2015 Honda Fit Buying Advice from a Honda Salesperson
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 193
From: canada montreal
HI HondaGeek,
Thanks for all your inputs.
I'm actually in Canada with a 09 fit.
I just found out we up here, will will have (fit 15) ex-l and a manual option and leather - ahhh thank u.
My question is besides the hrv, which I'm thinking of....any word of a 5door civic hatch returning to north America?
I never understood why this model stopped back in the late 80s
Thanks for all your inputs.
I'm actually in Canada with a 09 fit.
I just found out we up here, will will have (fit 15) ex-l and a manual option and leather - ahhh thank u.
My question is besides the hrv, which I'm thinking of....any word of a 5door civic hatch returning to north America?
I never understood why this model stopped back in the late 80s
New Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2
From: Nevada City
Hello fello FitFreaks,
I am a previous owner of a 2011 Honda Fit Sport, who recently got a job working at a Honda dealer in NJ. I also held sales positions on both an Acura dealer and, most recently, a top ten nationwide Lexus dealer. I've been a Honda fan for years and when the opportunity came up to work at one of the best Honda dealership based on customer service, I made the jump and Im very happy I did.
The release of the 2015 Fit has been very exciting and also frustrating, with the delays that we have experienced. My dealership, Mahwah Honda in NJ, has also seen delays of the new Fit, but also have seen some trickle in here and there.
We typically get two or three Fits at a time, and are normally sold within 24 hours. Every dealer has had people come in all Summer looking for the new Fit. By the time one arrives to our dealership that was not reserved or special ordered, every salesperson is calling their list of customers who was looking for one. The first customer that comes in always ends up buying it. It's as simple as that.
So here is my advice to those looking to buy a new Fit:
1. Deposit on an in-transit model: If you have already decided to buy a 2015 Fit, go to your previous or local Honda dealership and put a deposit on one that's in-transit. Every dealership has a list of Fits that have been allocated to them, with estimated dates on arrival. Just keep in mind that estimated really just guarantees that the dealer is receiving said car, not that there is an exact time of arrival.
You may be waiting a few weeks or a few months, depending on the car you selected.
2. Special Order: most dealerships should have the option of placing a special order, which simply means they can tell the factory which trim and color you want, which is reserved as soon as its off the assembly line. A typical Honda special order usually takes about two months to arrive, with the 2015 being a bit longer.
3. Price: every dealership is selling the new Fits for MSRP or higher. There are two reasons for this. The first is that its a new model and the low availability. But more than that, the mark up from invoice to MSRP on the Fits is less than $1000. Look at the example below:
2015 Honda Fit LX with CVT
MSRP = $17,115
Invoice = $16,685
As you can see, the difference is only $430. So if a dealer offers you MSRP, based on the information above, it's more than a fair deal. And here's some food for thought. Honda wants the Fit to eventually surpass the Civic in annual sales. This is one of the main reasons why they have priced the Fit as so.
So if you can find a dealer that will sell you a Fit for MSRP and nothing more, that's a good deal.
4. Dealer Fees: other than price, the only additional expenses should be state taxes and fees, plus dealership Doc fee. Now, plenty of dealers out there have other fees they try to include on a deal. Vehicle prep fee, internet fee, marketing fee, license plate holder free (I kid you not), window ething, etc. You are not responsible to pay these fees. I'm very fortunate to work for a dealership that does not play games like this, but many do.
Here's something to keep in mind. All dealerships buy their inventory from Honda for the same price, which means they can all sell them for the same price.
Some dealerships will give you lower prices than others, but they are excluding fees that they will charge you once you arrive. One of our local competitors always quotes prices excluding destination fee. Customers come in and tell me that they received a price cheaper than mine, which I reply with a," was their price $790 cheaper?"
They look at me surprised and say," how did you know?"
I simply explained to them what other dealers do and show them the exact number on the window sticker. Some dealers use this tactic, taking a chance that the customer wont leave after being explained this when they arrive, while others will get up and go.
Always be clear with what you are paying for.
These are just a few things tips for those looking into a new Fit. If you have an additional question, which was not addressed above, feel free to ask below and I'll answer it as soon as I can.
I am a previous owner of a 2011 Honda Fit Sport, who recently got a job working at a Honda dealer in NJ. I also held sales positions on both an Acura dealer and, most recently, a top ten nationwide Lexus dealer. I've been a Honda fan for years and when the opportunity came up to work at one of the best Honda dealership based on customer service, I made the jump and Im very happy I did.
The release of the 2015 Fit has been very exciting and also frustrating, with the delays that we have experienced. My dealership, Mahwah Honda in NJ, has also seen delays of the new Fit, but also have seen some trickle in here and there.
We typically get two or three Fits at a time, and are normally sold within 24 hours. Every dealer has had people come in all Summer looking for the new Fit. By the time one arrives to our dealership that was not reserved or special ordered, every salesperson is calling their list of customers who was looking for one. The first customer that comes in always ends up buying it. It's as simple as that.
So here is my advice to those looking to buy a new Fit:
1. Deposit on an in-transit model: If you have already decided to buy a 2015 Fit, go to your previous or local Honda dealership and put a deposit on one that's in-transit. Every dealership has a list of Fits that have been allocated to them, with estimated dates on arrival. Just keep in mind that estimated really just guarantees that the dealer is receiving said car, not that there is an exact time of arrival.
You may be waiting a few weeks or a few months, depending on the car you selected.
2. Special Order: most dealerships should have the option of placing a special order, which simply means they can tell the factory which trim and color you want, which is reserved as soon as its off the assembly line. A typical Honda special order usually takes about two months to arrive, with the 2015 being a bit longer.
3. Price: every dealership is selling the new Fits for MSRP or higher. There are two reasons for this. The first is that its a new model and the low availability. But more than that, the mark up from invoice to MSRP on the Fits is less than $1000. Look at the example below:
2015 Honda Fit LX with CVT
MSRP = $17,115
Invoice = $16,685
As you can see, the difference is only $430. So if a dealer offers you MSRP, based on the information above, it's more than a fair deal. And here's some food for thought. Honda wants the Fit to eventually surpass the Civic in annual sales. This is one of the main reasons why they have priced the Fit as so.
So if you can find a dealer that will sell you a Fit for MSRP and nothing more, that's a good deal.
4. Dealer Fees: other than price, the only additional expenses should be state taxes and fees, plus dealership Doc fee. Now, plenty of dealers out there have other fees they try to include on a deal. Vehicle prep fee, internet fee, marketing fee, license plate holder free (I kid you not), window ething, etc. You are not responsible to pay these fees. I'm very fortunate to work for a dealership that does not play games like this, but many do.
Here's something to keep in mind. All dealerships buy their inventory from Honda for the same price, which means they can all sell them for the same price.
Some dealerships will give you lower prices than others, but they are excluding fees that they will charge you once you arrive. One of our local competitors always quotes prices excluding destination fee. Customers come in and tell me that they received a price cheaper than mine, which I reply with a," was their price $790 cheaper?"
They look at me surprised and say," how did you know?"
I simply explained to them what other dealers do and show them the exact number on the window sticker. Some dealers use this tactic, taking a chance that the customer wont leave after being explained this when they arrive, while others will get up and go.
Always be clear with what you are paying for.
These are just a few things tips for those looking into a new Fit. If you have an additional question, which was not addressed above, feel free to ask below and I'll answer it as soon as I can.
I'm thinking I should 1. test drive this car 2009 Honda Fit Sport, $11,992 - Cars.com
2. Pay Auburn Honda to Diagnose any problems/conditions/repairs needed
3. Offer the dealer who bought it at auction (WHY WAS IT AT AUCTION?????) 10K cash
or
3b. Arrange financing through my State Farm Agent whose 2.something% rate includes a warranty that cancels the balance if the car is a total insurance loss like my 2007 was.
(I got $9,000 for my 2007 from this insurance broker for the 2007)
Am I thinking correctly or can you advise different tactics?
Blessings, Gaeseal
HI HondaGeek,
Thanks for all your inputs.
I'm actually in Canada with a 09 fit.
I just found out we up here, will will have (fit 15) ex-l and a manual option and leather - ahhh thank u.
My question is besides the hrv, which I'm thinking of....any word of a 5door civic hatch returning to north America?
I never understood why this model stopped back in the late 80s
Thanks for all your inputs.
I'm actually in Canada with a 09 fit.
I just found out we up here, will will have (fit 15) ex-l and a manual option and leather - ahhh thank u.
My question is besides the hrv, which I'm thinking of....any word of a 5door civic hatch returning to north America?
I never understood why this model stopped back in the late 80s
Hi. Sorry for the late response. Been sick the past few days. Getting back to your question, if the rumors end up being true that Honda will move global production of the Civic to Ohio starting with the 2016 model year, then it's a possibility, since they Euro Civic Hatch will end up being manufactured here.
But even if Global production does move to North America, it's still not a guarantee.
The 2016 model Civic is supposed to be a complete redesign. I would probably expect a lot of Civic news to trickle out at next year's NY Auto Show. We all have to be patient for the moment.
Hope this answers your question.
I'm looking at buying a 2009 Honda Fit that Cars.com found for me in my neighboring city of Auburn, California. I have never dealt with this small dealer before but they are across the street from Auburn Honda where I bought my last Honda Fit new in 2007.
I'm thinking I should 1. test drive this car 2009 Honda Fit Sport, $11,992 - Cars.com
2. Pay Auburn Honda to Diagnose any problems/conditions/repairs needed
3. Offer the dealer who bought it at auction (WHY WAS IT AT AUCTION?????) 10K cash
or
3b. Arrange financing through my State Farm Agent whose 2.something% rate includes a warranty that cancels the balance if the car is a total insurance loss like my 2007 was.
(I got $9,000 for my 2007 from this insurance broker for the 2007)
Am I thinking correctly or can you advise different tactics?
Blessings, Gaeseal
I'm thinking I should 1. test drive this car 2009 Honda Fit Sport, $11,992 - Cars.com
2. Pay Auburn Honda to Diagnose any problems/conditions/repairs needed
3. Offer the dealer who bought it at auction (WHY WAS IT AT AUCTION?????) 10K cash
or
3b. Arrange financing through my State Farm Agent whose 2.something% rate includes a warranty that cancels the balance if the car is a total insurance loss like my 2007 was.
(I got $9,000 for my 2007 from this insurance broker for the 2007)
Am I thinking correctly or can you advise different tactics?
Blessings, Gaeseal
Hello,
You are definitely on the right track.
You should definitely test drive the car to make sure everything is up to par. Since you had a Fit prior, there are some things that should be familiar to you.
Get the VIN of the car and make sure all recalls for the 2009 model year were completed.
I get the impression that this "small" dealer is not a Honda dealer. If that's the case, I would get the car inspected by a mechanic. Any shop should give you the option to pay them a small fee ($20 to $50) to put the car on a lift and inspect it completely. Just taking a test drive is not enough. I've had customers of mine ask me if they could have a particular used car inspected before buying, which my past dealers always complied with. I would hope this dealer would agree to it as well.
It's very common for cars to be bought at auctions, regardless if its a small or large dealer. My previous dealer, Lexus, would have first dibs to go through all lease returns. They would decide based on condition and vehicles they needed which ones they would buy straight from Lexus Financial. The rest, the bank would send to auction, which still included some good cars.
Having finances arranged is also a good idea. With small dealers, you having your financing set up just makes the process of buying much quicker and less of a hassle.
Again, to me, getting the car inspected is most important. Unless you are a mechanic yourself and feel confident inspecting.
Hope this helps.
Gotta love the overhyped benefits of AWD for NJ roads. I'm sure it does help your bottom line, though.
Any idea when you'll have a manny available for testdrives? I work right up the street from you. As far as the yellow, I would think that even pics wouldn't really help with understanding the exact hue; I've seen a good number of pics of the yellow from both continents and it's looked like about 6-8 types of yellow (so far). Though I'd be more than happy to drive down and look at them when they're in.
AFAIK, all HRVs will be slushboxes, I think I read that somewhere.
Food for thought - if negotiable pricing didn't benefit dealers, why would they continue with it?
Free plug: your Service Dept is very good, use it every so often on the CRX. Parts Dept. is ok, though it has a tough time notifying clients when parts are in.
Any idea when you'll have a manny available for testdrives? I work right up the street from you. As far as the yellow, I would think that even pics wouldn't really help with understanding the exact hue; I've seen a good number of pics of the yellow from both continents and it's looked like about 6-8 types of yellow (so far). Though I'd be more than happy to drive down and look at them when they're in.
AFAIK, all HRVs will be slushboxes, I think I read that somewhere.
Food for thought - if negotiable pricing didn't benefit dealers, why would they continue with it?
Free plug: your Service Dept is very good, use it every so often on the CRX. Parts Dept. is ok, though it has a tough time notifying clients when parts are in.
Thanks for the kind words. Agreed that AWD is not the end all when it comes to snow (it does not make drivers any smarter). But it does have its benefits, which I experienced first hand in my old Evo X.
No manual Fits currently in stock, but we just received two Fits late yesterday and, yes, one of them is yellow. We have it in our showroom, which I will be posting pics of soon.
Actually, negotiating really doesn't benefit dealers, but the customers, since the whole point of negotiating is to lower a price. The government does not allow price fixing, which is why negotiating on cars exist and why dealers hate Tesla, since they sell cars without negotiating. At the end of the day, we all want a great deal. Yet, at the same time, we pay for what we want. A $20 pay of shoes from Target will do the same as a $120 pay from Nike (even though quality may differ).
Pretty confident HRVs will be auto as well. We might not get the Hybrid model, but nothing official has been released yet. Just initial impressions.
Pass by and check out the Yellow Fit in person. Would love to hear your opinion on it. I'm here until 5pm today. Just ask for Jorge AKA Honda Geek.
Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 55
From: Seattle
I asked all the dealers in the area for their best out the door price for a purple EX manual. One dealer sent this in response:
When I pressed them for an actual number, I got the same MSRP + tax + usual fees which was about the same as every other dealer, ~$20,400. Then I got this (my emphasis added):
Guess I know who I'm not buying from
THERE ARE
TWO WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS
1)
QUOTE UNDER COST THEN DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO RAISE THE PRICE
BACK OVER COST OR
2)
BE HONEST AND ACCURATE WITH THE CUSTOMERS
We care too much about your future repeat and referral business to gamble it ... and throw out a price that just gets shopped to be beat by $50
We believe ... If we have the car in stock our customers want ... Do not misrepresent an
artificially low price (Just to get you in the door then change it once you get there) ... but
respond to the customer’’s price wishes ... we both win!!
TWO WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS
1)
QUOTE UNDER COST THEN DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO RAISE THE PRICE
BACK OVER COST OR
2)
BE HONEST AND ACCURATE WITH THE CUSTOMERS
We care too much about your future repeat and referral business to gamble it ... and throw out a price that just gets shopped to be beat by $50
We believe ... If we have the car in stock our customers want ... Do not misrepresent an
artificially low price (Just to get you in the door then change it once you get there) ... but
respond to the customer’’s price wishes ... we both win!!
As of right now they don't have any out there in that color. I have one being built in late Sept., but we cant control the shipping dates. With the Honda Fit it has been very unclear when the shipment are for them. I nor any other dealership cannot promise you a car by a certain date. Only because we don't have exact dates right now on this model. I do have a grey Fit EX manual in stock right now, but like all honda products it has accessories on them. We put the least amount of accessories on the vehicle. So even with the purple on it would have accessories on them. That we cannot change. All the Dealers are quoting you the MSRP price without the accessories. Then depending on the vehicle they add the accessories.
I asked all the dealers in the area for their best out the door price for a purple EX manual. One dealer sent this in response:
When I pressed them for an actual number, I got the same MSRP + tax + usual fees which was about the same as every other dealer, ~$20,400. Then I got this (my emphasis added):
Guess I know who I'm not buying from
When I pressed them for an actual number, I got the same MSRP + tax + usual fees which was about the same as every other dealer, ~$20,400. Then I got this (my emphasis added):
Guess I know who I'm not buying from
Let me just get the WOW out of the way.
Ok. With that being said, getting prices over the phone or online always tends to be a hassle experience. Most dealers (not all) will quote you prices that does not include the Destination Fee. By law, every window sticker on every car sold in America is required to separate the price of the vehicle from the destination fee, giving you the real price on the bottom.
On most Hondas the Destination Fee is $790. So if one dealer is straight with you and gives you a price of $20,000, as an example, then the next gives you $19,210, naturally you will go to the cheaper one.
Once you, the customer, arrives to the dealer and is ready to do all the paperwork, then the destination fee is included in the total sale price. It's sad, but its something some dealers still practice, which some customers still fall for.
Whether you are buying a Honda or a Lexus, you really never know what price you are truly getting until you arrive at the dealership you are going to do business with, for the most part. Believe it or not, True Car and other such sites can make it worse.
When I worked at my previous store for Lexus, I always wondered how a local Lexus competitor could price their cars $2,000 cheaper than everyone within 100 miles. It just didnt make sense to me that they would lose so much money to make a sale.
Soon after, we had a new salesperson join our team who happened to work at said dealership and told us the 411 on this. Its basically what I described above. They can adverstise a low price, which can exclude destination, in addition to other fees. It's just to get people in the door, which relates to one of the responses you shared above.
To me, it's simple. Every dealer pays the same price for every car and MSRPs and Invoices are readily available for new vehicles. If someone quotes you a price that seems too good to be true, based on the information you know, it probably is.
Accessories: what that dealer said about accessories on all Honda cars is complete rubbish. Maybe that's their policy, where they put accessories on every car, but it's a poor one.
While it's normal for dealerships to accessorize cars that are displayed in a showroom so customers can actually see them, they typically do not accessorize every car in their inventory. There are exceptions, of course. For example, there's a Kia store near me where they pinstripe every single car that comes off the truck. While I don't agree with this, each dealer can customize any number of vehicles as they see fit.
Finding a good dealership can be tough. I would first check with friends and family who have had a good experience with a dealer. Also check online reviews on sites like DealerRater or Google reviews. Every dealer should have good and bad reviews (if a dealership has perfects reviews something is usually fishy), which is worth going through to see what experiences people are having.
Hope this helps.
Any other questions feel free to post or PM directly
Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 55
From: Seattle
I've had good luck when i ordered a 2011 WRX a few years ago, i asked for the final out the door price and the dealer gave me invoice pricing but didn't include the destination fee. They tried to add it back on and I walked out a few times before they honored the quote they gave me.
4 of the other 5 dealerships gave me nearly identical prices, and the 5th had another $200 in dealer fees tacked on. At least now I know which ones to avoid!
4 of the other 5 dealerships gave me nearly identical prices, and the 5th had another $200 in dealer fees tacked on. At least now I know which ones to avoid!
Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 364
From: baltimore, md
Don't you think you've driven the free advertising into the ground, Honda Dude, geek, or whatever you call yourself. Nearly every one of your posts is fluff that most any informed car buyer knows already, and finally, your sig, telephone number, and solicitation.
IMHO, mods should really move this thread to the vendor area (if the OP qualifies) or shut the thread down entirely. Fair is fair.
IMHO, mods should really move this thread to the vendor area (if the OP qualifies) or shut the thread down entirely. Fair is fair.
Don't you think you've driven the free advertising into the ground, Honda Dude, geek, or whatever you call yourself. Nearly every one of your posts is fluff that most any informed car buyer knows already, and finally, your sig, telephone number, and solicitation.
IMHO, mods should really move this thread to the vendor area (if the OP qualifies) or shut the thread down entirely. Fair is fair.
IMHO, mods should really move this thread to the vendor area (if the OP qualifies) or shut the thread down entirely. Fair is fair.
Do I work for a Honda dealer? Yes. Do I take care of my wife and kids by selling cars? Yes. We all need to make a living. Just like you and everyone on FitFreak. And that's ok.
So if FitFreak members want to reach out to me, that's ok. And if nothing I have posted is of any help to you, my apologies. Hopefully something in the future might be of some help to you.
Thanks for your reply and all the best to you!!
I've had good luck when i ordered a 2011 WRX a few years ago, i asked for the final out the door price and the dealer gave me invoice pricing but didn't include the destination fee. They tried to add it back on and I walked out a few times before they honored the quote they gave me.
4 of the other 5 dealerships gave me nearly identical prices, and the 5th had another $200 in dealer fees tacked on. At least now I know which ones to avoid!
4 of the other 5 dealerships gave me nearly identical prices, and the 5th had another $200 in dealer fees tacked on. At least now I know which ones to avoid!
I've always said that a modded WRX has one of the best exhaust notes of any car, while a Honda engine has the best intake sound.
Both are awesome!!
Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 55
From: Seattle
It gets better:
Me: if i order a fit from you, can I get it just as it comes from Honda with no accessories?
On the Fits we put very minimal accessories on them. Only the Pin Stripping,Door edge guards, and the Wheel well Guards and Wheel locks.
Unfortunately We cannot sell you the vehicle as it is. All Honda Dealers have accessories on them and most won't pre sell you the vehicle especially without accesories
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 118
From: Westwood, NJ
and it was their 2015 model rollout. The HRV was listed as slushbox only. I'll be over at 4:15 to check out the lemon Fit.
Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 157
From: The Fourth Corner
We bought Jadzia(2009) from Sims Honda in Burlington. They didn't have the specs & color we wanted in stock, but found one in Moses Lake. The Internet sales person drove the car over to Burlington & we picked it up at the price they quoted, no hassle. We didn't get charged for the accessory splash guards that the Moses Lake dealer had already installed...
We placed an order for Fiona(2010) through the Internet sales person at Northwest Honda in Bellingham. Again, no hassles when ordering or picking up, the quoted price was honored, and no unwanted accessories were added.
I should add that both these dealers are under the same ownership, so I would expect the same type of behavior at either one.
Both cars have been serviced at Northwest Honda. Again, no hassles, no attempts to push a more-frequent-than-the-Maintenance-Minder schedule, and reasonable pricing for dealer servicing.
Last edited by 4thCornerFit; Aug 22, 2014 at 02:54 PM.
Cool beans. Pass by and check out the Yellow Fit. Just ask for Jorge or the Honda Geek at the front desk.
If you're willing to travel a bit, I've got some dealer recommendations for you.
We bought Jadzia(2009) from Sims Honda in Burlington. They didn't have the specs & color we wanted in stock, but found one in Moses Lake. The Internet sales person drove the car over to Burlington & we picked it up at the price they quoted, no hassle. We didn't get charged for the accessory splash guards that the Moses Lake dealer had already installed...
We placed an order for Fiona(2010) through the Internet sales person at Northwest Honda in Bellingham. Again, no hassles when ordering or picking up, the quoted price was honored, and no unwanted accessories were added.
I should add that both these dealers are under the same ownership, so I would expect the same type of behavior at either one.
Both cars have been serviced at Northwest Honda. Again, no hassles, no attempts to push a more-frequent-than-the-Maintenance-Minder schedule, and reasonable pricing for dealer servicing.
We bought Jadzia(2009) from Sims Honda in Burlington. They didn't have the specs & color we wanted in stock, but found one in Moses Lake. The Internet sales person drove the car over to Burlington & we picked it up at the price they quoted, no hassle. We didn't get charged for the accessory splash guards that the Moses Lake dealer had already installed...
We placed an order for Fiona(2010) through the Internet sales person at Northwest Honda in Bellingham. Again, no hassles when ordering or picking up, the quoted price was honored, and no unwanted accessories were added.
I should add that both these dealers are under the same ownership, so I would expect the same type of behavior at either one.
Both cars have been serviced at Northwest Honda. Again, no hassles, no attempts to push a more-frequent-than-the-Maintenance-Minder schedule, and reasonable pricing for dealer servicing.
My dream house would have a 5 car garage filled with the following:
2009 Honda S2000
2011 Honda Civic Si with FD2 Conversion
2014 Acura MDX
2015 Honda Fit EX 6 Speed
2015 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite (gotta have that vacuum)
You need to dream big sometimes!!
New Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 6
From: Bronx
Hello fello FitFreaks,
I am a previous owner of a 2011 Honda Fit Sport, who recently got a job working at a Honda dealer in NJ. I also held sales positions on both an Acura dealer and, most recently, a top ten nationwide Lexus dealer. I've been a Honda fan for years and when the opportunity came up to work at one of the best Honda dealership based on customer service, I made the jump and Im very happy I did.
The release of the 2015 Fit has been very exciting and also frustrating, with the delays that we have experienced. My dealership, Mahwah Honda in NJ, has also seen delays of the new Fit, but also have seen some trickle in here and there.
_cut_
So here is my advice to those looking to buy a new Fit:
1. Deposit on an in-transit model: If you have already decided to buy a 2015 Fit, go to your previous or local Honda dealership and put a deposit on one that's in-transit. Every dealership has a list of Fits that have been allocated to them, with estimated dates on arrival. Just keep in mind that estimated really just guarantees that the dealer is receiving said car, not that there is an exact time of arrival.
_cut_
These are just a few things tips for those looking into a new Fit. If you have an additional question, which was not addressed above, feel free to ask below and I'll answer it as soon as I can.
I am a previous owner of a 2011 Honda Fit Sport, who recently got a job working at a Honda dealer in NJ. I also held sales positions on both an Acura dealer and, most recently, a top ten nationwide Lexus dealer. I've been a Honda fan for years and when the opportunity came up to work at one of the best Honda dealership based on customer service, I made the jump and Im very happy I did.
The release of the 2015 Fit has been very exciting and also frustrating, with the delays that we have experienced. My dealership, Mahwah Honda in NJ, has also seen delays of the new Fit, but also have seen some trickle in here and there.
_cut_
So here is my advice to those looking to buy a new Fit:
1. Deposit on an in-transit model: If you have already decided to buy a 2015 Fit, go to your previous or local Honda dealership and put a deposit on one that's in-transit. Every dealership has a list of Fits that have been allocated to them, with estimated dates on arrival. Just keep in mind that estimated really just guarantees that the dealer is receiving said car, not that there is an exact time of arrival.
_cut_
These are just a few things tips for those looking into a new Fit. If you have an additional question, which was not addressed above, feel free to ask below and I'll answer it as soon as I can.
I had a question, and was wondering if you might be able to answer it. I live in NYC, and I put a deposit down on an in-transit Ex-L Navi in the beginning of July. I got my VIN about 2 weeks ago. From what I've been able to find out from info online, it looks like it came into port a about a week ago, and I know they might spend a few days in port being given a "once over" to make sure no damage was sustained during shipping, etc. So, basically, I was wondering if you know about how long it normally takes for the cars to make it from the port to the dealership? Or is there really no way to say?
I appreciate any input you can offer, and thanks again!
Hello! Congrats on your new job with the Honda dealer, and thanks for making this post - you provided a lot of great info for us excited prospective Fit owners!
I had a question, and was wondering if you might be able to answer it. I live in NYC, and I put a deposit down on an in-transit Ex-L Navi in the beginning of July. I got my VIN about 2 weeks ago. From what I've been able to find out from info online, it looks like it came into port a about a week ago, and I know they might spend a few days in port being given a "once over" to make sure no damage was sustained during shipping, etc. So, basically, I was wondering if you know about how long it normally takes for the cars to make it from the port to the dealership? Or is there really no way to say?
I appreciate any input you can offer, and thanks again!
I had a question, and was wondering if you might be able to answer it. I live in NYC, and I put a deposit down on an in-transit Ex-L Navi in the beginning of July. I got my VIN about 2 weeks ago. From what I've been able to find out from info online, it looks like it came into port a about a week ago, and I know they might spend a few days in port being given a "once over" to make sure no damage was sustained during shipping, etc. So, basically, I was wondering if you know about how long it normally takes for the cars to make it from the port to the dealership? Or is there really no way to say?
I appreciate any input you can offer, and thanks again!
Thanks for the kind words. Im very excited myself to be at Honda (coming from Lexus I might add), especially since I could help out all the Honda FitFreak members here.
Let's address your question in regards to vehicles in transit. It really depends how the car is being shipped. Some cars are sent using railway systems, while others are by ship. The Fit happens to come in to the USA by both, and that's decided once the cars leave the manufacturing plant.
Since the new Fit has experienced multiple delays with its introduction into the market, its really hard to tell how long it could take to arrive to your local dealership. Typically, once a vehicle arrives at a port, the process of it being inspected for damages and then shipped to the dealer can take a week. With Lexus, this was usually the case as well, even with vehicles coming in from Japan.
This can easily stretch to 10 days, since thousands of vehicles are slowly being unloaded and inspected from one shipment.
In the case of the Fit, its a little hard to tell. The good news is that you have been seeing progress, having received the VIN and knowing that it has arrived to its local distribution.
I know you are more than anxious, but be patient just a bit more. Soon enough you will have an Awesome GK5 in driveway!!
Please share some pics once you take delivery and feel free to reach out to me in the future with any questions you might have.
All the best!!
New Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 6
From: Bronx
Jorge,
Thanks for the reply, and the great info! Trying to be patient, but waiting for this car is like waiting for Christmas!! I'm so excited for it to arrive!! :-) But I'm aware of the delays that have happened, so I know it's a matter of time - just have to hang in there!!
But I'll definitely post pics when it arrives - it's such a good looking little car (I got it in Aegean Blue) so I can't wait to show it off!!
Thanks again for the information!! :-)
Melissa
Thanks for the reply, and the great info! Trying to be patient, but waiting for this car is like waiting for Christmas!! I'm so excited for it to arrive!! :-) But I'm aware of the delays that have happened, so I know it's a matter of time - just have to hang in there!!
But I'll definitely post pics when it arrives - it's such a good looking little car (I got it in Aegean Blue) so I can't wait to show it off!!
Thanks again for the information!! :-)
Melissa
