How did you get the dealer to accept a pre-order? What have you paid?

So far I've had NO luck around here. Hope it gets better fast.

Sorry this is sort of a double post, but I'm antsy.

Mods, if this is in the wrong place... go ahead and move it. Thanks.

 

Don't know if this is what you are talking about but I just put a deposit of 500 dollars down on one that was on it's way with no problem. One dealer had all his spoken for but I could have ordered one and received it in the middle of the summer.

 

Just my take on it but right now it is a dealer's best days. But a buyer has to weigh all the facts. Do you want it now, wait for the price to go down, etc.

In 1980 I ordered a Chevy Citation X11 sports model in May. There was a stike in Ipsilanti, Michigan, then they couldn't get the rear spoiler, yadda, yadda. I went through hell that whole summer and finally got the car on Nov.10. Of course it had snowed the day b4 and I had to drive it for 5 months b4 the roads were dry.

I put $500 on one fri. and hope to pick it up tom. or tuesday. I'm not going to miss this summer,
the darn snow is still around up here north of 50.

 

All I did was walk into my dealership in January, and told the first salesman I ran into that I wanted to get on the list for the Honda Fit. At the time, no one, other than the new car sales manager, knew the car even existed... but he was happy to start the list, right then.

He had the salesman write up a buyer's order, which included my choice of color, style and transmission (Vivid Blue Sport AT), and wrote down the price as MSRP (because, at the time, the prices hadn't been released). They took a refundable deposit from me (which is listed as such on the buyer's order), and said "We'll provide you with updates, as we get them." Since he hadn't placed his first order yet, he changed one of the cars on his list to match my preferences.

They called a week later, to say Honda had accepted the order they placed, and that my car would be in the first batch they received. They called me back in February, to let me know they were expecting a mid-April delivery. Now, they called just this past week, to tell me my car had been built, and we're just waiting for them to get it over here.

 

Check my response on your other thread, mebbe it'll help... FWIW most dealerships should have a VIN or three they could actually have you sign contracts on, I don't know it's a california thing not to take deposits, or what

 

I went in to my Dealership in Jan and pre-ordered and a few a week ago completely purchased mine. It will be here in Mid-April.

 

There are 2 local dealers in my area. One took deposits on the first batch of Fits they were getting (3). The other dealer decided not to take deposits and do "first come, first served." Apparently I astounded the manager by offering to put down full price last week and they reserved my choice of the 3 Fits they're due to get by April 20. I signed the contract last Monday -- paid MSRP, plus destination charge, and $395 dealer prep. & doc fees. Had anyone told me just a few weeks ago that I'd pay full price instead of waiting 6 months, I'd have said no way -- but that was before my Honda Accord's engine gave out. It was either buy the Fit or something else now. I did a lot of shopping, test driving and researching and I'm ok with the deal. I'm driving a borrowed car the last few weeks and hope there are no glitches with arrival date.

 

E-mailed my Honda dealer here, to see if they would accept a deposit? That was many days ago! Guess that's his way of saying NO! And my faimly has purchased 4-5 cars from him in the past !!!!!!

 

I am surprised you are having such a hard time. A few months ago I called six local Honda dealers asking what information they had. Nobody really had anything then, but one dealership actually searched for the information while the others said to call back. The service was much better with this dealership so I set up a meeting a week or two after and put down a $300.00 deposit.

The other dealerships were happy to take a depsosit without even really knowing what I wanted. I was on the phone with a sales lady for no more than 15 seconds and she was already asking for a credit card number. I hope everything works out good for you.

 

I finally had a dealer call me back.

 

I hope it was one of my recommendations, maybe if you mention my name they'll hook me up when my car come in (wouldn't that be cool). BTW and you probably know this by now, my refundable deposit was $500.

 

To Unit 91.................
I did a bunch of homework on the net. Went to Edmunds.com who had a dealer contact me. Met with the dealer, put a couple hundred down on one due in (2 more weeks). It's mine if I like the ride etc. From everything I've been reading on this site, it should be a good ride. The dealer has 5 coming in. I got the 2nd. 1 & 2 sold the same day.
Glad you heard from a dealer.......Good Luck

 

Unit 91,
I was one of the people who placed an order in January. I had learned on this forum when the Dealers were going to be able to place their first orders. My situation is different in that I live in Hawaii and wanted a car to tow with my motor home located in North Dakota. I have a three month trip planned to Alaska this summer. Because of my timing I needed to have the purchase setup in advance and to do that I was prepared to pay MSRP. I called local Dealers in ND and Montana and offered a $500.00 refundable deposit and fees limited to $129.00. My offer was accepted and the Salesman forwarded me the agreement.

I had ordered a base but after some more reserach I decided I wanted the cruise control that only the Sport had. In addition I learned from Tonkin Honda Genereal Sales Manager that the automatic was based on the Civic's automatic and from Remco (Towing specialists) that you could tow that transmission 4 wheels down. (They offer a warrenty since Honda doesn't offically sanction that use.) I called my dealer and he was happy to switch me to an automatic Sport on his second order. By the way I had the opportunity to handle the same deal from other Dealers as well.

Now a little background. I'm an old bugger and I bought my first Honda in college in the sixties. I later purchased a couple of new Accord's in the seventies when Dealers were getting $500 over MSRP and or loaded with every dealer option. There were waiting lists at most Honda dealers. That car was a huge stepup for Japanse cars. I saw that Honda will have limited production this year on the Fit as they are coming from Japan with limited ability to up the production. It appears certain that this is a test for Honda. America has only recently seemed ready for this size, type car. Scion and 60.00 a barrel oil have opened the door. If the early Fit's were not in demand when my Fit arrived, I would have offered less than list at delivery. You see a refundable agreement set my upper price not my lower price. I felt though that the demand would surprise Honda. By the way some of the letters to this foreum and on Edmunds were encouraging us not to make full MSRP deposits and to make low ball offers. Comments like the price will fall to cost after a month or two. There were also statements like Honda will up the projected production to 100,000 this year. People who make comments like that just don't understand how manufacturing works. Maybe GM, which has plenty of idle production plants could rampup in a few months, but not Honda. They are at almost full production now. Companies can't stamp out cars like candy bars. I think they're young, wrong and won't be driving a Fit anytime soon. They also don't seem to understand how auto dealers operate. They won't sell a low production, high demand product at cost, no title fees, and throw in the saleman coming to your house and washing your car. Maybe VW, with the terrible comsumer reports and JD Power ratings plus a ton of cars cluttering the lot will. By the way the resale value will drop like a rock. Best to buy a used one if you really want one. Let's see 60,000 Fit's over the next eight months divided by 1200 dealers equal 6.25 cars a month per Dealer. I think maybe the lots won't be stuffed with Fit's. What do you think?

In any event from one who has fourty years of buying a variety of cars, mostly used including, MG TD, TR 4A, Ford mustangs, couple of Porsche's, several Mercedes, 6 Honda's, BMW M3 convertible, BMW sedans, Toyota 4-Runner, Subaru and a few others I don't remember right now, I think America is ready for the Fit and the early Fit's built in Japan will hold their value very well. The few hundred dollars that the buy at under MSRP price will keep those buyers from having a Fit this year and maybe next. Honk and wave as you drive by, Smile when you sell your Fit down the line. I've done that a dozen times.

Mauicedar

 

I put a deposit down on a car today. So far the dealer has told me MSRP with nothing hidden, but I'm going to continue negotiations by e-mail. I'm just happy someone is finally willing to work with me.