My Civic suffered an untimely death at 193k, and I need to pick up a new car by the end of this weekend (currently renting a car to get around). I've never bought a car before, and I have some questions about that process, in addition to the Fit itself.

As for the fit, I've done my homework, and it comes out on the top of it's class. I test drove one yesterday, and I love it. I'd be going for the Sport AT. First off, what's going on with the 07's/08's, and how can I use that as leverage at my dealership? Secondly, I'm moving to California in about a month. Will my Florida fit pass all the crazy California emissions laws? I've researched that for hours, and I know that it's a LEV2 (Tier2 Bin5), but I can't find anything telling me if that's acceptable for a California registration.

Assuming that that's all going to work out, I really need help kicking ass at my dealer's. I set up a fake identity to get some base online quotes, and they're sticking to the standard $15,970. How much can I expect to wiggle this down?

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm looking forward to getting this car, and becoming part of your community.

 

Good luck getting much wiggle. The demand is high...supply is a bit on the lean side.

 

All i know is that up here in canada, honda's finance rate is 0.9%!!!! Its' awesome!! From what i understand, the 07 and 08 are the same with the exception of White replacing Alabaster SIlver. if i'm not mistaken, 09's got a body change just like the JDM ones.

 

Yeah man you dont have much wiggle room on Fits. I would just shoot for getting MSRP which is 16.500$ on the sport AT. Possibly you can get a good deal on a remaining 07 but i doubt they would lower the price, but its worth a try! Good luck!

 

That's comforting.

Right now I'm trying to get preapproved for a loan through my bank before I go into dealerships. I don't want financing to be part of the equasion with them.

Anybody know anything about the California emissions?

 

Why not wait to pruchase your vehicle there in California after moving. That way, you save yourself a lot of, if not some, headaches about emission laws since there's some differences between the two states. Just a thought.

Don't know who you bank with, but most US banks are nationwide. You can do your banking there in California, too. Once again, just a thought.

Wish you best of luck!

 

I have one month left in Miami before I graduate, and I absolutely need a car in that month. I also need to be able to drive all my belongings from Miami to Cali. I can't afford keep this rental car longer than I absolutely have to, and I can't buy a beater that I can't trust. Basically, I need my new car by the end of the week, and that car needs to be dependable as a rock for a while.

 

Ive lived in Cali all my life, and i didnt even know we have crazy emission laws?? All i know is we have to get smog checks every once in awhile. You shouldnt have any problems bringing a brandnew car over here. Maybe if it was a 1985 piece of crap, but its far from that!

 

The 2008 models have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. I think this means you can't use 2007 rims on the 2008 model. Also, in Canada at least, Honda has made some minor changes (most likely timing or compression) to the engine to get the tiny amount of mileage increase needed for the car to qualify for the government's $1000 rebate for green cars.

 

Right off the showroom floor. Can't wait for tomorrow so I can take it for a drive and shoot some pictures!

 

Congrats. Have fun with your new Fit, and see you in CA.

 

it'll be fine with Cali smog laws. They're all made the same from the factory so it's not like it's made for a specific state.

But once you decide to mod it THEN you'll have to worry about the smog laws.

Or ignore them completely like I'm doing in the subaru.

I've already gotten rid of one cat...time for the other two to go!

 

so were you able to get a good deal?

Details please

 

Awesome!! Enjoy the Fit!!!!

 

Congrads on your car! I noticed our local Honda dealer was advertising special deals on all 2007 models. They actually had a picture of a Fit in the background! Yikes! I will have to call my salesman to see how much they are lowering the cost.

Enjoy your car and welcome to the Fit family - post more pictures when
you can!

Cat :x

 

they have actually made cars ( don't know about the Fit in particualr) that pass the "50 state" emmission laws,,,and some that are only "48 state" or what-ever it is. 48 state cars are NOT legal to SELL in Ca, but if you buy it out of state and bring it in, NO problem. So to answer his question he will be fine buying it in the state he is in and transferring it to Ca when he moves here.
PS 48 state vehicles are favored cuz they get better power with out the extra smog crap

 

I did some homework since the Civic died on Tuesday, and I think I did alright.

The first dealer that I met (who totally saw me as fresh meat) offered to beat any other deal by a grand. I got an online quote for
$15,970 from another dealer, set up my financing, and brought it into the dealership. Working with that salesman was not fun at all. He pulled out the "four-square," tried to walk back with my credit card, tried to talk me into extras, and spent nearly 20 minutes out of the hour I was there "talking to his manager." Eventually he came back with the "sales manager" and insisted that he never said he would beat the price by a thousand. I told him I was sick of getting pushed around, and walked out.

I went to the dealer who gave me the online quote, and got the car with no bs and no hassle at all. The car was $15,970 (plus tax and titles) for the automatic sport, and I was out with it within a couple hours.

So far, I've only had a chance to drive it home from the dealership, and then to work. I'll be taking it for a spin tonight, and getting some good pictures tomorrow. As for additions, I'm going to put a light tint on the windows before I move, find a clip for my iPhone, and maybe do a cold air intake down the line.

edit: So I just went out for it's first pleasure drive, and I found that the horn doesn't work It was a floor model, so there's a good chance it was disconnected at the dealership. I'm planning to bring it back and have them fix it, unless there's an easy fix. Anybody know where the horn is connected?

 

Dude! That's a great price! I hope I can get mine at least for MSRP.

 

bking-
The horn is mounted directly behind the passenger side bumper, and there is a relay for the horn in the black fuse box right in front of the battery. The horn relay is the fat, rectangular little plastic box- third from the front in a row of 4 along the right side of the fuse box. If the dealer disconnected the horn, they either pulled the wire connector on the horn, or removed the relay.

 

It was just a missing relay. I brought it in today, and they replaced it. I also caved in and bought the factory floormats, mostly so i can go to the beach.