2007 Honda Fit Sport from North America - Comments

Another for the poster with the high RPM question.

I would not be surprised if 3900 RPM for 80 mph is overstated (if it is true I would suggest that an engine that cruises this high is cause for major research). I could understand 3500 RPM however. The reason for this is that Honda uses small displacement engines (relatively speaking) in most of their vehicles. These engines develop power though high RPM as opposed to "Detroit" engines which are typically larger and have more resultant low end torque (thus not needing to rev as high for power). The norm is for a Honda engine to rev higher than, say, a Chevy rival. In my opinion, one gets the most out of these little engines with a manual transmission. The person that made 80 mph @ 2900 would likely need to down-shift (with the paddle) at even the sight of a significant incline. Whereas, a slightly higher reving manual might have enough power (just look at the specs - usually max torque around 4500 rpm and max horse @ 6000ish + rpm) to climb without need of a gear change (and resultant hell lugging of engine). Paddle shifters would be a nice option, as an automatic becomes a slush box with such a little engine. P.S. - I wonder why Honda didn't use the SOHC 1.7L in the Fit. It's a reliable engine that gets the same fuel economy, but with more power than the 1.5.

I think the Fit is going to be one of Honda's classics like the CRX, which I stated earlier, and I'm hoping to own one soon, they're practically perfect.

I only have one question, or complaint: why not put a 6 speed transmission in it, like Nissan did with the Versa? I understand that with 109 h.p. that 6th gear would barely be adequate for level ground, but still, I know that I would use it. What about long downhills on the highways? Let the engine rest a little with this cruising gear. You can't just shift into neutral down a hill and then shift into gear again at the bottom, it's no good for any transmission because the lubricant drains down when it's not in motion. No good to shift back into gear at 60 m.p.h. I know that this is something that Honda doesn't have yet (do they?), but it seems that it's time for it. I travel highways quite a bit, and this is the ONLY reason that I'm even considering the Versa; a fine car in it's own right, but I want a Fit! One more gear would be like the icing on the cake.

Sixth gear really doesn't give you anything more in the Fit or any subcompact. I have a friend with a 6 speed Matrix and he doesn't notice any benefits over the five speed vehicle he owned before.

It totally agree with you on the CRX bit. I just wish the Fit had the Civic (140 hp) engine. Then it would be perfect.

Getting one soon, although I refuse to be gouged by a dealer (one San Diego dealer wants $3,000 over list!) so will wait until more come over.

"Um, this "car monkey" is the same one that thinks all engines are alike and that Hondas aren't sophisticated."

Just what makes an engine sophisticated anyway? Did it graduate from Harvard? Has it been taught proper etiquette by it's nanny? Does it eat at expensive french restaurants? Is it by any chance the CEO of the company who built it? Pretty big accomplishments for a hunk of metal and rubber.

Yeah, I'm not driving one right now either because of the dealership's greed. You can't blame them, though, business is business, and if they can get what they're asking, so be it. They're selling like crazy, and no one has a gun to their head when they sign the papers. But, like you say, I'm also going to wait until the price is where I want to see it. I'm kind of curious also about why they didn't put the 140 hp motor in myself. I don't even think there's a difference in gas mileage between the 2; if so maybe 1 or 2 mpg. But, the one I test drove did just fine with 109 (no rhyme intended). Has anyone reading this had ANY mechanical or fit & finish issues at all? I have yet to hear of one single instance where anyone complained about ANYTHING with these cars.

"I'm kind of curious also about why they didn't put the 140 hp motor in myself. I don't even think there's a difference in gas mileage between the 2; if so maybe 1 or 2 mpg."

Actually the 140 hp motor gets 2 mpg better on the highway and the same as the 109 in the city with the automatic transmission and the same on both city and highway with the manual and that's in a heavier civic. The reason for this is that the 140 hp is not stressed as much as the 109 and therefore doesn't need to rev as high or downshift as much. The 109 in the fit is revving about 3000 rpm @65 whereas the 140 in the civic is only at 2100 and would rev even lower in the fit which would probably bring the highway gas mileage close to 45 MPG on the EPA estimates. But if they did that then no one would be buying the civic anymore because the fit would be cheaper, faster, just as comfortable, have better gas mileage, and have the cool reconfigurable interior.

"To ask such a question means you do not understand the subject under discussion."

To assume such a thing means you do not understand anything at all. I was being sarcastic to basically annoy people like you who confuse a well built engine with one that went to school=p. Remember an engine cannot be sophisticated it can be strong and precisely built, but not sophisticated.

Maybe the people at Honda figured that with 140 hp in the Fit that it would make it a lot harder to keep the front tires from breaking traction too often?

I've heard that with the standard tire and rim size that the front end can still get a little squirrelly if you accelerate quickly under the right circumstances. My '93 Tercel did this, but that car had 13" rims and really minimal tires; I'm not complaining about that; it made it more fun to drive, like the Fit I'm sure. Possibly 140 hp and the stock tires are a bad combination?

I'm still not giving up on Honda putting a six speed manual in this car, either. To the commenter earlier on this subject; I get the fact that you're not really going to gain anything in the way of performance, but what I'm talking about is unnecessary strain on the motor when in highway travel that could be relieved with another gear. Why buzz around at 3500 or even 3900 rpm on the freeway when another gear could make that 2800 or 3000 rpm? Either way I still want one, but I would love to see this happen.

"My one and ONLY experience with Honda was a Civic that started falling apart at 40,000 miles"

Your lucky, my interior started coming apart at about 3000 miles and it was a 2006. It has more recently been lemon lawed at about 10k miles due to multiple automatic transmission problems. Assembled in Japan too... go figure. And thank you for spoon feeding them the facts about the word sophisticated I think they needed it, but they still probably won't catch on.

Proof is this... The self proclaimed "Big 3" are almost non existent with a rapid loss in sales, to the point that 2 of them may be gone soon. Honda and Toyota continue to build plants in North America... and do something unionized labor can't even do, hire Americans.

Oh, I love the sophistication arguments, too. Those that blow up their Civics should know that they do require maintenance, but not as much as the US counterparts. Sounds like reading a manual or two and maybe an automotive journal would have people know about trends in the industry... Lack of understanding sophistication equals ignorance on technology's advances in today's vehicles... in safety, fuel economy, handling, and even comfort. Old tech wasn't.. The day of long stroke, gas guzzling, inefficiency is gone. Long live technology.

"Just the SOPHISTICATED electronics required for OBDII should be enough to convince even the most uninformed that the Honda Fit and the 1975 Buick Century are lightyears apart as far as engines."

So judging by what you say the honda fit's engine and the buicks engine are made on different planets. the truth of the matter is that if you call the electronics sophisticated you are calling them overly complicated and finicky which when summed up in a word comes out to be BAD.

"18:26 thinks we are living in 1975.

Sorry, but EVERY modern engine has electronics and lots of them. It is required BY LAW in America among other countries.

You obviously have not looked under the hood of any car for at least a generation. Suggest you start. You'll be amazed at the level of sophistication."

Actually I know I'm living in 2007 and I know that there are lots of complex electronics in every car now, but answer me this. Are the electronics part of the engine or are they just part of what makes it work? I'm talking about the build of the motor alone, not anything attached or otherwise related to it. You can still take just about any engine pull all the electronics and fuel injection systems off of it and still run it with a carburetor in their place not that I think cars should be built that way or anything, but it just goes to show that all the electronics and the like are separate from the engine.

"And, how cool is the configuration of the seats? Many times I've been camping, and been cold or wet, and tried to sleep in the cab of whatever truck I had, or cramped across the seats in a car. With this thing, you can stretch out like you're lying in your bed at home!"

I'm really curious about where you will take a Honda Fit camping! The parking lot at your apartment? The back yard when the kids have a sleepover? Surely no place accessible by a road with any rut deeper than 2 inches. Now the Fit is being billed as an SUV? These statements just get more incredulous with every day. Next someone will say that the Fit converts into a canoe for whitewater rafting and has hovercraft capability. Talk about starry-eyed.

16:13; Where I camp has lakeside parking.

It doesn't matter what you drive, you'll get to where I park, then you walk 100 yards to the site.

Like I said, I've been there before and been caught in the rain with a sub-par tent, and had to sleep in my vehicle. The Fit will be great, because I'll be able to stretch out in it as the seats fold down completely flat, and you have almost 8 feet of length to lie in.

Also, it has plenty of room inside to haul all my gear where it will stay warm and dry, unlike the bed of my truck, as I don't want to spend $1200 on a truck cap.

Great car for a long trip, fun car to buzz around town in, fantastic gas mileage, and above all; it's a Honda. No wonder they can't make them fast enough. I can't even find one to test drive again.

"and above all; it's a Honda."

Yeah and?