I just picked up a base manual fit in blue this friday and was very excited to finally be a fit owner. I have been trying to sell my WRX for a long time and finally got a buyer so as I soon as I sold it, I went to the dealership where i work to get the fit!! Unfortunately my girlfriend hates that i got the base instead of the sport which i do also regret myself. The main thing that made me mad though was that i went to remove the front license plate and there was a hole drilled straight into the bumper to keep the plate up. I talked to several people so far who have said that customers complained that their plate came off in a car wash or started to come forward with time so thats why they started to drill holes. They said that it is against the law to remove the front plate so they just went ahead and screwed it in. Is it normal for honda dealers to do this? I went to look around the dealership and only saw some had the screws in them. Has anyone else encounter this problem and were you able to fix it somehow??

 

If there are holes those are going to be tough to get around in bodywork. You could always cover it up with a sticker or just put some rubber grommets in the holes.

For durability, I can see why they put screws in it. Were they just 3m taped before?

Sucks you already regret going for the base model. Sorry.

 

Possibly try looking for some sort of front billet aluminum piece like fastWRX.com has for the WRX since the WRX has the same pre drilled holes.. This way you can cover the holes up using that.

~myke
(MY04 WRX owner)

 

Don't regret the base... just get a nice lip. I'm getting an '09 sport because its new so lips and other parts wont be out for a while, and I want the sporty look. But If I were going with an '08 I'd get the base so i could make it a "sport" myself.

 

You can order a part from Honda that will plug the hole. It's only a few dollars. It's an excellent option for those of us with that unfortunate hole, myself included.

Tafetta white = 96-00 tafetta white Civic #NH-578
Storm silver = 00-07 Silverstone S2000 #NH-630M
Nighthawk Black = 96-00 flamenco black pearl Civic #NH-592P
MIlano red = 96-00 Honda Civic milano red #R-81
Vivid blue pearl = 99-00 Honda Civic Electron blue pearl #B-95P

 

i got holes too... i was pissed otherwise my front plate would be off...

 

In states with front plate laws I believe most Honda dealers WILL drill the front bumper. I kinda lucked out with my Fit in CT because I wasn't planning on buying a Fit and I was getting my 06 Civic an oil change and I noticed they had one hidden in the back still wrapped from delivery. I went into the showroom and asked about it and they said the guy backed out an hour earlier and it just came in. After driving it I told them I wanted it, and lucked out even more because my credit was good enough to drive it off the lot and their computer's were down that let them connect to the DMV and register plates. So they had no reason to put on the bracket during the quick PDI since they had no metal plates to give me.

Later when I came back to pick up my plates the guy who went to put them on kept asking where my bracket was. I told him it was safe in my garage and there was no way in hell I was gonna let them put it on for me lol.

 

Mine had no holes but there were scratches were it was rubing the plate. That pissed me off its a brand new car that i just payed 18300 for and its already scratched. But i just bout touch up paint and it looks good to me u can't really even tell.

 

after doing a bit or research.... i found (at least in CT) that the front plate does not NEED to be fixed to the bumper... the DMV states " you will be issued two plates, one to be displayed in the front and the other to the rear of your vehicle" so... had the hole not already been there when i first saw the car id stick it in my window when i drove off the lot... then removed it....
i dont see how ANY state can force you to do something that essentialy damages your car...

 

haha the state doesnt give a crap about your car, only if it can see the plates on it!

 

You don't need to have it affixed to the bumper, however the dealers are required by law to put both plates on the car when it leaves the lot. Some just don't care/know better and drill the bumper.

There was a huge thread back on 8thCivic when the Civic's first came out and some guy actually wrote letters and made phone calls to Honda of America and got them to replace his bumper.

 

Not true. No front plates required in New Mexico. Plates aren't issued in NM by the dealer either.

We can also tint our windshields!

--D

 

I was refering to Jason's post about CT law, where we are required to have a front plate. I know that some states don't require it, you lucky bastards . I don't run a front plate on my cars anyways, only been hassled once by campus police.

 

yeah I live in CT too but I bought my fit in NY...so I told them not to drill the holes and they didn't realize CT is like NY and you need a front plate so they didn't give me any problems.
I haven't picked up my plates from the DMV yet...I have a 28 days in transit permit but I don't know if I'm going to bother with the front plate right away if at all. I don't think my odds are high of getting pulled over for not having a front plate while my car is 100% stock. When I put wheels on it and new suspension I'll start to worry about the front plate I think.

Plus, I'm a girl, so if I get pulled over I can just shed some tears and get away with it hah

 

That was my request when I purchased my Fit - do not put on the front license plate - no holes please and no dealership logo on the back hatch. Lester Raines was great and delivered the car in perfect order.

Cat

 

The other 403'rs will tell you that there is no front plate issued up here either. You get your rear plate when you walk into any privately owned registry office. Just show them your Bill of Sale and your Insurance, pay the fee, and they hand the plate to you right there. You then bring it with you when you pick up your vehicle from the dealer. Easy.

Oh, and hey kids: the legal age for drinking and casino entry is only 18!

But when you get old like me, Vegas is much more fun...

NEVER drink and drive!