CD Article: 2009 Honda Fit LX

[gosteelerz]

I rented an 08' Fit yesterday,  having a clutch pedal assembly replaced on my car.

Likes
-Switchgear had a pleasing feel to them.
-Suspension felt well sorted, nice weight to the steering.
-Very roomy for it's size.
-Found seat comfortable, more so for my back than my butt.
-Fuel economy, drove about 50 kms, put in 5 bucks and the needle moved much closer to full then when I picked it up.

Dislikes
-I absolutely hated the brakes.  The pedal was firm but the first inch or so of travel yielded no stopping power.  Push the pedal down a bit more and you get a sudden surge of braking power.  It was hard to be smooth.
-The tires are garbage (I had a base model).  If I was the engineer involved in tuning the suspension, I would punch out the bean-counter who spec'd those tires.  The car begs for beefier shoes to fill the wheel wells with.
-The rear headrest block the rear view significantly.
-Power door lock button only on the driver's side which is a bit cheesy.  It kind of reminds me of the Neon with power windows in the front, cranks in the rear.

I returned the car only to find out the part that the dealer brought in does not match the one that came off, so now I have a rental Civic.  So far, I much prefer the Fit.

[Honda Owner]

-I absolutely hated the brakes. 

Rentals are notorious for bad brakes, usually because they are not properly broken in. My Fit was babied for the first 2000 km. Then I started driving the snot out of it. The brakes in mine are smooth and progressive. The ABS is pretty loud, though.

You are also correct about the wheels and tires on the DX-LX models. I drove mine off the dealer's lot straight to the tire shop  for a set of 15" alloys with P195/55R15 Michelin Aquatreads. I saved the 14" steel wheels for winter tires if I ever need them. I could have chosen stickier rubber but in Vancouver, a rain tire is what is really needed so I went with the Aquatread. Total price, taxes in, was just under $1350. I used the $1000 Eco Auto rebate for most of that. Looks very cool now, much sportier than the Fit Sport wheels.

The DX only comes with two stereo speakers and they are not the best. I replaced the stock speakers and added two more, all MTX Thunderdome 6 1/2 " and they work very well with the head unit. Total cost of the speakers was $200 taxes in.

Next is an aftermarket intake but the prices are still too high for my liking.

[gosteelerz]

-I absolutely hated the brakes. 

Rentals are notorious for bad brakes, usually because they are not properly broken in. My Fit was babied for the first 2000 km. Then I started driving the snot out of it. The brakes in mine are smooth and progressive. The ABS is pretty loud, though.

You are also correct about the wheels and tires on the DX-LX models. I drove mine off the dealer's lot straight to the tire shop  for a set of 15" alloys with P195/55R15 Michelin Aquatreads. I saved the 14" steel wheels for winter tires if I ever need them. I could have chosen stickier rubber but in Vancouver, a rain tire is what is really needed so I went with the Aquatread. Total price, taxes in, was just under $1350. I used the $1000 Eco Auto rebate for most of that. Looks very cool now, much sportier than the Fit Sport wheels.

The DX only comes with two stereo speakers and they are not the best. I replaced the stock speakers and added two more, all MTX Thunderdome 6 1/2 " and they work very well with the head unit. Total cost of the speakers was $200 taxes in.

Next is an aftermarket intake but the prices are still too high for my liking.

I saw an identical car to my rental today with after market wheels/tires and it did make a huge improvement to it's appearance.  I may give those MTXs a try in my rear doors as the OEMs sound kind of crappy.  Maybe they will add some bottom end to the sound.

[Honda Owner]

While playing AC/DC, the MTX Thunderdome speakers will make every mirror in the car shake.

[Arctic_White]

-I absolutely hated the brakes. 

Rentals are notorious for bad brakes, usually because they are not properly broken in. My Fit was babied for the first 2000 km. Then I started driving the snot out of it. The brakes in mine are smooth and progressive. The ABS is pretty loud, though.

You are also correct about the wheels and tires on the DX-LX models. I drove mine off the dealer's lot straight to the tire shop  for a set of 15" alloys with P195/55R15 Michelin Aquatreads. I saved the 14" steel wheels for winter tires if I ever need them. I could have chosen stickier rubber but in Vancouver, a rain tire is what is really needed so I went with the Aquatread. Total price, taxes in, was just under $1350. I used the $1000 Eco Auto rebate for most of that. Looks very cool now, much sportier than the Fit Sport wheels.

The DX only comes with two stereo speakers and they are not the best. I replaced the stock speakers and added two more, all MTX Thunderdome 6 1/2 " and they work very well with the head unit. Total cost of the speakers was $200 taxes in.

Next is an aftermarket intake but the prices are still too high for my liking.

Excellent idea.

Where did you get your 15" tire/rims combo?  Any pics of your wheels? 

[Honda Owner]

The wheels are Core Racing Evo-7 15X6.5

You can see them here:

http://www.kaltire.com/images/wheel_90_Evo7_CR238_Chrome_1.jpg

They were on sale for $99.99 each at KAL tire.

The tires are Michelin Hydro Edge P195/60R15, slightly taller than stock. They were $143 each. With balancing, eco fees, etc, the actual cost for the package was $1173 now that I have looked at the bill, not $1350 as I said before.

[Blue01]

I have an '08 LX Fit and have to agree that the OEM tires are crap.  They're Dunlop SP31 A/S.  Besides giving off plenty of road noise, they have a bad feel of the road.
Last month I put on Michelin X-Ice snowies, with rims, and what a difference.  I expected snowies to be louder, but these are quiet and give a nice feel to the road.  Much softer.

The seats are very comfortable, but I would like a bit more leg room for my right leg.  The gas pedal sits a bit too close.

It's definitelt not "buzzy", but the ride is a choppy on rough roads at highway speeds.

As for gas consumption, with 9,200 km on it, I've averaged 7.07 lt/100 km, or 40 mpg.  Not bad considering I'm on some long adverse grades (the Coq), where the engine is working overtime, occasionally down to 4th and sometimes down to 3rd.  But get it on the flatter stretches and I've hit 6.26 lt/100km, or 45 mpg on a couple of tanks.

Would I buy another?  Definitely, but chances are it'll last long enough that won't be an issue for awhile.
But I wouldn't go back to the same dealer again.

[Honda Owner]

But I wouldn't go back to the same dealer again

I went to a different dealer than the one that sold me my first two Civics because I could not find a blue DX anywhere else. Said dealer was so used to just writing up deals without actually having to do any work for it he didn't really make much of an effort. Thus, my third family Honda goes to our old dealer for service.

[Mattesa]

Man I'd love to have a left-over low-km '08 Fit.  That is if they even have them.   No chance of getting an off-lease Fit with < 30,000km in 2 years that's for sure.  Love the Fit.

[Honda Owner]

Most dealers sold out of 2008 Fit DX models in May of this year. There were a few sports and LX automatics around until August. But on the used market, a good one that hasn't been in an accident is rare as hen's teeth.

[ovr50]

Man I'd love to have a left-over low-km '08 Fit.  That is if they even have them.   No chance of getting an off-lease Fit with < 30,000km in 2 years that's for sure.  Love the Fit.

Why would you want an '08 over the new '09? I "hear" the '09 is superior, and Honda fixed several small glitches from the '08.....??

[Honda Owner]

Why would you want an '08 over the new '09? I "hear" the '09 is superior, and Honda fixed several small glitches from the '08.....??

It depends what you want from a car. I have driven both cars and I prefer the '08 model. The '09 has lost a lot of the frenetic boy racer attitude of the '08 but the new model has a better ride in compensation.

The seat and dash materials of the '08 are, in my opinion, better. I prefer the "yapping terrier" nature of the older model but I am sure that most consumers would prefer the 2009 over the 2008.

[Mattesa]

^ That's pretty much it.  I like the seemingly raw-er overall feel of the older model (haven't driven a new one.)  I'm sure there's nothing in it, just personal preference.

[Honda Owner]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/thenews/2008/12/10/honda-tops-in-retaining-customers-jd-power.htm

Honda is #1 in customer satisfaction and owner retention.

[Greg B.]

^^^ Rah! Rah! Sis-boom-bah!!!   

[safristi]

  FRENETIC BOY RACERS ...who can't afford a GTR !!!!!!...........

[Honda Owner]

^^^ Rah! Rah! Sis-boom-bah!!!

Well, Greg, do you see this a bad thing for any company to strive for?

#1 in sales.

#1 in owner satisfaction.

#1 in owner retention.

Is that a bad or good thing, Greg?

Or is it all a great conspiracy? Is Honda spiking our drinks? Water supply? Aliens? UFOs?

[Seafoam]

 No i think he refers to it as a "CULT"

[Greg B.]

No i think he refers to it as a "CULT"

In this case I was calling it cheerleading.

[Seafoam]

No i think he refers to it as a "CULT"

In this case I was calling it cheerleading.

You will never get away from this on any car forum."Everyone"has a bias to certain degree.