I've been looking to purchase a 2016 EX manual some time this spring. As I have read through the various threads I realize that production is limited and that the Fit may need to be ordered. Cars.com show some 2016 manuals appearing in various regions around the country but not in the Pacific Northwest. I have been working with AAA's buying program, and they were told that the manual "would not be produced this spring." So, it seems, I am in the same boat as a few other posters: I am trying to figure out fact from fiction. Any ideas on the real scoop? (Mods, if I posted this in the wrong forum, please move it to the appropriate one.)

 

Order one. It might take 3 months. I waited 1 month, but others have waited 4 months. Manuals account for only 10% of all cars in the US and Canada, so there are very few around. Otherwise they would simply sit in showrooms unsold. Or so I've been told.

 

2013 Fit Sport Manual only $21,400 with 30k miles:

2013 Honda Fit SPORT, $21,400 - Cars.com

Wow! Good luck with that one.

 

I hope you can hang in there and find a manual. I have one in a Passion Berry Pearl and it is such a slick shifter. I had a Volvo manual and it was nowhere near as nice.

 

I was under the impression that all '16 manuals were produced in the Celaya, Mexico plant as opposed to Japan. Perhaps it's an issue of getting manuals to the Pacific NW? Not sure how they're getting there - railcar or sea frieght - but I'm wondering if that's the real issue.

 

I live in Chicago. The Dealer I bought mine from, Castle Honda in Morton Grove, ILL. got mine in about a month. No way was I going with an Auto Trans.

 

Interesting. I picked up my 2015 Manual at the from the lot in Spokane.

 

There don't seem to be any sticks coming from Japan so the only ones available are leftover vehicles from Mexico. It's possible that they have a stock of US spec manuals there and slap VINs on them and ship as they are requested.

Of course, dealers aren't going to request them because they don't want a white elephant on their lot. You pretty much have to order them.

 

I saw plenty of manuals available last year when I bought mine, but I have yet to see a '16 manual transmission Fit anywhere so far.


My advice is, if you want a manual, hold out for a manual. I love driving mine.

 

Interesting comment at the dealer this weekend, the counter guy said that due to the issues they had on the last 3 years of cars from Mexico they were moving ALL the fit manufacturing back to the motherland. They had just gotten the memo.. May explain why the Manuals arnt readily available.. They may not have the parts supply line geared up to their plant in japan?

 

Thanks for the note! I haven't heard back from the auto broker, and Tonkin, et al., keep trying to foist a CVT on me. My Accord is racking up all sorts of little issues, and I don't want to sink more money into it.

 

It can only be a manual. Nothing else will suffice.

 

At the time I bought my new 2016 Fit LX with manual transmission, December 30, 2015, there were only four available in all of South Florida. Two in Milano Red, and two in White Orchid Pearl, which was my second choice color. Red was completely out of the question.

Glad I bought it when I did, as there are none available now.

 

Here's the latest from the AAA auto broker. "Moving production to Japan has everything to do with the Mexican factory's capacity and nothing to do with quality. As of now, Honda is still not accepting orders on manuals." Checking Cars.com, I saw approximately 80 manuals across the country; most were located many miles from Portland, OR. The inventory is a mix of 2016's and 2015's. So...I am still sorting the wheat from the chaff. I am bothered that I am being told that a manual isn't available.

 

I can't help but ask why red was completely out of the question?

 

I hate red. And I have owned several red cars, 3 of them over more than 30 years. One in 1963, one in 1971, and the last one in 1984. No more.

 

Yeah, like someone who sells Hondas, will say "They moved production because quality was spotty!" They still have to sell HRVs, which are all made in Celaya!

 

Thanks for the quick response.

 

Moving Fit production back to Japan, if it happens, would make a lot of sense. The HRV is a much more popular car in North America, and certainly has a higher markup. The Fit is much more popular in Asia, where small cars are a necessity. Let's face it, the Fit is not a popular car her in North America, though a lack of supply does not help Fit sales. The whole subcompact/compact class is in the doldrums, so it is better for Honda to go big into the CUV class.

They can concentrate on quality of the Fit in Japan, and HRV quality in Mexico.

 

I finally got a reply email from the sales manager at Tonkin here in PDX. He explained that the current production run has few if any manuals. The next run, which would give a delivery date of June or July, might have manuals slated for production. He didn't know and couldn't take an order. As expected, he then launched into his routine about how the CVT is the greatest thing since ice cubes and sliced bread. Back to square one for the next few months.