CD Article: 2008 Honda Fit LX, five-speed manual

[Seafoam]

Yeah lots of Crown Vics around they are probably not 92's however[Old cop cars] .They are big so it takes longer for them to rust.

That has to be the funniest thing I have ever read on here.   

Yeah it makes about as much since as your post.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I agree that the Fit's an impressive car, very well-built and with some ingenious features. The car's roomy for it's size, but we just couldn't get past how small the car felt when we were sitting in it. It may have something to do with the low dash or the controls that all felt and looked smaller than we liked, it's kind of hard to put a finger on it. I was put off by the high price too - $19,000 + for the model we were interested in is a bit much for this class of car. Then there's the lack of a standard cargo-cover and block heater and the dealer, well, I'm not even going to go there.

We got a well-equipped '08 Versa for a lot less than we would have paid for the Fit. It may not be as 'fun' to drive for some, but it feels and drives like a much more substantial car.

I really wanted to like the Fit, but sat in it and drove it (was fun in the city) and just don't think I would want to live with it. Did feel 'dinkier' than I expected it to, and sat lower. Overall ingenous design, engineering, seemingly high quality feel interior and build, and superb reliability scores. I'd recommend it to anyone. Didn't get me tho.

Still, I look at photos and info of the next gen Fit and again am thinking the same - highly anticipating it. Hopefully this time it'll be as favourable in person as I'm hoping for.

The Versa is a lot of car for the money. Changed my perception of how substantial and well-equipped an inexpensive car can be, moreso than the Fit. Very tailored to North America even tho it has world roots. Not sure which I'd pick between the two, as I've yet to drive a Versa. They're both really good, and although are 5 door hatches seemed aimed at very different buyers.

[Greg B.]

Yeah lots of Crown Vics around they are probably not 92's however[Old cop cars] .They are big so it takes longer for them to rust.

That has to be the funniest thing I have ever read on here.   

Yeah it makes about as much since as your post.

Since? Since what?   

Not only doesn't what you said make any sense, but you just shot yourself in the foot by slagging your own post. 

[Mitlov]

A domestic that will go 300k? Which one? I have never seen on in 25+ years of being in the auto business.

I have had a '87 GMC pick upwith over 300,000 km, 88 GMC van with over 260,000 with a bit of maintence they can last.
By the way the pick up had only one tune up done, 0il changes every 30,000 km, if it had A/C I would probably still have it

I know someone with a Ford F-Series with over 300,000 km, and that's just off the top of my head.  If I asked around, I could find plenty more.

[PJungnitsch]

I really wanted to like the Fit, but sat in it and drove it (was fun in the city) and just don't think I would want to live with it. Did feel 'dinkier' than I expected it to, and sat lower. Overall ingenous design, engineering, seemingly high quality feel interior and build, and superb reliability scores. I'd recommend it to anyone. Didn't get me tho.

I agree. Before I went back to thesis writing I was really looking forward to the Fit as a possible purchase, but when I actually saw one the appeal went away. Too low to the ground, and I can't really get into the styling, especially the small wheels.

That said, I'm sure they are excellent cars, and I recc'd to my parents that they look at one, before they settled on the Versa.

At the moment I'd be hard pressed to buy any small hatch right now. Neither the styling of the Fit, Versa, or Yaris appeals to me, the SX4 is too hard on fuel, and the Mazda3 is expensive, plus not particularly fuel efficient with the hatch. And stab is still impossible to find on most makes, or bundled poorly.

[safristi]

PJ yeah are a cheap arse  fella ......take the *:15 into the CITY   I love ta work at Nuffin all day and take care of business   these are the Cars  most need ..Takin Care of Business everyday ...All Way....Hoowhhh...Versa ,Yaris , everyday Fit....SX4...I get Up  every mornin' and i LOOK PRETTY   ....takin KAR or business every Day every way  

[safristi]

  TaTa   OOPS Le TATA  La TATA    or LEZ TATAS!!!! WDF

[carcrazy]

A domestic that will go 300k? Which one?

'91 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.1L. I unloaded at over 450.000 km on the odometer (some of them were fake due to a malfunctioning odometer, but it had more than 300K in any case). In 4 years I had it, I had ZERO mechanical problems with it. I replaced a blower fan and a starter plus tires and a muffler.
The car was still running when I got rid of it although the battery was gone after it sat in the garage for about 8 months or so.

[slybry]

A domestic that will go 300k? Which one?

 In 4 years I had it, I had ZERO mechanical problems with it. I replaced a blower fan and a starter plus tires and a muffler.
The car was still running when I got rid of it although the battery was gone after it sat in the garage for about 8 months or so.

Blower fan and starter replacments aren't mechanical problems?? I seeeee 

[mwqa]

So, does this mean we get the 2nd generation this Fall?

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/honda-struts-its-stuff-in-new-york/

I asked at the Montreal show - they said April 2009, but a lot of other sources are saying Fall 2008.

[IceAndFire]

So, does this mean we get the 2nd generation this Fall?

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/honda-struts-its-stuff-in-new-york/

I asked at the Montreal show - they said April 2009, but a lot of other sources are saying Fall 2008.

They might start selling it here first and then in the US later or vice versa.

I'm not a Honda fanboy but I'm slowly becoming one despite my issues with the accelerator pedal placement and my foot cramping up (apparently im unique).  At the auto show I sat in everything I could find...well almost everything.  And there were much more expensive cars from some of the more impressive marques that just did not have as well put together an interior as most of the Honda lineup.  Even the interior of the Fit was high quality...seriously well put together and there were simply not many others at the show that I could say the same about.

I'm excited about the new Fit and the rumored Civic refreshening supposedly coming this fall.  Maybe they will solve the issues I'm having with the Civic...if not...maybe the new Fit will be the perfect car for me.  According to Inside Line, by their own stopwatch, they got a 9.1 seconds to 60mph on the new Fit (with manual) which is great for a small economy car.  Curious to see what the North American release is going to look like in terms of dates.

[mwqa]

...issues with the accelerator pedal placement and my foot cramping up...

Exactly why I'm not buying the Fit. For some reason my right ankle starts aching, even on a 15 minute test drive.

The 2nd generation is supposed to feature better pedal placement (as well as a dead pedal).

[IceAndFire]

...issues with the accelerator pedal placement and my foot cramping up...

Exactly why I'm not buying the Fit. For some reason my right ankle starts aching, even on a 15 minute test drive.

The 2nd generation is supposed to feature better pedal placement (as well as a dead pedal).

Curious if you've driven the current gen Civic as well and if you had the same problem on that too?  Must be the angle or something.  I was starting to think I was crazy but its nice to know other people have the same issues.  Love the cars otherwise.

[mwqa]

Curious if you've driven the current gen Civic as well and if you had the same problem on that too?

I've not tried the Civic - it's a sedan and I'm looking only at hatches! 

Everyone is sized differently. Car makers only seem to be interested in building cars for that mythical 5'8" person. Makes it more difficult for the rest of us! 

[random006]

Curious if you've driven the current gen Civic as well and if you had the same problem on that too?

I've not tried the Civic - it's a sedan and I'm looking only at hatches! 

Everyone is sized differently. Car makers only seem to be interested in building cars for that mythical 5'8" person. Makes it more difficult for the rest of us! 

Well, for a myth, I seem to be doing OK.

[IceAndFire]

Curious if you've driven the current gen Civic as well and if you had the same problem on that too?

I've not tried the Civic - it's a sedan and I'm looking only at hatches! 

Everyone is sized differently. Car makers only seem to be interested in building cars for that mythical 5'8" person. Makes it more difficult for the rest of us! 

So very true!  Well it seems that my foot falls asleep in quite a few cars so far so maybe its my foot and I need to re-evaluate.  I have arch problems so maybe something to do with that.

[tpl]

...issues with the accelerator pedal placement and my foot cramping up...

Exactly why I'm not buying the Fit. For some reason my right ankle starts aching, even on a 15 minute test drive.

The 2nd generation is supposed to feature better pedal placement (as well as a dead pedal).

I was thinking about this last evening while driving the Fit.  I am used to a proper foot rest on the BMW but I don't have any problem with the Fit's lack of a footrest or the pedal placement.  Even on the occasional trips to TO with a million gear changes just on the Gardiner alone and then no gear changes all the way down the 401. I.e. I get both, the continual moving of the foot and the continual just resting on the floor.

As you all say...  everyone is sized/shaped differently.   

[tpl]

This is not Fit related but since you mention gear changes on 400 series highways around Toronto. This is the reason that I don't drive manual shift cars any more. You wear out too many master cylinder seals around here. 'Not on country roads or around town' but on the highway going to work every day. The constant changing of gear also makes your left leg ache. Replaced two sets of master cylinder seals on one vehicle. I wonder how many have had the clutch replaced, when seals worth a few dollars would have corrected the problem.

Rupert:   Only cars with Hydraulic clutches wear out master cylinder seals and even then it takes a LONG TIME to do that. I commuted up and down the DVP for many ( like 20+) years in cars with hydraulic clutches and cable driven clutches and never wore out a cable, a seal nor a clutch plate... and I lived downtown in TO and made many gear changes per mile there.
My left leg has no trouble with the clutch and never has.  I have had cars with heavy clutches, BMW and SAAB and light clutches  Audi and Fit, with two Golf GTIs somewhere in the middle.

I once counted my gearchanges driving home on the 404/DVP in response to a post on here as it happened. I lost count at well over 100 before I even got to Shepard ( southbound from 16th).

[carlos_da_fig]

I drove the Fit auto last fall and I loved the interior and the packaging.   I didn't like the lack of power, the highway noise or the price.  After incentives and 0% financing, our Vibe worked out to have substantially lower payments then the Honda would have had.
Wasn't pleased at the dealer experience at Honda either - they didn't want to let us test drive it... When they finally let us drive it, the salesperson fell asleep in the backseat during the drive.  Overall a very poor experience. 

For the record of cars I know the mileages of which are all still going strong

Plymouth Neon 310,000km
Dodge Neon 610,000km (2nd engine)
Ford Tempo 350,000km
VW Jetta TDI 680,000km
Chev Cavalier 280,000km
Chev Lumina 310,000km
Olds Alero 345,000km

So its not just Japanese cars that last forever. 

[Seafoam]

I drove the Fit auto last fall and I loved the interior and the packaging.   I didn't like the lack of power, the highway noise or the price.  After incentives and 0% financing, our Vibe worked out to have substantially lower payments then the Honda would have had.
Wasn't pleased at the dealer experience at Honda either - they didn't want to let us test drive it... When they finally let us drive it, the salesperson fell asleep in the backseat during the drive.  Overall a very poor experience. 

For the record of cars I know the mileages of which are all still going strong

Plymouth Neon 310,000km
Dodge Neon 610,000km (2nd engine)
Ford Tempo 350,000km
VW Jetta TDI 680,000km
Chev Cavalier 280,000km
Chev Lumina 310,000km
Olds Alero 345,000km

So its not just Japanese cars that last forever. 

While i agree with you ,many cars will last a long time if you throw enough parts at them.