Hello all!

My name is Chris. I am new here and currently reside in Fort Lauderdale, FL. I am looking into buying a Fit so I went to the nearest Honda dealer to ask some questions. The salesperson told me that there was a shortage on the Honda Fit and because of that there were no special rates on APR. Has anyone heard of this? I can't find anything online that confirms this.

Anyway, this is a pretty cool forum and thanks for your help!

Chris

 

I wouldn't call it a shortage... more of an absence of abundance.

While there was a shortage after the tsunami/earthquake in Japan... the Fit just isn't popular enough for dealers to stock many Fits. Add to that, that the "stingy" people are being extra stingy and buying used to "save" some money (considering how much used Fits go for... it isn't much saving).

Many times, the special rates/APR are offered by Honda themselves, not the dealer... and with a recent claim that Honda is losing money on every Fit sold... well, I wouldn't be expecting much.

If you're determined... try waiting a few months. When dealerships get the newer model year version of a car, there can be some sort of sale for either the new model year or the outgoing model year.

 

You said it perfectly ... not so much of a shortage as limited supply!

But the OPs basic understand is right, and your dealer is not trying to pull a fast one on you. They won't push them because the commission is low and they won't get a lot from Honda anyway. Your best bet is to see what various dealers will offer you and then ask if anyone can beat it.

Or if you have a car to trade in, focus more on that. There's likely to be more variance there than in the sale price. And if you are willing to put up with it, you can sell your current car privately and get more $.

 

Thanks for the replies! The dealer I talked to about this was also trying to push the Honda Civic due to my interest in fuel efficiency. Now it's time to make the decision between the two so I will see what more I can find about the Civic.

Thanks again and if I decide on the Fit, I'm sure you'll see me here more often.

Chris

 

Once they are made in Mexico, the dealers will have more stock. I believe it has more to do with Honda Japan not sending many over, just as they have done with the CR-Z, the US Peso is a horrible currency compared to the Yen and if prices were converted at exact exchange you would see why Honda is not sending over many Made in Japan cars anymore.

 

It's not that the Fit isn't popular. It is that Honda limits supply as 555 and fuji said. I have seen salesmen try to downplay the Fit in favor of the Civic though. A real shame.

 

I waited 9 months for my car in 06.mind you I wanted LX MT and Red so I had to wait for it to be built.

 

Hey I don't want to come all over anti-Civic. I think it's a good car; I drove one, and it was very much a car that anyone would immediately feel comfortable getting in and driving off without any thought about where controls were or steering sensitivity or anything like that. Decently quiet and comfy, cheap. Very, very boring. Consider it, I can't think of any reason not to recommend it (to someone, you know, who isn't me).

 

Not super sure here, but I believe manual transmissions are in shorter supply than automatics, based on what I've read here. I had to wait three days to get my A/T Sport, but only because I wanted Vortex Blue which my dealer had to source from another state.

My purchasing process was way easy because I insisted in only dealing with their Internet guy, and only using email.

 

I bought one last Friday and was able to get 2.69%. And yeah, they are "pricepoint" car, they apparently do not make much on them so no special financing was available in my location, was hoping for that 0.9%. Glad to of gotten a Japan one though.

 

I just got one on Tuesday, and had to wait about 3 or 4 days to find a white one with manual transmission. Apparently, there were only 3 on the west coast in white with manual.

My purchase process was also easy. We used Autoland.

 

Yeah in Arizona there is a flood of automatic fits in both trims. I've maybe seen two manuals posted on cl as new

 

or you can get your own financing...
credit unions have good rates.
and i know chase has some good rates i my area now. (2.5% for existing chase customers)

and they dont care about what model the car is. only the age of the car and your credit worthiness.