Mazda 3

6/17/2010 10:08:45 PM

the 33 mpg highway rating is for the new Fit, you're looking at the old one which gets superior mileage. Also, it'll probably get more like 40mpg since Hondas typically outperform the EPA's ratings easily.

6/17/2010 11:27:23 PM

Still looking online at various dealerships and they're all full of shit! For example, I found an 08 Fit with 20,000 miles that they claim has a market value of $18k, and they're offering an "Internet Special" for a mere $14,985! BUT the MSRP for a BRAND NEW Fit is only $14,900. Do they just expect you to talk them down? Maybe that nonsense is to catch the occasional big fat sucker.

PS Edmunds says the dealer value for an 08 Fit with manual tranny is $11,465 ... think I can get them to go lower than that?

http://hendrick-honda-charleston.ebizautos.com/webdetail.aspx?iid=5595155

6/18/2010 3:43:52 PM

Actually, if you go through and fill out the info on Edmunds, you'll find that that vehicle's TMV is $13,366. Certified makes a big difference (7 year/100k warranty). The mileage is also low. I'm sure they're tacking on a bit for the alarm & stereo too even though I'd personally prefer it stock. I did use "outstanding" for the condition since it's fairly new, at a Honda dealer, certified, & the price is high. That part may change. Anyway, they'll deal but you're not going to get a certified Fit w/ 20k miles for $11k. My old dealership didn't do much at all on Certified cars so I don't know what that dealer will do. I'd be surprised at anything lower than $13.5k though and that's probably stretching it quite a bit.

*edit*

Since you're in Charlotte:
09 Sport for $13,750: http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/1797183615.html
Everything else on there makes the certified one look pretty good. There's a dealer called GVNAUTO that has some cheap but they're almost too cheap (09 Sport for $11.9k w/ <20k miles).


[Edited on June 18, 2010 at 9:26 PM. Reason : .]

6/18/2010 9:19:12 PM

Yesterday I drove about an hour down to Beaufort to test drive this Honda Fit. Dealer only has stock pics, and the car is light blue not dark blue. Dealer says the previous owner was a Marine who bought the car new from them, and traded it in to get a truck. They've had it on the lot for 70 days and the price has been reduced. They showed me all these stats, etc showing it was the cheapest car in 250 miles and whatnot. I said I'd think about it. They said they would call the previous owner and ask him why he had so many miles in 2 years.

http://tinyurl.com/35jufyb

What do you guys say? It's the best deal I've found so far. The drive was nice, it was nice seeing the different seat configurations in person, etc. Still, $11k is a lot of money so I may just go for something cheaper. Maybe an 06 Scion XA or a newer Versa.

PS I live in Charleston, not Charlotte

6/20/2010 3:37:54 PM

sounds like i was a renal car.

6/20/2010 9:32:01 PM

The ad says nothing about it being certified, was it? If not, I'd pass on it. In my experience, the only time that a Honda dealership doesn't certify an eligible vehicle is when it's just too expensive to bring it up to spec. Basically, that Fit either doesn't qualify (wrecked and a body panel has been replaced is pretty much the only reason) or it needs a lot of work (30k mile service, tires, etc. etc.).

6/21/2010 8:35:18 PM

A 30k mile service wouldn't cost much at all on a modern car, especially a Fit.

6/21/2010 9:18:18 PM

Just an example. Regardless of cost, it's less profit for the dealership. Do the 30k service, put new tires on, change the pads, etc. etc. and you start adding up.

6/21/2010 9:33:55 PM

True enough. Also sometimes they'll give you the option (for a cost) of making it pre-certified.

6/22/2010 11:41:28 AM

The Yaris is a great little car for something cheap and small. I have one and easily get between 35-40 MPG depending on how bad I drive. If you get the bare minimum (no power anything, no cruise and no radio) you can get them for ~12k new. Only problems are if you have long legs, the steering wheel is a bit far away and the position of the rear view mirror can be irritating depending on how tall you are.

6/22/2010 2:17:30 PM

Quote :

"The ad says nothing about it being certified, was it? If not, I'd pass on it. In my experience, the only time that a Honda dealership doesn't certify an eligible vehicle is when it's just too expensive to bring it up to spec. Basically, that Fit either doesn't qualify (wrecked and a body panel has been replaced is pretty much the only reason) or it needs a lot of work (30k mile service, tires, etc. etc.)."

No, the car isn't Honda certified. However I've seen the Carfax online and it's clean. Two tires are pretty worn, the salesman said something about replacing them before selling the car. What does it really mean when they say Honda certified anyway? I know it adds about $1,000 to the cost of the car and gives you a warranty. Is that worth it?

And as for the Yaris, I'm 5'4" so no worries there. However I really want to upgrade in terms of comforts and it's barely better inside than my own Spartan civic

6/22/2010 6:39:00 PM

Basically that the car is "as new" as possible for a used car. It's supposed to be cars that are very well maintained and very well taken care of. The benefit is the warranty (7 years & 100k miles from new) and added resale. In reality, a lot of dealers slap a Certified sticker on anything that qualifies and raises the prices as much as they can. That's why I'm suspicious of any Honda that's not certified when it is actually very eligible. Whether the certification is worth it or not really depends on the person and vehicle. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a clean non-certified Honda if it's a good deal but I'd definitely want to know why it isn't certified.

6/22/2010 7:22:52 PM

carfax doesn't really mean shit, it sometimes gets stuff and is good for that but the absence of bad stuff doesn't mean anything. someone who knows what they are doing can keep a carfax clean.

6/22/2010 8:09:29 PM

^^the two worn tires could be the only reason its not Certified Pre-owned. If you're interested in the car at the least I'd make them replace the two tires. It'll cost them a lot less to do it than you. But make sure they match the other two.

A non certified preowned car isn't the end of the world. I bought my Integra with 135k on it and it was a dream.

6/23/2010 8:19:51 AM

If tires are the only thing that it needs then it's to the dealer's benefit to certify the vehicle. The tires need to be replaced and it's been on the lot for 70 days. To me, that means they never had any intentions of certifying it. Certification is like an instant $500-1000 additional profit for a dealer. There is a reason that they are not going for it.

Also, a 135k mile vehicle is completely different. I'm not saying that the Certification is worth it financially to the buyer or that she should only buy Certified. I'm saying that there's got to be a really good reason for the dealer to not want those extra $$ and as someone that's going to live with the car for the next 3-5 years, I'd be really interested in that reason. Personally, I wouldn't buy a certified vehicle 95% of the time. If I'm buying used, I'm buying private party to get rid of the extra cost.

6/23/2010 8:36:21 AM

^agreed.

Who knows what the dealer's thinking. I've been at a dealership before looking at a car and they've told me that if I want they could get the car pre-certified, that they just had to replace the tires (this wasn't Honda, btw).

6/23/2010 10:13:52 AM

the dealer is thinking about that bottom dollar.

period.




if you want, I can put you in touch with my brother in law

he's found several of my friends and family cars they were looking for and has not ripped any of them off

LMK

6/23/2010 10:59:45 AM

So I talked to the dealer today and they have absolutely no records for the car. The owner bought the car from them but was was in the Marines and was stationed somewhere else. That explains why it's not certified.

Is that a big deal? It would also hurt my resale value. I offered $11k total for the car with an extended warranty and he just said no outright, no counter offer or anything. He said he would find the previous owner and if it was OK with him to put me in touch.

6/23/2010 3:17:28 PM

Quote :

"That explains why it's not certified"

Huh? I'm pretty sure a car has to undergo a 250 point (or something along those lines) inspection to be "pre-certified". It shouldn't really be dependant on the previous owner at all. Also I don't see how it would hurt your resale unless you sold the car while it was still under the 100k mile warranty.

Quote :

"Certification Standards Why you should choose a Honda Certified Used Car Every Honda is a product of innovative engineering and quality manufacturing. And only well-maintained Honda models that are less than six years old and have a maximum of 80,000 miles are eligible for certification. The certification process includes: An exhaustive 150-point mechanical and appearance inspection, performed by the dealer, to ensure that each vehicle meets Honda Certified Used Cars standards Honda-trained technicians scrutinize all major vehicle systems, including brakes, engine, drivetrain, steering, suspension, tires, wheels, exhaust system and vehicle interior and exterior Dealer technicians recondition any component that does not meet our standards Any component that cannot be reconditioned is replaced with Genuine Honda parts Up-to-date scheduled maintenance services "

there's nothing stopping the dealership from selling it as CPO - looks like they just don't want to.

[Edited on June 23, 2010 at 3:24 PM. Reason : k]

6/23/2010 3:21:44 PM

It could be that they don't want to certify it because the guy might have never gotten the oil changed or something. That's the type of thing that could cause all types of future problems that would all be very expensive. I'd personally check compression and not worry too much as long as it was good, but technically there could be other issues that might pop up down the road.

6/23/2010 3:45:17 PM

ok nvm, I thought to be certified the car had to have maintenance records

The dealer said they did a "148 point inspection." Also I just talked to the previous owner, he sounded like a young guy. He said he took a few road trips that's why the mileage is so high. He promised that he changed the oil. I asked him if he drove the car hard and he said he never raced it ... but maybe he drove like he was racing.

What do you mean by check the compression? The dealer has the inspection report so I can check it for something that might indicate a problem down the line.

6/23/2010 3:53:43 PM

a compression test uses a gauge that fits into holes where the spark plugs fit. it's an easy way to check for internal engine problems. i've bought plenty of vehicles without doing it...especially fairly new ones. it's a good thing to do, but whatever. you should be fine.

6/23/2010 4:14:50 PM

LOL, I doubt someone would "race" a Fit. It's quite slow and has no sport pretensions.

6/23/2010 11:27:05 PM

Sometimes the slowest cars are the ones we flog the most. Just to keep up with our normal driving habits.

6/23/2010 11:39:16 PM

Quote :

"Sometimes the slowest cars are the ones we flog the most. Just to keep up with our normal driving habits. "

i do this...i'm surprised the cooling fan is all that's broken on my saturn here at 150k

of course, who knows what'll break in the near future...and whether it will be a result of me abusing my poor little four-banger

6/24/2010 7:59:03 AM

^&^^sure but they're designed as such. And there's nothing wrong with winding out an engine repeatedly. That's not abuse.

6/24/2010 8:24:40 AM

http://tinyurl.com/2e9stoa

What do you guys think? I know the mileage is high, but it's only gonna get about 50-70 miles per week put on it max. I figure I'll offer $2000?

6/24/2010 3:04:34 PM

seems like a reasonable offer for a decent car.

6/24/2010 3:10:19 PM

And then there's this one:

http://tinyurl.com/22pq93h

Which seems like a better value, plus it gets 37mpg.

6/24/2010 3:22:09 PM

I'd go for that. Don't forget its really just a rebadged Corolla.

6/24/2010 3:40:56 PM

OK so this may be the final post about searching!!

I found a private seller on craigslist for an 08 Fit Sport with 26k miles. He wanted $13k and I called and offered him $12k. He was so quick to accept I regretted not offering $11,500!! I also said it was conditional on having a mechanic look it over.

It's more than I really wanted to spend but I feel like it's a good deal for a low mileage car. For only a thousand more I get a car with half the miles of the one at the dealership.

6/25/2010 4:42:43 PM

Okay time for me to hijack:

I want a 5 speed vehicle that gets around 25 mpg combined at least for under $3000.

And, go!

6/25/2010 6:01:51 PM

buy nerdchick's civic

6/25/2010 6:15:47 PM

lol, what happened with the mazda?

6/25/2010 7:51:30 PM

^^ Is she local?

^I'm going back to school in the fall and I can't afford the monthly payments.

6/25/2010 8:42:34 PM

LOL no! see page 1 ... the Civic is not for sale.

Also it gets about 45 city, 50 highway. That's what you get when there's no power steering pump, no AC, 92 HP, etc

6/26/2010 6:54:24 AM

Test drove this today:

http://www.elite-auto-sales.com/vehicledetails.aspx?VID=115802278

Rides good. The clutch/tranny feels completely different from the RX-8, so I can't really guage if it's okay. I guess I'll have to find a local shop to do a pre-purchase inspection on.

The Carfax history was good, just listed one minor front fender accident like 50000 miles ago with no major damage.

Clean trade-in is $4075, he's got it at $3950. He'll have to release it for quite a bit less.

6/26/2010 7:30:23 PM

Has anyone heard of JJ Import Auto Repair in Raleigh? They're like a mile from this dealership, and they have four good reviews on Google. Seems like an ok place for an inspection.

6/26/2010 11:06:00 PM

SCREW a snooze mobile, jeez... What happened to you man, going from an MR2 to an A4 to an RX8, to... the most boring car ever made? Make sure you pack a defibrillator for the daily commute!

6/27/2010 2:26:42 AM

Sorry! I'm going back to school in the fall and I just need something that gets in the mid 30s and has four wheels and a steering wheel.

6/27/2010 12:24:17 PM

^How about going back to something like the original MR2? Sporty/interesting, gets good mileage because it's small, just older to stay in budget? Or is it a concern of repair costs/downtime?

6/27/2010 1:19:57 PM

i'd go with a miata...easier to find, easier to find parts, great longevity, and DIRT cheap.

6/27/2010 2:34:39 PM

dude, if you had and A4 and have an RX8, you are richer than the average american, so where did all the money go? or did you spend all your savings on cars?

6/27/2010 6:02:24 PM

Nothing wrong with getting a cheap car for a short commute... But, there are too many affordable cool cars to drive a toaster around... I'm driving an 87 VW GTI that cost less than $2k, and gets close to 30mpg with my driving!

6/27/2010 6:55:01 PM

of course nothing wrong with it, if that's what you have always been driving or lost your money in the credit crunch.

but if you manage your money well, you shouldn't have to go from an rx8 to a really old non-Si civic.

6/27/2010 7:05:24 PM

My gripe is with the car, not the money. I'd rather ride my bike than drive a refrigerator. Don't do it Gronke! :p

6/27/2010 7:45:43 PM

To answer all of the questions:

To be honest, I've kind of "grown out" of sports cars. I enjoyed driving the RX8, but it wasn't worth the $350/month payments and the 18mpg gas. And I never did anything with it, really. I didn't go to autocrosses, I didn't modify it, and I became annoyed that I could never haul anything or carry my bike in it or whatever. And I've gotten much more of a rush now on things like cycling and soccer, and less on driving around fast in a car.

I'm going back to school full-time in the fall. This means that I'm quitting my job, and I won't be able to afford a nice car that I would have a loan out on. I have a few thousand in cash, and I'm just going to buy a cheap car that I can get cheap insurance on and not use up a lot of gas. Would I buy a nice sports car in the future? Sure, but not for the next few years.

And I actually do plan on riding my bike to class 99% of the time. I'm just getting a vehicle for the days it rains, getting groceries, or whenever I need to ride it.

Plus, I can just slap a turbocharger on this if I get bored, can't I?

6/27/2010 8:50:57 PM

Quote :

"dude, if you had and A4 and have an RX8, you are richer than the average american, so where did all the money go? or did you spend all your savings on cars?"

[quote]

Come on, you lived in America enough to know that most of the time, how nice of a car someone drives is influenced just as much by how much he's willing to go into debt as how much money he has.

You don't have to 1-up your last car every time, either, nor do you have to spend all that you're capable of. I sold a car for $26,500 a few years ago, and bought a truck for about 1/10 that amount. I could walk into a dealership and buy a brand new 911, M3, or Corvette with cash if I wanted to, but that doesn't mean it would make any sense to do so. I drive a 10-year old S2000 with about 110k miles. Shit, I might very well buy another 1G Miata for a couple thousand bucks when I get home, or I might buy something fast, German, and expensive. All depends on what makes sense for the person and his lifestyle at that point.

6/28/2010 1:11:02 AM

You live once... What about the opportunity cost of not driving the very best of what the gods have bestowed upon us, the chariots from west Germany!

I swear I'm gonna go out and do something really stupid like buy a 911 turbo or something -->said little Ahmet who drives a car worth about a set of mediocre tires on such an automobile...

6/28/2010 5:47:46 AM