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Honda Fit

4728 messages,  Last post on Nov 06, 2009 at 4:57 AM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Fit, Hatchback

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#4723 of 4728 Re: 08 / 09 Fit [aaykay] by funktion-el Oct 09, 2009 (5:24 am)
Replying to: aaykay (Oct 08, 2009 1:38 pm) I have to agree with the above statement about a small FWD car with good snow tires. I have been driving a small 17 year old Toyota for quite some time now in Northern New England and I can say that I have not once gotten stuck or stranded due to snow or ice. I have even lived at the top of a street in Vermont with a 16% grade and with snow tires never had a problem getting up the street and in my driveway. Although I don't currently own a Fit, I am considering one for my next vehicle and would not even flinch based upon snow concerns to purchase another small FWD vehicle.   Another thing to consider when purchasing winter tires, maybe downsize your tire width and accordingly adjust the aspect ratio as contrary to popular belief, a narrower tire is better in snow than a wider tire. I run a 155/80-13 snow tire (pizza cutters) and my vehicle still performs great during wintery and colder dry conditions. Replies to this message: stephen987 (Oct 09, 2009 5:29 am) anotherscott (Oct 09, 2009 6:46 am) ateixeira (Oct 09, 2009 7:24 am)
#4724 of 4728 Re: 08 / 09 Fit [funktion-el] by stephen987 Oct 09, 2009 (5:29 am)
Replying to: funktion-el (Oct 09, 2009 5:24 am) The Fit, especially in Sport trim, doesn't have much ground clearance. If I lived in deep snow country I'd be more worried about ground clearance than about traction. Then again, if I lived out there, I"d probably drive an Xterra instead. Replies to this message: anotherscott (Oct 09, 2009 6:46 am) ateixeira (Oct 09, 2009 7:24 am)
#4725 of 4728 Re: 08 / 09 Fit [stephen987] by anotherscott Oct 09, 2009 (6:46 am)
Replying to: stephen987 (Oct 09, 2009 5:29 am) I don't really need more ground clearance for snow... my roads get plowed before it gets too high. But they don't get plowed quickly enough to assure that you won't be driving on an inch or two, and my area is hilly. My 2007 fit with its all-season tires cannot make it up the hills out of my neighborhood until after the plows come, whereas I had no problem with the AWD vehicles I've had in the past. Maybe I'll try snow tires this year. If that doesn't do it, my next car may be an Element. I'd sure miss the MPG though.
#4726 of 4728 Re: 08 / 09 Fit [stephen987] by ateixeira Oct 09, 2009 (7:24 am)
Replying to: stephen987 (Oct 09, 2009 5:29 am) It's light so it doesn't sink as much as a heavier car.   Still, I wouldn't be out there unless I had snow tires - at least.
#4727 of 4728 Fit Sport Auto - on long distance driving by hmowner Oct 30, 2009 (1:25 pm)
Fit is a great for short distance run or as a commuter car - if you're willing to live with the bouncy ride. The good mileage (33 mpg avg when driving around suburbs), fun-to-drive factor, and huge cargo space makes it a decent utility car, but not a great long-distance car. To quote my daughter' who suffered 8 hour ride on the back seat, the ride is very bouncy. To quote my wife, the passenger seat seems to be more uncomfortable than the driver's seat.   BTW, if you drive a lot on long stretches of highway, buy auto tranny, not manual. The auto revs little below 3,000 rpm when you hit 80mph, but the manual will go upto 4,000. I did not like the engine noise if I sustained the rpm over 4000 for extended period.   Here's what I "learned" when driving a Fit Sport (auto) on a long trip with total of 2 adults and two teenagers.   - when trying to quickly accelerate to about 80mph, you have to force downshift to 4th gear. The rpm goes over 4,000 and the engine whines for a short while, but it's worth it. If you don't, the car WILL NOT accelerate - especially if you are already going about 70 mph and there's a big SUV tailgating you.   - The engine noise at cruising speed ( 80 mph, and 3k rpm) is acceptable in my mind, but near 4000 rpm, it starts to bother me as the sound becomes more whinny. I think the road and wind noise is about "normal" for a compact car.   - The car felt stable even at 90mph, though it took a while to reach that point.   - it's easier to use cruise control to control speed and maintain the same speed. If not using cruise control, you often drop speed without realizing and it takes an effort to get it up there again. The cruise control will automatically drop the gear to 4th when you go up a hill. BTW, my GPS showed 81 mph, when the speedometer was slightly less than 80 mph.   - imperfect road surface gives you very BOUNCY ride.   - you really have to focus keeping the car in the lane when there's some cross winds.   - front bumper area picks up all sorts of dirt and road grime, but the windshield is relatively free of bug spots.   - driving through mild rain was okay. I haven't tried driving through heavy rain yet.   - The sound from speakers somehow start bothering you after about 1 hour of listening. I think the sound quality lacks ... something... bass maybe ?
#4728 of 4728 In regards to the ride of the Fit. by raychuang00 Nov 06, 2009 (4:57 am)
I do agree that the ride on a Honda Fit could be a bit bouncy, mostly because of the use of a torsion beam rear suspension to increase rear interior space (we're not talking the current Honda Civic, which uses a sophisticated and somewhat space-robbing multilink rear suspension). However, the current 2nd-generation Fit does ride WAY better than the original model, mostly because Honda redesigned the body structure so you don't feel every bump on the road like you get with the older model.

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