Sign In Join 



Article Comments - 2009 Honda Fit First Drive / Full Test

556 messages,  Last post on Feb 05, 2009 at 1:45 PM

You are in the Honda Fit Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Honda Fit, Hatchback

First Drive: 2009 Honda Fit - Inside the Fit's cabin, it's apparent that quality levels are up, with improved plastics, more supportive seats and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Meanwhile, a new dashboard layout looks softer, reflecting a special effort by stylists to appeal to women. (more)
 
2009 Honda Fit Sport Full Test - Bottom Line: If only every sequel were so good. It's as if Honda used our long-term test blog about the 2007 Fit as a road map for the 2009 model's improvements. (more)


Messages Page 47 of 56
1
...
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
...
56
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#457 of 556
I'll wait for the Ford Fiesta by dvsutton
Oct 09, 2008 (3:24 am)
Reply
I just read an article on the new Ford Fiesta coming next year. After looking at the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Yaris, the Ford wins hands down. The Ford designers actually thought about the outside, as well as the inside, of the car. The Asians look like cartoon/clown/circus vehicles. The Ford euro-design, wins. I'll wait for the Fiesta and pass on the goofy cars.
#458 of 556
Re: [turboshadow] by bprenderson
Oct 09, 2008 (8:45 am)
Reply

Replying to: turboshadow (Oct 01, 2008 6:34 am)

turboshadow,
 
The 2007, 2008 and the 2009 Fits have timing chains NOT timing belts..
 
Regards,
Bubba
#459 of 556
Re: [toronado455] by mustangxr
Oct 10, 2008 (1:04 am)
Reply

Replying to: toronado455 (Oct 09, 2008 12:01 am)

Why do I lug the engine? To get good mileage around town. Also, when breaking in the engine, it is important to keep the cylinder pressure as high as possible to seat the rings properly. Lugging the engine slightly at low RPM and using a high gear will do this. Happily, this technique is also the best way to get good mileage around town, or on the highway. That is why we need a sixth gear. Honda has developed their engine knock sensor to take care of the danger of pinging or knocking for us so we do not have to worry about damaging the engine. The cooling system flow has also been revamped on the new engine to assist in preventing "knock" as well.
 
On another note, I forgot to mention about the cargo space behind the back seats. The sales people and the brochures would have you believe that this space has been increased. However, when I took the molded rubber cargo tray from my 07 Fit and dropped it in my 09 Fit, it did not FIT!!??!! The floor space is actually slightly smaller in the new car, believe it or not. I had to buy a new one!
 
 I will say that the new floor mats are better though, they look like the Beemer M3 mats. OH! and I really appreciate that dead pedal too. I'm sorta tempted to put some drilled aluminum pedals in the car......NAAAAAH
 
It is strange that the Americans get a Nav package as an option on the Sport, which includes voice activated GPS and VSA, which is Vehicle Stability Assist or ESC as it is known over here. We here in Canada do not get this. I guess they figure we know where we are at all times?? Actually, it is probably because the Civic does not get GPS in Canada either, so it would look bad for Civic buyers if the lowly Fit got GPS, and they could not! But what really makes me jealous is that the Americans get MAP LIGHTS!! If you look on the overhead, just behind the mirror, you will see a spot for the map light panel embossed in the overhead panel. I'm thinking of ordering one from the States and installing it myself.
 
Cheers, Pete
#460 of 556
by middleoroad
Oct 10, 2008 (3:47 am)
Reply
I don't understand why this car did not get a better mileage rating from the EPA.The numbers are similar to the new Corolla which weighs 200+lbs more and has almost 15% more horsepower(28/33 vs.27/35).
#461 of 556
Re: [middleoroad] by byron2
Oct 10, 2008 (7:04 am)
Reply

Replying to: middleoroad (Oct 10, 2008 3:47 am)

Hi Middle:
 
Aerodynamics, especially at freeway speeds. Frontal area (cross section) and drag.
 
Weight has very little influence on mileage at a constant speed - and not that much if you accelerate slowly. Notice the height and width of the Fit - that's frontal area. Punching a bigger hole in the air takes more power and that takes more fuel. Then, notice its blunt back. Compare it to the back of a teardrop (the shape with the lowest possible aerodynamic drag) and then to the back of a Civic or a Corolla. The reason the Fit has better mileage in the City (where speeds are lower and aerodynamic drag less a factor) compared to a Civic is largely because it has a smaller motor. There are other factors but that's the big one. The reason the Civic (and Corolla) have better EPA mileage on the highway is less drag. Sedans are better in general because they have trunk which makes then a bit more tearsrop-esque, and is why my wife's Avalon (which is quite teardrop-shaped for a car - look at one) can get 30mpg on the freeway despite a 3.5L 268 hp engine. It's all physics.
 
Byron
 
p.s. Aero is also why the 2009 base Fit gets beter highway mileage than the sport. The spoiler, other external cosmetic trim and slightly wider tires on the sport add drag. That being said we love my daughter's sport auto in tidewater blue.
#462 of 556
Re: I'll wait for the Ford Fiesta [dvsutton] by prufrock1
Oct 10, 2008 (4:29 pm)
Reply

Replying to: dvsutton (Oct 09, 2008 3:24 am)

Honda reduces the Fiesta to a joke. Have you researched these vehicles instead of just "looking" at them? Take one actual ride in an '09 Fit Sport, and you'll understand why the American car industry is in deep trouble. The Fit was Japan's '08 car of the year. It may take years for jingoists like you to understand what this means. I've owned Hondas all my life, and my '09 Fit Sport is the best bang for the buck and the most fun to drive out of all of them. In the first 600 miles, I'm getting 33 MPG and having a blast on the road. Check out the stock market results to see how much faith people have in Ford products. Enjoy the "design" of your much-awaited Fiesta....
#463 of 556
Re: I'll wait for the Ford Fiesta [prufrock1] by bprenderson
Oct 10, 2008 (6:06 pm)
Reply

Replying to: prufrock1 (Oct 10, 2008 4:29 pm)

Pru,
 
You win the week's award for the word jingoists - outstanding! At first I thought you to be a myopic, bilious interloper, alas, I was wrong. You are actually the Honda consigliere for dvsutton with your theriac methods. I recuse myself from judgement -- but ya still get the award....
 
Regards,
Buster
#464 of 556
My Goofy Clown Car .... by baddog2
Oct 10, 2008 (6:10 pm)
Reply
My very own goofy clown car will should be delivered end of next week. I wanted a white Fit Sport AT, but dealer said he was having a hard time trading around to get one. I told him I'd take the Milano Red and be happy the wait is over. (Wait for was only about 4-5 wks.) Dealer was expecting 3 to arrive. I'm located in northern Illinois. I'm a long time Toyota/Nissan guy .... this will be my first Honda and I plan to put over 200k on my circus car ...... I'm not brave enough to try that with a Ford product.
 
My read of the specs led me to believe that the AT might get better highway MPG than the stick. Any experience out there to support that notion? Did I read some where that the auto revs lower than manual while cruising? If you've got a Sport AT, what is the rpm reading at 60 mph?
#465 of 556
Re: I'll wait for the Ford Fiesta [prufrock1] by widetrack2000
Oct 10, 2008 (7:05 pm)
Reply

Replying to: prufrock1 (Oct 10, 2008 4:29 pm)

I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE!
 
I've actually been a lifetime Toyota owner with a few domestics thrown in here or there and parden my French but the (pos) Yaris is suppose to be the Fit's main competition; give me a break! What you get for the money in both standard/safety features far outways anything else out there so I just bought an '09 Fit Sport and couldn't be happier especially for someone who plans on owning this car well past the 200,000 mile mark. Try doing that in a domestic car or while on the subject, there's a reason folks the other sub compact cars like the Aveo, Spectra and Accent are cheaper than the Fit and you don't need to be a Mensa member to figure it out;
 
THERE CHEAPER THAN THE FIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I hear alot of talking about how the Fit doesn't stack up to this car or that car and quite a few of them aren't in the sub or sometimes even in the compact car class so everyone needs to remember that this is a SUBCOMPACT and the cars it should be compared to are the Yaris, Versa, Aveo, Sectra and Accent, not cars like the Corolla and Civic which are in the next class up.
 
Also as an FYI to everyone, if you happen to be a big guy like I am, you will not find another car in either the sub or even the compact car category that has more room for the driver than the '09 Fit period!
 
Just one man's opinion...
#466 of 556
On the same page .... by baddog2
Oct 10, 2008 (7:26 pm)
Reply
I'm 6'3" and 280+ lbs ..... looking forward to fitting in Fit! I train Labrador Retrievers competing them in field events and taking them to dog shows. I've got 165k on my Sienna van and plan on giving it well deserved break. I'm anxious to see how many labs comfortably fit once the magic seats are down. I plan on using the Fit for long trips to dog shows but don't plan to venture into the field with it. My only regret is that the dark Fit interior is going to show off the collection of yellow labrador fur to the extreme. Has anyone shopped for aftermarket seat covers? Any vendor stocking Fit 09 sizes? I'm not familar enough with the 08 and earlier Fits to assume that seat covers for them will work on the 09s.
 
PS: I was encouraged to know the labs will fit with extra room to spare when I read that a new 09 Fit owner in California had hauled a couple bales of hey and two adult goats inside his new Fit!

Messages Page 47 of 56
1
...
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
...
56
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement