- #821 of 2426
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Re: Are the Sport ATs selling cheaper than the Base MTs? (Was: deposit on [jkandell]
by caracraig
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Jan 04, 2007 (5:26 am)
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Replying to: jkandell (Jan 03, 2007 8:52 pm)
I wonder if the difference in the sales tax state to state is the difference you are seeing. Here, in North Carolina, the sales tax for vehicles is 3%. My taxes ended up being just slightly over $500. I'm thinking it was $505 or something like that. Also, to the last question on deposits...I put down $500 deposit for a car that the dealership already had coming in next month. I got to choose the add-ons.
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- #822 of 2426
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Re: Buying Experience [imdone]
by crv16
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Jan 04, 2007 (6:48 am)
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Replying to: imdone (Jan 03, 2007 7:46 pm)
While I sympathize with your situation, I think you are being short sighted. Think about it - when it comes to owning a car, the actual purchase experience represents 0.000002% of the actual time you spend with the car. I'd rather deal with a poor purchase experience and end up with a superior car (that I'll live with for YEARS) than having my butt kissed at a dealer and live with a mediocre car.
Unethical dealers are not exclusively Honda. The same thing happens at *all* dealers when demand for a car exceeds supply. Go try to buy a Mazdaspeed3 or a Sky Redline and you'll get the same treatment.
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- #823 of 2426
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Re: Buying Experience [crv16]
by jkandell
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Jan 04, 2007 (7:00 am)
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Replying to: crv16 (Jan 04, 2007 6:48 am)
"The same thing happens at *all* dealers when demand for a car exceeds supply."
While it's true that the buyer loses leverage with "hot" cars, different dealers have different ways of handling this, and not all of them violate common decency. I noticed some dealers took your name, and then when a Fit came in all the salesmen did a race to see who could reach a buyer first. Other dealers had an organized waiting list, so that you didn't lose your place if you were at work and didn't pick up your phone.
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- #824 of 2426
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Re: Questions: deposit and ordering without add-ons [stevendmo]
by jkandell
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Jan 04, 2007 (7:22 am)
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Replying to: stevendmo (Jan 03, 2007 10:52 pm)
You should do a search of this thread to get the answer to your question, it's been discussed a lot. My summary: Most people seem to have put down $500. Make sure you use a credit card and get something in writing saying it's refundable. Get a VIN# if possible (so you know it's a car which is built)--that's just my opinion but if you're putting down a deposit on an entry level vehicle you deserve some reassurance it will come. Most dealers try to do add-ons, especially since demand is greater than supply. With effort you can find dealers who will not do add-ons. I did that, as did others here. Watch out for doc fees too, go for "out the door" price. I personally was not successful in finding a dealer without a high "doc" fee, but I was not willing to wait months. Others here have found what you want, but you'll need to solicit as many dealers as possible in your region, and be willing to wait. My sense from having read the whole thread and my own search is that about 1 in 10 dealers are willing to avoid add-ons (and not always without pressure). Given the hoard of buyers wanting this car, and the temptation to bait-and-switch, I'd make sure you find a dealer with some integrity in this whole process.
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- #825 of 2426
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Re: Questions: deposit and ordering without add-ons [stevendmo]
by ciara1
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Jan 06, 2007 (10:14 am)
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Replying to: stevendmo (Jan 03, 2007 10:52 pm)
It's absolutely reasonable to expect to find a dealer willing to order a fit without the extra add-ons. The majority of those are added by dealerships when the car arrives to increase profit margin, but if you order a car, you should be able to get it without them if that's what you want. It does take some doing to find a dealer willing to work on those terms, but they're out there, and as long as you're willing to keep walking out until you get what you want you'll find one eventually.
I found that contacting dealerships via email worked better than visiting in person. Internet managers are accustomed to the idea that their customers are savvy shoppers and are probably collecting multiple quotes. Watch out for the ones that won't give you a quote over the phone or via email even after being told exactly what you want -- they're typically the ones wanting to do whatever it takes to get you into the dealership in hopes of plying you with high-pressure sales tactics. Also, make sure you ask for the out-the-door price so you're always sure you're comparing apples to apples, because far too many will claim to sell somewhere between invoice and MSRP -- what sounds like a great deal for you! -- but then turn out to have all kinds of non-negotiable extra add-ons or fees that jack the price up well above MSRP. If you ask for the out-the-door price with all fees itemized, they can't sneak anything by you.
Good luck with the shopping process 
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- #826 of 2426
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Re: Questions: deposit and ordering without add-ons [ciara1]
by bobw3
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Jan 06, 2007 (1:02 pm)
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Replying to: ciara1 (Jan 06, 2007 10:14 am)
But since the Fit is in such high demand, they know that people will buy them with the extras, so they'll do that for the added profit. They figure if someone won't buy it with the extras then so what?? There are plenty of others who will buy it.
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- #827 of 2426
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Re: Questions: deposit and ordering without add-ons [bobw3]
by jkandell
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Jan 06, 2007 (2:14 pm)
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Replying to: bobw3 (Jan 06, 2007 1:02 pm)
You are correct. Which is why only about one in ten dealers is willing to sell it to you without add-ons. The good news is: You can usually find dealers in your area willing to do so, though you may have to drive to get there.
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- #828 of 2426
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Re: Questions: deposit and ordering without add-ons [jkandell]
by bobw3
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Jan 06, 2007 (2:21 pm)
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Replying to: jkandell (Jan 06, 2007 2:14 pm)
I bought mine without extras and the finance guy didn't even bother to offer me the extended warranty. His exact words were, "So I guess you don't want the extended warranty." They also didn't try to sell me any extra paint or seat protection. I didn't order my Fit. I just called around and found a silver Sport Auto that was arriving in a few weeks, put down a $500 deposit, MSRP and that was it. I think the dealer was hoping that I'd pass on to others that they are a good dealership (it's the Honda dealer in Springfield Ohio, Marina Honda), plus I think they're hoping that in the future I'll give them more business.
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- #829 of 2426
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Re: Questions: deposit and ordering without add-ons [bobw3]
by ciara1
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Jan 06, 2007 (2:40 pm)
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Replying to: bobw3 (Jan 06, 2007 1:02 pm)
Yep, that's definitely most dealers' approach -- load it with extras and expect someone will buy it. They're willing to lose sales to people like me because someone else will come along, probably before too very long. I had several dealers say they'd 'see what they could do and get back with me' after I told them that I wouldn't buy unless I could get one without add-ons, then not bother to get back with me after all.
With enough searching, though, it does seem to be possible to find dealers willing to snag the car before the extras are added and sell it to you for no more than MSRP just as it arrives on their lot. I'm not sure the odds are as high as 1 in 10 -- I found 2 out of 40 or more -- but at least they're out there somewhere.
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- #830 of 2426
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Re: Questions: deposit and ordering without add-ons [ciara1]
by carman289
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Jan 06, 2007 (8:56 pm)
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Replying to: ciara1 (Jan 06, 2007 2:40 pm)
We picked up our new Fit 5 speed manual Sport today from Honda Cars of Columbia in Columbia SC. We paid MSRP with no forced add ons. We added 3 accessories by our choice and he discounted those for us. We are extremely pleased.
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