Fun Factor...Civic coupe Ex or FIT Sport??

Hello,

If anyone wanted to get a bargain priced car which was reasonably safe and
versatile, yet FUN, and it had to be a Honda, would you choose the FIT Sport
or the Civic coupe Ex? I am thinking the 5 speed manual for either. I know
the civic has a sunroof on the Ex as opposed to the FIT which is not
available. Civic has more HP and more options like xm, better brakes and
stereo and other comforts. Would the civic rate much higher for fun factor?
I am measuring fun by ability to zip around streets and highways with higher
revs, not drag racing.

Thanks,
Al

 

Fun factor I can not really rate, simply because I have not driven the
FIT. I own the EX and I love it. I also think its interesting that
the Manual equiped civic gets the same MPG as the FIT (the auto civic
gets better.) The FIT has its place and is undoubtedly a good car, but
the civic is better because its the higher model...... just like an
accord is better than the civic.

 

I just bought an 07 Civic Ex Coupe with a Stick. Love it. It
takes
corners very well. And for some reason I seem to be driving
faster than I did when I was in my Dodge Dakota.

 

Well, I have not driven the Civic so I can't comment on that, but I just
bought a Fit Sport 5-speed Manual Transmission, and I have to say the "fun
factor" is really great, especially for zippikng around streets and
hightways with higher revs, not drag racing. Some of the new cars I have
owned are: a 1965 289 Mustang 4-speed, 4 barrel carb; a 1969 Fiat 850
Spyder, a 1978 Datsun 280-Z. The most fun to drive of that bunch was the
rear-engine Fiat (though I won't get into it's reliability, thank God), but
this Fit is just as much fun, a lot more economical, and I'm sure, a lot
more reliable. I suggest you take a stick shift Fit for a test drive, and
decide for yourself. Oh, one other thing, while I think either the Civic or
the Fit would be a great car, I don't think the Civic is nearly as versatile
as the Fit.

Just my opinion. Enjoy whatever you wind up buying.

Robert A. Cunningham

 

snip

neither; a 2005 Honda Accord V6 6-speed coupe costs about the same.
WAY more fun.

New cars? I prefer the Scion tC to either the Civic EX or Fit but the
(more expensive) Civic Si is the one to buy.

How's your local dealer pricing that Fit Sport? Any markups?

 

I requested internet quotes from 3 different Honda dealers on my fit. All
were within $100 of each other, but none of the cars were in stock at the
time. I decided to go with Long Beach Honda because they said they could
get the Fit in my color by the next day. I drove down there, and we were
close to signing a deal at the agreed price when they tried to up the price
by more than $1,100 ($480 for wheel locks and $697 for some special paint
treatment). I adamantly refused. Then they offered me $500 less on my
trade-in than I had received from Honda World in Downey and Car-Max. I
refused again. Finally, they asked me if I would buy it from them if they
offered me the same trade-in as the other dealers. Rather than reward them
for their deception, I told them no, and went to Honda World and signed the
paperwork that afternoon, and got the car 3 days later. Carlos Murillo,
fleet manager, at Honda World was totally honest and ethical. .

Having had many bad experiences in buying cars over the last forty years,
the Internet, and full page ads in newspapers showing specific price quotes
are the only way to buy new cars, at least for me.

Robert A. Cunningham

 

Well thanks, but I am only considering new cars here. Already went the used
car route a few times and that was enough for a lifetime thank you!

I'm still considering the Civic Si. My biggest concern is usage in the snow.
I know its front wheel drive and has all the right safety like VSA, ABS and
EBD etc, but I am wondering about the 17" 45 series tires is thats going to
be a problem in snow? I live in RI and the snow can be anywhere from none to
6 feet in the winter, but cold weather (like 25 below) and ice are more the
normal problems in winter.

In my area there are no markups on the FIT Sport that I am aware. The Civic
Si also also going for the same price thats online.

 

Get a separate set of winter tires. Problem solved.

 

So are you saying that without getting a seperate set of winter tires there
would be a problem? I know the basic civic ex without winter tires is
passable in the snow, about the same as an accord of the same year. I'm just
thinking that the Si has more features like VSA and Traction control that
could make for better traction although it does have 45 series on it, so not
sure how that would work out??

Would it be feasible to get 215/60HR 17" in a snow tire or something like
that for a reasonable price?

 

The SI and the EX have different tires. The EX has all season tires,
and the SI has sport tires that may not be rated for snow. Its likely
that the car itself will not be the weak point.

 

I just went through a Buffalo winter in my 06 Si. It did ok. It stops very
well in the snow and ice, compared to other vehicles I have owned. The
weakness is in acceleration. Because of the power, it has a tendency to be
very quick to lose grip on acceleration in slippery conditions.

My recommendation is to get a set of 16" snow tires/rims for the winter, and
put the 17's back on when the snow goes away. That's my plan for this
winter...