Why? (as opposed ot same time). Is it a marketing thing; america be ing more populated, and release in canada first to tease americans and get the reviews out?

 

Well, considering that we already got the Echo Hatchback, they probably needed to match the market as soon as possible.

 

On a per/capita basis, studies for the N.A. market dictate that it is no secret that we devour the small car segment to a greater degree as compared to our neighbors to the south. Plus hatches always do well here too.

 

I really dont see a big deal here. I mean in the end the Fit will be here in the States... They are hopefully saying April 15th for mine, but we will see about that. It has already been built, but transportation of the Fit will take the most time.

 

Maybe its just the volume. Less overall sales in Canada than the USA so you want to be sure you have what you need before you go into the big market covering a thousand dealerships.

 

Does it really matter? You get the car anyway :P

Although you do raise some good points, I can't help but feel this is a "US is better, give it to us first" thread. Maybe it's just me.

 

I would never say "US is better"... I think it's just the normal level of envy that happens when anyone is able to get something you really want before you're able to. East coasters will be saying it's not fair that west coasters get their Fits first, just as some dealerships within the same state or even town will be getting their orders before others.

I can't see it being anything against the Canadians, at all. I, personally, don't really care why Honda decided to release it to Canada before the USA, as I'm sure they have their reasons, and there's nothing we do can change it. I'm just jealous they have it right now, and we still have a few weeks to wait ... just as all of NA was jealous of the UK and the other countries that had it before they announced they were bringing it over here.

 

Didn't NAFTA teach us anything

 

That's not how i feel. I'm just wondering. I just got into cars, and usually (like for video games, cell fones, movies, etc), release dates are by continent.

 

I guess it's just marketing reasons.

Like the NA market is probably one of the biggest markets they have at the top, I guess Honda just want to see how they sell in other places before releasing it to the US. Considering that US seems to have formed a stereotype of wanting big ass engines and SUVs, maybe they want to make sure whether it'd be great to release the smaller, in comparison with most american cars, fit into the market.

 

I thinl that its a question of numbers. I don't know how many dealerships are in Canada but ther's about 1200 here in the USA and you have to give them a representative amount of this new-to-market car. You open it up in Canada and manage to bring enough for a first round to get it out there and then as your inventory builds at the factory and the ports of entry, you spread across your largest (not neccessarily best but largest) market.

 

Small cars in Canada are more likely to be a hit. Gas prices here are high, and rising, so you just don't see any many SUVs on the road, which Echo/Yaris and the like are everywhere

In Vancouver, we are currently looking at $1.11 CAD a liter last night, which works out to be 3.70 USD per gallon, before sales taxes.

 

Do Toyota nuts freak out when they find out that the Yaris has been offered in Canada for almost a year?

Do you think us Canadians found it fair when Honda discontinued the Civic Si HB at the end of 1993, but continued to offer it in the US until 1995?

This is a market thing, not one country should get theirs first. Plus we pay twice as much as you guys for the freight and PDI. Maybe that's why we got them first.

 

And don't forget our wonderful taxes. LX Auto- $18,380
FR. & PDA $1,225.
GST & Manitoba Taxes $2,874.66
$22,479.66

 

I went to the auto show in Bangkok the other night, and there was a sweet 3 door Ford Focus with 225hp, talk about the grass being greener...

 

I think Canada got screwed the most in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Our brother in the middle of our continent made the most gains. Our other brother further south had nothing to lose and all to gain.

BTW thanks for the smog and cheating us with nasty illegal tariffs on our softwood lumber.

 

...and thanks for dropping all the BC Bud and non-brown illegals on us