JDM Options

Friday has become a new ritual for me, for the last few weeks I have been driving down to JHPUSA (www.jhpusa.com) in San Gabriel CA to buy new parts for my car. This week I purchased a set of JDM Optional Window Visors. Which I have to say look bitchin' on my new fit. I had no idea how to install them nor could I find any online tutorials, but the install was pretty self explanatory which consisted of Cleaning the area with rubbing alcohol before application. Although I found out the hard way that its not a good idea to remove the 3m tape backing before you have placed them in the correct spot. So the driver side is slightly off but the passenger side is dead on.

Finally the fruit of my labor.

Burning Plastic

I left for work around 9:45am like any other day and headed down the 57FWY to my school where I am also a work study in the Career Office. On my way I came across the usual jerks who hardly know how to drive and like to make attempts at my new cars life and threaten bodily harm to her. While Driving I noticed a big ass plastic bag drifting on the highway and I attempted to avoid it but I was unsuccessful in doing so, I was running late for work so I had no time to stop to remove it from my cars under body. By the time I got to school most of the bag had melted to my exhaust and was stink of burning plastic for a few months time.

I morn for the loss of my new car smell, for it was lost before its time.

First Time Buyer

The last few weeks I had been seriously playing with the idea of buying a new car, working with my budget thinking of sacrifices I could make and the like. Also looking into the trade in value of my current car, which was a 1999 Acura Integra LS. Considering the trade in value verses the value of selling it privately, but being a bit too eager to get into a new car I ended up going with the dealer which was the fastest. My previous car was in great condition I even washed it and changed the oil before I went to the dealer (it was over due anyway).

I had my heart set on a new Honda Fit Sport, which were and are still are hard to come by at any dealership due to their economic value in respect to their great gas mileage bing a micro compact. I did however go through the manufacturers website to request a quote from my local deal so that it would make sure that the dealer would have no chance to add any markup locking in the suggested MSRP of about $15,219.00 that price reflecting the Fit Sport with a manual transmission. I also got my credit pre-approved through Honda so there would be no disappointment/embarrassment of not having the financial means to qualify to buy the car in the first place.

I decided to head over to Metro Honda in Montclair around 4pm Friday. Once I parked at in front of the dealer the salesmen had spotted me like hungry animals and where watching my every movement as I got closer to the main doors. Needless to say I didn't make it inside before I was stopped by one of the many sales men posted like guards around the dealer. I half expected him to ask me for ID before he extended his hand and asked, "Do you need any help today." With out missing a beat I told him I wanted to see about getting a new car and told him which one. He then proceeded to walk me to the unpaved storage lot where he showed me the 2 Fit Sport Models they had in stalk which consisted of 2 Vivid Blue Pearl Automatics. I had originally had my heart set on Nighthawk Black Pearl with a manual transmission, so that plan went to hell almost immediately.


To cut through most of the red tape I filled out a but load of paperwork and got down to business with the trade in and price negotiation. The used car sales manager took my car for a spin around the block and came back with an offer of $2,700 (kbb at the time being 3,400) I refused immediately and responded with a 3k counter offer, which they accepted. They then brought the price of the car and the projected payments. 16,700 for the car which was right on target for an auto sport. I noticed a few other fees consisting of solar guard for $595.00 and a Custom Armrest for $395.00. The solar guard was reffering to the tinted windows which where factory installed, I got the dealer to drop the charge. I also refused the custom armrest which consisted of a 3rd party after market part that retailed for $99.99. At that time my projected payments where $380.00. Now here is where they get you, the extended warranty which runs for like 3k which bumped my payments up to $495.00 I almost walked when he told me that, they explain it like it comes with the car which is BS and then they hit you with the cost. I did refuse that for the simple fact that I couldn't afford the payments if I sold my kidney. The Honda fit did however come with a Lojack already installed which they then tried to hit me with a $995 one time installation fee (even though it was already installed) and continued to tell me that they would remove it otherwise. I unknowingly got him to drop the price to $795 because of my hesitation. I also got them to give me the floor mats and the cargo mat for free which ran for about 230 bucks or so. My APR was sky high being a first time buyer with no credit (13.74) and my payments consisted of $406.89, But for 34MPG its a small price to pay over the outrages gas prices.