First Ever New Car Purchase

[sciphi]

nfs, here are my impressions:

Seats: Comfy for long trips. I've spent a lot of time in both front seats, and they're pretty comfy for both around-town and extended highway trips. Lots of leg room, and the pedals are where you'd expect them to be.

Critic:

The nearest Honda dealer is over an hour away. And I'm sort of miffed that we didn't get longer out of the factory tires given how this car has spent 70% of its life on the highway.

It's possible I'm getting sticker shock comparing parts prices to my Buick, which has very inexpensive parts available everywhere. All the Fit's parts have to be shipped to us, or we have to travel over an hour to get them at a dealer. I'm used to running to the parts store and them having it on the shelf.

We haven't had the oil breakdown issues running a 0w-20. It's been fine for 8-10k miles with no funny engine noises. We're also using Mobil 1 oil filters at present. What kind of oil filter is your friend's car running?

 

[tdpark]

Honda came out with new atf fluid which from what i have heard on this board is synthetic. I have added it to my honda and so far so good

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: nfs480
I'm a 21 year old college student who will be purchasing his first brand new car this coming Monday (a 2011 Honda Fit Sport). While I have considerable experience maintaining my 1989 Honda Accord I am looking for any advice or tips for a first-time new car buyer. Anything is appreciated, thanks!


My daughter just bought her first new car (well, it had 6500 miles, but that's still a new car in my book) with dad (me) as her cosigner. It's a 2010 Nissan Cube. Funny looking thing, but has lots of room inside and it drives really nice. BTW, be careful what you ask for in here, eespecially if you ask anything about the purchase process or financing. I'm not saying you won't get any good advice because you will, but also the dogs will be turned loose on you if you know what I mean. Enjoy your new car!

 

[Beagle2000]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
During the signing make sure that the FINAL price is what you agreed to, dealers always try to add extra administration fees etc. Do not sign anything that has a bigger figure then what you negotiated.

Also, inspect the car really well upon delivery. Make sure you can do it in daylight, as that's when you can see most scratches and defects. If you notice some defects, again don't sign anything until it's fixed. Dealer may try to say that they will fix it later or something like that, don't fall for it, the car must be perfect when you take it home. With scratches or stains, if you take it home they will blame you and won’t fix it.


Why does everyone think every dealer is an ex-con that prays on the general population. Dealers today operate in very competitive markets and usually under the watchful eye of a government agency that regulates the industry.
I am really tired of people beating up on car dealers by making general statements like the above.
If you're not a complete retard, buying a new vehicle is a piece of cake. Not signing or refusing payment is the most rediculous piece of advice i have ever heard. Most dealers have a "Due Bill" process that outlines work needed after delivery insuring you have the dealers promise to complete the work to your satisfaction.

 

[Beagle2000]

Great post and very true.

There is little wiggle room other than manufactureres credits or rebates, if any, on those base model cars.

 

[hillclimber]

Originally Posted By: mareakin
The Fit Sport seems to get poor gas mileage at only 33mpg highway. The new Hyundai 2012 Accent will likely get more than 40mpg highway.

I have a 2007 Corolla btw. A car that I despise.


Oh, I love comments like this.. hey, you got a new car? Let me rain on your parade!!

If you can't say anything nice, sir...

To the OP: no advice, just congrats and enjoy!

 

[silverrat]

Originally Posted By: hillclimber
Originally Posted By: mareakin
The Fit Sport seems to get poor gas mileage at only 33mpg highway. The new Hyundai 2012 Accent will likely get more than 40mpg highway.

I have a 2007 Corolla btw. A car that I despise.


Oh, I love comments like this.. hey, you got a new car? Let me rain on your parade!!

If you can't say anything nice, sir...

To the OP: no advice, just congrats and enjoy!


It it was all sunshine and rainbows and positive comments then what would be the point of having a discussion board? OP is obviously asking for comments. Congrats and enjoy doesn't help him in any way.

 

[nfs480]

Originally Posted By: silverrat
Originally Posted By: hillclimber
Originally Posted By: mareakin
The Fit Sport seems to get poor gas mileage at only 33mpg highway. The new Hyundai 2012 Accent will likely get more than 40mpg highway.

I have a 2007 Corolla btw. A car that I despise.


Oh, I love comments like this.. hey, you got a new car? Let me rain on your parade!!

If you can't say anything nice, sir...

To the OP: no advice, just congrats and enjoy!


It it was all sunshine and rainbows and positive comments then what would be the point of having a discussion board? OP is obviously asking for comments. Congrats and enjoy doesn't help him in any way.


I agree, I want all viewpoints and input. I just ask that they provide some explanation as to why they feel the way they do. Some posters just say they aren't impressed with the Fit, but don't elaborate. I want all of the information I can get! Thanks again to those that have responded. I haven't made the purchase yet (most likely Monday night) and therefore am still interested in any input.

 

[FZ1]

My advice would be to keep the 89,if it's running well,and defer purchase of a new car.

 

[jmsjags]

Originally Posted By: FZ1
My advice would be to keep the 89,if it's running well,and defer purchase of a new car.


Agreed. I would wait until you finish school, that's what I'm doing. If you're anything like me, not having to worry about coming back to your car all dinged up in the parking deck, or a mirror dangling on the side on the car while it's parked in the street is a big stress relief. I know that once I'm outta school and don't have to commute to the city every day my car will be much safer.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: mareakin
The Fit Sport seems to get poor gas mileage at only 33mpg highway.


Also true. If you live in a hilly area, DO NOT buy a Fit. The small engine has to work very hard since it is so underpowered. As a result, your fuel economy will be dismal. I've been driving the Fit around these last few days and the average mpg is about 23. And this is with 35psi in the tires, clean engine/cabin filters, and a fresh fill of 5w-20 in the engine.

Originally Posted By: sciphi
We haven't had the oil breakdown issues running a 0w-20. It's been fine for 8-10k miles with no funny engine noises. We're also using Mobil 1 oil filters at present. What kind of oil filter is your friend's car running?


The first time it happened, it was with a Jiffy Lube Performax Filter. The second time was with a Valvoline filter. Now, it has a Genuine Honda filter on there, and we'll see what happens. But I think it's related to the oil, not the filter.

Also, OP: the build quality of the Fit is poor. Everything rattles after a few miles. The car also got rear-ended recently, and there isn't even a foam insert behind the rear bumper!

 

[kelpie]

Originally Posted By: Beagle2000
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
During the signing make sure that the FINAL price is what you agreed to, dealers always try to add extra administration fees etc. Do not sign anything that has a bigger figure then what you negotiated.

Also, inspect the car really well upon delivery. Make sure you can do it in daylight, as that's when you can see most scratches and defects. If you notice some defects, again don't sign anything until it's fixed. Dealer may try to say that they will fix it later or something like that, don't fall for it, the car must be perfect when you take it home. With scratches or stains, if you take it home they will blame you and won’t fix it.


Why does everyone think every dealer is an ex-con that prays on the general population. Dealers today operate in very competitive markets and usually under the watchful eye of a government agency that regulates the industry.
I am really tired of people beating up on car dealers by making general statements like the above.
If you're not a complete retard, buying a new vehicle is a piece of cake. Not signing or refusing payment is the most rediculous piece of advice i have ever heard. Most dealers have a "Due Bill" process that outlines work needed after delivery insuring you have the dealers promise to complete the work to your satisfaction.


I had 2 dealers try to slip in extras and were deceptive in every conceivable way. You have to be very careful and not be trusting. Maybe in Canada the dealers are better but not here.

 

[silverrat]

As a 1st year college student driving a car similar to yours, I can understand how much of a POS it must feel like, driving a car this old.

If you can comfortably afford a newer car go for it. A brand new car, however, would not be my first choice.

 

[morris]

i bought a new car once. NEVER AGAIN.

 

[nfs480]

Originally Posted By: morris
i bought a new car once. NEVER AGAIN.


Care to elaborate?

The primary reason i'm leaning towards a new car in general is for my cross-country trip this summer for an internship, if it weren't for that I would absolutely keep driving my current car, but it is rusting horribly and has had a rash of break-downs recently and now has a suspected leaking heater core. I'm leaning towards new over used simply because as far as I can tell very few people around here do anything other than oil changes and that would undermine the whole reliability thing i'm looking for.

My goal with this purchase is to find a car I like, that I can see myself driving for the next 10-20 years and not have to worry about reliability in the short run.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: nfs480
Originally Posted By: morris
i bought a new car once. NEVER AGAIN.


Care to elaborate?

The primary reason i'm leaning towards a new car in general is for my cross-country trip this summer for an internship, if it weren't for that I would absolutely keep driving my current car, but it is rusting horribly and has had a rash of break-downs recently and now has a suspected leaking heater core. I'm leaning towards new over used simply because as far as I can tell very few people around here do anything other than oil changes and that would undermine the whole reliability thing i'm looking for.

My goal with this purchase is to find a car I like, that I can see myself driving for the next 10-20 years and not have to worry about reliability in the short run.

I think what he meant was that new cars turn into old cars fairly quickly... And you can burn through the warranty relatively quickly and may have repairs to pay for sooner than you think.
Like Nick R found out, after you drive it for a couple months, it becomes just another car and you start to have other ideas of where all that money could've gone...
$20K now can get you into a house in a few years or be $500,000 when your ready to retire.
If your comfortable working on older Accord's you could look around for a real nice manual 4th or 5th gen one, as I don't think there is a single measure of performance or comfort that any new ecomony car is better at... Maybe mileage by a bit but maybe not from what others have said. New econo cars have high centres of gravity teetering around on Mac struts and torsion beams that thump into every line on the road with their huge low profile tires.

 

[wander2039]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan

Like Nick R found out, after you drive it for a couple months, it becomes just another car and you start to have other ideas of where all that money could've gone...
$20K now can get you into a house in a few years or be $500,000 when your ready to retire.


I figured up today I have only $1100 in the Festiva. Bought it back in Dec 09. If I would of kept the Ranger the payments alone would of been $3400. Not to mention insurance, tags and everything else. Do what you want but you're young.. don't wrap all your money in a vehicle. Have a good cheap reliable DD and get a play toy. Cheaper in the end.

 

[M1Accord]

My suggestion is that you keep your 89 Honda and drive it and spend the money on a Cherokee or Bronco 4x4. You'll need it in MN. Keep that below $5k and make sure it is structurally and mechanically sound.

If you have a secured job lined up, try to buy a house so you don't throw good money on rent. Once you got some money saved up again, get a nice car you like. Out in MN, a new Fit will cost about 1/3 the price of a nice small rambler. I will go for a house over a new car. Girls dig guys with nice car up to a point, a house get you more action. Also, a 4x4 will let you rescue more babes.

 

[M1Accord]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: addyguy
Being a cash-in-hand buyer will give you a LOT of power - a sales guy desperate to make his quota might swing you one heck of a deal.

not really. dealer I worked at HATED cash deals, the F&I guy couldn't make any money on the deal.
and the sales guy doesn't swing the deal, the manager does.

BEST advice for buying a new car- do all your research BEFORE you go in! educate yourself on what they have in stock and what the price is. edmunds.com has a great tutorial on how to buy a new car.


Cash buyers get no love because they can't be scam on a financing deal with more fees for the rest of the boys in the office. Dealerships love people with credit score between 575 to 675. These are the people that will likely qualify for a loan but a high rate. Of course, they will only need to pay 299 a month for the next 8 years. That's 10 dollars a day for a brand new car, less than a cost of lunch in dealership street talk.

 

[MNgopher]

Lets see... There was a post about not owning a Fit in a hilly area. Minnesota is defintely not "hilly" in the sense that those of you living in mountain states would identify. After living in Colorado, that is not an issue in Minnesota!

Another poster suggested that you "need" a 4x4 here. For the most part, not true, due to the generally good snow removal. Minneapolis and Saint Paul side streets can be a mess though, but everything else is fine. I drove a FWD car for years and wouldn't hesitate to go back to one.

As far as finding a good used vehicle vs. a new one, finding a good used vehicle is all about doing your homework. What are the flaws of the vehicle you are looking at? Have they been addressed? Found a private sale with full maintenance records? (That's what I found on my last purchase - not easy to locate but they are out there). A new vehicle erases that issue of previous maintenance, but comes with a steep price tag. Look at it as a tradeoff for maintenance costs for a few years, espicially since you aren't financing.

I gave up worrying about looks and focus on the relaibility aspect. If it is reliable and safe, there isn't a good reason to get rid of it till it blows up. If recent maintenance leaves you distrusting of the reliability, then maybe its time...