a honda salesmen told me they'd etch the VIN on all the windows of the fit for $300.... AND if the car is stolen they'd pay me $5000 toward a new car.

 

vin etching costs like 4 cents
dont pay,
however---
that guarantee sounds pretty decent

 

but it's a one time payment of $300 for $5000 in cash if the car is stolen or totaled.

it sounds like too good a deal.
i have to go back there and find out if there are any BUTS he left out.

 

When I picked up my brand new FIT the salesman told me there was a fee for the windows being etched. I told him I never wanted them to etch the windows. He said it was too late they already did it, I told him they should have asked me first now remove the charge, they did.

 

lol
DONT pay for etching EVER lol
like was stated above, its a standard thing that most dealers do now, and it shouldnt cost anything,
just like a free cup of coffee
lol

 

okay. let me rephrase this.... would you pay a one time charge of $300 to the dealer for a guarantee of $5000 in cash if the car is stolen or totaled? that's what they claim they are offering.

or is the guy just blowing smoke?

 

are you planning on getting insurance?
because thats usually what covers theft or damage

not the dealer lol

i see how it could be tempting... but save the 300 - its not worth it
(...IMO)

 

yes. i have insurance. but insurance isnt going to pay for a new car.
but if you toss in an additional $5000 from the dealer (for a one time $300 charge) on top of the auto insurance, then it sounds like a decent deal.

or am i missing something?

basically it's a one time insurance payment to the dealer that could seriously pay off if the car was stolen.

 

can i have 300 dollars
i promise ill get you approved on a car loan, and ill give you a cash back rebate that everyones getting this week hehe
sorry, i dont wanna sound like an ass, and i think its too late for that...

i would just make sure there is no other catches, like only within the first year, or only on a NEW model,
idk
just watch out

 

abso-fooking-lutely. i'd want to see it in writing with all the small print enlarged by 500%. ive had all the same thoughts. for example, maye it's $5000 for the first 6months.... then it drops off a cliff.

i told the guy i'd be buying by christmas... and that i wasnt sure if i'd be buying a fit or a versa and he imediately said he'd throw in free floor mats.

i have no intention of buying a versa.

 

OMG
you scared me, dont ever say that you would get a versa lmao
get the All Season... ( i PAID for mine lol) and they are worth it
so, you dont have a fit yet....?

and you avatar reminds me of my sister for some strange reason lol

 

i am fit-less.

but i'll have one before christmas.... maybe before halloween.

he told me id have to pay for the floor mats until i told him i was considering a versa. then he said he'd toss the floor mats in for free and drop the car $100 under msrp.

looks like the magic word at honda is "versa."

 

haha i bet you could see him twitch

 

Here's my thought... they etch your windows and get your car back because of this identification. Do you really want it back?

I would never buy Etch, Gap, or LoJack... Well, I shouldn't say never--only when whatever remains of a car after being stripped would still be hard to find (for example, a really old, collectible car or something).

Etch costs the dealership 25 cents or something ridiculous. The $5k is probably a guarantee from that dealer. What if they go under?

On second thought, maybe you can help another fitfreak forum member get a fit... lol. I already have one, so I'm not interested in stealing your car.

 

i had the same thought.

i have never bought a car from a dealer before.

im looking at this as an adventure... let them throw every curve ball at me.

 

If it sounds too good to be true..... you know the rest. the dealer makes a 299 dollar profit from getting your windows etched. i wonder how many people actually steal honda fits? not too many im guessing. plus insurance covers the theft thing anyway. i would say keep your money and maybe do some research and let the dealer know of some of the versa's "cool features" to see if they will lower the price more.

 

lol. thats exactly what i was doing this morning. damn, it's tedious studying-up on a car you dont want. lots of options on the versa. but it's occurred to me that i can simply make stuff up, just the like the salseman.

 

And how many cars have you had stolen in the past? We are talking about a FIT here...an economy car. I would not even consider it unless the car is going to be regularly parked in a high crime area. It sounds to me like the dealer/salesperson is attempting to pull a fast one!

Take your chances and JUST SAY NO to window etching.

 

GAP insurance is a smart move IMO if the financed amount is more than the value of the car. If your car is totaled, the insurance co. will give you what the car is worth. If you owe more on the car than it's worth then GAP will cover the difference.

I got GAP through my credit union (who financed the Fit) for $249. Dealer's will typically charge much higher - but will often be open to negotiating the fee.

Acquiring GAP coverage FIT well for my situation.

 

it sounds like the dealer is just playing the odds... not too many people who do their research pay for etching anymore. He probably figures, let's see if I can get this sucker to pay the $300, just betting that your car wont get stolen. Or hoping maybe you total it first. IMO he'll find a way to get out of paying that $5000 on the rare event that your car does get stolen.

When I bought my Fit, I asked the finance guy to explain the cost breakdown. There was a $300 charge for VIN etching, I just said "oh, I don't want that" and he took it right off. Some dealers (I would think more small used dealers than someone as big as Honda) will try to tell you that your insurance requires the VIN etching to be there. Even if that were the case, you can buy a kit for $25 and do it yourself. If they put it on your vehicle without you asking for it, you do not pay for it.