My Fit NOT arriving

Why?

Do you even know what "bait and switch" is? Or are you just another ignoramus who's not getting what he wants in the world, and has to have someone to blame something horrific on?

It seems like Honda sometimes tells dealers what they will get rather than dealers or customers getting to order what they want. A strange way to do business, but with a sold-out hit like the Fit I guess they can get away with it.

John

Wow, you're a pretty nasty guy. I'm glad that I don't actually have to deal with you in real life.

I guess that's it. The dealer is right on my bike commute home so I'll drop in this afternoon and see what can be done. I suspect that I'm going to just keep my 91 running another year or two.

What do you suppose your colleagues think when you say things like "I don't like it--therefore it must be bait and switch!"

So just go about your life, spouting crap like that without knowing what you're talking about.

Shoot for 100K on the belt. It will make it unless you race the car on weekends. Good luck on the Fit. I saw a white one up close last week and decided not to buy one. Too small for me. bob

you need to learn how to understand what elmo's actually telling you. otherwise you'll be the loser in virtually every negotiation you ever have. read elmo's post again - what he's saying is:

1. it's not bait & switch
2. you're not a victim unless you want to be.

the likely scenario, and the logical one if you bother to think about it, is that the dealer's having trouble sourcing what you ordered, but because of the delay is offering you an alternative. therefore, you now have two options:

i. keep on waiting, or ii. settle for a different color.

if you somehow misinterpret that as "bait & switch", it's your [in]ability to deal with the situation that's the problem and you're going to end up feeling screwed whatever the outcome.

get real, pay attention, make a decision and stick to it. assert what you want and keep on asserting it until you get it. bleating about being a victim before anything actually happens means you already are one.

IIRC, VW back in the late 1950's was in the same position. Often, one had to wait for the car of their choice or settle for what might be available. I had a six week wait for my new (the only new car I ever bought) '61 sunroof.

JT

More information needed. Bait and switch literally means just drawing you in to shop but not having what was advertised. However, allowing a customer to order something knowing that it isn't going to come in is even worse.

I went to another Honda dealer before using this one, and the first dealer came up with a price of $19,000 before tax. I said that I wouldn't pay over MSRP and she said that other dealers can't get the car but they can. I didn't really believe her but now I do. I think my current dealer did know that it was unlikely that I would get what I ordered.

I can't prove it, and I could certainly be wrong but there really isn't anything to do about it but try for another color and give them another week or two. Then I just cancel the deal and spend some money fixing up the Accord.

It isn't only the mileage though, I think it's also age. But when it goes it messes up the valves and such which would be a bad thing indeed. I thought I had the belt done when I bought the car but the dealer doesn't have a record of that so I guess not.

The Fit is indeed small and is not for everyone. But it is a lot of fun to drive which counts for a lot to me, and I don't have need for a big car. I do need to get a new TV soon, and it would fit the Fit better than my Accord.

Dump the old horse now and rent something small for a month while waiting.

J.

Just imagine how pissed dgk woulda been shopping for a Model T. "People can have the Model T in any colour--so long as it's black." - Henry Ford

Yes, but unless the dealer advertised an orange Fit, it's not bait-and-switch.

As for your other assertion, you would have to prove that the dealer KNEW an orange Fit would never be available. In fact, from other tales here, he may have fully believed and expected he could get you one in orange... and it's Honda that hasn't come through. Jumping all over the dealer prematurely is just ignorant and immature.

Now you're getting into conspiracy theories. Honda will sell you can through one dealer, but another? Why the hell should they care which dealer it goes through? The second dealer KNOWS he can't get a certain car in, but tries to sell you one anyway? Think about it for a moment... he doesn't get a dime of your money until your car actually arrives (unless you're REALLY stupid). Why would he waste his time and energy trying to get you to buy a car that he knows he can't provide? Especially when you (presumably) made it clear up front that you wanted EXACTLY what you wanted? It just doesn't make sense.

Tell the dealer if he REALLY wants to make the sale, he can take a couple grand off the price and give you the silver or some other color, and then you can take that money and just have the thing repainted.

Not really, I wouldn't have signed a contract and given Henry a grand deposit for a Metallic Orange one.

Well Elmo, perhaps it wasn't. I just saw the dealer and they said that they can get the Metallic Silver one within two weeks. So I wait a bit more. Now there is a bit of confusion on the Accord timing belt issue so that gets a new thread.

Good points but I don't think I can get much off the price. Too much demand. I asked for a cargo net and cover but we'll see. The silver looks pretty nice but the Orange was even better. They had a silver non-sport 5-speed and offered me that one but I want the sport. And while I love manual transmissions, I had a bad experience a few years back and I think those days are done.

I was away with a large group of friends and managed to break an ankle. Out of thirty people there, only one girl could drive a stick, and she wasn't too good at it. Since my Significant Other also can't drive one, it would seem like a bad idea.

Well, two weeks and the car comes or it doesn't.

I once blew out my left knee - folded my leg right back the wrong way. Had a

4-speed GLC at the time. To shift, I had to basically just rest my left foot on the clutch, then push down on my knee with my left hand while shifting with the right. That wasn't fun.

Good luck...

If the rust is that bad, I don't think you are risking much to delay changing the belt.

If all you need to do is pick a different color, then I would say the dealer is acting in good faith. If he can't seem to produce a Fit of any color, I would be suspicious. How long did he tell you to expect for delivery when you ordered a month ago?

I think the production is low on the Fit and demand is high. Delays in delivery and dealer markups are common. If he is really selling them at MSRP, he may have a long line.

Sorry to hear. See what you can get now or hold out for the orange. The darker silver is good!

If you sell the Accord and hire something, make sure it's not a Honda. That way you'll really appreciate the Fit when it arrives! Worth the wait.