New car cost of ownership.

I am going to buy a new Mexican born car soon. I have a handle on the cost of aquisition and insurance, but not tag and taxes. Can anyone tell me them for a car in the Honda Fit class, please?

If you buy a new car, the IVA tax is included in the price. The annual registration/tarjeta de circulacion sticker is pretty cheap and there are no other taxes. In Jalisco, there is anti-smog inspection at about $350 MN per year. Of course, insurance is required and I recall it being about the same as in the USA.

That car I am buying is $5,0000 USD less than dealer invoice in th US.

Yes, the cars built for export to the USA have more expensive extra features than those sold for Mexican distribution. We have a Nissan Sentra SL, purchased new from an Arizona dealer, and it probably has more airbags, different instrumentation, special mirrors with etched warnings, different tail and signal light configurations, etc.; none of which are of major concern to me, but only to the US DOT. Mexican standards are similar to European standards, and sometimes equal. So, I think the US standards are simply a tariff by another name, forcing the Mexican plants, and others, to build many versions of the same car, and causing the price for those extra features to be added to the price.
In 2007, we bought a smart car, new, from the Mercedes dealer in Guadalajara, with the normal European standards. It was amazing that when we drove it in the USA we had no problems with two fewer airbags, rear fog light, no etched warnings on the right mirror, and no MPH indicated on the KPH speedometer, etc. But, we could not import it into the USA, or we would still have it.

Be sure you know what you're getting for the lower price. When we considered the Fit, we found that the top model here has way less features than the ones up north. We ended up getting the Hyundai Grand i10, which was far less money and had everything we needed. Longer warranty, better mileage, and we just love it.

RichD wrote:I am going to buy a new Mexican born car soon. I have a handle on the cost of aquisition and insurance, but not tag and taxes. Can anyone tell me them for a car in the Honda Fit class, please?

I bought a Honda Fit in 2010 through S&S auto. Ordered the preferred color and if memory serves, it was $18,000 US out the door including all taxes, etc.
I'd suggest going to them for pricing since they meet prices from the Guadalajara dealers and offer follow up services in the next years.
The car came with more standard features than we expected, including a good sound system, air conditioning, intermittent wipers and a few other goodies.

Thanks folks, but I have done my homework and it is the identical car with the same trim and accesories.

I have one now, but plated in the US and has to be sold before I can be a cash buyer. I have a lawsuit against Ford that should settle in about four more months and if I sell it before the settlement, I lose standing, My lawyer would then demand I pay for his work. Now he is on a contingecy with me having no out of pockets.

ps,
The car is a Ford Fiest SE stick shift. I won't have one with an automatic as my present one at 22,500 miles receoived its THIRD replacement transmission and is the basis of my suit.

My 2010 Fit is standard transmission. No problems so far. It just gets driven around here, though. I only have 11,000 KM on it which gives you an idea. Don't remember what the tags and smog tests cost annually but it's cheap. I renew that in February. I also used S&S and it's white like almost all other Fits were that year and in the following couple of years.

I used the Honda Fit as an example because they are popular down there, but I was born in Detroit and Hondas would be my last choice. TEHO

I used to feel the same way until I bought a Detroit-made car.

Well, CB, the Ford Fiesta is made in Mexico.

Hondas are also built in Mexico, the US and maybe even Canada.

My last GM and Ford vehicles were so inferior to my subsequent Toyotas and Hondas that my formerly semi-patriotic heart flipped. I am faithful to my cost of living, so reliability and cost of upkeep beats brand loyalty.

Speaking of car color.........white paint stands up better than the others and keeps the inside cooler.

CanuckBob wrote:Hondas are also built in Mexico, the US and maybe even Canada.

But not Detroit, the place Ms. Bean refereed to in a negative light.\

All my cars are and will be white. Darker colors absorb the sun's heat.

Very happy with my Nissan March. Perfect for the village.
Bought through S&S.

After seeing Dra. Berenice's car (a Honda Fit) after the last big accident at the Walmart intersection and the fact that she was able to survive, it would get my vote hand's down.

I was admiring another car the other day...turns out it was a Renault Clio "Elf"...those are really expensive.
We bought our Nissan Tiida from S&S auto...it was used very gently by a little old lady...and is still being used very gently by a little old lady...except for my dogs ate the seatbelts.

I had a Mustang in the '70's that was a total piece of crap. Stupidly i bought a Pontiac Phoenix in the very early '80s and that was the only car I ever owned that was an automatic transmission. That was when I moved to the Caribbean and the transmission went to hell in a handbasket before I left with very low mileage. Went to the BBB at the urging of a niece and got the repairs made (I won) & ditched that lemon. How many Pontiac Phoenixes are being made today? None. As I recall, both were made in the USA. Assumptions are dangerous.

My first car in 1962 was a VW Beetle and I owned 2 more after that. After the US car fiascoes I stuck with Toyotas which are also wonderful cars & when I moved here I bought the Honda. Since this will probably be my last car, it's safe to say I'll never own another US made car.

Stopped at S & S he other day to poke around. Was told the plating cost was P$4,000.

CanuckBob wrote:Hondas are also built in Mexico, the US and maybe even Canada.

And Brazil. The older ones in Mexico are from Brazil.

ferret wrote:After seeing Dra. Berenice's car (a Honda Fit) after the last big accident at the Walmart intersection and the fact that she was able to survive, it would get my vote hand's down.

I

I thought it turned out to be a Honda HRV which is a little SUV based on a Fit. Quite a bit bigger and heavier than a Fit to be fair. Both are five star rated for safety.

RichD wrote:ps,
The car is a Ford Fiest SE stick shift. I won't have one with an automatic as my present one at 22,500 miles receoived its THIRD replacement transmission and is the basis of my suit.

I love driving small fords but lately reliability has been bad. Remember driving in Guadalajara with a standard tranny is a pain in the butt. Sorry you got a lemon. We bought a Fit to replace a standard transmission Micra (like March only older) as it hurt too much in stop and go driving for my wife after a while. You can be pushing a clutch in and out for an hour in Guadalajara at times.

OK, folks, I will look seriously at a Honda Fit before I buy. My dead relatives in Detroit may haunt me, but they probably would be to afraid to come to Mexico.

Any new car buyers that would kindly tell me what a plate cost you, please?

I'm with you, Carry.
It killed me to have to part with my CA plated 1988 Toyota 4Runner.
Perfect car for Mexico. Had 400,000 miles, original engine and trans, low maintenance, extremely reliable, the car would go anywhere.
Can you say that about a Ford?

Yeah, I sold a Toyota Rav4 when I came here. Loved that car. And my '89 Toyota Corolla with 4 WD is STILL tootling around St. Thomas. Sold it to a friend when I bought the Rav4 and it's still going doing fine.