Simple question: Why are there two MSRPs (17625 and 17765) for 2017 Honda Fit LX with CVT? The dealer says there are 'older' 2017s, and 'newer' 2017s.

Any ideas? I can't find the info on the interwebs, and I don't want to appear dumb with this guy.

BTW, I'm simultaneously email-negotiating with a few area dealerships and boy do they hate it! They want my number so bad, and for me to come in in person even worse. When I tell them they are bidding against others, I bet they are pounding their keyboards. Feels good to turn the tables on them, and so far it is working. I'm entering 'round two' soon: after I don't respond to them for 24 hours, they will get itchy to give me a better deal. That's the theory, at least.

 

Good for you - wish you luck on the bidding war. I didn't have the luxury of time when I bought my Fit last year. It was a rush for me but still I'm satisfied with the outcome and very pleased with the car itself.

As for the 2 MSPR's, I haven't a clue but I would think the prices should be nearly identical. How much do they differ?

 

Thanks for the good wishes, BenQuick. Time and patience is definitely needed. First time I am trying this, and I think I've gone too aggressive. Still, I have to believe that if they want my money, they will keep coming at me. Pride rarely gets in the way of a salesman.

I only know the difference between the MSRPs (140) and that is my question. WHY??? Go on any big Honda site and look up this particular make and model (2017 Fit LX w/ CVT), and you'll see it. Never indicates why.

Love Paul Newman (your icon). Not many real men left in Hollywood. After Eastwood and Voight kick the bucket, it's pretty much over.

 

Maybe earlier this year Honda put through a small price increase for 2017 (and I vaguely seem to recall hearing this). Cars that dealers already had on their lots were locked in at the old price but new deliveries would be at the higher price. Thus same car, but two slightly different prices.

 

Agreed. Just keep at it. It's not like a buyer putting in a low ball offer on a home purchase and the seller is so offended by the low offer that he tells the buyer to get lost. Eventually they will give you a final offer they can live with.

One thing to mention about dealerships; we've had many members here who are very disappointed with the dealership they bought their car from. At the same time we've had members here who are very satisfied with their dealership. So I would advise spending some time on researching them also, if you haven't already.

 

That makes sense, WOOF. I'm going to go with it.

 

BenQuick, I've looked at some reviews of dealerships, but coming from a smaller city, my options are somewhat limited. What I have noticed is that when I implied 'give me a better offer, because your competitors have already, or I'll move on' they come right back with a better offer. At least those that gave me an MSRP as their initial quote (can you believe this?). I just don't know if I can go to a third round with this method.

Has anyone used Carvana.com for a Honda Fit here? I just learned of them and they have plenty of Fits. But all the third generations are pending sales. Apparently they go quite fast. But buying a car and having it delivered without actually seeing it is worrying. You can get an inspection, of course, and return it in 7 days without a problem supposedly. Now, they have plenty of bad reviews. But the prices are right, that's for sure.

 

No idea on why the difference between the different MSRP.


But!!! Thank you for bringing up email negotiating. I never thought of that and I wish I had done that for the FIT I just bought. For my next car, I will be doing that. Cheers

 

A dealership did give me an explanation for my original question:

"Honda raised their prices on most models by $100 produced after a certain day (likely in Feb, I can't remember exactly). The $40 comes from a price increase for destination and handling, going from $835 to $875."

PUFFYSWEATER: After 5 days of email negotiations, the car (2017 Honda Fit LX CVT, no additional accessories) is now in my possession, sitting in my garage! And I got a great price, I'm bursting! I actually had the winning bidder pick me up and drive me to their lot (and the bank) so I could finalize the purchase we began yesterday on the phone.

Yup, you read that right. The entire 5 days of negotiation was done on line. I made it clear to all the bidding dealerships that I would not being giving them my phone number until I decided where to buy the Fit based on the lowest bid. And of course I resisted their come-ons for a lot visit (the death of any price-conscious car buyer).

Going by TrueCar's stats, for the price I got, I'm in the 87 percentile for local sales, and 84 for sales nationwide. That is, locally, only 13% of customers in my area got a bigger MSRP price reduction, and 16% nationwide. My MSRP price slash was nearly $1100. I actually believe I may have gotten more if I pushed another round (that is, going to the remaining bidders to see if they would top it), but I didn't because

(1) I liked the guy I purchased from; I felt he was the one that worked hardest for my business, while the others came across as being somewhat entitled to my business (which is strange because judging from their pictures, he was a millennial while the others were much older, which tells me that the older guys know they won't be getting thousands in their pockets like they usually do with lot walk-ons if they serious undertake competitive bidding with the other dealerships, while the younger guys are hungrier, more net-savvy, and evidently smarter: they know that greater volume of email sales at a lower price still puts a healthy salary in their pockets); and

(2) I started to feel kind of greedy and slimy and wanted to end the negotiation (I wonder if car salesmen ever feel that way when they are getting the better of the deal)?

This method is incredibly effective. I will NEVER walk onto a lot again. Only email negotiations where you make it clear, subtly, that they are bidding against the other dealerships. That completely turns the tables on them. But you do need to go slow until they tune into what is going on. One dealership was initially spooked and opted out quickly, but with a follow-up email with a CC to his sales manager explaining that if they bid the lowest, I'm there the next day with insurance and payment all ready to go, he was back in. Don't be anything but professional, don't give personal details in your emails other than those which demonstrate that you are a local boy who has done research on what the local and national market can bear regarding price (Kelly Blue Book, TrueCar, Edmunds at a minimum). Give so little personal info that they can't 'investigate' you online so they can get some kind of psychological hook into you, but just enough that proves you are legit (and not a professional car buyer) and are to be taken seriously, etc etc. I have a million tips based on my experience and I might blog about it somewhere sometime.

Anyway, as I said, my new Fit is now in my garage and I couldn't be happier, especially as I feel I got the better of these sales guys who so often get the better of us. A great car for a great price. That is sweet indeed!

 

Congratulations!

Just one more thing left for you to do:

We need pics posted of this new bad boy

 

I know a guy who has been offered jobs for car dealers nearly every time he buys a car..

Imagine showing up with your 5 kids and turning them loose in the dealership while your in the booth..
And everything on the floor indoors is a specialty car,, Nothing like a 3 year old jumping on the front seat of a new Mustang Rouche GT Convertible..

He lives of the deal.. Me I hate haggling, I'd buy a car from a vending machine if I could..

 

That is correct, old vs new price. The old price 2017 Base LX $15,990 +$835 destination and Handling. $16,825 manual trans + $800 for CVT Total $17,625.

New base price: January, 2017 went up to $16,090 (was $15,990) CVT Automatic w/1.5L 4-Cyl. Engine $800
Modern Steel METALLIC Black Cloth 15-inch Wheels with Full Covers Subtotal $16,890 Destination and Handling $875 (was $835) Total MSRP as Built $17,765

Now, there are several internet places, Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, edmunds.com, US news and world report, AOL. etc. that give you the price you can expect to pay. Stay firm, tell them you do not want any dealer added options, which they make a killing. Don't feel sorry for them. I was firm with $18K including tax and license, in TX. for a LX with CVT, and that's what I paid. Price may be a little different now due to different supply and demand and tax and registration in your area. Good luck with your tactics.