Yesterday as I was driving our sporty, little 2007 Honda Fit through Beverly Hills, the Range Rover driver in front of me decided he wanted to turn left but didn't get all the way into the left-turn lane. Rather, he straddled the solid white line. Naturally, I honked at him to let him know that he still had some ways to go before he was out of the way of the drivers behind him. But instead of the helpful meeep I expected, the Fit emitted a pretty loud honnnk ...
Someone once told me that Japanese cars tend to have higher, non-threatening horns because in Japan honking a horn means "Sorry, go ahead." And of course, in America it means the complete opposite, thus American cars have a louder, deeper sound.
I don't know if this is really true but I can see that being the case. Anyway, that's why I was surprised that our little Honda gave the Range Rover the business. Comes in handy when you're a small hatchback living in a city filled with SUVs.
BTW, the Fit is due for another tune-up. The yellow wrench has spoken. I already let Vehicle Testing Coordinator Mike Schmidt know and he said he'd take care of it next week.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 16,591 miles
I don't know if this is really true but I can see that being the case. Anyway, that's why I was surprised that our little Honda gave the Range Rover the business. Comes in handy when you're a small hatchback living in a city filled with SUVs.
BTW, the Fit is due for another tune-up. The yellow wrench has spoken. I already let Vehicle Testing Coordinator Mike Schmidt know and he said he'd take care of it next week.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 16,591 miles
roomwithaview says:
09:16 PM, 08/15/07
That is one of those obscure things that I actually like to know about a car. Kudos for posting it on the blog!
estreka says:
09:53 PM, 08/15/07
Back in college, I had a buddy with a CRX. He wired up one of those semi horns. He took every opportunity to use it. None of the other drivers could figure out where the semi was.
roar02ram says:
05:17 AM, 08/16/07
I never understood why small cars always had the "meep-meep" horns & large cars ('90s Buicks & Cadillacs sounded like locomotives) had incredibly loud horns. That always seemed backwards & annoyed me to no end when the other driver first didn't see my small car & then didn't hear my horn.
jriz says:
08:45 AM, 08/16/07
Our long-term FJ Cruiser had the meeeep horn. It was hilarious.
johnnyturbo says:
10:20 AM, 08/16/07
Did the Range Rover driver move all the way into the turn lane? Or did he (or she) do the typical L.A. thing and remain oblivious to his surroundings as he yapped on his phone?
vvk says:
02:55 PM, 08/16/07
I mounted two additional Mercedes Benz horns (made by Hella) in my Impreza. That was by far the best investment of time, effort and money I have ever made. It was a lot of fun to scare the hell out of inattentive drivers in front of me. Loud horn is an excellent active safety feature!
gonzster says:
08:50 PM, 08/16/07
Actually several Honda Civic owners have replaced their stock horns with those from a Fit. It is a direct fit (no pun intended) and is a far more proper sounding horn.
Funny the Civic has a more puny horn than the Fit...
hondacura4 says:
03:41 PM, 08/17/07
I actually like the "meep" as its higher pitched and to me it seems louder than the "Americanized" horn notes.
baccus49 says:
02:34 PM, 08/20/07
You should check out a air horn for tractor tailor with compressor and horn only 50 USD. Ideally, you should get the smallest tiniest car with the meanest sounding horn. meepmeep is only for low self esteem driver;too polite to flip his/her bird).
photovideobiz says:
10:53 AM, 11/16/07
Now I know how motorcyclists feel about SUV drivers ... give me a really loud horn. Oh well, as least driving my FIT Sport is never dull.