What's the deal with the Fit?
 

The wife and I were looking at getting her a new car and she was interested
in the Toyota Matrix, but then we decided to get a quote on the Fit. Right
away I found three things that surprised me:

1. The Fit is selling at full list price. No deals whatsoever.
2. The Fit is sold out and have been pre-ordered until summer (people are
reserving them now knowing they won't be able to get the car until summer.)
3. The dealers (at least in my area) don't even have a demo you can test
drive, they've sold them all.

Why is there such a buying frenzy over a car you can't even see at the
dealership, let alone test drive, before you buy it? I looked up some of
the stats but didn't notice anything that stood out about the car.

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

"That Guy" <7@f.com> wrote in message
news:3qednWzb5YDwnznYnZ2dnUVZ_sOknZ2d@giganews.com ...
> The wife and I were looking at getting her a new car and she was
> interested in the Toyota Matrix, but then we decided to get a quote on the
> Fit. Right away I found three things that surprised me:
>
> 1. The Fit is selling at full list price. No deals whatsoever.
> 2. The Fit is sold out and have been pre-ordered until summer (people are
> reserving them now knowing they won't be able to get the car until
> summer.)
> 3. The dealers (at least in my area) don't even have a demo you can test
> drive, they've sold them all.
>
> Why is there such a buying frenzy over a car you can't even see at the
> dealership, let alone test drive, before you buy it? I looked up some of
> the stats but didn't notice anything that stood out about the car.
>

My guess for what it's worth....
1/ Fit is a Honda
2/ Fit is new to US
3/Fit is pretty fuel efficient not extremely tiny car
4/Fit (at least sport model) has some good features for price class
5/People are not always the most logical (I would never buy a car without
test driving it)

We passed on the Fit due to the price issue and wait...

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

"That Guy" <7@f.com> wrote in message
news:3qednWzb5YDwnznYnZ2dnUVZ_sOknZ2d@giganews.com ...
> The wife and I were looking at getting her a new car and she was
> interested in the Toyota Matrix, but then we decided to get a quote on the
> Fit. Right away I found three things that surprised me:
>
> 1. The Fit is selling at full list price. No deals whatsoever.
> 2. The Fit is sold out and have been pre-ordered until summer (people are
> reserving them now knowing they won't be able to get the car until
> summer.)
> 3. The dealers (at least in my area) don't even have a demo you can test
> drive, they've sold them all.
>
> Why is there such a buying frenzy over a car you can't even see at the
> dealership, let alone test drive, before you buy it? I looked up some of
> the stats but didn't notice anything that stood out about the car.
>

My guess for what it's worth....
1/ Fit is a Honda
2/ Fit is new to US
3/Fit is pretty fuel efficient not extremely tiny car
4/Fit (at least sport model) has some good features for price class
5/People are not always the most logical (I would never buy a car without
test driving it)

We passed on the Fit due to the price issue and wait...

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

"That Guy" <7@f.com> wrote in message
news:3qednWzb5YDwnznYnZ2dnUVZ_sOknZ2d@giganews.com ...
> The wife and I were looking at getting her a new car and she was
> interested in the Toyota Matrix, but then we decided to get a quote on the
> Fit. Right away I found three things that surprised me:
>
> 1. The Fit is selling at full list price. No deals whatsoever.
> 2. The Fit is sold out and have been pre-ordered until summer (people are
> reserving them now knowing they won't be able to get the car until
> summer.)
> 3. The dealers (at least in my area) don't even have a demo you can test
> drive, they've sold them all.
>
> Why is there such a buying frenzy over a car you can't even see at the
> dealership, let alone test drive, before you buy it? I looked up some of
> the stats but didn't notice anything that stood out about the car.
>

My guess for what it's worth....
1/ Fit is a Honda
2/ Fit is new to US
3/Fit is pretty fuel efficient not extremely tiny car
4/Fit (at least sport model) has some good features for price class
5/People are not always the most logical (I would never buy a car without
test driving it)

We passed on the Fit due to the price issue and wait...

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

tanukiki wrote:
> My guess for what it's worth....
> 1/ Fit is a Honda

yes

> 2/ Fit is new to US

yes

> 3/Fit is pretty fuel efficient not extremely tiny car

no. Fit mpg is 31/38. Civic is 30/40. This is inexplicable: Fit is over
200 lbs lighter than Civic, and engine is 0.3L smaller, yet does not
get better mileage?

> 4/Fit (at least sport model) has some good features for price class

ok

> 5/People are not always the most logical (I would never buy a car without
> test driving it)

definite yes. This is similar to when the Odyssey first came out. They
were selling for list or above, there were absolutely none on the lots,
so everyone was ordering without test driving first. But then again,
considering that people will pay 5x MSRP for a video game system just
to have it a month before everyone else, it's not surprising.

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

tanukiki wrote:
> My guess for what it's worth....
> 1/ Fit is a Honda

yes

> 2/ Fit is new to US

yes

> 3/Fit is pretty fuel efficient not extremely tiny car

no. Fit mpg is 31/38. Civic is 30/40. This is inexplicable: Fit is over
200 lbs lighter than Civic, and engine is 0.3L smaller, yet does not
get better mileage?

> 4/Fit (at least sport model) has some good features for price class

ok

> 5/People are not always the most logical (I would never buy a car without
> test driving it)

definite yes. This is similar to when the Odyssey first came out. They
were selling for list or above, there were absolutely none on the lots,
so everyone was ordering without test driving first. But then again,
considering that people will pay 5x MSRP for a video game system just
to have it a month before everyone else, it's not surprising.

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

tanukiki wrote:
> My guess for what it's worth....
> 1/ Fit is a Honda

yes

> 2/ Fit is new to US

yes

> 3/Fit is pretty fuel efficient not extremely tiny car

no. Fit mpg is 31/38. Civic is 30/40. This is inexplicable: Fit is over
200 lbs lighter than Civic, and engine is 0.3L smaller, yet does not
get better mileage?

> 4/Fit (at least sport model) has some good features for price class

ok

> 5/People are not always the most logical (I would never buy a car without
> test driving it)

definite yes. This is similar to when the Odyssey first came out. They
were selling for list or above, there were absolutely none on the lots,
so everyone was ordering without test driving first. But then again,
considering that people will pay 5x MSRP for a video game system just
to have it a month before everyone else, it's not surprising.

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

That Guy wrote:
> The wife and I were looking at getting her a new car and she was interested
> in the Toyota Matrix, but then we decided to get a quote on the Fit. Right
> away I found three things that surprised me:
>
> 1. The Fit is selling at full list price. No deals whatsoever.
> 2. The Fit is sold out and have been pre-ordered until summer (people are
> reserving them now knowing they won't be able to get the car until summer.)
> 3. The dealers (at least in my area) don't even have a demo you can test
> drive, they've sold them all.
>
> Why is there such a buying frenzy over a car you can't even see at the
> dealership, let alone test drive, before you buy it? I looked up some of
> the stats but didn't notice anything that stood out about the car.

It's gotten rave reviews in the enthusiast car mags for it's (relative)
performance and flexibility of interior configurations. Being a Honda,
it has a reputation for quality and has good features for it's class.
The Nissan Versa has also gotten good reviews but doesn't handle quite
as well as the Fit, according to the press.

I suspect that Honda hedged its bets a bit and isn't producing tons of
them, as they have done in the past with other intros of new models
('big' Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline). But I agree with the sentiment about
not buying a car I haven't driven in the form I want it (i.e., many
dealers may only have a demo with the automatic but I would want to
drive the manual).

Dan D
'07 Ody EX

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

That Guy wrote:
> The wife and I were looking at getting her a new car and she was interested
> in the Toyota Matrix, but then we decided to get a quote on the Fit. Right
> away I found three things that surprised me:
>
> 1. The Fit is selling at full list price. No deals whatsoever.
> 2. The Fit is sold out and have been pre-ordered until summer (people are
> reserving them now knowing they won't be able to get the car until summer.)
> 3. The dealers (at least in my area) don't even have a demo you can test
> drive, they've sold them all.
>
> Why is there such a buying frenzy over a car you can't even see at the
> dealership, let alone test drive, before you buy it? I looked up some of
> the stats but didn't notice anything that stood out about the car.

It's gotten rave reviews in the enthusiast car mags for it's (relative)
performance and flexibility of interior configurations. Being a Honda,
it has a reputation for quality and has good features for it's class.
The Nissan Versa has also gotten good reviews but doesn't handle quite
as well as the Fit, according to the press.

I suspect that Honda hedged its bets a bit and isn't producing tons of
them, as they have done in the past with other intros of new models
('big' Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline). But I agree with the sentiment about
not buying a car I haven't driven in the form I want it (i.e., many
dealers may only have a demo with the automatic but I would want to
drive the manual).

Dan D
'07 Ody EX

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

That Guy wrote:
> The wife and I were looking at getting her a new car and she was interested
> in the Toyota Matrix, but then we decided to get a quote on the Fit. Right
> away I found three things that surprised me:
>
> 1. The Fit is selling at full list price. No deals whatsoever.
> 2. The Fit is sold out and have been pre-ordered until summer (people are
> reserving them now knowing they won't be able to get the car until summer.)
> 3. The dealers (at least in my area) don't even have a demo you can test
> drive, they've sold them all.
>
> Why is there such a buying frenzy over a car you can't even see at the
> dealership, let alone test drive, before you buy it? I looked up some of
> the stats but didn't notice anything that stood out about the car.

It's gotten rave reviews in the enthusiast car mags for it's (relative)
performance and flexibility of interior configurations. Being a Honda,
it has a reputation for quality and has good features for it's class.
The Nissan Versa has also gotten good reviews but doesn't handle quite
as well as the Fit, according to the press.

I suspect that Honda hedged its bets a bit and isn't producing tons of
them, as they have done in the past with other intros of new models
('big' Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline). But I agree with the sentiment about
not buying a car I haven't driven in the form I want it (i.e., many
dealers may only have a demo with the automatic but I would want to
drive the manual).

Dan D
'07 Ody EX

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

On 10 Jan 2007 01:42:20 -0800, "Bucky" <uw_badgers@email.com> wrote:

>tanukiki wrote:
>> My guess for what it's worth....
>> 1/ Fit is a Honda
>
>yes
>
>> 2/ Fit is new to US
>
>yes
>
>> 3/Fit is pretty fuel efficient not extremely tiny car
>
>no. Fit mpg is 31/38. Civic is 30/40. This is inexplicable: Fit is over
>200 lbs lighter than Civic, and engine is 0.3L smaller, yet does not
>get better mileage?
>

Those are estimates? Folks actually get that mileage with a Fit. At
least, that's what I read when I was looking to buy one. I couldn't
get one at a price I was willing to pay and I was willing to pay list.

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

On 10 Jan 2007 01:42:20 -0800, "Bucky" <uw_badgers@email.com> wrote:

>tanukiki wrote:
>> My guess for what it's worth....
>> 1/ Fit is a Honda
>
>yes
>
>> 2/ Fit is new to US
>
>yes
>
>> 3/Fit is pretty fuel efficient not extremely tiny car
>
>no. Fit mpg is 31/38. Civic is 30/40. This is inexplicable: Fit is over
>200 lbs lighter than Civic, and engine is 0.3L smaller, yet does not
>get better mileage?
>

Those are estimates? Folks actually get that mileage with a Fit. At
least, that's what I read when I was looking to buy one. I couldn't
get one at a price I was willing to pay and I was willing to pay list.

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

On 10 Jan 2007 01:42:20 -0800, "Bucky" <uw_badgers@email.com> wrote:

>tanukiki wrote:
>> My guess for what it's worth....
>> 1/ Fit is a Honda
>
>yes
>
>> 2/ Fit is new to US
>
>yes
>
>> 3/Fit is pretty fuel efficient not extremely tiny car
>
>no. Fit mpg is 31/38. Civic is 30/40. This is inexplicable: Fit is over
>200 lbs lighter than Civic, and engine is 0.3L smaller, yet does not
>get better mileage?
>

Those are estimates? Folks actually get that mileage with a Fit. At
least, that's what I read when I was looking to buy one. I couldn't
get one at a price I was willing to pay and I was willing to pay list.

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

In article <1168433847.109362.36020@p59g2000hsd.googlegroups. com>,
"Dano58" <dan.dibiase@gmail.com> wrote:

> I suspect that Honda hedged its bets a bit and isn't producing tons of
> them, as they have done in the past with other intros of new models
> ('big' Odyssey,

Are you kidding?

The big Odyssey realized FIVE YEARS of waiting lists and full list price
plus, due to demand--because they didn't make enough of them, and
couldn't.

Re: What's the deal with the Fit?
 

In article <1168433847.109362.36020@p59g2000hsd.googlegroups. com>,
"Dano58" <dan.dibiase@gmail.com> wrote:

> I suspect that Honda hedged its bets a bit and isn't producing tons of
> them, as they have done in the past with other intros of new models
> ('big' Odyssey,

Are you kidding?

The big Odyssey realized FIVE YEARS of waiting lists and full list price
plus, due to demand--because they didn't make enough of them, and
couldn't.