Okay, here is the deal. I just got back from the dealer, who quoted the sticker price on a brand new '09 Fit Sport, manual tranny at 16,888.00 I looked on Craig'slist the other day and saw a "pre-owned" (used) '09 Fit Sport with 10000 miles on it for 19000 dollars. What is up with that? This is not just one example. Almost every used Fit from '08 on, and even some '07s are going for more than a brand new '09 off the dealer lot. I originally thought it was because new Fits were in such demand, that there was a two to three month wait. Now, maybe due to the economy, there are about seven or eight unsold Fits on the dealer lot. I was just hoping someone here with some insight on this matter could help me figure this out.

 

Wish I had an answer for you. . . that's true around here, too. Thought I would save some money buying a used car, but they were at least as much as new, MAYBE 1 grand less. So I got a new one.
A theory: with the used car, you don't have to pay destination, sales tax, etc. Here our tax on cars is over 8 percent, so it's quite a chunk of cash.

 

The person selling used has to recoup their interest rate as well. They want you to pay for that. If you get a better rate than them, than new is always the better deal. Otherwise, upgrades may be in play? Personally, I add huge value to being able to buy new.... you know 100% how the car has been treated and consider it your baby and only yours.

 

I just bought a 2009 TW Fit Sport AT for 16,750 including doc and shipping from TX to ID. 180 miles yes, it was only out for 2 days and traded in. It is on the truck now and will be here by Friday noon. The used Fits on Craigs list 07/08 are in the area from 12.5k to around 16k. No used 09 up here.

Here is a link to the car I bought. Honda dealer in Denton, TX.

eBay Motors: Honda : Fit (item 190288525213 end time Feb-21-09 16:27:00 PST)=

Mike

 

i have been wondering this as well. i have seen some ridiculous prices for used fits.

 

I just bought a brand new 2009. When I was shopping I also saw used 2008 models that were nearly as expensive as the 2009. That was one of the reasons that I just decided to get the 2009. I might as well get one with the full warranty that I know hasn't been abused.

One reason for the price difference might be because of the redesign from last year. Many people on this board consider the 2008 to be superior. I haven't seen an 08 up close so I can't comment on that. But from the differences I have read about, I think I prefer the 09 myself. (So says the guy who owns the 2009. ) Anyway, if the 2008 is preferred by many then the demand is there to drive the price up. Just a theory.

 

This difference betweek GD and GE fits reminds me of the bru-ha-ha about the BMW 2002 and BMW 320 in 1977.....before most here were born.

Mike

 

I do prefer the 2008. I think the 2009 looks better and has more room. I don't like that the '09 wheels got even lower-pro (more expensive.) The big reason I would rather have the '08, is that they have more room in the engine bay to work on.

 

i think us 08 owners lucked out...one of the few cars that gained value when driven off the lot. a few days after I bought mine I checked the KBB for private sale and it was 2 grand more than I payed for the car/registration/taxes/everything.

not sure if the same is true with the 09s but yeah...

 

i think GD3 (07-08) owners are just irrational and think their cars hold more value than they really do...........

 

The difference is they can advertise a used car without really justifying it on the sticker. With a new car they have to show the MSRP along with any "added mark-up" on the side, which would be tricky to explain to prospective customers.

 

new fits m/t sport are 16.5 round me

 

Asking pricing is just that.

Selling price is a different (almost always) lower price that someone really pays.

In Maine '09s have been selling well under msrp. I have one so I am sure of that in one case.

 

You got +REP'd for your comment!

Post more and you will see a nice REP value, "old freind!"

 

And here I thought Fit prices had come back down along with the price of fuel...

At least with last summer's inflated fuel prices, a used Fit could sell for more because it was available immediately; a visiting American told me his local dealer had a waiting list over a month long.

 

I bought my '07 Sport in December - and looked for weeks and weeks before finding some that didn't have an absurd asking price. Like you say, more than a brand new one would cost, even factoring in dealer costs.

Within 200 miles of me, used Fits that had a reasonable price were selling within hours of being posted . . . I feel like I lucked out w/ the one I found @ a Carmax. 15k & change after taxes & registration, with 25k miles on the clock. The only flaws with the car: the stock tires are pretty toast, and there are scratches/scuffs on the cargo area trim & roof.

 

Its because the dealers gave the previous owners too much money for trade in.
Since teh dealer wants to make money off the car they add their whatevers.

When I worked at Carmax, I was basically on the waiting list for my GD.
I started looking for used ones, wanting to have them transferred to my store.
Even with my discount I would have still payed $18 to $19 for a used GD AND 5speed.

 

Oh yeah - forgot to mention that. 5 speed prices are definitely more inflated than autos . . . victim of a small supply in a demanding market, I guess. In the northeast, used automatics at a reasonable price can be found without too much trouble.

 

I suggest buying Canadian Fits

Out of curiosity I checked out trader.ca, an '07 5-speed Sport with only 74,000 km is selling for only $13000.

It jumps up very quickly to $16K and $17K, but the Canadian dollar is in your favour at the moment

Talk about bad timing for the American Big 3 though... when the price of fuel jumped, the used lots suddenly flooded with trucks and SUVs, which is what they focused their money on producing for the last decade. Then of course the rest of the s*** hit the fan in the fall...