Learn me Honda Fit..

I went into the Toyota dealer where I bought my Yaris to look at a 5 door version of it. It turns out there are supposedly 15 5 door Yarises in the country with a manual trans/crank windows and locks. Also, they start at $15k so out of my price range. They had an 08 Fit Sport on the lot. I took it for a spin and loved it. I wouldn't mind something with 5 doors for loading passengers and cargo. How are they as daily drivers and also on the highway? I will be looking at an older Fit as I think the newer ones aren't as good looking..

I have a 2007 Sport with the five speed manual and love it. Bought it new in 2007 and now it has about 76k on it. I drive 70+ miles a day to and from work on both highway and city streets and get about 35 MPG. The magic seats are great, they fold down totally flat and I carry everything from my 21 speed mountain bike to a hood for my '75 Datsun 280z inside with the hatch closed.

Fairly fun to drive, totally reliable and very function. How can you go wrong?

Can you fit your bike in the hatch closed with the front wheel on or removed? I have to take the front wheel off of mine to put in my car..

I really don't think there's a better 5-door hatch out there from a utility perspective. Our 2008 base model is great as a commuter. It's a little noisy on the highway - it will make you yearn for a 6th gear. You can fit a large 29er mountain bike in it with the wheel off, I don't think I've tried one with the front wheel on.

There is a hitch you can get for the 07-08 Fit, we put a bike rack back there for longer trips.

Have any love for an older Xb? I just bought a '06, 5speed w/38k and love it. I was shopping for an Element, but couldn't find one with lower miles or a good price. With the stick, the Xb is snappy enough for DD duty and comfortable for trips. So far, my gas mileage is 35+, so that's another good thing. With the back seats down, I can get loads of stuff back there, and with the newer ones being so fugly, they seem to be holding their value pretty well.

I can't say enough good things about my wife's 2010 Fit Sport.

The utility is unreal. You can fit SO much stuff into these things it's unreal. The "magic seat" thing is what sold it for me. Such a brilliant piece of engineering. Hell, we brought our Christmas tree home in it--it only stuck out a little bit.

In the winter, it's averaging about 32-33mpg mostly highway. In the summer it did around 37mpg average--with the automatic.

Handling is phenomenal (for a stock econobox). It's a very stiff chassis and the shocks/springs are tuned very nicely for the car. I've said before that it feels almost as nimble/sure-footed as my 99 Civic Si on Koni Yellows/Neuspeed springs. On performance rubber, I think the Fit would be an absolute hoot.

VERY roomy. Tons of headroom/legroom. The windshield is VERY raked, so it makes the cabin feel very spacious. Everyone who gets in says "this thing has a ton of room in it". Back seats are a bit snug, but we've had 6' friends ride in the back with no issues. Seats are very comfortable and nicely bolstered, too.

So yeah--I like the car a lot.

92dxman wrote: Can you fit your bike in the hatch closed with the front wheel on or removed? I have to take the front wheel off of mine to put in my car..

I put two in with the front wheels off and one in with the front wheel on.

Leave the rear seats folded flat and just tell yourself that you have an XL sized CRX.

My son's car is a 2008 Fit Sport. His has the auto with paddle shifter thingys. I would like it better with a manual, but that car is amazing for what it is. It carries a ton of stuff. Quite amazing how much stuff we have had in it over the years we've owned it. I find it pretty fun to drive as well. It's not my miata, but for an econobox it was my favorite of all of them in 2008 when we bought it. I recommend this car to anyone who is looking for a car.

My wife's daily driver is a base 2008 Fit. We wish we had the Sport wheels and trim, but we bought ours used. Bought it in Dec. 2009, and it only had 11,000 miles on it. Even the base uses the same engine/trans, so if you find a good one, go for it...you can upgrade the rims later if you want.

We love the car. I won't lie, it's not the best highway cruiser, but it's not scary. Ours is a 5 speed as well. At 75mph, the engine is pretty busy, but the car is stable and comfy for cruising.

The shifter belongs in a world class sports car, it's that good. Handling is awesome for an econobox, very quick reflexes. And my wife loads it up with a trip to Costco without having to fold down the back seat. With the back seat down, it'll easily take your bike. And like others mentioned, fuel mileage is amazing. 35-40mpg depending on driving.

Downsides? Well, it ain't fast....engine is smaller than some motorcycles. A/C could be stronger. It's fine, but you have to crank it up pretty good on hot days...same with the heater, have to crank it up good on really cold days. No center console armrest, but you can buy one aftermarket.

My wife had a 2009 Fit Sport Auto until it was rear-ended. Wife was okay, but the car was totaled.

I'd recommend one.

If someone rear-ends you where the rear hatch area gets crushed in, it'll likely be totaled.

I really enjoyed it for around-town driving. It was decent in snow, but not a snow-goat get anywhere in any condition sort of car.

It consistently got high-mid 30's on the highway. My wife insisted it could get 40, but I'm skeptical of "instantaneous" mpg readouts.

I liked the USB iPod interface, but that was new for 09.

Storage space was great.

My fiance was daily driving her 2007 Sport auto, until I stole it because I sold my car. We absolutely love the car. It does everything we could want it to do. She has lowered it on swift springs, put on a rear sway, intake, and removed the axle back, so it's a bit noise and bouncy, but it's a ton of fun to drive. Just like a little go-cart.

scardeal wrote: I really enjoyed it for around-town driving. It was decent in snow, but not a snow-goat get anywhere in any condition sort of car.

It's a snow goat when you out snow tires on it

In reply to gamby:

Perhaps... I'm going more off my wife's impressions of it, because I only got to drive it in snow once or twice.

Because of her family (oldest of 9 children), her impression of a small car was a Crown Vic.

A lot of love for the Fit and I totally agree but why would there be a fairly new one on a Toyota used car lot? Hmmm....

I know there's a dozen valid reasons why but makes you wonder.

I love the fit, My Father in law has one and it's great. Fun to drive, handles great, good storage space, decent rear seat room. I almost bought one myself however I got a first gen Pontiac Vibe instead. I'd take a look at them before you buy a fit. For less money you get a lot of car. The plastic lined flat load floor is great, I can put a Large frame Mountain bike in without removing a wheel, it has more rear seat room, and the big one for me was It can tow 1500lbs, with the fit towing is 0. Now I know that the fit CAN tow, however it cannot Legally tow. I really like the fit, and think they are great vehicles, I just wanted to throw the Vibe out there as an alternate. I get 34-36mpg so it's a little worse than the fit.

If you want to make your Fit a little more fun on the road, Progress makes a rear sway bar upgrade. 2007/2008 Fits use a 22mm rear bar (62.1060).

2009/2010/2011 Fits can get a 19mm rear bar (62.1061).

Both are very popular mods with the Fit crowd.

I hope this helps.

Tony D

^^^ Hi Tony!

Coming out to the races this year?

In reply to Gimp:

I hope to see you there.

Tony D

Love my Fit as well! I'll add that the flappy paddle shifters actually respond to your commands in "sport" mode. Tire selection is critical if you're using it as a DD. Sound deadening is minimal so noisy tires are REALLY noisy. I've averaged 32-35 mpg, but I live in a very hilly city and spend a lot of time in 3rd gear. Get one!

Well i just crossed over 70k in mine.. I bought it new i've put tires on it changed the oil and the auto trans fluid. other than a few dash rattles and lousy carpet(if you can call it that) it has been a great car fun for a low power commuter, ive averaged 26 on the worst tanks and 38 on the best usually between 27 and 32 with mixed driving with the 5 spd slushbox. I love it it really likes to rev and is really tossable, also if you are in to hypermiling type driving it has a very agressive coasting fuel cut, i use a scan gauge 2 to track milage and water temp

bump for more love.............

along with looking for a work car; i am looking for a spare car for the wife and kid. I am looking at honda fit, 2008, sport, 5-speed, 48,000 miles.

Since I never drove one i stopped at the local stealership to drive one and see if they have any used ones similar in value. Since I am 6'4" tall I am instantly pushed into a civic or accord. No, I like this.

I never test drove it since the salesman said it was not a good highway car; "too light, he says". Anybody in Chicago own a 5-speed fit I can test drive?

I brought home an 07 Fit Sport manual earlier today. I got a good trade in offer on the Yaris so I pulled the trigger. I did notice that a 6th gear would be great for the highway but it wasn't bad. The car handles almost as well bone stock as my Yaris with springs and a rear bar did. I will be looking at the progress rear bar as my first upgrade. Also, pics to come..

92dxman wrote: The car handles almost as well bone stock as my Yaris with springs and a rear bar did. I will be looking at the progress rear bar as my first upgrade. Also, pics to come..

I told you!!! They worked wonders with that suspension. It's fantastic out of the box. Congrats on the new purchase.

congrats! I might be drinking the honda blue kool aid...............