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Hatchbacks Honda Fit 2009 Honda Fit
94 messages, Last post on Feb 27, 2009 at 7:36 PM
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Some new information today on the 2009 Fit at these links. http://automobiles.honda.com/2009%2Dfit/ http://www.hondanews.com/categories/877/releases/4444 http://www.hondanews.com/categories/877/releases/4421 http://www.hondanews.com/categories/875/photos |
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| Wouldn't a Fit with snow/winter tires meet your traction needs? In addition to enhanced "go" traction, snow tires shorten stopping distances and improve directional stability, something AWD doesn't do. Sure, AWD outperforms FWD with all-season tires in acceleration on slick surfaces, but my point is that FWD with snows might be sufficient, and wouldn't exact the cost, weight, and fuel penalties associated with AWD. Also, if the going really gets rough, chains can be mounted on snow tires. | |
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Mar 20, 2008 3:45 am) I guess it would depend on where you live. I drive a 2008 Civic Si with traction control running Nokian WRG2 snowflake rated all season tires. The only all season tire made with a snowflake rating.  Now I have also driven the Fit up here and you can get by with snow tire IF they plowed the road, which they usually don't do very often as I am in the boonies and there just aren't that many people compared to the city. So they sell a lot of Subaru's up here. But in town with plowed roads you will find that a Prius will have no problem or any other car and most don't even bother with snow tires. You at minimum need snow tires if you want to get to my house due to unplowed roads. Once plowed it's ok. Last storm they didn't plow at all and it was a nightmare getting around. Yes Nokian RSi's would be better or any real snow tire but when the roads dry out you get that squirmy driving on jello feeling that all real snow tires give you. Doesn't matter what FWD or RWD car you own. It really is the tires. For example I saw the new STi yesterday and the dealer will not allow it outside as there was an inch of snow on the ground and with it's summer tires it would have a tough time in the snow, or so he said. AWD is good for unplowed roads like we have all to often. On plowed and sanded roads, the Nokians are amazing, but chains.... useless to put them on considering the hassle and chains allow you to go 5-10 mph Max and you'd have SUV's and trucks smashing into you as they barrel down the back roads at above normal speeds. I did check out these and they are an option to chains but seem like less of a hassle. http://www.spikes-spiders.com/ An AWD Fit would sell really well in the snowbelt states.
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Mar 20, 2008 3:45 am) I use snowflake rated tires now, see my reply to the other post for a more detailed explanation. |
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Replying to: tiff_c (Mar 20, 2008 4:27 am) Yes, and if I may add something else, it's also the ground clearance. I live in a snowy area, and at times the plow does not come around in time for me or my wife to drive on compacted snow. When that happens, our Subaru Forester shows up, with a grin on its face. It has AWD and a relatively good ground clearance (over 7 inches), which makes a world of difference. I am sure that an STI would have a tough time even with winter tires in a condition like that because it ends up floating, thus losing traction. About the advantages of AWD, if you live in a pure city environment, then I could make an argument that FWD with good tires would be fine even in a snowy area. If you live in the countryside and/or a hilly area, however, AWD becomes a savior. That probably explains why Japan, which is over 70% mountaineous, is full of regular, non-SUV cars like the Fit that can be had with AWD.
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Replying to: jacksan1 (Mar 20, 2008 5:18 am) Yes, cars like the Forester do quite well in snowy conditions and the issue is ground clearance. My Civic Si has low ground clearance and low profile snow tires. Not the best thing for snow. But up here there are days where I can't get out of my own driveway!  Next year i'm buying a snow blower but a 120 foot driveway is a lot of snow to blow. About the advantages of AWD, if you live in a pure city environment, then I could make an argument that FWD with good tires would be fine even in a snowy area. If you live in the countryside and/or a hilly area, however, AWD becomes a savior. That probably explains why Japan, which is over 70% mountainous, is full of regular, non-SUV cars like the Fit that can be had with AWD. I wouldn't argue about a city environment for any FWD car unless that city was someplace in Minnesota.   My area has a lot of fairly steep hills outside of town and too often they go unplowed as they are low priority. So for us up here the Fit with AWD would be a huge advantage. But in many places it just wouldn't be worth it. But since everyone loves gas guzzling SUV's here why would they buy an AWD compact car. At least thats the mentality. What i also find interesting is that I see very very few Fits up here and yet I see tons of Prius and MINI Coopers. Heck I've seen more Honda Insights here than anywhere else as well. |
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"Now I have also driven the Fit up here..." If you don't mind my asking, where is "up here?" How's the ground clearance on the Fit? Is it greater than the Civics?
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Mar 20, 2008 5:54 am) How's the ground clearance on the Fit? Is it greater than the Civics? I'm up in central New Hampshire. Plus the area my house is in is very hilly and often unplowed. The ground clearance on the Fit is probably within an inch of the Civic, although I'm just guessing about that. I don't own a Fit. I did test drive a Fit up here. The traction control on the Civic which is only available on the Si model is great but thankfully it has a switch to shut it off. There are times the traction control will make it so you can't make it up a hill but when it's off you can. I had to buy Nokian snowflake rated all season tire my first week of owning the Si as it couldn't make it up the hills with the stock all seasons. |
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I lived in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois for many years, so I can relate to winter driving conditions in New Hampshire. I've been to your beautiful state, but only in the summer. Those Spikes-Spiders look like they could be effective, assuming they're reasonably easy to mount and remove. Unfortunately, regular chains aren't.
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Mar 20, 2008 8:09 am) I've been to Illinois or rather through it many years back, nice State, good people. I've heard you get some pretty nasty winters up there. NH is great in the summer especially further North of me but in the winter it's warm up the Subaru time. The further North you go the more likely you will need a 4x4 truck or SUV. The budget for plowing the snow isn't all that high as we have a low population density in the upper part of the State. Those Spikes-Spiders look like they could be effective, assuming they're reasonably easy to mount and remove. Unfortunately, regular chains aren't. I haven't actually seen them in person but they look like a good option for some vehicles. Useless for my Civic as it will go through the snow up to it's diffuser under the front bumper after that you are a snowplow and that takes it's toll. We drove a lot of cars today. I'm hoping the 2009 Fit will be out fairly soon. They claim August, I hope much sooner. I drove the Scion xD again and this one had a miles better shifter in it and was very solid on the highway like my Civic. I'm hoping the 2009 Fit will be the same way. |
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