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What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

9838 messages,  Last post on Feb 07, 2013 at 10:28 PM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, smart fortwo, MINI Cooper

Messages Page 962 of 985

#9603 of 9838 Re: New Fit by years end? [maxx4me] by nippononly

Jan 29, 2012 (10:34 am)

Replying to: maxx4me (Jan 29, 2012 8:54 am)
No I am not really following Fit news that closely, but there was a rumor that Honda might do the next model revision of the Fit early, meaning the 2012 MY might be the last before the new model. If so, I would expect to see the new model in the fall this year. But seeing as they did make some improvements to the 2012 for North America, I am thinking that any new model would probably be Japan-only for the first year.
 
As for the Fit EV, is this looking like a reality for the North American market? I thought we got the Insight instead, which is for all intents and purposes a Fit hybrid? I'm thinking that my next car, before 2020, could be an EV if they could just get the range up.

#9604 of 9838 Re: New Fit by years end? [nippononly] by maxx4me

Jan 29, 2012 (5:52 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Jan 29, 2012 10:34 am)
Thanks very much for that post. I do hope a new refresh comes out this year since Honda has missed the ball on a few things in the Fit and are getting waaaayyyy behind Hyundai in the head turning quotient. Having been doing some serious car shopping in this car class as of late (Fiesta, Focus, Sonic, Rio 5, Accent, Forte 5, Fit, Juke), I am embarrassed that these car companies do not take 10 seconds to listen to what customers want, and just blast out whatever they want. Here are some simple items that should be in every car. Shame on the car companies for not having them on each car seeing that it is now 2012:
1. 6 speed automatic transmission
2. hands free phone
3. auto headlights and daytime running lights
4. all radio, phone and cruise control buttons on the steering wheel
5. rear seat headrests that lower down into the seat when not in use to increase the visibility to the rear window.
6. a normal sized rear window. Half of the rear windows are so small, they might as well just do away with them altogether.
 
Honda's Fit is becoming a dinosaur real fast. With such a small engine, their horsepower/torque and gas consumption numbers look pathetic against Hyundai. No center arm rest/console? Are you kidding me? No hands free phone unless you fork over the money for the navigation system. That's a trick car companies used to play over a decade ago. In general, the Fit is an amazing car which just needs some minor tweeking to blow the competition away. Their main selling point is over 8 years of Jazz and Fit models worldwide with hardly one reliabilty issue; now that's amazing.

#9605 of 9838 Re: New Fit by years end? [maxx4me] by stickguy

Jan 29, 2012 (7:26 pm)

Replying to: maxx4me (Jan 29, 2012 5:52 pm)
I agree about the trend toward over styled rear ends that impede visibility out the back.
 
Other than that, just don't complain when the cost goes up on these cars (when they add all the extra features).
 
and there are some on your list that other people will not have an interest in (or paying for!)

#9606 of 9838 Re: New Fit by years end? [stickguy] by nippononly

Jan 30, 2012 (1:09 am)

Replying to: stickguy (Jan 29, 2012 7:26 pm)
...like me: of those six items there are only 2 I would want - large window glass for good outward visibility and cruise/radio on the steering wheel.
 
I would pay not to have an automatic and also not to have the price-raising-for-no-good-reason DRLs and auto headlights.
 
But Fit is behind the competition in the fuel economy and features arena, that's for sure. There's only so far the Magic Seat can take it before it must one-up the competition somehow.
 
OTOH it is still one of the best drivers in the segment.

#9607 of 9838 Re: New Fit by years end? [maxx4me] by spacemaned

Feb 03, 2012 (2:55 pm)

Replying to: maxx4me (Jan 29, 2012 5:52 pm)
"I am embarrassed that these car companies do not take 10 seconds to listen to what customers want, and just blast out whatever they want. Here are some simple items that should be in every car."
 
That's YOU. Not ME. I love to shop cars and have driven every vehicle on your list. Just bought a Fit base with manual trans. Which is what I wanted. It meets your #3, #5 & #6. I believe than manual transmissions are better than automatics in EVERY way. More people should drive them. I believe that EVERY car model should have one available. But that's what I feel.
 
The Ford Fiasco was very disappointing to me. It is a one-person vehicle. I'm only 5'8", my wife is 4'10" and WE couldn't get into the back seat. Lots of bells and whistles but totally non-ergonomic. You NEED controls on the wheel, because your eyes need to leave the road to do anything.
 
The other cars were beyond my price point for my use (mainly, my kids' use). Our second choice was the new Hyundai Accent sedan. Lots of value in that car. Looks nice enough for now, but will blend in two years from now. The hatchback is sharp, but the storage space "stats" don't match up to the real-world usability. The 6-speed manual was FAR better than the AT. Plenty of pep. Willing to say it's the best value $15-16K car on the road,
 
My kids liked the Fit base because it had what they need, no more, no less. Very ergonomic and versatile. You don't need to reach for anything nor take your eyes off the road to change a control. They can schlep their friends or their stuff or both comfortably. We have a another car with Bluetooth and the bells & whistles you mentioned. But we've hooked up the mobile phones to our Fit's USB with no prob. I don't really want them on the phone while driving anyway. I TOTALLY agree that it needs a 6th-gear.
 
For a car with many selections of trims and plenty of room, the Nissan Versa can be had at many different pricepoints. Unfortunately, a manual trans is only available on their bareboned base. The Versa is a fine functional car, but no "sizzle" at all.
 
As far as EPA ratings, they are a very loose guideline. Heck, I averaged 44 mpg on a long road trip with 3 soccer players, my 2007 Altima (6-speed man trans, of course) trunk crammed with their gear, suitcases, and a large full icebox. Depends on the driver and the conditions.
 
I'll allow you your "needs". But I don't want you to be my spokesman to the manufacturers. And I won't be yours.

#9608 of 9838 ? by maxx4me

Feb 04, 2012 (5:42 am)

thank goodness for that.

#9609 of 9838 what I would like to see by nippononly

Feb 05, 2012 (10:09 am)

is more common options made available. The one that stands out for me is a factory moonroof. If lots of compact and midsize car buyers want them, why wouldn't lots of subcompact buyers potentially want them? And yet we have exactly two models out of many - the Fiesta and the Mini (and now the 500, although I think of that as more of a microcar) - that offer one.
 
Until recently it was hard to find cruise control, a must-have for me and I'm glad that is more widely available now. You pick your favorite option - HIDs perhaps? Or a NAV system? Perhaps a power seat or a leather interior?
 
There is no reason those couldn't be options on top trims of subcompact cars, and I'm sure some people would buy them - in fact, it might make more people interested in subcompacts that end up buying a larger car instead because of the lack of optional features on the smaller cars.
 
And consider that for all of these models sold elsewhere in the world, all those options are widely available and many are even standard on top trims. It is only in the U.S. that the subcompact buyers gets the shaft.

#9610 of 9838 Re: what I would like to see [nippononly] by stickguy

Feb 05, 2012 (11:23 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Feb 05, 2012 10:09 am)
i am with you. I like smaller cars, but have to eliminate a lot of them because I insist on a moonroof.
 
I also really want a power driver's seat, though I can live with manual when they don't use the ridiculous ratchet system that dumps you forward when you raise the seat.

#9611 of 9838 Re: what I would like to see [nippononly] by plekto

Feb 05, 2012 (1:09 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Feb 05, 2012 10:09 am)
It appears to be a modern phenomenon, though. The Volvo 240, for example, was available with all of the luxury goodies. Sunroof, leather, and so on. It seems as if they are just being cheap and cutting corners with smaller cars, which is a shame.
 
OTOH, you can get a C class with everything on it, as well as a few cars like the Mini and the upcoming ATS. Of course, they aren't cheap. But then again, neither was the 240 when it was being sold (25K for a car in the 80s was a LOT of money)

#9612 of 9838 Re: what I would like to see [nippononly] by andre1969

Feb 05, 2012 (2:28 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Feb 05, 2012 10:09 am)
And consider that for all of these models sold elsewhere in the world, all those options are widely available and many are even standard on top trims. It is only in the U.S. that the subcompact buyers gets the shaft.
 
I don't think it's just subcompact cars, but all smaller cars. Just the American way it seems. They'll usually introduce something cool on a bigger, more profitable car, but then it takes awhile for it to trickle down to smaller cars.
 
For instance, back in the day, I don't think there ever was a Dodge Dart or Plymouth Valiant built with power windows. You could get them on bigger cars, and they were standard at some point on Cadillacs, Lincolns,and Imperials. And, while rare, you could get them on midsized cars. My '76 Grand LeMans, for example, has power windows. And for its era, it was a midsize.
 
But, even by '74-76, when they started offering Valiant Broughams and Dart Special Editions that had enough velour, shag, and plood to rival a Cadillac, they were still afflicted with crank windows.
 
Oh, and on the subject of sunroofs, that's one point of contention I have with domestic cars. It's not hard to find something mainstream and somewhat modest like a used Accord or Camry with a sunroof. But, when it comes to a Buick Park Ave, Lucerne, Caddy DTS, Lincoln Town Car, etc, well, good luck with that. Seems like sunroofs are the exception, rather than the rule.

Messages Page 962 of 985

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