My Accord was same year, 2004 EX - full power everything, leather, V6 - you name it, it had it. I even had a MTX sub woofer box in the trunk with a 300w amp. My mileage? 35,000. Car was primo. I traded it on this past Friday for a fit.

Why? We just had bought another Fit for a 3rd car for my wife to drive primarily about 1 month ago. We also have a 2004 Toyota Sienna van...crappy gas mileage, but with 4 kids...you have to have one. That will be used only on the weekends now.

What put me over the edge to purchase ANOTHER fit for myself, when my Accord was just fine? Mostly it was driven with only me in it. It was hard to go back to driving my Accord after driving the new Fit for about 2 weeks. Sure you can't compare the power or the comfort between the two - they are totally different animals.

Couple factors that made my decision easy -
Fit - more versitle, compact - easy to park - good gas mileage etc...you know all the pluses

Accord - getting older, possibly more maintanence trouble - worth less as time goes on for trade, or private sale. I looked at private sales for the Accord v6 and there weren't many in my area. Mosty 4cyl - and I think more and more people want fuel efficent cars due to the high gas prices last year.

I dunno...the Fit is just fun to drive and I really, really like the driving view out of the windshield compared to my Accord. It doesn't "feel" like driving a really small car to me.

Just my 2 cents.

handymus

 

This doesn't sound like a good deal money wise, but the heart wants to go where the heart wants to go. It sounds like the Fit is your Argentinian soul mate. Go to her and leave the past behind.

 

Wow, ok now the pendulum is swinging the other way again. It's very comforting to hear someone in my boat exactly and how they came to that decision. You make a very good point about the re-sellability of a V6 model in years to come. In 3 years we may all have electric cars and I'd be trying to get rid of the equivalent of a Hummer. Handymus, I know this is a personal question and I wouldnt be offended at all if you didn't want to say, but I'm very curious what you got for your Accord and what you got your Fit for. So far I've found when one dealer gives me more on the Accord, the Fit is more $ and v. versa. Was your Accord in really good shape like mine is?

 

Just keep your accord and save up your money. It's the emotion that gets you(or any other people) of wanting a new car but in the end you'll realized that it was not necessary to buy. But if you are really financially capable, your future will be in good standing, I don't see any reason why not. You'll only live once. but then again don't let the emotion get you. Just my 2 cents.

 

Funny this is being mentioned - trading in a nice car for a Fit. I just got my Fit a couple of weeks ago and have been really enjoying driving it. To get the Fit, I traded in a 2001 Mitsubishi Diamante LS - leather, all power, heated seats, etc. It was a good car but not as fun to drive as the Fit. :-) Big plus for me was that the Diamante was considered a clunker.

Worse part of the whole thing is, I also drive an 08 Mitsu Eclipse GT and have started entertaining the idea of getting rid of it. Yeah, it has quite a bit more power than the Fit but both give me pretty much the same thrill of a fun drive. And the Eclipse uses premium fuel and the Fit doesn't. So I think the Eclipse will probably get traded it for a different car next year.

Basically, I'm just saying do what you think will make you enjoy your drive. You're the only one that matters on that decision - you're the one that's going to drive it - not me or anyone else in this forum. Enjoy life. :-)

Just my thoughts.

 

Where in the DC burbs do you live? Sounds like you aren't too far off from me I'm getting bout 31mpg so far and I deal with the same driving patterns you do I think...

 

Yes, my Accord was top shape. No accidents, low mileage. Great looking. One dealer offered me $10500 for trade in, and the salesman told me to put it on Craigs list - and not take the trade. I told him $1100 and then we could negotiate the Fit price. This is the same dealer that I had just bought a Fit for a 3rd car earlier. They didn't seem to want to "deal" too much, I think the Cash for Clunkers has them not "wanting" a sale really badly.

Here is the "deal" that I took. Worked out all the figures. Sent out for internet quotes. Walked into a different dealer - (didn't want to waste time) and told them I was only willing to pay $8500 total for a new Fit Sport AT, (along with the trade). They went for it. Here is the specs for the Fit:

Carpet mats - (hate the all weather ones)
cargo tray
cargo cover
center armrest
wheel locks
bumper applique

They took the deal after looking up all "their" prices for accessories. So total out of pocket $$ was $8500. Was it an excellent deal? Probably not, since they will Certify my Accord and list it for big $$, but that is what I was willing to do, since I didn't want to sell it myself. It wasn't worth my time.

Just today, the first dealer called me back, after 1 week of no callbacks and told me that they would give me $11000 for the trade. Too late.

On my invoice it showed $10000 for my Accord, $16495 for the fit - no destination charges of $710 and I think they just messed with all the numbers to make the total out of pocket come out to $8500. They told me that they made a whopping $5 on the deal, (not true - didn't account for holdbacks), but you know they will sell my trade for their profit. I say good for them.

Kelly BB for the Accord EX was a low of $10000 to $11625. Of course the dealer will low ball you on the trade, and if not will squeeze you for a high price for the fit.

My advice is - if you are not tight for money and you enjoy the Fit, why not? In my case, will it pay for the $8500 in gas savings? Eventually, but we are talking a long time from now, unless gas prices goes through the roof. I bought it because I liked it, and don't regret the decision for a minute.

Everyone is different, but I know where you are at. Think about it for a while, there is no rush.

Hope this helps.

handymus

 

Forgot to add...

I am still on my first tank for my Fit, so too early to tell yet on gas mileage, but our other one is easily getting low 30's with regular driving.

On my Accord I was getting 20 to 22mpg. Regular driving. Of course with the Fit you are more aware, since the MPG readout is mocking you every time you accelerate from a stop.

handymus

 

I was offered 10,500 for mine too, and am pushing for 11,000. The current offer at 10,500 would be a final out of pocket of 8,060. I feel like that's pretty good. But that didn't include any discussion of add-ons yet. If I get the 11,000 that would be a spread of 7560 which I'm thinking I should pounce on.

So, I've already located clear bra dealers and researched Coverking neoprene covers.

I'm back in Fit land!

 

I wanted ask you more about your add-ons...

Carpet mats - (hate the all weather ones) Why?
cargo tray - I'd want that too
cargo cover
center armrest - does this replace the little side armrest completely? Is it comfortable?

wheel locks - I think these are a must
bumper applique - What is this?

I think I'd want a gas cap lock. And some free oil changes?

 

All weather mats...they are just rubber/plasticky mats. Good for containing dirt I suppose, but shows every speck of it. Easy to wash down, but carpet is easy to vacuum too. I would figure that the carpet mats would be more expensive...but it's just the opposite.

Center Armrest. Not installed yet. Dealer had to order, and yes it replaces the armrest. Our Accords had the storage in the center armrest, and it feels like the Fit is lacking for extra storage space. Sure there is an extra little compartment where the USB dongle is, but still...

Bumper applique...it's a black non-skid sticker put on the back bumper, just about where you would put stuff on the bumper before you load the back. It would help with scratches on the bumper.

My other Fit also has door molding for all the doors and wheel wells. It matches the color of the car and looks good too. This was put on by the dealer that they put on all their cars.

The interior drives me completely nuts. Coming from a leather car - the fabric is like a magnet for hair and crap. I want to cover the seats it bothers me so much. I have tried a lint roller, and I swear it doesn't pick it up at all.

I wrote up a price list for all the accessories from an internet site:
hondapartsdeals.com
To be fair to the dealer, I also added shipping to the total price and told them that is what I was willing to pay. I figured I could always order them on line if they wanted me to pay retail for them. The finance guy looked at my list and the prices and said.."Those prices are wrong. They are not even close to our cost." Too bad. Deal was done.

handymus

 

This is the seat covers you want:

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/gaug...at-covers.html

I have not bought them yet, but probably will. They look sweet!

 

FITFITFIT! I had a chance of getting my mom's 2003 BMW 330i Sport as my FIRST car and i turned it down for a 5 speed Fit. once in a blue moon i admit i want more power but the fuel economy and "fun factor" really makes up for it

 

huh, mine are fine...

if your accord is AT and your next FitSport is MT, then you'll immediately know wat fun is. but if your accord is MT and you're going to get a FitSport with AT, stick with your Accord.

i dont know much about the accords if they were offered MT... but you kinda know why im not very familiar with accords in the first place. they're not known for being a 'fun' car. more a daily driver for normal middle aged folks. (not to be mean, just reality)