CTC Review: 2009 Honda Fit

[CD_Editor]

Day 1:

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Just moments after I picked up my tester for this week I realized something: it occurred to me that I had been deprived for nearly four months.  Of what, you ask?  Shifting my own gears!  I haven't driven a manual since early December, which seems like an eternity.  This week I get to row my own gears in the 2009 Honda Fit Sport. More...

[dorin]

Sweet!  I absolutely love the Fit.

I'd be curious to hear what you think of it compared to the Mazda 3 hatch.

[Alex_S]

I have to admit that I never understood the excitement surrounding the Fit or the business case for that matter.  $20,590??  The Civic is only slightly bigger, arguably safer, exceptionally fuel efficient and not a whole lot more expensive at last count. Perhaps its just me but I never really liked the look of the Fit more than anything - simply ackward..

[ice]

You are a very smart person!   

[carcrazy]

How expensive would be to offer rear disc breakes and ESP (with an ON/OFF button)?

[infinitime]

I've only looked at the earlier version in detail...does the current one still have those fold up rear seats?  On the previous generation, they felt flimsy... It is very practical to be able to store a bike in the back with the seats folded up, but somewhat hard to appreciate those seats as a rear passenger.

[tpl]

I have to admit that I never understood the excitement surrounding the Fit or the business case for that matter.  $20,590??  The Civic is only slightly bigger, arguably safer, exceptionally fuel efficient and not a whole lot more expensive at last count. Perhaps its just me but I never really liked the look of the Fit more than anything - simply ackward..

You can't get "stuff" in a Civic.    The Fit could just as easily been called the Civic station wagon.

How expensive would be to offer rear disc breakes and ESP (with an ON/OFF button)?

No stability control makes me stay away

On a light car like this, rear discs would just rust out.  ESP is available in the US model and I'd bet it will come to the Cdn ones next year.

I've only looked at the earlier version in detail...does the current one still have those fold up rear seats?  On the previous generation, they felt flimsy... It is very practical to be able to store a bike in the back with the seats folded up, but somewhat hard to appreciate those seats as a rear passenger.

The rear seats work well enough for upto a couple of hours...it is NOT a luxury car.   The folding thing works really well I can detect no flimsy bits in those seats.

The Fit is an entry level car. Designed as a PRACTICAL a-b stuff and people carrier.   If Honda had kept the old Civic wagon with updated mechanicals there would be no arguments.

[safristi]

I believe paddle shifters  are NOT available on the 2009 Sport!  so i was told by the dealership back in Sept when i test drove the mid level model................

[wing]

Really?  Hmmmm I'll look into that.

[Thinking Out Loud]

I have to admit that I never understood the excitement surrounding the Fit or the business case for that matter.  $20,590??  The Civic is only slightly bigger, arguably safer, exceptionally fuel efficient and not a whole lot more expensive at last count. Perhaps its just me but I never really liked the look of the Fit more than anything - simply ackward..

You can't get "stuff" in a Civic.    The Fit could just as easily been called the Civic station wagon.

How expensive would be to offer rear disc breakes and ESP (with an ON/OFF button)?

No stability control makes me stay away

On a light car like this, rear discs would just rust out.  ESP is available in the US model and I'd bet it will come to the Cdn ones next year.

I've only looked at the earlier version in detail...does the current one still have those fold up rear seats?  On the previous generation, they felt flimsy... It is very practical to be able to store a bike in the back with the seats folded up, but somewhat hard to appreciate those seats as a rear passenger.

The rear seats work well enough for upto a couple of hours...it is NOT a luxury car.   The folding thing works really well I can detect no flimsy bits in those seats.

The Fit is an entry level car. Designed as a PRACTICAL a-b stuff and people carrier.   If Honda had kept the old Civic wagon with updated mechanicals there would be no arguments.

I forgot about those 'tall-boy' wagons....they were pretty cool.

[carcrazy]

How expensive would be to offer rear disc breakes and ESP (with an ON/OFF button)?

On a light car like this, rear discs would just rust out.  ESP is available in the US model and I'd bet it will come to the Cdn ones next year.

Why would the discs rust out? Based on Edmunds.com full test results, the 60-0 mph breaking is quite poor at 134 ft. Wouldn't Fit benefit for better breaks?
Now I know, Honda (and Toyota) have rear drums on the rear not only on the Fit (and Yaris), but some Civics (and Corollas) too, but I always wondered why aren’t they using rear discs all around? The only reason I can find is that they are cheap; if they can get away with drums, why not?

Unfortunately, the Ford Fiesta will have rear drums as well (one of the major negatives in my book for that car).  I hope the breaking performance will still be better than on the Fit.

[tpl]

How expensive would be to offer rear disc breakes and ESP (with an ON/OFF button)?

On a light car like this, rear discs would just rust out.  ESP is available in the US model and I'd bet it will come to the Cdn ones next year.

Why would the discs rust out? Based on Edmunds.com full test results, the 60-0 mph breaking is quite poor at 134 ft. Wouldn't Fit benefit for better breaks?
Now I know, Honda (and Toyota) have rear drums on the rear not only on the Fit (and Yaris), but some Civics (and Corollas) too, but I always wondered why aren’t they using rear discs all around? The only reason I can find is that they are cheap; if they can get away with drums, why not?

Unfortunately, the Ford Fiesta will have rear drums as well (one of the major negatives in my book for that car).  I hope the breaking performance will still be better than on the Fit.

Rear discs on lightweight cars get very little use, not enough to keep them clean. So the calipers seize and then they get even less use. There have been posts here about that problem.    Drums are also cheaper I guess when one has to allow for a working parking brake on the rear wheels.

I have not found any problem with the Fit's braking capability.

[Troy]

While I love the versatility & funk of the Fit, there is one reason I do not (cannot) buy one.  The front seats might be great if you're under 6 feet tall, otherwise your knees are at the dashboard and your thighs don't touch the seat.  During my 10-15 minute test drive I must have attempted to move the seat back 3 or 4 times as I couldn't believe this was as much room as I was going to get.  And with no height adjustments it was simply impossible to get remotely comfortable.  At its price point, the Fit lacks the little things that should be common sense on a compact car.  The Kia Soul may not be as refined as the Fit, but it took all of 2 seconds to be comfortable and the styling (inside & out) is top notch.

[tpl]

While I love the versatility & funk of the Fit, there is one reason I do not (cannot) buy one.  The front seats might be great if you're under 6 feet tall, otherwise your knees are at the dashboard and your thighs don't touch the seat.  During my 10-15 minute test drive I must have attempted to move the seat back 3 or 4 times as I couldn't believe this was as much room as I was going to get.  And with no height adjustments it was simply impossible to get remotely comfortable.  At its price point, the Fit lacks the little things that should be common sense on a compact car.  The Kia Soul may not be as refined as the Fit, but it took all of 2 seconds to be comfortable and the styling (inside & out) is top notch.

I am exactly 6' tall and don't find the Mk1 fit front seats a problem but I do have to have the drivers seat all the way back so I am sure anyone with longer legs or taller would not fit Fit.

What are these little things? Just for interest.

[Mitlov]

Why would the discs rust out? Based on Edmunds.com full test results, the 60-0 mph breaking is quite poor at 134 ft. Wouldn't Fit benefit for better breaks?
Now I know, Honda (and Toyota) have rear drums on the rear not only on the Fit (and Yaris), but some Civics (and Corollas) too, but I always wondered why aren’t they using rear discs all around? The only reason I can find is that they are cheap; if they can get away with drums, why not?

Unfortunately, the Ford Fiesta will have rear drums as well (one of the major negatives in my book for that car).  I hope the breaking performance will still be better than on the Fit.

I'd lay money that the limiting factor of the Fit's braking ability are the low-rolling-resistance tires, not the rear brakes.  The front brakes do most of the hard work anyway, particularly on a small and light vehicle.

[Jaeger]

I believe paddle shifters  are NOT available on the 2009 Sport!  so i was told by the dealership back in Sept when i test drove the mid level model................

I'm almost sure you were told wrong, but since I never actually drove the auto I can't say for sure.

FWIW, when my wife bought her Fit, she had every intention of replacing her old Civic with a new one.  The old one had served her well.  She did have a bit of a longing for the Mini, but realized that would be WAY too impractical a choice for our lifestyle.  When she saw the Fit in the Honda showroom, it was like finding a blend of the two.  The Fit, while no sports car was really fun to drive - she particularly liked the flick-of-the-wrist shifter and light clutch.

But practicality is what won the day.  The Civic doesn't offer any more interior space, despite being a significanty larger car overall.  And the packaging of the Fit - with its hatchback and fold-flat / flip-up trick rear seat made it no contest in terms of versatility.  I'm talking different galaxy, here.  We recently transported one of those glider-type rocking chairs with matching foot-stool thing in the Fit.  I'm not sure the trunk opening on the Civic would even have taken the foot-stool thing, and the glider? Fuhgeddaboudit.

So far my only real complaint is the lack of a 6th gear.  The shorter gearing of the manual transmission makes for high revs on the highway.  It's not bad if you keep things at or below 120, but even so, a taller 6th gear would be a welcome change down the road.  Some would carp about the fact that this would require a downshift to pass on the highway, but generally speaking, people who buy honest-to-goodness manuals don't mind shifting.

I see the Fit and cars like it making significant inroads against three-box compact sedans.  My wife's only reservation about the Fit was how much MORE than the Civic it would cost.  It's nice to be able to deliver some really good news to one's spouse.

Jaeger

[mrori]

I believe paddle shifters  are NOT available on the 2009 Sport!  so i was told by the dealership back in Sept when i test drove the mid level model................

I'm almost sure you were told wrong, but since I never actually drove the auto I can't say for sure.

FWIW, when my wife bought her Fit, she had every intention of replacing her old Civic with a new one.  The old one had served her well.  She did have a bit of a longing for the Mini, but realized that would be WAY too impractical a choice for our lifestyle.  When she saw the Fit in the Honda showroom, it was like finding a blend of the two.  The Fit, while no sports car was really fun to drive - she particularly liked the flick-of-the-wrist shifter and light clutch.

But practicality is what won the day.  The Civic doesn't offer any more interior space, despite being a significanty larger car overall.  And the packaging of the Fit - with its hatchback and fold-flat / flip-up trick rear seat made it no contest in terms of versatility.  I'm talking different galaxy, here.  We recently transported one of those glider-type rocking chairs with matching foot-stool thing in the Fit.  I'm not sure the trunk opening on the Civic would even have taken the foot-stool thing, and the glider? Fuhgeddaboudit.

So far my only real complaint is the lack of a 6th gear.  The shorter gearing of the manual transmission makes for high revs on the highway.  It's not bad if you keep things at or below 120, but even so, a taller 6th gear would be a welcome change down the road.  Some would carp about the fact that this would require a downshift to pass on the highway, but generally speaking, people who buy honest-to-goodness manuals don't mind shifting.

I see the Fit and cars like it making significant inroads against three-box compact sedans.  My wife's only reservation about the Fit was how much MORE than the Civic it would cost.  It's nice to be able to deliver some really good news to one's spouse.

Jaeger

No padle shifters for 2009 that is 100%.

[carcrazy]

Why would the discs rust out? Based on Edmunds.com full test results, the 60-0 mph breaking is quite poor at 134 ft. Wouldn't Fit benefit for better breaks?
Now I know, Honda (and Toyota) have rear drums on the rear not only on the Fit (and Yaris), but some Civics (and Corollas) too, but I always wondered why aren’t they using rear discs all around? The only reason I can find is that they are cheap; if they can get away with drums, why not?

Unfortunately, the Ford Fiesta will have rear drums as well (one of the major negatives in my book for that car).  I hope the breaking performance will still be better than on the Fit.

I'd lay money that the limiting factor of the Fit's braking ability are the low-rolling-resistance tires, not the rear brakes.  The front brakes do most of the hard work anyway, particularly on a small and light vehicle.

I too think that the low-rolling-resistance tires have a significant role in Fit' poor breaking performance (by the numbers anyway), but how much the breaking performance would improve with better tires?  How much impact would normal tires have on the fuel economy?

BTW, Mini comes with rear wheel discs and it's a light, small car. If there is no benefit from the rear discs on small cars, why would they go this route? However, according to Edmunds.com, 2002 Mini Cooper (base model) stopped in an outstanding 112 ft from 60 mph. I see the benefits right there.
I just walked by a Mini in the parking lot this morning and the rear discs weren't rusted at all.

[Shnak]

While I love the versatility & funk of the Fit, there is one reason I do not (cannot) buy one.  The front seats might be great if you're under 6 feet tall, otherwise your knees are at the dashboard and your thighs don't touch the seat.  During my 10-15 minute test drive I must have attempted to move the seat back 3 or 4 times as I couldn't believe this was as much room as I was going to get.  And with no height adjustments it was simply impossible to get remotely comfortable.  At its price point, the Fit lacks the little things that should be common sense on a compact car.  The Kia Soul may not be as refined as the Fit, but it took all of 2 seconds to be comfortable and the styling (inside & out) is top notch.

That's funny because the Fit is one of the very few small cars where I am comfortable in all 4 seats... That said, I never took it out for a test drive; maybe my opinion would change if I ever do.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

While I love the versatility & funk of the Fit, there is one reason I do not (cannot) buy one.  The front seats might be great if you're under 6 feet tall, otherwise your knees are at the dashboard and your thighs don't touch the seat.  During my 10-15 minute test drive I must have attempted to move the seat back 3 or 4 times as I couldn't believe this was as much room as I was going to get.  And with no height adjustments it was simply impossible to get remotely comfortable.  At its price point, the Fit lacks the little things that should be common sense on a compact car.  The Kia Soul may not be as refined as the Fit, but it took all of 2 seconds to be comfortable and the styling (inside & out) is top notch.

I am exactly 6' tall and don't find the Mk1 fit front seats a problem but I do have to have the drivers seat all the way back so I am sure anyone with longer legs or taller would not fit Fit.

What are these little things? Just for interest.

I don't 'fit' in it well either up front (6-4 and some poundage). Too far forward with my right knee jabbing into the dash. Which is too bad as the rest is brilliant. The Kia Soul is far more spacious feeling up front with the roof and A-pillars further away too (tho is a touch narrow), but she suffers big time in the hatch.

I REALLY want to love the Fit but the front seat space (and seats themselves apparently) and lack of power were big strikes against it. Yet, I still find myself wanting to check it out again and again just to make sure I still feel the same way.