My pre-order was done last Feb. Went to the dealership and told my sales rep. that I knew the 2015 was due to come in. What followed was the regular "back and forth" to the sales manager routine. What got them interested was the fact that I was willing to make a deposit on something they all knew nothing about.

My only demand was not having to pay more than Honda's (still to be published) MSRP plus freight/delivery (plus TTL). The deal was written up (model to be determined) and deposit made with these criterea clearly written in.

The advise to you will be to go to one of the larger dealers and make the same demand. Be ready to make a deposit "subject to test drive". You should be able to find one eventually who will do the business solely based on full published MSRP.

As with your experience with the 3 dealerships, don't cut your bargaining flexibility because the one person you communicated with, was mis-informed. Go back and talk directly with the Sales Manager and explain that your sales person did not have the right information and you want to write-up a deal based on full published MSRP + Freight/PDI(less any dealer up-charges). At least one of them will make that transaction with you with those demands.

Sales people are all there for a purpose. Too earn a living and move the metal. Depending on the model (LX up to EX-L Nav), at full MSRP, they stand to make between $100 to $350 in commission/vehicle. We all tend to blame their tactics but should realize the pressure they are under - to rake in as many deals possible.

This is my experience, so far, and hope it will help you devise a strategy the next time you communicate with your neighborhood dealers. BTW, a physical visit is way more effective than a phone call. Once they see your face, your instantly qualified as a potential buyer and most won't let you walk away.

Don't get me wrong, as I have closed many a deal over the phone or via e-mail. If these routes are chosen you must clearly indicate your seriousness by advising your willingness to put down a deposit via credit card or other viable financial instrument. Remember, money talks and BS walks!!!

Good luck and happy shopping!!!!!

 

No, but my dealer said it may have to go MSRP. Anyone asking for more, I would smile, and walk out. Call other dealers, and tell same, and give your phone number, and have them call back when they start to deal. Probably at the end of each month when they need the added sales. Never pay over MSRP on a popular first year car.


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Thank you for taking the time to reply so thoroughly. I could probably cobble together a porous list of things that can be identified as (Dealer Up Charges). Do you have a short list of common up charges to avoid agreeing to?

Or am I completely missing your point of only agree to:
MSRP
Freight
TTL

(PDI was mentioned in another thread as something to try to negotiate out of the deal ... thoughts? (pay it or walk away)

 

We're all here to help so don't hesitate to post any queries you may have.

List of things? Well, dealers are so creative w/ their "upcharges" and they come in many forms. During the good ol days: diamond coating, undercoating etc...., in today's world: dealer advertising, stocking fee, business office fees.................etc... and the list goes on. Be as creative and ready to spot any other charges other than MSRP, Freight, TTL.

PDI is something that they really spend for. They have to prep the car in the shop and clean it up (detail) but that won't cost $1,000. For a simple car like a Fit, a couple of hundred or so is reasonable. That said, dealers are willing to waive this if they want to push for numbers. (units delivered). Maybe tough on a newly introduced vehicle but, hey, I was able to get away with it.

Walk away, but gracefully, and don't "burn the bridge" with any of them until a deal is finally done.

Be ready to travel back and forth between those chosen dealers. That extra legwork will land you the car your after and moreso, feel good with the negotiating experience.

Happy shopping!!!!!!!

One more thing, MSRP means published Honda suggested MSRP not dealer MSRP (they have a habit of posting their own numbers). Honda.com will have the official numbers. here's a listing:

LX 6MT $15,525
LX CVT $16,325
EX 6MT $17,435
EX CVT $18,235
EX-L CVT $19,800
EX-L Navi CVT $20,800

Freight: $790

 

On other cars, yes. The sales manager might even come out, and whip out numbers on a paper stating why anything less than that just won't work, and Juan Cologne here needs to feed his family. Walk out of the dealership. Then they follow you out telling you accept right away because there is someone else coming to look in a couple hours. Then your email and phone ring for a week because the car is just sitting there.

I don't know about Honda, but Ford dealerships have become very aggressive about not lowering their initial offer, requiring playing the next dealership off the previous one's offer.

 

When the first Fit came out, I was hoping to pick one up but stuck with my Accord instead. They originally advertised w/o the markup and it was on accident - if I had been buying, they were going to waive the $1000 markup for me. It can be done, you just have to know who to talk to and talk in the right (and polite) manner and you can get the markup removed or brought down.

 

I don't shop for the lowest price, I contact either my CU or COSTCO and tell them what I want, and they find that car at the best price...easy!

 

Absolutely no reason anyone should ever pay over MSRP for a Honda Fit appliance vehicle.

 

I agree with this. I'm a Vet, got my Fit thru USAA, good price and really good financing. Lots of places to save $ on a new or used car.

 

Well I am deciding between various cars but if I decide on getting this car- once its released- I will be able to get one for cost. But I am aware there will be demand for the car.

 

Thanks for the tip! I had never signed up for USAA until now for some reason.

 

Stopped by my local dealer in Torrance, Ca.
Asked the salesman if they had one and they did!
Not on the showroom floor or on the lot but he let me take a look at it.
Says they’re doing training/learning on it to get ready to sell..

Heres a pic from IG @iradier24

It was super dusty due to construction next door.

 

Awesome!

That's a great sign they should start showing up soon then.

 

But they're hiding them as soon as they get them

 

Thank goodness I know folks higher up in the dealership here then!

 

I guess I am amused that anyone would pay at or over MSRP for a commuter econobox. When the S2000 first came out in 00, there was a big mark up. Which is understandable considering the limited production. But they've been selling 50-60k Fit's per year. I can't see paying MSRP for one of these, personally.

 

Current gd is black, but wasn't considering getting another black one until seeing that picture. Looks really good.

 

Try shopping for cars in Alaska. It is harder to get it down to MSRP mostly due to the shipping; it's not cheap to ship cars to Alaska! Some dealers are better than others with working on pricing, but others aren't.