Boyfriend and I decided on a Fit LX last month. Called all the Honda dealerships in the area (there are more than 10!) and no surprise, only EX-Ls in stock at a couple. Test drove a couple of the EX-Ls and decided we wanted to pull the trigger. We were at one Honda dealership, they told us they had an LX coming in for delivery that week, someone had already put a deposit on it, but if we were willing to sign the financing papers that day then they would sell it to us instead. We declined because that felt like bad karma to take a car someone else had been promised. Called all the other dealerships asking who would have an LX when, and most of the salespeople we spoke with said that they had no idea when, but they had allotments and were taking refundable deposits, first come-first served. One dealership said they were no longer taking deposits on undelivered cars as there was simply too much confusion with delivery, but they had a waiting list. Finally, one dealership said that they had 3 LXs in transit! They had VIN#s and everything, come on in and buy one, they were expecting delivery between the 5th and 10th of August and they could track their location online. In we went and signed paperwork and financing for a white LX. WHOO HOO!

Except, now it's after the 10th and we still don't have a car. Last time I called the dealership, they said they though maybe by the 13th, but they really weren't sure. I thought they could track location?! Last weekend another dealership called me and said they had a white Fit LX on the lot. ON THE LOT!! I said we already signed paperwork at a different dealership - they said it could be canceled if we didn't have the car yet. I declined because it sounded like a hassle, but now I'm starting to regret it. Another dealership called me today saying they have one. GAH!!

What if the dealership who sold me the car is pulling the wool over my eyes and this thing isn't in transit at all but sitting in Mexico waiting for QC or something? Am I gonna be waiting until September for this car? I know lots of people are waiting for the FIT everywhere, but I was under the impression that the car I bought was ON THE WAY

Now I'm wondering if it is possible/prudent to cancel my purchase with the first dealership and buy from another when they actually have a car on the lot. I am really irritated by the lack of transparency from the dealership I bought from.

 

Leia, your problems sounds exactly what I'm dealing with now
https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/3rd-...cs-mexico.html


To be honest, I really don't think the dealers have visibility behind the logistics of when the cars ship from the Honda plants. If they truly do not, then Honda has a serious flaw in transparency to their supply chain of cars as you mentioned. Like all dealerships they only want customers they can maximize profits on and have them be well qualified in the finance department. That can easily be a generalized myopic view but it has merit.

 

It's been almost one month since I reserved a Fit and am still waiting. Just need to be patient is all.

I notice there's several threads already with complaints about the lead time and lack of visibility/transparency with inventory that may or may not be in transit. While it's inconvenient, I don't believe it's the intention of any dealer to keep customers hanging--they want to sell you a car just as badly (if not more lol) than you want to buy it! It's just a matter of supply and demand. It's pretty clear that the Fit is a popular vehicle right now and as long as you've placed a reservation, you'll get one in due time.

It seems like most of us are not in the most dire need of a new car (either you already own a late model vehicle that runs fine, or otherwise have other means of transportation).

 

They lied to your face.

 

Same thing basically happened to me. If you're vehicleless demand a loaner from the dealer

 

Bassguitarist - I'm reading replies to your post with interest! Based on what I've read on this forum and what I heard from my local dealerships, the tracking system in place for the FIT is not providing sufficient and/or accurate information. I agree that quality-control issues are one problem, but not being able to track inventory is another altogether. I did not appreciate that this was a problem at the time I made my purchase (though why should I have to?). Like I said, I was told by the dealership that the cars were in transit, they were tracking my car, and that they expected it between the 5th and 10th. Obviously, this had to have been a fabrication on their part - they've been selling this car all summer and would have known about the tracking issue as well as the slow release, and yet they didn't tell me this - Honda misrepresented the situation to me.

I don't have a problem with waiting for the car I want. I have a problem with the fact that I was told they could track my car, gave me a specific delivery date, and then after signing a bill of sale and putting down money their story changed to we'll get it ... eventually. I have a financing agreement in place and I have payments that will come due from the date of sale last month, regardless of whether I've actually received the car. Yes I currently have transportation but I'm driving a 1987 Honda CRX held together in places with duct tape and I was really, really looking forward to my first new car ... particularly that A/C. *sigh*

 

There is not much tracking available. They can tell you what Honda has estimated but I would be very shocked if any Fits are arriving within that window. For example, I am in the Denver area and the car had tracking info last available at a distribution center in El Paso, TX. Still pretty far away, and my fit arrived within a week after the expected arrival window. When they told you the expected arrival, they were most likely (hopefully) telling the truth. Don't get too anxious with these Fits, it won't do you much good. Just ask the dealer to copy the Honda system tracking info to you in an email if you're nervous.

 

I bought a white Fit LX for my wife over a month ago. They said it would be there at the very latest in 4 days. The car we traded in wasn't running, so on the 5th day they agreed to give us a service loaner Accord. She's since put 1300 miles on this Accord and now I don't really fret about when we will get the fit.

 

Thank you. I am a Logistics Manager as my day job so my replies will be specific to that trade. I'm in the same boat as you the dealer misrepresented themselves to me by promising the moon and the stars. Since I am an informed consumer and understood who was telling me this information (including this person's role at the dealership) I did not take it too much to heart. Everything that you see on my thread is from my experience doing supply chain optimization and gathering internal Honda intel I'm not at liberty to disclose for privacy reasons.

The main point is dealers don't have effective tools to track incoming inventory, not just the FITS but all models. The problem is exacerbated by the fact its a new generation model and a new plant.

This is actually a common problem for many large companies. Sales & finance people don't understand supply chain/logistics. In fact many do not care about it period. All they want to know and tell a customer is what appears on a computer screen these days. Its not their area of expertise.

I hope you get your car soon Leia! I'm already ordering accessories/mods for a car I do not have yet! My deposit money so far has bought me an invisible vehicle!

 

I appreciate the responses ... it's making me feel better at least. Called the dealership again today, supposedly someone will get back to me.

 

Leia, you should ask them to cover your car payments until they can actually deliver the car to you. They've already received the money, and have yet to produce what they promised. Either that, or they should throw something else in (free tint, free maintenance for a couple years, etc.) They owe you!

 

I think that it is very prudent. Since they have already failed to deliver as promised they will string you along unless you put your foot down.

Many people think that a deposit will guarantee delivery of a car, but the reality is that it only guarantees that the customer won't go to another dealer if a car becomes available sooner.

The only leverage you get is when you have the money in your pocket, as shown by that dealer who was willing to sell a car for which had taken a deposit to another customer. They would have told the customer who made the deposit that they "made a mistake" and still kept them dangling for a car.

Why would anyone put themselves in such a position?