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Hatchbacks Honda Fit Honda Fit
4728 messages, Last post on Nov 06, 2009 at 4:57 AM
You are in the Honda Fit Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: moontom (Dec 18, 2008 6:15 am) But the differences aren't great. The Fit was a lot of fun while I had it, combining sporty driving, high mileage (37 mpg lifetime miles from my mostly free flowing freeway commute), and incredible luggage and people space. I was disappointed to read that the '09 isn't quieter, although that was one of Honda's goals. Oddly enough, 3 test drives I read said it was just as noisy, but one said it is much quieter. I haven't driven the '09 myself. |
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Replying to: moontom (Dec 18, 2008 6:15 am) '07 fit sport AT. still on OEM Dunlops. |
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I checked out the '09 Fit Sport today, and am on the verge of buying, but noticed that the window info sheet listed only front impact (5 stars for both front and rear) but not side impact. When will this be available?
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Replying to: jcharles65 (Jan 03, 2009 2:40 pm)
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Replying to: backy (Jan 03, 2009 3:28 pm)
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Replying to: jcharles65 (Jan 03, 2009 6:53 pm) |
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Hi, A new Fit is my 1st choice as my next car BUT the recent Car & Driver 10Best issue stated that the Fit brakes were horrendous - needed 190+ feet for a 70 mph to 0 mph stop (I think this is accurate , if I recall correctly). What are your experiences with Fit braking performance? Would new pads (frt) or liners(rear) help? Better rotors up front? My 2nd choice is the CR-V fwd LX or Ex - I know - really different vehicle and more expensive - how are the brakes on a new CR-V? Still want a Fit though...
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Replying to: johnxyz (Jan 05, 2009 8:14 am) |
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Replying to: johnxyz (Jan 05, 2009 8:14 am)
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I own a manual 2009 Fit Sport and wanted to provide some initial impressions. To establish a frame of reference, I have owned a 2004 Prius, a 2000 Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl manual and 2003 Corolla LE automatic, all purchased new and driven for at least 10,000 miles over the same daily commute and driving conditions. I travel frequently how and rent small and mid-size vehicles when I do, providing a reasonably comprehensive experience with new cars costing under $30,000 that I have not owned. The Fit is unquestionably my favorite from both an ownership and driving perspective. Over 1300 miles of driving I have achieved manually calculated mpg of 32.5, 34.5, 35.2, and 35.8, and 35.6 per tank for a lifetime average of 35.1 mpg. Efficiency aside, the Fit is highly functional with comfy, laterally isolating seats, telescoping wheel, loads of space, and an iPod connection in the dash permitting control through the stereo. Many reviews have covered its physical features, however, so there is no need to regurgitate that here except to say that every feature is well executed and has been defect-free. From a subjective perspective the Fit is mad fun to drive. Steering is crisp, precise, and tight but also stable and refined – freeway lane changes require a flick of the wrist rather than a movement of the arm and the Fit goes exactly where you put it. Cornering is flat at anything up to high speeds and body lean minimal during crisp handling - there’s a nice thrill to be had by making a 90 degree left at 30 mph and then hammering 2nd gear - the rear end does a little jig, settles right down behind the front, and the whole package moves forward with a satisfying whine. The ride response is typical of small Hondas of current and past iterations: the Fit hugs the road without jumping around after each bump, transmitting jarring vibrations to the spine, or creating an excessively noisy driving compartment – noise isolation is as good as any small car I’ve driven. I have not tested emergency brake response, but braking feel under normal conditions is also precise with a linear response to pressure from a low-travel pedal. The Fit’s throttle response is tougher to describe since to my mind it is really two cars. One, operated between 1500 and 3200 rpm, is a highly efficient, nicely tuned grocery getter. The other, operated between 2500 and 5000 rpm, is a bodice-ripping, whiny little animal with great pop and a go-kart handling. Engine noise will discourage many from throttle-whipping the Fit but personal experience and published reports confirm that max torque and horsepower are obtained above 3000 rpm, which is right where the engine noise really starts to kick in. At 5000 rpm it is loud. At red-line, it is really, really loud. The gearing ratio for fifth makes for fun freeway driving, as 65 mph requires about 3000 rpm or so, yielding easy and peppy acceleration from 65 to 75. Combined with tart handling, wide side mirrors, and excellent sight lines, the pep between 65 and 75 makes the Fit a great SoCal Freeway Car, requiring little downshifting to zip between lanes. When turbo and pimp kits become more widely available, the ’09 Fit will become a very common Rice Rocket in these parts. The Fit is not without its deficits. First gear is almost useless when driving for maximal fuel efficiency due to short gearing – treat it sweetly to nudge it from first into second and people behind you get the urge to honk. Cup holders are as useless as they are plentiful – the ones under the dash cannot be reached without angling a cup around and past the shifter, the one in the driver’s door panel likewise requires precise cup maneuvering, and the driver’s side dashtop cup holder might work in the automatic but is only useful in the manual version if you have three arms: an arm on the left for the cup, an arm on the the left for the wheel, and an arm on the right for shifting. If you only have two arms like me, using that holder requires an exhilarating little juggling act involving cup, wheel, and shifter – all at 65 mph while you’re zipping between lanes. The built-in mileage computer is totally whacked, reading from 4 to 8.9 mpg high and randomly so; while true, calculated mpg has gradually increased, metered mpg is gone down and then up. The front wipers seem cheap and, combined with the sweeping windshield, make for a poorly cleared vision field during hard rains. Finally – and this is not a defect but a feature – placement of the gas tank underneath the driver’s seat leads to initially disturbing noises and vibrations due to the sloshing of fuel during braking and acceleration.
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