When we last left our story, I had pretty much decided that I was willing to swallow the depreciation on my 18-month-old Beetle and look for a replacement that A) didn’t have winter weather issues, B) had a higher level of utility, C) was more engaging to drive and D) wasn’t a Volkswagen product (Does that make the Beetle a Deadly Sin? You decide!).
My initial list ran a fairly wide gamut of vehicles, and included a year-old FJ Cruiser, Ford Flex and the funky Nissan Cube. I went and test drove a number of these vehicles, or at least sat in one in a showroom. Some, like the Ford Focus, I ruled out almost immediately (couldn’t get past the console on that one, not to mention the very pushy salesperson). The Mazda 5 has always had some interest for me, but I lost that as soon as I tried to sit in one – my legs literally would not fit under the dash! The FJ was pretty cool, but was also about double my budget and didn’t even break 20 MPG.
As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I used a 6 Sigma tool (Pugh Matrix) to evaluate and weight various criteria for each vehicle. That helped me narrow my list down to five, then two vehicles. Before you jump out of your chair challenging me on how I scored my criteria, please keep in mind they are *my* criteria – YMMV as the saying goes, and it’s perfectly fine for what you look for in a car to be different from what I look for! The bottom section of my matrix is where I weighted each criteria to come up with a final score.
I test drove the Mazda 3 several times and kept trying to like it (40 MPG!), but Oh! That face! Not to mention that the price quickly jumped when I optioned it out the way I wanted. Two coworkers own M3s and like them, but both also said the dealer was horrible to work with and routine service was often done incorrectly. I finally had to cut it from the list.
The Mini Cooper was appealing from the driving experience standpoint, but as we have no local Mini dealer, I was unable to actually experience that for myself. It’s also getting to be fairly common on the roads and while I like the styling, it’s probably due for a refresh. Optioned out the way I would have liked it drove the price up where it ended up killing that as an option, anyway.
The xB was also intriguing to me, partially influenced by the CC love it gets around here – it was actually one of the first cars I looked at seriously. I think I like the first-gen styling better, but this version isn’t horrible, and it has excellent cargo space and visibility. As you see above, I scored it high enough to make the top three cut-off, but, while utility would have been superb, the fuel economy was nothing to write home about, the test drive was kind of “meh,” and it simply felt like an entry-level car, right down to the steel wheels with cheap-looking hubcaps.
But! On the same lot was this handsome tC that kept singing a siren song my way. I fell into deep “car heat” on the first test drive. With a deliciously raspy exhaust note and tight handling, this would be a fun car to drive and I kept reweighting my criteria to keep it near the top of the list. Unfortunately, the fuel economy was only so-so, cabin noise was unacceptably loud with the sunroof open and the orange instrumentation lighting was nearly invisible when I had sunglasses on – I literally had to take my shades off to see how fast I was going. While some aspects of the car were nicely detailed, others were obviously the result of building to a price point – the “rollup vinyl” sunroof shade looked like it came out of the window of my grandmothers home, for example. The price was a bit higher than the xB, but manageable. In the end, it was the low-ball trade-in offer they gave me for the Beetle that eliminated this car.
So after evaluating everything, the third-gen Honda Fit ended up being the car that best fit my weighted criteria. The local dealer gave me a very reasonable offer for the Beetle, which ended up sealing the deal – in fact, the whole Honda purchase experience was easily the most pleasant I’ve ever had. I had planned on getting a manual transmission (every DD I’ve had since my Vega was a manual), but when I found out that the final drive ratio is a frantic ~3,400 RPM at 70 MPH, I ended up switching at the last moment to the CVT transmission, which turns ~2,300 at 70 for a much less hectic feel on a long road trip. I didn’t waste any time doing a bit of customizing, and so far have found the car to “fit” me much better than the Beetle ever did – it’s more engaging and fun to drive, has excellent utility, and has been returning around 40 MPG on my daily commute. Visibility is surprisingly excellent, and the level of tech is very high for the price – it was easily the best value for the dollar out of everything I considered.
Here’s a shot comparing a first-gen Fit with my third-gen. Personally, I like the cleaner lines of the first-gen, but also think the overall proportions of the third-gen are better refined. I specifically chose the Modern Steel Metallic (grey) in an attempt to visually tone down the busy character lines. Unfortunately, the only “real colors” available for the Fit were either scarce as hens teeth (Mystic Yellow Pearl, I’m looking at you), or a color I didn’t care for. The interior is available in any color you like, so long as it’s black. I purchased the EX trim level, which has durable-feeling cloth seating surfaces, choosing to save my pennies for aftermarket wheels instead of the optional EX-L leather option.
The third-gen Fit is powered by a DOHC 1.5l direct-injection gasoline engine that makes 130HP and will make runs to 60 MPH in 8-9 seconds depending on who’s testing. The CVT has a “Sport Mode” that simulates seven “gears” using steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. I played with it a time or two (mainly to aid in seating the rings), but it’s not the same as shifting a real manual. I mostly leave it in the normal “Drive” mode. The hardest thing to get used to is that you cannot drive based on engine sound like you can with a manual – you watch the speedometer and basically feed it throttle to control how fast you get to your desired speed. Given the disparity between gasoline and diesel prices in our area, I calculated that as long as I get over 35 MPG with the Fit, I’m actually saving money as compared to the 42 MPG I was getting with the Beetle. Insurance is less expensive, too. Really, all I gave up was the convertible top (which *was* quite nice in good weather) and the deep-deep-deep reserves of torque the excellent TDi engine has.
So now we’re at the end (or beginning?) of my story. Someone recently commented here at CC saying, “What most people want in a new car is the car they have, only new.” That was definitely me, but the Beetle turned out to have all of the “bad” of my New Beetle and little of the “good.” Volkswagen lost a loyal customer simply because my experience was filled with the same types of dumb quality issues I repeatedly had with my 2000 New Beetle – when it started looking like the ’13 Beetle was going to follow right in its footsteps, I simply lost patience (and what remained of my loyalty).
We owned a pair of Honda Civics back when we first married (’89 DX three-door and a ’90 base three-door) – they were both excellent cars, and when I slipped behind the wheel of the Fit for the first time, it felt like “coming home.”
Oh, and the answer to my Driveway Outtake from a couple days ago? The F-250 Powerstroke was the “last man standing.”
Related Reading:
Curbside Divorce: 2013 Beetle Convertible – Irreconcilable Differences
Nice choice, looks great in dark gray with those wheels, very sporty without being obnoxious.
Are they some sort of mini-lite replica? Never seen anything like that on a modern hatch, it’s a cool look.
Yep – they’re Rotas. I’ve already swapped out the chrome garnish on the rear hatch for the black piece that comes on the base LX, and have a plain black grille to swap on the front. Trying to find a source for JDM illuminated taillights (the uppers on the hatch), and will also add a rear way bar to tighten the handling a touch.
I hadn’t even noticed the back trim was swapped, nice touch. I did think that chrome strip on the front looked too “mustache-y”, all black will look better.
JDM parts are fun, when I first got my BG5 Subaru I spent tons of time crawling forums and eBay looking for rare JDM parts. It’s all OEM quality, and distinctive. Plus they tend to get lots of weird features (especially on older models) that never make it to the US (my power folding mirrors for instance).
+1 on the wheels. Ive always liked anything remotely minilite-ish on a small car. Ed, did you buy those for the car or were they already there? Cant say as Im a huge fan of the bodystyle on any of the Fit’s but those wheels do make them look a LOT better.
Nope, the EX and higher trims come with cast wheels that, to my eye, look goofy. I knew when I bought it I would be replacing with aftermarket, and specifically wanted a minilite-style wheel with a machined lip. While I kept the diameter the same (16″), I went an inch wider and with more offset. The combination makes the wheels/tires fill out the wheelwells better and overall visually works better with the form of the car.
All the better to keep the factory rims for a set of winter tires?
I did get a set of snows, but went “minus one” to 15″ wheels to better absorb winter potholes. The OEM wheels and tires will be going on CL.
Changing offset unless very minimal like 5mm or less is not a good idea, it messes with the steering geometry and will shorten wheel bearing life.
Do you mean less offset. More offset will pull the tires in, if the same tire size is used regardless of the wheel width.
Correct on “less” offset – went from +53 to +40. Wheel width increased 25mm. I’m familiar with the “you’ll ruin your wheel bearings” argument but am not sure I agree. Never seen anyone report of this actually happening, and can’t imagine an engineer specifying a bearing with so little tolerance it would fail with a slight increase in load. You probably add more load carrying one passenger…
I’ve seen it happen many times. It is that it causes a change in how the load is applied to the bearing. The stock offset is designed so that load is carried between the parts of the races when they are near the ground. When you change the offset significantly then one side has the load applied at the bottom and one at the top. It also creates leverage on the bearing that isn’t there in the stock configuration. Certainly some designs can handle it better than others.
The other issue is how it changes the scrub radius. With the stock set up the pivot point when you steer is near the center of the tread. Change the offset and the steering axis is no longer in the center of the tread so you drag the tire when you steer.
Before you got the 15 inch wheels for winter use did you verify that they would work and that the wheels clear the brake calipers? Some cars with optional larger sized wheels will have bigger calipers and thus the base model smaller wheels will not fit.
On my 2005 LeSabre the limited version came with 16 inch wheels while the custom had 15 inch rims. As the calipers were bigger on the Limited you could not go back down a size to 15 inch rims for winter steel rims(that were offered on the Custom). I think Toyota/GM did this with the matrix/Vibe in 2009-2014 where the base model with the 1.6l engine got smaller wheels and the Vibes with the 2.4l engine got bigger wheels and bigger brake calipers.
Data on the car WRT aftermarket wheels was and is still pretty sketchy as the car is new and the aftermarket will need time to catch up. So I did take a bit of a chance, but the 15s I got fit just fine with no interference.
I understand the “Non Volkswagen” comment.
I wanted a VW Jetta SO bad in 2008 , loved the slick (at the time) DSG transmission, the “Audi style” upmarket interior, the trim overall size. But after hearing owner’s horror stories about “Mexican Assembled” Jettas I backed off that automotive love affair. (I am told the German built diesel modes have better quality control; but still not up to a Honda or Toyota’s.)
One owner I spoke with several times actually crossed herself when she told me ALL about her 70K POS Jetta!
The Fit is Go! This makes you and I sort of bookends, as I was among the first Fit buyers in the U.S. in 2006. It is interesting to read how the car has changed in the 3rd generation and your impressions of it.
I now have a bit over 91K on my white 07, and it has (overall) been a highly pleasant experience. Only now am I experiencing the first need for a repair, in that I am starting to get a bit of a rough idle due to aging coil packs. However, this will be an easy DIY.
You have not mentioned the ultra-flexible seat system. I have swallowed gobs of cargo in mine, and have also used the “relax” position either as a passenger on a trip, or to grab a quick rest when I am waiting on someone.
My gripes have been two. First, it is not the best highway car for really long trips. Maybe I’m getting old, but I prefer the quieter, softer ride of our Sedona. The Fit is comfortable, but I have found the seats to get kind of hard after an all day drive. Also, it is a mite noisy at speed.
Second, until very recently, I was underwhelmed by its fuel mileage. Very oddly, I just had a brake job done at the Honda dealer (pads and resurfacing only) and for some reason, mileage has jumped up to what this car should be getting. If I keep highway speeds at 70 or under, I am now getting about 36-37. Keeping speeds at 60-65 make for a big jump, so the short gearing (5 speed auto here) and questionable aerodynamics are not the greatest for highway mileage.
I will be interested to hear how you like the car as you settle in. I was just offered the free use of my mother’s 06 Lacrosse while she is in the hospital, but I have been down that road before and like my Fit much better. The Fit is an awful lot of car for the money for quality, fun, utility and economy. If someone likes a car of its size class, it is hard to beat.
Happy car, happy owner. Also, watch the low ground clearance. I have barked up the lower corners of the front spoiler and need to do a little touch-up work.
Excellent point. The 1st gen Fit does not have as good approach and depart angles as a first generation Yaris so on dirt roads the bumpers get damaged or even torn off. Plus, the stiffer ride of the Fit I hear is more tiresome on those same roads as the softer ride of the Yaris.
I have an ’08 Yaris (since I could get one without the several months’ wait a manual Fit required back then. IIRC Honda cancelled the launch ad campaign after a few long-lead print ads since they sold to a waiting list the entire first generation) – the softer ride has its’ price in body lean and iffyness at highway speeds. It does hold on and track straight despite what the mags said, but I keep 44 PSI all around rather than 32.
Does yours have all those “holes” in it like the one from Regular Car Reviews?
Um, no. No issues at all so far.
Nope, not a single leak, ever. In fact, this is the first I have ever heard someone talk about widespread leaks. I would have thought this would come up and dominate the forums like Odysseys and transmissions. Makes me wonder if they got one that had been wrecked and repaired badly.
Watched that whole review. Wow – they prefer a Toyota Echo? Uh, OK. Their impressions could not be more different from mine (and, dare I say, almost any other review I have ever come across.) I am not a fan of these reviews that like to substitute snark and attitude for knowledge.
They know less about cars than Ron Klain knows about epidemics. There are a few early Fits that have a leak through the rear doors. The water that comes in through the seal at the base of the side windows is supposed to be directed out drain holes in the doors but in some cases is redirected by a misaligned plastic sheet in the door so that it drips through holes that are used by the window regulators or their wiring. Once the water does that, it can leak through the base of the interior door trim and wind up on the cars’ floors. All that caulk those dopes covered their car’s seams with was of zero utility whatsoever, much like their advice.
Actually some of the early Fits did leak into the car from the tail lights due to a improper installed gasket but that was fixed quick enough and no issues have been reported on the current generation.
If you want leaks buy a 1993-2002 Camaro or Firebird. No matter how well you take care of the gaskets they still leak. Bah!
I think you miss the point of Regular Car Reviews. It’s not meant to be knowledgeable. Take a look at their Tacoma review:
Or the Lincoln Town Car:
And the Echo gets/got so much love because it was Mr. Regular’s first review, since it was his first ride and probably would still be had it not met its untimely demise last winter.
Liking the Echo more or less disqualifies the reviewer in the eyes of anyone who knows cars.
The Echo was so bad that Toyota dropped the name. The Echo is now the Yaris, which sells mainly to rental fleets.
No doubt the guy made a mistake by getting the crappy Echo instead of the superior Fit.
Did you even read my comment, or watch the video? Mr. Regular_did_ get the Fit. He admitted in the video that it was superior in essentially every way. He _had_ an Echo, and it died. He loved his Echo, though, _because_ it was a crapcan. It was _his_ crapcan, his first car, and he loved it.
At any rate, just because someone likes a low-quality car doesn’t mean their opinion is automatically invalid. And even _that_ is moot because the point of Regular Car Reviews is that it’s _not_an_actual_car_review_web_series_.
Liking the Echo more or less disqualifies the reviewer in the eyes of anyone who knows cars.
Depends on the intended mission for the model in question. If I’m looking for a car to plow through snow, slush, road salt and general schmutz, I don’t want a car I like. I want a POS that I don’t care about.
That being said, I had a rental Echo once. Instrument cluster in the middle of the dash? Short/tall/narrow build that rides like a tilt-a-whirl? Think I’d rather have a Chevy Aveo for a crasher, ‘course I haven’t driven an Aveo.
Middle dash cluster was to make the LHD-RHD conversion cheaper, I suppose.
I always like the Lincoln Town Car one, again, they aren’t “reviews” according to hoyle, I watch them for a laugh, and the oddball references.
Interesting about your sudden mileage improvement. I had wondered about your somewhat low mileage, it’s certainly not because of a lead foot 🙂 But yes, dragging brakes are a….drag on mileage. I think on some cars they have a mechanism (Prius?) to assure that they won’t drag.
I always love it when a car suddenly improves itself after some years. Our ’85 Cherokee always seemed pokier than it should have been; turns out the throttle linkage was never set right and it never opened the carb all the way. Suddenly at ten years old, it was zippier (in relative terms only) than new. 🙂 Of course, that didn’t help the mileage any.
I bought new Fit 6 weeks ago. My first Honda, other than a lawnmower. Traded an F150 I no longer needed after I sold off my rental property. I looked at many of the same vehicles you did. The Mazda3 has a lot to offer, but I’m with you on the styling. Also, I’m not a fan of our local dealers. One that’s not on your list I considered carefully was the Sonic. I’ve had one as a rental and actually like it quite a bit (at least it had XM radio built in). It feels more grown up than the Fit, but except for the the Fit’s electronic steering that’s a little light, the Fit is more fun to drive. Both have a similar hauling capacity. Fit wins for the flip-up back seats. I also considered a gas Jetta Sportwagen, but reading CC swore me off, though I have friends that are VeeDub fanatics.
My Fit is also an EX but has the 6 speed manual and it’s great fun on a mountain switchbacks. I am surprised at how much I use the backup camera. The right hand one not so much. In very urban driving, it’s getting 30 mpg, about 10 more than the 2003 Focus I had. 40+ on the highway. If you look at the Fit forums, there’s a lot of grousing about the quality of the first Mexican Honda sold in the U.S., but right now, no complaints.
I surfed both the tC and Fit forums pretty heavily as I narrowed down to the final choice – both seem to have active tuner communities.
The very early build Fits out of Mexico did have some issues, and I had a list of things to check for when I took delivery. My build number is from around mid-August, and there were no issues with the car, and none have popped up so far.
I don’t have any issues with where my car was built – I think the initial issues on the forums had more to do with it being a new plant, new car and new workers. There’s always a ramp-up period any time you change even one of those factors.
While the Sonic looks cute, a GM product was not a consideration. They lost me years ago.
Fit forums nowhere nearly as entertaining as CC, but loaded with info.
Ultimately, I had the same issue with the Sonic. Couldn’t pull the trigger (couldn’t find a manual/sunroof either). A ’77 Vega (after they were allegedly improved), an ’88 Tech4 S10 (more trouble than the Vega AND a Renault Le Car that came between), and the DaeWoo origins made me wary. Still, it’s a better effort than I’ve seen out of the old GM. Agree on the new country/factory/model/workforce startup issues. Appears resolved.
On another note, maybe I’ve not kept up with technology, but the Fit has the smallest car battery I have ever seen.
It’s practically a motorcycle battery, likely chosen to reduce weight. Will be interesting to see its longevity, especially with our hard winters. Folks are already working to figure out refitting a standard size battery in the rear of the car, which sounds of interest to me.
OK, you remind me of my only real service gripe. I am on my 3rd battery. They are so small, that they don’t last long. The factory battery lasted about 2.5 years and was replaced under warranty. The second Honda battery lasted about the same length of time. 3rd time I went with aftermarket, which had finally started to support this size. We will see, as I am at about the 2 year mark on this one.
Factory and dealer sourced Honda batteries are among the worst you can buy. 2~3 years is the norm. Yes they seriously undersize them to eek out an insignificant MPG improvement and to save them a few bucks per car. Many of them are actually set up to take a larger battery.
The other factor is they don’t have much reserve capacity (Amp hours), so beware using the accessories too long or leaving headlights on. Been there, done that!
Interesting. The Ford truck I traded was a 2008 and still on its original Motorcraft. I found the 151r battery that previous Fits used on Walmart’s website. 340 cold cranking amps. Wow! Just to compare, I looked up the old 6 volt VW battery, size 19L. 300 cold cranking amps. I hope the Farmer’s Almanac is wrong about this winter!
The factory Motorcraft batteries are among the best batteries on the market period. 10 years is not uncommon out of them. One of the things that helps them last so long is the Ford charging system strategy. They actually switch the alternator to a float charge once the battery is fully charged instead of continously charging them at 14.2v like most mfgs. Once fully charged the system voltage will drop to 13.8v.
As the owner of a ’12 Fit Sport 5MT, I slide in between JP & Ron. I had an ’07 Sport 5MT that was totalled in a H&R accident w/ only 64K. The ’12 replacement was the only car I considered. I’ve since upgraded it w/ custom leather interior, and other minor “eye candy” mods. Mileage is 36-39 around town, and increases to 40+ on long trips. The manual makes a WORLD of difference to the driving experience! Here’s hoping that you continue to enjoy your FIT! 🙂
Cool ride, man! Hope it gives you many years of reliable service. Too bad you couldn’t keep the Beetle as a summer and weekend toy 🙁 .
Well I still have my ’62 sunroof and ’63 sedan… (c:
Well, I was one of the ones who figured the F 250 was the last to go.
I considered a new Fit several times, most recently about 4 or 5 months ago. The dealer I worked with was okay, at first, but got increasing annoying as the buying process wore on. I didn’t know there was no MY 2014 Fit, and that all dealers had in the way of “new” was automatic 2013s. They “seemed” to be helping me try to find a Fit with manual but I eventually realized they just wanted to string me along until I grew exasperated and “settled” for an automatic.
I really like the 1st and 2nd generation Fit, maybe I’ll eventually feel the same way about the 3rd generation, too. Right now I think it looks a bit bulky/blocky.
For what it’s worth, my 97 Civic gets about 40+ mpg on long trips when the speed is kept near 70 mph. Strangely, at about 60 to 65 fuel economy suffers.
Finally, I’m reaching an age when an automatic seems like a good idea, but a part of me says manual as long as possible….and out of principle.
And I agree, the color selection is crummy for these colors. Yellow or silver would be my color choice today.
Congrats Ed! The new Fit has really grown on me and when I see one I always imagine it being a blast to drive. The profile shots are interesting to look at. The Soul looks the freshest and the Xb like it doesn’t belong.
I probably would have chosen the Mazda but from some angles it does look a bit odd.
I really liked the Soul until I drove it. It was “soul-less.” (c:
I have wondered about the Soul. I have seen quite a few of them around, but have never been inside one.
I hired one of these in South Africa (labelled as a Jazz), and it was a great little car. That was a gen 1 in poverty spec, so I really would fancy the new version in a decent spec. Dunno about the CVT though. Your reason is a good one, but peppy little engines in a nice light package are just screaming for you to row your own cogs…
Hope it works out for you, man. Personally the FJ is what I was hoping you picked, given that youre in a more tundra-like climate. Given that you went more for a smaller car, the tC seemed like the strongest choice. If only Dodge would release the Dart in a 2-door coupe that looked nearly as sharp. With SRT-4 package of course! You don’t like the look of the Mazda 3? The new face at least looks like a car…when they had the ‘Joker face wearing black lipstick’….now THAT was tough to look at.
Part of me really wanted to make the FJ work – the one I looked at was the hard-core 4WD model (diff lock, etc.) with a manual and the upgraded stereo. It almost could have replaced both the Beetle and the F-250 (as it could tow my hay hauling trailer with ease). But the horrible fuel economy and Jeep-like ride were enough to tell me to move on.
The xB was also intriguing to me, partially influenced by the CC love it gets around here
That’s all been for the gen1; the gen2 has been an object of considerable derision here:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-asian/curbside-classicreview-2008-scion-xb-a-case-study-for-how-to-kill-enthusiasm/
Good choice with the Fit. I’ve always been attracted to it, and I like the looks of the gen3 better than the gen2. Enjoy!
“…dumb it down, fatten it up and cheapen it out.”
I had forgotten about your review, but that about sums it up. Compared to the xB, Soul and Cube, the Fit came across (to me) as a car in a completely different class.
I remember that review on TTAC. Looks like Toyota fell off the wagon with the second-gen.
Two authors here are enthusiastic about their Fits. It may have to make me think. Like many, the last fuel price spike caused me to think about doing something radical in bringing fuel efficiency and space efficient packaging into my fleet. My last upsizing two years ago adding a F-150 Super Crew has my big car / towing / property management needs met for years to come.
My hesitation with being too radical in my choice to downsize something is my likely need to start running all over on highway trips with kids in various colleges. I’ve been thinking sedan like Impala or Accord, probably good replacements for my 2005 Freestyle, a car which turned in an honest 25 mpg running around on 300 miles of eastern Nebraska highway in two days this week. We had space galore for three people and some minor luggage.
JPC’s comment about his highway experience would likely be my impression as well, but I’ve lived with a CVT for a long time, prefer to avoid a turbo anything, and would like a lot of hauling space with good mileage. The Fit may need a look.
Nice car and congratulation on your choice!
For lots of hauling room and highway comfort, it’s hard to beat a nice minivan. My Sedona turns in mileage as good as your Freestyle, but for real comfort, I might go for a Town & Country.
As far as radical downsizing, that is what I did – our 07 Fit replaced a 94 Ford Club Wagon Chateau that needed a differential rebuild about the time gas hit $4 per gallon. The finance committee vetoed the expenditure. I would have probably preferred an Element at the time, but one of my criteria was that my car had to have 5 seatbelts just in case. Element only had 4.
We have a ’12 Routan that I’ve written about here before, which is our usual “go to” road trip car (gets an easy 30 MPG on the highway). On our last trip to Georgia, we could have easily managed in the Fit except that my son brought his cello and I had my Gibson archtop. With luggage, that would have been a bit tight.
Good choice on the fit. Everybody I know who has one raves about it. The car has a small foot print but has gobs of space in it. The prices these cars are offered at are good too. I think you will like the Fit.
I got a chance to test drive a fit on an extended test drive before I bought my Ford Fiesta. In the end while i liked the Fit, I liked the Fiesta more and feel that as good as the Fit drove, the Fiesta drove better for me and bought it.
A lot of folks don’t like CVT but I like it a lot. A loaner Altima that Carmax lent me when they had one of my cars in the shop was CVT and it drove nice and I could see myself owning a car with a CVT trans(I think most folks who are complaining about the CVT own a Ford Five Hundred or Mercury Montego which had issues)
As for the XB. I think the 2nd generation was better then the first for space(I hauled a dead washing machine to the dump in mine) and the feel like it is a real vehicle. The first gen looked great but it was too small for my comfort(especially trying to commute on 495 in Maryland) plus it felt and drove like a Yaris
That is where the second gen is better stopped. The 2012 I had only got 28 mpg under the best of conditions and seemed to get around the same amount of mpg as my 2005 Lesabre did(24-26 mpg)
BUT the thing that caused me to get rid of it was the damn dealers. The car was bought brand new and it was dumped before it hit 25,000 miles on it. Nothing that went wrong with was covered under warranty and in the end, I got rid of it over a shifter knob. The shifter knobs in a lot of Toyota products has plastic threads and the knob on my XB stripped at about 20000 miles out so it was always loose. Toyota kept trying to say it was cosmetic and it was not covered so in the end I bought a new shift knob myself and dumped the car the week after at carmax. I lost about a $1000 on the deal but I did not care and It was the first time I was happy to lose money on a car. The experience in dealing with Toyota dealers (3 of them) soured me on every buying another new Toyota. My first Toyo was my last. It seems Toyota dealers have picked up the arrogance of VW dealers.
Enjoy your new car
I am a huge CVT convert. For casual driving, the good ones are just so, so smooth. When I hop in one of my other cars with gears now, they seem almost antiquated.
I could definitely see being annoyed by the CVT “drone” if I was still a young man, and drove pedal to the floor more often, but for a 4 cylinder commuter car, I think the CVT suits it perfectly. Plus its helps me average 37 mpg out of my 2.5 liter with 180+hp (2013 Altima), that sure is a nice benefit.
We’ve got a CVT in our Mitsubishi Outlander. Plenty smooth and comfortable, and so far it seems up to the job, even when towing and with Kayaks on the roof. For everyday driving it’s very unobtrusive, but I couldn’t say that I “enjoy” driving the car. Which is just as much due to the dull nature of the rest of the vehicle of course. When we were car shopping I drove the Peugeot 4008 which is the same car, but with the Peugeot diesel and the dual-clutch gearbox. MUCH better to drive. Sadly other things counted against the car and we went with the more boring option.
I would prefer a manual any day of the week, but they don’t even sell them with the manual box over here.
The Scion dealer was an odd experience – it was almost like he was completely uninterested in selling me a car at all. The guy at Honda was super nice, not pushy and was very patient with me coming back repeatedly for test drives, etc.
You are correct about the Toyota dealership and indifference in selling you a Scion. But there is more fun in store had you bought a Scion as when you took it in for service you get treated like a red headed step child because the dealers treat Scion like they are not a “real” Toyota.
There are a lot of things that I hate about GM and I do complain about them often BUT it is because I like GM and want them to be a good company. I have always been willing to forgive GM and consider a new GM product because the local dealers have been good to me. I really believe they bend over backwards for me in repairs to make stuff right.
I have dealt with Honda before and I find them willing to work with you on things. I would have bought a Fit also but it was at the end of the year and they were not able to get a Fit with a manual trans with a sunroof so I went over to Ford for a Fiesta which had everything but the color I really wanted but I grew to love the lime green machine.
Again good luck with your new car.
A Fit and an F-250. Why, that’s as crazy as owning a Volvo V50 and a Lincoln Town Car! 🙂
Enjoy them both!
Well glad you found a car you like and to me the base level Mazda3 looks fine to me, but my family has always been frugal when it comes to vehicles.
The Fit looks smart and I really like the Rotas. So how did you go about swapping out the chrome trim on the tailgate for black plastic? 1st gen Fits have problems with rough (dirt) roads around here due to their bumpers and stiffer ride, but looks like those problems have been fixed. My concern with having a bigger battery is making sure there is still proper ventilation.
The plastic trim was a simple ten minute swap – two screws and a half-dozen plastic clips. I ordered the part from a Honda parts site – same for the front grill, just had to order the LX trim pieces.
Don’t know any other way to say it but as I did when I was a kid and was served lima beans – “ish”.
Congrats on the Fit. I had looked at the Fit at the Detroit auto show several times, but never felt the love, compared to my trusty Civic. As long as it suits your needs, that is all that matters.
Volkswagen lost a loyal customer simply because my experience was filled with the same types of dumb quality issues
Funny how companies lose customers. I was completely satisfied with my 85 GLC, would have bought another Mazda in a heartbeat, but they didn’t make hatchbacks anymore in 98. I was completely satisfied with my 98 Civic, would have bought another Civic in a heartbeat, but Honda doesn’t make a hatchback anymore.
I looked at the Mazda 3 wagon at the show last winter. Just didn’t feel the love. The front is an improvement over the grinning ones, but the rear visibility is terrible. For some reason, I can’t get my knees under the steering column in the Impreza wagon, so it was out. So I ended up scratching that VW itch that had been festering since the days of the Dasher, because VeeDub makes a car that can carry my stuff, without going to an SUV.
By the way….what’s the prize for being first to deduce what replaced the bug?
How about an F-150 with a dead transmission? Second prize is *two* dead trucks! (c:
How about an F-150 with a dead transmission? Second prize is *two* dead trucks! (c:
You are so lucky that Keith is AWOL. He’d be down tomorrow with his trailer.
How did the interior of the Fit compare to the Mazda? I wonder how I might replace my ’06 3 some day. The Fits I’ve been in have that “boom box” (thanks Paul) plasticky feel to them. Maybe the new one’s better?
Anyway, thanks for the informative story.
I’d give the edge to the Mazda strictly from a materials standpoint. Fit and finish in the Fit is excellent, but the armrests on the doors and on the center console could use more padding. The Honda, on the other hand, blows the M3 out of the water from the standpoint of tech (very Apple-like, and will support CarPlay). The base M3 info display (non-touch) looks like an old Compaq “portable” with the orange DOS screen, and you have to bump up several trim levels to get a decent touch screen display.
I’ve seen where a few folks have replaced the Fit’s steering wheel with the leather one from the EX-L – might do that with mine. My Beetle had the “leatherette” interior, which was not that great. Didn’t breath at all, so I’d have a sweaty back when I got home from work. I’m liking the cloth seats in the Fit better (my NB had cloth, too). The Beetle dash was all hard plastic, so really no difference there.
Thanks, Ed. I’m kinda screen-phobic anyway…maybe I can retrofit an emulation knob-panel over it. 🙂
I do like the looks of the new Fit better than the previous generations (as long as it’s not in white–white ones look like eggs.) And, as seems to be the pattern here, everyone who has one seems to love it. So sounds like a good choice!
I actually like the styling of the 3 quite a bit, but I’ve never driven one, and I can imagine the view out the back could be problematic. The current xB seems well behind the competition. I agree that the MINI is due for a replacement soon, plus expensive. And the tC…I looked pretty seriously at those back in ’11 when I was car shopping. At the time, it was using an older engine and delivered lousy fuel economy, so that crossed it off the list. But I was quite interested otherwise… In your comparison it seemed the odd man out though as the lone coupe. The Fit will prove much more versatile, I’m sure. Many happy miles!
Interesting reading Ed, I remember the last time I went through the exercise. You appear to have an error in your cargo space ratings (Mini rated 9 but only ok), note the Mini you’ve pictured is the facelifted model! They are losing their Mini-ness with each generation, too bad BMW seem to be trapped with the styling.
Rear visibility seems to be getting worse across the board. I know what you mean on the character lines, the new Odyssey seems to come pre-dented, it is like they are allergic to clean, simple styling. Enjoy the Fit!
Good call on the Mini. What makes it distinctive is probably going to limits its future, a bit like the recent S-type Jag. That said, I think the first-gen BMW Mini was a good looker, the next one less so with its deeper sides.
Mini has become Midi. Gosh, they’re cheap in your country. They’re priced as if they were BMWs here.
Kudos Ed, this is the perfect Fit! Haw haw I just crack me up. You get a 9+….the last point would have been for the manual. But the CVT is ok too.
Bonus points for the trim swap, wheel swap, and you got a sunroof. Life is too short to live without one.
I’m very impressed with these – I sat in one last weekend and thought “I could do this” in a couple of years when mini-me starts driving and inherits the Outback.
Great choice!
It sounds like a good choice. I have a sister on her second one and she has loved them both.
It does, however, make me wonder sometimes in reading comments. A few years back I had a ’93 Bonneville SLE and, running 70-75 with A/C on, I got just over 31 mpg. Progress?
Good to hear you got the Fit. Driving my daughter’s ’06 VTi-R always puts a smile on my face. To me, that’s the sign of a good car.
Congratulations on the Fit, Jim, you’ll love the turn the key and go experience of Honda cars after a VW or two. I had a Gen 1 manual stripper only, a Canada only model, and it was an absolute blast to drive. My sister and a Gen 2 automatic stripper and she loves it too. It is quite a bit bigger than either the Gen 1 or 3.
I test drove a Gen 3 a couple of weeks ago, a loaded EX. It was a very nice little car, with good materials and dynamics. The CVT would be just fine in this car and moves the car along well, as it revs to the torque peak and stays there, the most efficient way to accelerate in a gasoline engine. The flappy paddles do a good job imitating a manual, too. There is a lot more content in these cars than the past models, partly because making these cars in Mexico cuts costs significantly.
Rumor has it that there was a $3000 savings in cost by moving production to Mexico from Japan.
“We owned a pair of Honda Civics back when we first married (’89 DX three-door and a ’90 base three-door) – they were both excellent cars, and when I slipped behind the wheel of the Fit for the first time, it felt like “coming home.””
I felt that way too. The Fit felt about the same size, with the same seating position, as the ’80 accord I had for 4 years. Unfortunately it also has the same seatback. It took about a year for my (then) late 20s back to recover from the Honda seats.
I wanted so bad to like the Fit, but 15 minutes into a test drive my back was killing me. We’re very happy with the (manual) Fiesta we bought instead. My ultimate DD would be a Fiesta from the B pillar forward and a Fit from the B pillar back.
( I test drove an Acura to replace the Accord, same thing, the seats killed my back.)
My last trip to GA to see my Dad (16 hours one-way) had me down in the back for two weeks when I got back. This was in the Beetle… The NB seats were definitely more comfortable; the ones in the Beetle gave me the impression they were designed for “fat Americans” – wider and not much support in the right places.
I’ve done a couple 1 hour trips in the Fit and haven’t had any issues so far. I have another trip South planned later this year, which will be the Big Test.
As much as I harped on the one Honda I’ve ever owned, the Fit is on the short list of vehicles I’d like to replace my wife’s minivan with (along with the Focus ST, Kia Soul, Mazda 3, etc) someday soon. I rode in one with a ton of miles on it tha was a first gen and it felt amazingly solid.
Great choice, they’re amazingly versatile little cars!
Will be interesting to see how you feel about the Fit, in a year or so, heck even 6 months. We had a 2009 Honda Fit, manual transmission..for 2 years. Ended up not liking it after the ‘honeymoon’ phase was over. Wife and I are on the far side of middle age, and getting in and out of the Fit was getting tougher and tougher with our compromised backs and knees. Entering and exiting the Fit always made me feel like one of those Limbo dancers trying to squeeze under the bar.
All day drives are not one of the Fits strong points either. Driver fatigue is way up there,(sore lower backs).
Traded it in on a 2014 Kia Soul. Night and day difference in every aspect.
Give CC a review a year from now and we’ll see if your still infatuated.
Will do. See my comment reply above for my last long trip experience with the Beetle and how it killed my back.
I have a long history of throwing money down the VW and Honda holes in the ground. My family has a recent history aside from my own that is mixed with Honda. I hated the CVT transmission.
I have been driving Nissan cubes since 2010. The first was a six speed manual that I miss today. Todays car is a 2013 with the CVT. A real pleasure to drive but we bought the extended warranty just for it. Chose the cube over the versa because my wife is an artsy/crafty type that liked it the first time she saw one. I like it in spite of the looks. 32-36mpg so the cvt is better there than the manual.
I note the cube is mentioned only once and the hatchback versa not at all. Looks? I think they are my favorite new cars but you sure didn’t hurt yourself. Good story.
The Cube was a bit too odd for my tastes, had a *very* choppy ride due to the short wheelbase, and, like the xB and Soul, just felt very “cost reduced” compared with the Honda.
Cube and Fit both have the exact same length wheelbase (99.6″). But maybe the Cube’s looked shorter due to its larger body?
Hmmm. Honestly, I just assumed the Cube had a shorter wheelbase – it rode like a bucking bronco compared with the Fit.
Odd. I drove and reviewed one over at TTAC, and the ride seemed very typical/normal to me, definitely better than my xB (which is quite firm). Was it 100% stock?
Yep, I test drove a brand new one at the dealer. Keep in mind our roads are pretty bad around here… my understanding is that the Gen3 Fit was softened up a bit from the Gen1/2, so maybe that had something to do with it.
The 2015 Fit manual has one of those “what were they thinking?” things since they went to a 6-speed while keeping the top ratio the same as the old 5-speed, when that was the one thing everyone dinged it for. I’ve never heard anyone say the first/second gen 5-speed was missing an intermediate gear.
4×4 regular cab pickup and a Honda Fit, same as our daily driver fleet.
For utility and value the Fit and xB are good choices. My brother went for the 2nd gen xB and I have the 2nd gen Fit. Visibility and ease of entry/exit were his main wants, coming from a Ranger pickup. He is a little disappointed on the “cheapness” of the car. I was replacing an old BMW 325i with something new and more practical. The Fit (manual trans) obviously doesnt have the incredible handling, but is otherwise surprisingly satisfying to drive, and there is much more space inside. I took the base model and immediately upgraded the tires, as I looks like you did. Quality wise, the Japanese-made 2010 has had zero issues. I hope your Mexican Fit will also be trouble free. I am a little concerned about the CVT, as we had many issues with a Honda Civic GX CVT.
BTW, the high revving Fit M/T gearing does not bother me because the BMW had almost identical overall gearing. My highway mileage is 38-42, well above the EPA estimate of 33.
“BTW, the high revving Fit M/T gearing does not bother me because the BMW had almost identical overall gearing.”
Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it… getting a little older now. (c:
Interesting insight into choosing a car.
What caught my attention most is that the 6 Sigma analysis matched your subjective assessment also.
I agree there’s a but too much going on with the styling, especially at the rear (those Volvo estate rear lights fro example), so taking the colour you did may be a sound move.
And is the 3rd gen new Mini in the US yet? Your photo is 3rd gen, and that’s as fresh it can be.
Yes on the Mini – the 3-pot DI engine looks pretty promising.
Great choice and I think it looks awesome in this color with those wheels. Somebody near me actually has a 1st gen Fit with the same ones in a similar color – I’ll try to get a picture of it the next time it passes by.
I’m surprised that the Mazda3 front has ended up so polarizing, I’m really into it – my one complaint being that creates perhaps a bit too much overhang, especially compared to the outgoing model. It’s perfect on the 6.
I’m pretty sure the Honda will be a much better Fit for your, needs Ed. All the changes you made, along with getting ride of the hood mustache, and with the dark paint color really improve it’s look. A lot more room for carrying stuff, for sure. As long as you keep your old VW’s around, you still are a member of the family. I am also tempted by a late model Scion. Decent looking car, and I have my truck for when load space is needed. But the damn Jetta keep on plugging along with little trouble and good gas mileage. But 90 (when new) HP can be frustrating at times, there are few even el cheapo newer cars that can’t easily beat from a stoplight. But it’s enough to keep up with traffic, and when I need a power fix I drive the Titan for awhile. You made a good choice, I hear few bad things about Honda Fit’s.
Great article, Ed. My sister in law loves her Fit. I’ve never sat in one before, so I can’t comment other than saying that I don’t find the styling especially attractive.
On another note, it seems nobody has yet mentioned the “clues” in this post or the Driveway Outtake. For the Driveway Outtake, Ed had mentioned something about his F250 in a post not long before that, making it the natural choice. In this article (and the Divorce one), the Corvette next to the Beetle has a Honda dealer vanity plate on it making the Fit the natural choice 🙂
Several folks did “speculate” accurately based on the clues. I figured I’d make it more fun that way. (c:
It looks like a stylish car, especially with the rims. My friend would also research and shop around for the best car for his needs and budget at the current time, instead of sticking to brand loyalty. I never looked into owning a Fit, as a few thousand dollars more would get me into a Civic or a Corolla. Insuring smaller cars is also more expensive for me here in Ontario, Canada, which is also a factor. Much like Mexico supplying Fits to the U.S. market, I also read that Fits are being imported into Canada from a Honda plant in China.
I remember the first time I had seen a first gen Fit on display outside my local Honda dealership years ago. When I peered in through the hatch, it honestly gave me the impression of a bath tub on wheels. The older model looked so tiny for the price, but I never got the chance to drive one and there are many people that love their cars. Hatchbacks are generally useful.
Oddly enough, during a trip to India around 2009, my parents and I were visiting a family who had just purchased a brand new car. It was called Honda Jazz, but I immediately recognized it as the same Honda Fit model sold in Canada or U.S. (with the steering wheel on the opposite side). One of the differences I found, according to the owner, was that you could not get an automatic transmission in that country.
as a few thousand dollars more would get me into a Civic or a Corolla.
My issue with the Civic, after being a satisfied Civic owner, is they don’t make a hatchback or wagon version for the US market anymore. If a car can’t carry my stuff, it’s useless.
Insuring smaller cars is also more expensive for me here in Ontario, Canada,
Insurance rates usually are related to the claims record for that model. When I switched from a 6 year old Ford Taurus X SUV to a new Jetta wagon, my rate went down slightly, iirc on the order of $3 for a 6 month period. The T-Rex is renowned for it’s stout construction, being built on a platform Ford pinched from Volvo, but the VW is stoutly built too.
Check your car’s manufacture date and make sure that you’ve either gotten one made after the bumper-to-frame upgrade for the small-overlap crash test failures (June 6), or that your dealer has installed it (it’s a no cost service call upgrade, but not a recall).
Might as well get as much crash protection as you can!
from the NY Times:
“…In the new Fit’s first IIHS test, the nonprofit group said the car’s bumper beam, which is a steel bar behind the plastic bumper cover, broke free of the frame rail on the passenger’s side early in the crash test, which caused more of the crash energy to be absorbed by the driver’s side of the car. The result was “extensive intrusion into the occupant compartment and excessive upward movement of the steering column.” After Honda engineers improved the beam, it stayed attached to the frame rail, intrusion was reduced and the steering column was much more stable, the group said.”
Yep – my build number is in the 19,5xx range, which should have been past the ex-factory correction.