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Article Comments - 2009 Honda Fit First Drive / Full Test

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

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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)


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#51 of 556
Re: Article issues [bennetpullen] by toronado455
Dec 03, 2007 (3:09 am)
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Replying to: bennetpullen (Sep 25, 2007 10:23 pm)

To bennetpullen,
 
Thanks for writing about these issues. I had the exact same questions from reading the article. The first thing I noticed was the overall length discrepancy. Then I noticed in the photos that the JDM car has very short bumpers and figured it must be reason.
 
I going to guess that the USA 2009 Fit will be around 159"-160" in length. That puts it squarely in the company of cars like the Hyundai Accent and will be 4"-5" longer than the Scion xD.
 
I sincerely hope the car does not have run-flats as standard equip.
#52 of 556
Re: Article issues [toronado455] by backy
Dec 03, 2007 (7:33 am)
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Replying to: toronado455 (Dec 03, 2007 3:09 am)

Honda's press release for the new Fit mentioned it does not have a spare tire, so that implies it will have run-flats. Or maybe it will have a tire repair kit instead--that would be cheaper.
#53 of 556
Re: Article issues [backy] by toronado455
Dec 03, 2007 (12:06 pm)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 03, 2007 7:33 am)

But was that the JDM press release?
#54 of 556
Re: Article issues [toronado455] by backy
Dec 03, 2007 (3:06 pm)
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Replying to: toronado455 (Dec 03, 2007 12:06 pm)

Yes, but they've re-engineered the floorpan and magic seats to not have a spare tire, for increased cargo room. I have trouble believing Honda would have a different floorpan and magic seat configuration for the U.S., given the small profit margin on the Fit. But I suppose anything is possible.
#55 of 556
Re: Article issues [backy] by jacksan1
Dec 04, 2007 (5:22 am)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 03, 2007 7:33 am)

No run-flats for the JDM Fit. Just a repair kit. For the USDM, there will be a spare tire.
#56 of 556
Re: Article issues [jacksan1] by backy
Dec 04, 2007 (7:52 am)
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Replying to: jacksan1 (Dec 04, 2007 5:22 am)

So the USDM car will use a different design than the JDM car? That seems strange given that Honda did everything they could to cut costs on the current USDM car, e.g. delete things like seat height adjuster.
#57 of 556
Re: Article issues [backy] by jacksan1
Dec 04, 2007 (8:15 am)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 04, 2007 7:52 am)

Actually, there is space for the spare tire in the current Fit, except that Honda has interior-designed the space as an (64 liter) underfloor storage and is calling it the "ULTR Luggage." During the press conference at the time of the new Fit release, Mr. Hitomi, who is the product development lead (officially, Large Project Lead), said that non-JDM Fit should get the spare. The platform change is not necessary for either configuration. It's just redesigning the interior a bit.
 
Honda can always change its mind about this, of course. It is cheaper for them to equip the Fit with a spare, by the way. The ULTR luggage is a product of an intense competitive pressure that exists in the Japanese domestic market.
 
I am not sure whether I agree that Honda did everything possible to cut the cost for the USDM Fit. The Sport trim, for instance, gets all the aero equipment, which is not used in 99% of the Fit in Japan. The electro-luminescent instrument panel is not standard in the JDM Fit, except for in the highest trim level. There are a lot of things that both USDM Fit trims get standard that are not in the JDM Fit. It's a matter of the marketing focus, in my opinion.
#58 of 556
Re: Article issues [jacksan1] by jacksan1
Dec 04, 2007 (8:46 am)
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Replying to: jacksan1 (Dec 04, 2007 8:15 am)

Here is a Nikkei article in English. The end of Paragraph 6 mentions the spare tire.
 
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20071019/140933/
#59 of 556
Re: Article issues [jacksan1] by toronado455
Dec 04, 2007 (12:51 pm)
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Replying to: jacksan1 (Dec 04, 2007 8:46 am)

Great article. It says:
 
"Models for the Japanese market employ an emergency tire repair kit instead of a spare tire and secure 64L of storage space under the floor of the cargo room. Cargo capacity is 427L including the space under the floor. Models for overseas markets are provided with a spare tire."
 
So, if that's true, looks like no run-flats.
 
I'd love to see pics of the three different interior configs they mention (regular, upper/lower, tall) so if anyone has links to those pics (perhaps on the japan site?) please post.
#60 of 556
Re: Article issues [toronado455] by jacksan1
Dec 04, 2007 (12:57 pm)
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Replying to: toronado455 (Dec 04, 2007 12:51 pm)

This right here from the Honda Japan site shows you how ULTR Luggage works:
 
http://www.honda.co.jp/Fit/interior/luggage/index.html

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