Ask the Car People.SM


Honda Fit Travel Experiences - READ ONLY

44 messages,  Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 5:37 PM

You are in the Hatchbacks - Archived Discussions Forum.

This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the Hatchbacks Host for directions! discussion.

What is this discussion about? Honda Fit, Hatchback

Messages Page 2 of 5

#5 of 44 Travelling long distance with the Honda Fit by chibouki

Oct 04, 2008 (8:31 am)

#6 of 44 Travelling long distance with the Honda Fit by chibouki

Oct 16, 2007 (8:23 am)

Hello,
 
Can someone please tell me if they have travelled long distance with their Honda Fit? I'm from Montreal, Quebec, Canada and my husband, 2 kids and I would like to travel to Fort Lauderdale, Florida with my 2007 Honda Fit for the X-Mas holidays. I would like to know the pros and the cons about driving such a long distance with this car. My husband, my daughter and I have been to London, Ontario and the fuel economy was great. Did aprox. 785km/488miles with my fuel tank filled to the rim and I do have cruise control. It wasn't the most comfortable ride over a long period but it was very doable. I guess what I would like to know is if the Fit being a small compact car can take the long ride (aprox. 1392 miles) with 4 people and some luggage without breaking down on me. Can someone please share whatever experience they may have had driving that much of a distance?

#7 of 44 Re: Travelling long distance with the Honda Fit [chibouki] by vcarreras

Oct 16, 2007 (4:00 pm)

Replying to: chibouki (Oct 16, 2007 8:23 am)
When my FIT was 1 day old, April 2006, my wife and I drove from Houston, Texas to Atlanta, then to St. Pete, FL and back to Houston. I found it a bit underpowered driving in the hilly areas of Alabama and Georgia. The automatic would down shift and the engine would be buzzy at higher revs. My right arm would also get tired, have since purchased an arm rest, but other then that no complaints about our FIT, which now has 14K. That was the only long distance trip we did in our FIT. My wife and I purchased an 07 CRV EX-L and will use it for any trips. You will also have your kids on board plus luggage. Since it was only the two of us, the back seats were down and loaded the back with all sorts of things. Hope this helps. Have a great trip..

#8 of 44 Re: Travelling long distance with the Honda Fit [chibouki] by bobw3

Oct 17, 2007 (7:23 am)

Replying to: chibouki (Oct 16, 2007 8:23 am)
Depends on what and who you're bringing. If you can fit all your luggage behind the second row, then I'd say go for it. If the passengers are on the tall or large size and need to have the front seats all the way back, then I can see how you may have some comfort problems, especially if there are kids in carseats kicking the backs of the front seats.
 
We drove 600 miles one way with the cargo area filled to the ceiling (2 adults & 2 kids in carseats) I had to use the side mirrors, but that was no problem. We didn't have any problems with lack of power either. I wouldn't use the cruise control going up steep hills though, because it tends to downshift faster. I'll often use the Sport mode and leave the car in 5th gear to keep it there, although the automatic mode also works fine except again, it seems to shift a little early on the uphills when using the cruise. Also, we've found that we could use some tint on the windows to help keep the rear area cooler, since there are no rear AC ducts and we don't want to keep the fan set to 3-4 all the time.
 
As far as the armrest...if you're driving with your arms in the 10:00 and 2:00 positions, I don't think any center console armrest could be used to rest your right arm...they're all just too low. That's why for me, I don't have a big problem with the lack of a center console armrest. My other car has one, and when I'm resting my right arm on it, my hand is resting on the shift lever, not the steering wheel anyway. I suppose with minivans with their armrests incorporated in the seat that would be different, but center console armrests won't help a tired arm much if you're trying to hold the steering wheel at the same time.
 
Generally on long highway drives, I'm holding the steering wheel with one hand from the 7:00 to 4:00 position the arm resting in my lap. I actually like the fact that there's no center console because it's easier for the front occupants to reach back and grab something on the floor of the rear seats (small cooler, thermos, paper towels, etc.) since both of our kids are in car seats. And I really like the available space under the 2nd row seats for stuff like first aid kits, umbrellas, etc. And we both find the front seats to be very comfortable...not too low like in civic or corolla but not too high like in a minivan or SUV.
 
But since you've already taken a 500 mile road trip in your Fit, a 1400 mile one won't be too much different. And since you're going during the cool part of the year, the lack of tint creating a warm car won't be an issue.

#9 of 44 Re: Travelling long distance with the Honda Fit [vcarreras] by chibouki

Oct 17, 2007 (7:49 am)

Replying to: vcarreras (Oct 16, 2007 4:00 pm)
Thank-you for your reply... I really appreciate. About the armrest, that was something I was getting for sure before I leave on my trip... even on a short distance my right arm gets tired and numb. I think that's one of the things Honda added on the new 2009 Fit. Thanks again

#10 of 44 Re: Travelling long distance with the Honda Fit [chibouki] by _nate

Oct 19, 2007 (1:21 pm)

Replying to: chibouki (Oct 17, 2007 7:49 am)
I got my Fit Sport Automatic in June. Three days later my girlfriend and I drove up to Canada for the weekend. We took 70 to 76 to 79 to 90 to the QEW. Round trip, I think we drove 1100 miles. In PA we dealt with the hills/mountains but had no trouble by downshifting on the fly for more power up the climbs. I personally liked being in Sport Mode for the trip, my girlfriend stayed in Drive. We had 3 gym bags of luggage in the trunk and I didn't notice the car struggling.
 
In addition, I purchased an aftermarket arm rest off ebay which I think was really nice for the trip. I think if you search for honda fit armrest you can find the seller. You can custom it out by picking the fabric color, the stripe and the color of the rear cup-holder. When I drive, I usually have 1 hand on the wheel and the other resting on the armrest.
 
You shouldn't have any problems with your trip. _Nate

#11 of 44 Travelling Long Distance in a Fit by trickydick1936

Oct 22, 2007 (1:06 pm)

In March of '07, we drove our Fit Sport from Ocala, FL to Los Angeles and return in a 3 week period. It was Mom and Pop and our 17 pound poodle. On the return, we were anxious to get home, and drove from Kerrville, TX to Ocala in one long day (5:30AM to 2:30 AM - 1173 miles).
 
In terms of pure comfort, our previous Honda ('04 Odyssey EX) had an edge in spread out room etc., but the Fit compensates with great fuel mileage, and fun to drive factor. If your luggage and kids fit, go for it.

#12 of 44 its def go by eldaino

Oct 24, 2007 (10:10 am)

my wife and i drove from salisbury nc to miami florida a total of about 1500 miles both ways, and the fit was great. a little sensitve to crosswinds, but the gas milage was perfect.

#13 of 44 Travelling Long Distance in a Fit by scottgroff

Nov 07, 2007 (12:43 pm)

We just returned from an 8,900 mile trip across the country from Seattle to Maine, down the coast to NC, returning through MO, NE and CO to home. Two people with baggage for five weeks of travelling, good-sized cooler and bags of food. The rear springs were compressed enough that the top of the rear wheel bodywork coverd a little of the top of the rear tires. It certainly was comfortable enough and maintained 75 mph most of the way, with the exception of mountain passes. Liberal use of the Sports paddle shifters better enabled the car to maintain good speed. Crossing the continental divide in Montana, I had to let the speed drop down to 65 mph because the little engine was making a lot of noise. I felt sorry for it and relented.

#14 of 44 Re: Travelling Long Distance in a Fit [scottgroff] by zombietom3

Nov 07, 2007 (2:56 pm)

Replying to: scottgroff (Nov 07, 2007 12:43 pm)
That sounds good. How was the fuel efficiency overall for the trip?

Messages Page 2 of 5

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement