Hi gang, just got an email from my Hubby, long story short, have decided on a Fit, VBP Sport... only one dealer nearby has one coming in 3 weeks, we did not get into heavy negotiations... but they had the price on the window as 2k over MSRP and told us we could likely get it for couple hundred to 5 hundred over MSRP.

OK, so... we actually know a guy who is the owner of a Honda Dealership in Ocala (we are in Tampa, FL) we contacted him next, hoping they'd do us a deal. What we got was MSRP and 5k on my trade (which is what CarMax appraised it at). Good news is they'll have a VBP sport in in a couple days.

My hubby, the uber-haggler, is disappointed. Wants to keep looking, I, as the research-chick, have been all online last couple weeks researching the heck out of Fits, seems like it's tough to do better than MSRP. (And yeah, it's for me and I WANT MY FIT!! :-))

So just wondering what you guys thought... sound like a good deal? Anyone in NA, particularly FL (hey Jacksonville guys, weigh in!) been able to do much better than MSRP? I'm thinking, we put a deposit on the Ocala one and then check a couple local dealers w/ that offer. I don't mind waiting if we are going to get a better deal, but if it's going to be the same everywhere, well, I want it sooner rather than later.

Edit: I should add the appraisal from CarMax is a couple K less than Kelly BB for trade ins.


Thanks for your help!
Kitty

 

Well, your on the right track to come here.

Do NOT pay more than MSRP.

I paid $17,232 OUT the door. VBP Sport Auto.

Try to get $17,000 out the door!

 

I live in Brandon and I just bought my fit on Saturday from Regal Honda in Lakeland and they are at msrp and they have a lower dealer fee than all the other dealers in the tampa bay area. very pleased. ask for Glenda Baker or Danielle Wood phone 863 687 8000

 

Definitely don't go over MSRP. If you can't get below MSRP, perhaps try haggling for some goodies (ie. cargo tray, all-weather mats, etc.).

 

i got mine from there as well a few hundred over msrp plus that package that they force you to get with free loaner and pinstripes...that was in Oct06

 

Well gang, the latest update is that I have an offer from a local dealer. Couple hundred over, but they are giving me 1k more on my trade. I think it's a decent deal. My husband comes home tomorrow, he's going to look over it all, might try our Ocala offer see if they'll beat it... I put down a deposit though, so this one is at least a "bird in the hand"

I'll keep you updated!
Kitty

Looks like I'll be getting my Fit in a week or so! :-)

 

Stupid dealers trying to get more than msrp saying theres nothing they can do, i piad 17,100 out the door with all weather mats and free carwashes for a year and a full tank of gas with the car wash. Wierd little perk but i'm not gonna complain. But yeah definately haggle for some goodies.

 

they started at 20k, i got them down to msrp. than they couldnt find the regular wheels, they had the hfp on it, so they gave in and let me have them for 200 more hehe. by the way i milked them for a day than called them an hour before they closed. took a half an hour to get there, almost walked again, than they said okay okay. came out to be about 16900 with the hfp's and the damn non nagotiable transportation fee.


anyways good luck and give um hell.

 

Hee Hee (snort!)! Good guys, the free car washes, wow, that is a weird perk, but heck anything's good!

Yeah, I will sick my Hubby on 'em when he gets home tomorrow, it's still a better deal than the Ocala one because of the increase on the trade-in of my Beetle, $700 less than the other offer total. So unless Ocala will do better... but yeah husband's the haggle-meister I'm hoping for floor mats, leather shift knob... or he might get those last couple hundred of the premium off. Who knows? I just leave him to it. Will let you all know how it all hacks out...

Now on to shopping for neoprene seat covers... whoo hoo! Can't wait for my new BABY! my Bike will be permanently in it, neoprene and a few other goodies. I am going to have SO MUCH FUN with this car!!!!
Kitty, cycling-chick and soon to be Fit owner

 

nice... always good to make em sweat, and speaking of car washes... ,my car needs one... think i'll head over there tomorrow and get a free tank of gas and a car wash

 

I paid just under 17K for mine. It's supply and demand. There are no deals out there.

 

couple of hundread over MSRP should be considered "good deal" IMO
you could get one at MSRP or under is is "excellent deal".

However, what i found out through my car buying experiences, financing is key things when you buy a car (unless you are paying in full at once)

 

Actually, we should do pretty well with financing, H. and I both have excellent credit, I think with all this it really boils down to the trade. Like you said, not going to get under MSRP, so if they are offering 1k more than everyone else for my Beetle, well, to me I think that's the way to go. Of course, my H will probably see if anyone will beat it before we do the deal, but I think we'll be doing ok.... w/ the trade it's looking like 12,200 out the door.

 

I paid almost $1000 over MSRP for a Fit AT base.

But I got a really good trade value on my Prelude which had alot of problems (about $2000 worth of work needed)

 

Hey V,
I hear ya, my Beetle has been an unending source of frustration and the latest is it's not falling into gear at the right times (revving to high etc...) I am just hoping to get this deal done before something major goes wrong w/ it. My H is frustrated cuz Kelly BB says 7k for it in good condition for a trade in, but knowing the problems, I feel getting 6k for it is good, Autoway and another dealer were saying 5, so I think 6 is good.

It's sad really, I love my Beetle grew up in my mom's '67 and got it when I could drive drove the Sh*t out of that car, finally sold it when it was like, 23 years old! So I was THRILLED when they came out with the new Beetles, but it's been a pain, they sure don't make 'em like they used too! So the only other car I've owned was a 95 civic, never gave me problems, still I loved having a "unique" car like the Beetle, that's why I am so excited about the Fit!
Kitty

 

my sis drive 04 NB and i am convicing her to change her car to Honda Fit..
it is working i guess...

 

I left Honda for a Jetta which became a lemon in which I got a fully loaded Golf Hatch. Loved it to death as frame-wise and body it was built like a tank. The thing was like a poor mans Porche, it rode on rails, had balls and could manuever like crazy. Alas underneath the Golf was a POS. Electrical problems up the wazoo, creaks and rattles all over the place to which the service people and VW didn't really care. Both the Jetta and Golf had safety issues also, problems with the seat belts, problems with the airbag sensors, the list goes on and still no care from VW. Went back to Honda with the Element but with a new job and longer driving distance I needed something with better MPG.

 

Not to get into a big trash VW thing on this thread, but yeah, electrical has been my #1 problem w/ my NB, but hardly the only one. Example: Had the check engine light go on, dealer told us a $650 part needed replacing, after some research decided to leave it be, rode w/ CE light on for like, year and a half... next time we are at dealer they say "oh now, it was just an electrical thing", they reset, no CE light on anymore. If we'd just listened blindly, would have spent 650 on a part I didn't need. Pulled exactly the same thing with a side airbag, one service rep says need to replace it, later another says no, just the electrical sys malfunctioning. That was only the tip of the iceberg, inside falling apt. visors, knobs insets coming loose... the list goes on and on. Never had any of those problems with my Civic. So yeah, as much as I love the look of Beetle, I am over it! Back to Honda, with the Fit I get a great, reliable, small, cheap car (and no less peppy then my non-turbo beetle) that I can easily fit my bike in and still have something "unique" that will stand out on the road!

 

Hi guys. The KBB comment was interesting. Kelly is a guideline. What most people fail to read is that small bottom disclaimer, or first chapter of the physical book. The price listed doesn't include reconditioning fees (smog, safety, parts for repair, oil, tires) which usually can get up to $1200-$1500 on a nice car. Yep, that means if your vehicle is worth $6,000 then you can expect $4800-$4500. It may sound low but think of the other side of the table: what if you were trying to buy the car, and they wanted all the money, but the tires are shot, the brakes are soft, that back window doesn't roll up, but BUY IT at $10,000? That's a somewhat extreme example, but it gets the point across. Personally if it were me I'd take the MSRP deal with the good trade figure. Think about it, you're down with the owner so he's going to let his guys know to look out for you. Finance hassles you? Let him know. They start playing with numbers? Make a phone call. See? Just my opinion, good luck to you, and don't pay OVER sticker. If there's silly equipment on the vehicle, ask to see their "cost to sales" and find a fair number where they make $5, $10 there, $20 there, but still great prices for you. Give and take baby

 

It was wierd, there was a short in the Golf elec. system but no one could find it. So meanwhile I had lights burning out all the time, and te wierdest thing of all (actually have video of this because the dealer didn't believe us) the headlights and taillights would come in the middle of the night! No key in the ignition, lights not turned on, Nothing! It was like I had a ghost in the machine! Very bizaare.