IMO thats a classic sales trap. Limited production my ass.

Now when a car is actually limited production, then yes I would pay MSRP for it. I paid MSRP both times for my two S2000's, in 2001 and my current 2002. I paid MSRP for a just released 2001 BMW M3, when everyone else was paying $5K over. Two years ago, I paid $1000 over invoice for my current 2004 M3. Now, S2000's are going for usually $31K out the door.

The new Civics can be purchased for $1000 - $2000 under MSRP already. My counsin just picked up a fully loaded EX sedan for $17.5K out the door.

All you people that think you're a good deal on a MSRP Fit simply aren't. By July, when dealers have a dozen Fits in their lots each, they will be selling for invoice.

 

Yea, good luck with that. If Honda is projecting to sell 50,000 units a year and there are about 1150 dealers, then over a 12 month period that would equal less then 4 per month on average per dealer.

 

If a dealership only sells 4 Fit's per month, that would be a failure if it were an average car in an average year. This is the launch year for the Fit, and the average Joe knows nothing about the Fit so Honda's estimates are conservative.

I agree with Mav, if you are paying MSRP for a new car, you're paying too much (unless it is ltd. production). Out of the seven new vehicles I've bought in my life, I've always paid less than MSRP (including a 1989 Civic Si I bought new in December 1988). People who think MSRP is a good deal are a salesman's dream.

The Fit is an econobox (albeit a nice looking one), not a Lexus or Mercedes. It's not a hybrid either and it will have plenty of competition from the Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, and Kia Rio. Competition drives down prices....it's not rocket science.

If you're already on a reserved list, or have put money down, you've basically just told the salesman how badly you want the car, and they know they've got you right where they want you. You've just thrown your bargaining chips out the window.

I know, my father was a car salesman for years. Wakeup people.

 

shit... lol

 

I sure hope Mav is right. Despite having sold cars for a while, I am a salesman's dream. I would love nothing better than to walk into a Honda dealer next December and see a bunch of Fits just sitting there waiting for me to start talking invoice cost+ rather than MSRP.

BTW in 1989 if I sold a Hyundai Excel for $1000 under MSRP, the customer was getting a $1500 rebate, and the shop was still making about a $1000 per car. That was a rare sale, though.

 

In our area, they have 1000$ gas cards being offered with the 2006 Civic.

I'm baffled that our PDI is over 1200$ CDN, and in the USA it's 550$ US.

 

Thats a conservative estimate. Its all about supply and demand. If the demand is there, Honda will produce more Fits.

Reality check. The Fit is a mass produced entry level, economy car, treat it as such.

 

True , but how many N.A. specific models are in the pipeline? Other than the Left hand , Right hand drive issue most Fit/Jazz are the same the world around - EXCEPT the N.A. variant. Do you have knowledge about the assembly line specifics/capacity to crank this model out?

Honda themselves have mentioned a "testing of the waters" with this first entry of Fit into NA - why gamble and make too many?

 

Just what is PDI exactly? Peeling the vinyl off the bumpers, washing the car, putting half tank of gas? I can do that for a mere $15. Can you refuse PDI on a new car? I mean, what are the odds that something is wrong that you cannot spot upon taking delivery (if the sale is conditional with a final walk-around)?

 

What ever the car is priced at MSRP is will still be a bargain. I am sure everyone here who works for any business is working to make a profit for their company. Dealers and companies that do not make money do not stay in business. Look and GM and Ford, invoice pricing their cars to try to give them away is stupid and makes no business since.
I don't think any dealership would be taking advantage of any customer charging them MSRP when the car will probably have less then $1000 mark up to begin with.

 

Dealers do not pay "invoice" price.

 

Who said anything about making too many? Law of supply and demand.

You are a car saleman's dream customer.

 

Yes that it true , but it also ESTIMTED supply. What if they're truly working on a model year max production of 50K NA units? Suddenly the Fit becomes a craze and they're off the lot before they're delivered.
The Japanese aren't GM and just in time supply assembly is a little different on the home island running an intergrated production line vs. a Midwestern Ohio Civic plant that's second party feed driven.

 

I HIGHLY doubt that the max is 50K NA units. Honda tends to be very conservative with its estimates, like most Japanese companies. In 2000, Honda stated that it will only allocate 5K units of the S2000 to the US per year.

Here are actual reported sales from hondanews.com...

2000 - 6,797
2001 - 9,682
2002 - 9,684
2003 - 7,888
2004 - 7,320
2005 - 7,780

In 2001 and 2002, Honda nearly doubled its 5K estimate. And keep in mind that the S2000 is not mass produced, is a limited vehicle and is 100% hand built. On the other hand, the Fit is mass produced and shares much of its components with an existing car. Lets have a bit of perspective and stop thinking of the Fit as some high end, limited production, wonder machine.

 

Yeah, it's just a wonder machine.

 

People! Get a freaking grip! This is a B-segment sub-compact! It isn't signed and numbered, it isn't exotic, and it won't be a classic!

It isn't the highest mileage sub-compact, it doesn't have the highest horsepower in it's class, and it doesn't have the latest technology.

Man, I should become a Honda salesman. I would love to have just one of you people walk in the showroom each day.

 

Going back to my car salesman days, which I quit after 4 months because it was interfering with rugby, I had a couple friends who worked at the Honda place across the street. They were rolling in money. The sales were easy, and MSRP was the lowest price they would let a car be sold. If someone wouldn't pony up MSRP, they would walk him and wait for the next guy, and they wouldn't have to wait long. Supply and demand is right. Although the production models for Japanese manufacturers are more flexible than most "domestic" car companies, Honda can't just miracle cars onto the lot. If this thing does take off, there will be some shortages, and unfortunately some gouging by less than reputable dealers.

It may not be exotic, or numbered, but IMO it is the best car for my money. I just hope when I am ready to buy, Keynes is in my pocket, not the dealer's.

 

Don't Panic they will be there. They are just yanking our chain. I think its good to register with a dealer to show your early interest but no deposit.

That way you are first in line and can negotiate.

 

I thought with Honda's reputation it has earned they went by this quote;" build it..., and they will cum...,oops I meant come."

 

Payment details are the last thing you should discuss..Always agree on price first then payment..otherwise you just screwed yourself..