Honda Fit

Discussion in 'Fit' started by Paul E. Lehmann, Nov 14, 2007.

  1. My 1994 Mazda Protege is getting ready for the
    recycle bin. I am considering the Honda Fit. I
    drive about 600 miles per month - mostly highway.

    I would appreciate any comments - positive or
    negative about the Honda Fit.
     
    Paul E. Lehmann, Nov 14, 2007
    #1
  2. Wow, you have my admiration. The Fit will seem like a luxury car to
    you. I assume you are buying the MT. I don't have personal
    experience, but I from what I have read, I would recommend you get the
    Sport model. You could be driving this car for the next 20 years, so
    the small additional cost will add a lot of enjoyment. Live a little,
    you've earned it.
     
    Gordon McGrew, Nov 14, 2007
    #2
  3. I've had the Fit since early June of this year. I have no negative comments
    and plenty of positive ones about it. As of my last fill up, I am averaging
    36.46 MPG overall. Of that, about 60% is city driving. My worst mileage was
    33.59 MPG. My best mileage, which was almost all highway miles, was 43.98
    MPG. I have a 5 speed manual Fit Sport model, but the automatic's mileage
    would not be as good.

    For a 1.5 liter engine, it has plenty of pep, especially the manual
    transmission. It corners effortlessly, and it shifts better than any other
    new car I have ever owned, and that includes a 1965 Mustang 289 4 speed, a
    1969 Fiat 850 Spyder 4 speed, a 1978 Datsun 280Z 5 speed, and a bunch of
    Datzun/Nissan pickup trucks and still more cars.

    In the past, I lusted after the Mini Cooper, but could never justify it from
    a practical standpoint. This Fit has plenty of room for hauling, especially
    with the rear seats down. The rear seats raise up so you can transport
    objects over 4 feet high. It has a lot of great qualities, but what I like
    about it, most of all, is how much fun it is to drive! After driving pickup
    trucks since 1984, I had forgotten about driving fun. If you haven't
    noticed by now, I can't recommend this car highly enough, and I'm from the
    generation that came before the baby boomers ;)

    Oh, and the link below should provide all the information you need. I
    hoping you'll take the Fit (especially the manual tranny) for a test drive.

    http://www.fitfreak.net/forums/index.php?referrerid=18289

    Robert A. Cunningham
     
    Robert A. Cunningham, Nov 14, 2007
    #3
  4. Thanks for the information. It sounds good.
    I am from the generation that came before the
    boomers myself (barely - born March 1945).

    I am an amateur wine maker and grower. It sounds
    like I will have no problem transporting 5 lugs
    or so of grapes - about 30 pounds per lug. I was
    initially considering getting a small pickup
    truck but this looks like a much better option.

    My wife recently bought an Accord and she is very
    happy with it and the dealer we bought from is
    very nice also. I think I will be giving him
    some more business. I may wait until spring. I
    don't want my new car to get all messed up with
    ice, mush and snow when it is brand new.
     
    Paul E. Lehmann, Nov 15, 2007
    #4
  5. ..
    Well, based upon the information you provided I will make one
    recommendation. When you buy your fit please spend the extra money and buy
    the "cargo tray." It is a plastic molded tray that covers the whole area
    behind the rear seats. When you asked for positive and negatives about the
    Fit, I totally forgot about this, but it reminded me when you mentioned
    transporting "lugs of grapes." The rear floor area of the Fit, above the
    spare tire, is protected by only by some sort of mat over a thin piece of
    wood, or particle board, or something similar, and while I have never had
    any problem I would be very cautious about loading heavy articles,
    especially if they have a small footprint. By opening the hatch and lifting
    the tire cover you can see the material. I would highly recommend the Cargo
    Tray if you are going to do any hauling. This would also help to keep the
    area from getting messed up.
     
    Robert A. Cunningham, Nov 15, 2007
    #5
  6. Thanks a lot. I appreciate your help.

    Paul
     
    Paul E. Lehmann, Nov 15, 2007
    #6
  7. Paul E. Lehmann

    TomP Guest

    The Fit would not be my first choice for that
    much highway driving.
    My wife drives a base model with A/T, ALL
    miles driven are city, the best mileage is a little
    over 25 MPG. Here's the fuel log I keep (because I
    can) starting from the second fillup.

    Date Brand Trip Fuel M
    P G Cost per Gal

    7/30/2006 Chevron 320 9.57
    33.44 $3.199
    8/23/2006 Chevron 210 9.30
    22.59 $3.119
    9/19/2006 Chevron 230 9.20
    25.00 $2.799
    10/12/2006 Chevron 218 9.02
    24.17 $2.499
    11/2/2006 Chevron 224 9.18
    24.45 $2.279
    11/30/2006 Chevron 221 8.86
    24.94 $2.399
    1/2/2007 Chevron 205 8.99
    22.80 $2.579
    2/4/2007 Chevron 211 8.80
    23.98 $2.479
    3/6/2007 Chevron 209 8.70
    24.02 $2.919
    4/2/2007 Chevron 219 9.19
    23.83 $3.239
    4/29/2007 Chevron 213 8.31
    25.63 $3.359
    5/20/2007 Chevron 214 8.79
    24.36 $3.395
    6/12/2007 Chevron 205 8.61
    23.80 $3.199
    7/24/2007 Chevron 210 9.30
    22.57 $2.999
    9/2/2007 Chevron 219 9.30
    23.55 $ 2.659
    9/22/2007 Mobil 217 9.46
    22.93 $2.889
    10/14/2007 Chevron 231 9.00
    25.67 $2.982
    10/30/2007 Chevron 177 7.26
    24.37 $3.119

    While the Fit will get the job done for you;
    I think the CRv would be a better choice.



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    TomP, Nov 17, 2007
    #7
  8. Paul E. Lehmann

    Tony Hwang Guest

    Hi,
    Took a look at Nissan Versa?
     
    Tony Hwang, Nov 17, 2007
    #8
  9. The above mileages are for mostly city driving, with an automatic.
    Normally, I would not recommend the purchase of an automatic Fit, because
    the mileage, and the performance, would be lower and slower; however, due to
    the OP's claim that his mileage would be approx 600 miles per month, mostly
    highway, the automatic would probably be just as economical, but a lot of
    mileage depends upon driving habits, especially in the city. But in city
    driving, people with automatics have expressed more displeasure with their
    mileage. Also, I have kept record of every fill-up (though my spreadsheet
    does not indicate price), other than the initial fill up by the dealer.
    Finally, the Fit sells for considerably less than the CR-V.

    Robert A. Cunningham
     
    Robert A. Cunningham, Nov 17, 2007
    #9
  10. Not yet, but I will before spring.

    Do you have experience with this vehicle?
     
    Paul E. Lehmann, Nov 18, 2007
    #10
  11. Paul E. Lehmann

    TomP Guest

    Robert is right on with his analysis.

    But, I could not spend that much time in a Fit at highway speeds, it's not
    going to be fun, nor will it be, what I consider, comfortable.


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    TomP, Nov 18, 2007
    #11
  12. I live in a town of three stoplights and only
    drive through two of them on a daily basis (about
    two miles) to highway access on the west side of
    town. I live two blocks from farm land.

    My hightway driving is to a gym 15 miles away and
    back or occasionally into another town also 15
    miles away in the other direction and back.

    I will not be doing hardly ANY stop and go
    driving.

    I do need a vehicle that can carry a very light
    and small load. Right now, I am able to get it
    into the trunk of my Mazda Protege but a more
    accessable compartment would be nice.

    I do not want to spend the amount of money that a
    CRV would cost because I need to buy other toys
    for my backyard vineyard and basement winery.
    Everyone has their priorities, I guess.
     
    Paul E. Lehmann, Nov 18, 2007
    #12
  13. yep
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Nov 18, 2007
    #13
  14. Well, you may be correct, but since both fun, and comfort, are relative
    terms, every person will have his/her own definition of each term, but in
    my experience, I have found the Fit to be one heck of a lot of fun, at any
    speed, and very comfortable as well. Moreover, I came to that conclusion,
    after I drove it, not before. My only recommendation for someone interested
    in buying a new car is to take the Fit (or for that matter, any new car) for
    a test drive. You may like it, love it, or hate it, but you will come to
    your own conclusion based upon your experience, not with a preconceived
    notion of what you may think it would be like.

    Robert A. Cunningham
     
    Robert A. Cunningham, Nov 18, 2007
    #14
  15. Paul E. Lehmann

    TomP Guest

    Sounds like it will "Fit" your needs; go for
    it!

    Me too.



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    TomP, Nov 18, 2007
    #15
  16. yep
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Nov 19, 2007
    #16
  17. Paul E. Lehmann

    Tony Hwang Guest

    Hi,
    I just tried once when my neighbor got one. I think they it
    is roomier and more standard features than the others.
    If they make AWD version, I'd get one. My family drives only AWD
    vehicles.
     
    Tony Hwang, Nov 19, 2007
    #17
  18. You missed the part about how he has been driving a '94 Mazda Protege.
    Compared to that the Fit will seem like a luxury car.
     
    Gordon McGrew, Nov 19, 2007
    #18
  19. Paul E. Lehmann

    TomP Guest

    Fit replaced a '90 Integra, with <100k. While not a Protégé, still an old
    car.
    I envisioned the original poster driving several hours at a time at highway
    (+70MPH) speeds.


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    TomP, Nov 22, 2007
    #19
  20. yep
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Nov 22, 2007
    #20
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