My first car was an 89 Integra (first gen) with an automatic. God, that was an amazing car. Unfortunately, I expect all cars to be as fun to drive or more. I tend to buy sporty hatches, and having learned how to drive stick some years later - I truly got to enjoy the focus.
The fit is a nice, fun, nimble car. It's a good illustration of fast car slow vs. slow car fast. Truth be told - I'm a slow car fast guy. A small hatch that's versatile, economical, and fun to drive - well it'll only sell in America until gas gets cheap and americans get complacent about it again.
Though, there is nothing wrong with the fit that Honda's corporate diesel engine couldn't fix ...
Where's the "Sport" in this car? 117 HP, drum brakes in the rear, Torsion Beam rear suspension? Some sway bars and leather accents aren't so sporty.
I might as well buy another 1st gen Integra. About the same power, 4 wheel discs, similar beam rear suspension, DOHC, under 2400 lbs, 30MPG...and this was over 20 years ago.
When the motor finally dies, stuff a B16 in it and get another 40hp. Plus, it wouldn't cost $16 grand and look like a jelly bean with Down's syndrome.
Reason NOT to buy...1986 technology at 2009 prices.
@slackinfux: The only real upgrade you'd have would come in the event of a serious accident. Which you can probably avoid with a smaller, nimbler car...
I was expecting to read something informative on why I should or shouldn't buy the car and instead I get stupid, worthless propaganda crap. Like somehow I'm being wasteful by buying a more practical car than a Fit, like there aren't dozens of other more appropriate cars between a Fit and a Hummer.
My reason to not buy a Fit is that it's seriously overpriced for what you get. The Fit Sport starts at almost 15K. $15,000 for that! Buying a Fit is a waste. For little more you can get a far more practical Civic. Or get a far better deal with a Scion, Toyota, VW, Chevrolet, Ford or one of countless other cars.
And mileage is pathetic for the size of the vehicle. If they offered the smaller engines available elsewhere in the world I'd see value in the car. A 1.5L engine in this car is a bit ridiculous and defeats the purpose of being economical. Again, a Civic only marginally worse mileage and offers considerably more practicality.
But, if you want to be truly frugal and spend your money wisely buy a used car. As usual people are driven more by image than common sense.
@MaWeiTao: You open by saying you're looking for reasons why you should or shouldn't buy it, then proceed to rattle off a bunch of reasons why you shouldn't buy one.
If you're mind's already made up that you wouldn't want one, what's the problem here?
(BTW: I agree that used cars are obviously the better option, but within the context of a review, most auto-writers stick to comparisons with new cars).
@In Memory of Number_Six, Clad In Pleather: The Fit has much more lively handling for what it's worth. They're really different cars in the end. My overall impression is Fit=young people; Versa=old people.
@JohnPi: Sounds reasonably close to my 12 year old Escort which is 2600lbs, 110hp and mid to high 20s in real world driving. Only 3 cup holders though.
@Fluffy, Pushbroom: I liked Honda right up until about the second gen CRX and whatever that nasty little thing that replaced it was. Del Sol I guess. I think they lost a lot of character when the old man died.
For what it's worth, I'd take the Mazda 5 over this. Sizewise, the Five is just a smidge bigger as far as I can tell, but has that third row that makes kid hauling more friendly, and it really does drive just like my Six. Plus, sliding doors can't be banged into the car next to yours.
@Jeb_Hoge: Right on. Since the Mazda5 is functionally bigger on the inside, plus the sliding doors, it's a slam dunk. With new prices sub-$20k and 07-08 CPO prices hovering around $12k-$13k, the price is right.
Isn't there talk of Honda bringing a Mazda5 competitor based on the Fit? I could see that. Might need a wee bit more power.
@rlj676-Carbon Footprint Size - Clownshoe: Cost of ownership over 5 years is about $32K, not much ahead of cars like the Scion xD ($31K) and wayyy ahead of truly fast cars, like the Mazdaspeed3 (I think it's $47K).
01/30/09
The fit is a nice, fun, nimble car. It's a good illustration of fast car slow vs. slow car fast. Truth be told - I'm a slow car fast guy. A small hatch that's versatile, economical, and fun to drive - well it'll only sell in America until gas gets cheap and americans get complacent about it again.
Though, there is nothing wrong with the fit that Honda's corporate diesel engine couldn't fix ...
01/30/09
Oh, wait. Yes, I have.
01/30/09
01/30/09
01/30/09
I might as well buy another 1st gen Integra. About the same power, 4 wheel discs, similar beam rear suspension, DOHC, under 2400 lbs, 30MPG...and this was over 20 years ago.
When the motor finally dies, stuff a B16 in it and get another 40hp. Plus, it wouldn't cost $16 grand and look like a jelly bean with Down's syndrome.
Reason NOT to buy...1986 technology at 2009 prices.
01/30/09
01/30/09
My reason to not buy a Fit is that it's seriously overpriced for what you get. The Fit Sport starts at almost 15K. $15,000 for that! Buying a Fit is a waste. For little more you can get a far more practical Civic. Or get a far better deal with a Scion, Toyota, VW, Chevrolet, Ford or one of countless other cars.
And mileage is pathetic for the size of the vehicle. If they offered the smaller engines available elsewhere in the world I'd see value in the car. A 1.5L engine in this car is a bit ridiculous and defeats the purpose of being economical. Again, a Civic only marginally worse mileage and offers considerably more practicality.
But, if you want to be truly frugal and spend your money wisely buy a used car. As usual people are driven more by image than common sense.
01/30/09
If you're mind's already made up that you wouldn't want one, what's the problem here?
(BTW: I agree that used cars are obviously the better option, but within the context of a review, most auto-writers stick to comparisons with new cars).
01/30/09
01/30/09
01/30/09
Ummm...
The picture with that red and blue looks really sharp...
01/30/09
You think a vehicle that's 2600lbs, and has 117HP should get better then 33 MPG in the year 2009.
01/30/09
01/30/09
01/30/09
01/30/09
But the fuel filler is located at the driver side, rear three quarter panel.
Now how in the ham sandwich does the fuel get from the back of the car, under the back seat to the fuel tank under the front seat.
There must be some nasty routing issues going on underneath what we see.
01/30/09
01/30/09
Is this car really worthy of that much attention?
01/30/09
All Jalopnik reviews come in three parts.
And we always have to explain this to someone every single time.
01/30/09
(crickets)
Carry on.
01/30/09
Unlike their shitty Civic.
Carry on, indeed.
01/30/09
I still got 3 XR's, best damn trail bikes ever.
01/30/09
01/30/09
Isn't there talk of Honda bringing a Mazda5 competitor based on the Fit? I could see that. Might need a wee bit more power.
01/30/09
01/30/09
In this guise, I don't see how that's for "penny pinchers." Maybe if ammended to "penny pinchers that kinda like driving still".
For that kinda cash you're real close to getting a Fusion/Malibu, or even a Civic, etc.
I thought the appeal of these was the sub-15K price point?
01/30/09