Hi, first time poster here. In fact, I'm researching cars to buy for the first time in 12 years too. But I've been reading a lot about the Fit. I really like that I hear that they're cheap to maintain, they're really fun to drive, they get good gas mileage, and are versatile to boot. So I've been reading up and looking around (and now I'm here). =)

The problem is that what I'm looking for, I can't really find. Here's what I'm looking for:

• Honda Fit Sport
• 2nd Generation
• Manual Transmission
• Orange color preferred, but that Plum is really nice too.

I found one in Canada, only a couple hours away, but I imagine importing the car would be difficult or expensive (I couldn't find clear instructions) and I'm unsure how a Fit manufactured for Canada would differ from one manufactured for the US.

I also found one in Los Angeles, but that's pretty far for me, and I don't think I want it that bad yet.

I've checked out craigslist, autotrader, edmunds, dealer sites, google, a bunch of places. Maybe there's a better place? Do I need more patience? Or maybe what I'm looking for really is in short supply? I've found that 90% of the used Fits I see are AT, and that perplexes me. Plus I'm unsure about what colors were part of what release years.

What do you recommend? Thanks for any tips.

 

First of all check out the Canada one. It is no big deal to import one. Several pieces of paper work is all that is required. I have never moved a Fit across the border, but I have moved several other cars and engines both directions. We just moved an airplane the other way two weeks ago. It took about 30 minutes at the border crossing stations. (The US wanted to verify that it was not stolen.) Coming from Canada to the US, the Canadians do not even want to hear about it.

Call the border crossing station where you wish to cross and they will tell you exactly what you need. The last time I moved an engine, trans, and final drive from Canada to the US, I stopped on the way into Canada at the US Customs and asked if I had all of the correct paper work before I went to pick it up. They said everything was OK. (You have to have the same paperwork for an engine as you do for an entire car.) The next day when I came back the other way I spent about 30 seconds with the same US inspector and was on my way. He remembered me and didn't even ask for my border crossing card (passport) or any other identification.

After that I'll say that it is difficult to find a MT Sport in the color you want. You are looking in the right places, but it might take several months before one comes available.

 

Another idea and probably even better is to set up a Google alert and that way whenever one gets posted ANYWHERE, you get an email with the posting.

 

First how much do you want to spend?

2009 Honda Fit Sport

 

First, thanks for the responses!

n9cv:
Have you found that it's easy or hard to switch the mileage reporting from KM to Miles?

cjecpa:
A fair price. I'd prefer to purchase from a private party because it's usually a better price than at a dealer. It looks like around $12k would be fair.

 

I know you want a GE finding a used manual transmission car would be hard. Here is a first generation with a decent price and mileage.

2008 black Honda Fit with 42,500 miles

 

Look for seniors that are selling them although a manual trans could be rare. The younger group of owners will have driven them much harder.
Yes I am 70