2007 Honda Fit Sport: Boom-Boom

Anyone try the 'sport' muffler?

isn't the vtec on this thing only on one side - intake i belive... probably has something to do with the note.

I understand the obsession about the engine note of a high performance sports car. Otherwise, I just don't get it.
 
I read Edmunds car reviews and they frequently seem to comment on the engine note for family or economy vehicles. Some are smooth, some a harsh, some are sweet, some are loud. I've driven many of the vehicles with many different engine note claims by edmunds and I've found one thing. If you floor it, it makes noise. Some more than others, but nothing that I'd say is worth mentioning. Aside from a performance vehicle, where you're allowed to be doofy, who cares?

maybe i just drive too conservatively in my never-ending quest for mileage, but I don't mind the sound of the Fit at all. even when it revs, i think it's a good high-revving sound, not a harsh buzz or some of the awful sounds that come from other small engines. yeah, i'd probably get tired of it if I drove like you edmunds folks do, but I hit 4000 RPM maybe once or twice a week, tops, unless I'm doing it intentionally.

Chavis10 - You're right, it's intake-side only for the Fit's VTEC system (see this incredibly in-depth article for details). Nonetheless, like all VTEC engines, the L15 is still designed to optimize performance at high rpm. Seems incongruous, then, that it sounds like a mid-90s Corolla above 4k.
 
Kevlang - If you drive the Fit as conservatively as you do, you've effectively got something like a 70-horsepower car. To each his own, of course, but if I'm going to feel compelled to shift at 4k in my economy car, there'd better be a diesel under the hood.
 
Josh

I like the deep sound of my Fit at high RPM. I certainly wouldn't describe it as "mid-90's Corolla". Also, the smoothness is really what is outstanding about the Fit engine, not the sound.

Maybe the sound is due to all the loose parts in the tranny and console?? :)

"Hey, I know the Fit’s a budget compact, but when I see “VTEC” on an engine cover, I expect a more pleasant aural experience en route to redline."
 
When I see "DOHC VTEC" on the valve cover I know its going to be good. SOHC VTEC vs DOHC VTEC, biiiiig difference.
 
"isn't the vtec on this thing only on one side - intake i belive... probably has something to do with the note."
 
Yes its only on the intake valves. For reference my old D series SOHC VTEC (intake only) 1.6 that was in my 95 Civic Ex sedan actually sounded pretty good for what it was. In 1999 it was replaced by a 1.8 DOHC VTEC from a 1995 Acura Integra GS-R. I think this engine is one of the best sounding units from Honda period also one of the most entertaining. First, you hear (and feel) VTEC switchover then you experience the "kick" from the secondary intake runners opening up. Then it revs clean to its 8200 fuel cut. I love this engine.
 
Im not sure on how old this L series engine is but Id say its just as old as the Fit which is about 8 years of age. On that not I think its still pretty refined for its segment.

"If you drive the Fit as conservatively as you do, you've effectively got something like a 70-horsepower car."
 
Is this guy for real?

Off Topic but a good read.
 
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/03/news/companies/taylor_honda.fortune/index.htm

Well the K20 has been out for 7 years, also a VTEc, and it sounds like ass.

Brn,
 
I'm for real. Check out this dyno chart of an '07 Fit just like ours. At 4,000 rpm, the Fit is putting about 67 horsepower to the ground.
 
Josh

Most people would be very disappointed to know how little of their much prized peak HP is available at normal driving speeds. (on any non diesel car).

firstwagon - you've got it right, but for diesels you're confusing hp and torque. Most diesels have a pretty flat torque curve, so most of the torque is available all the time, but hp is basically torque X RPM, so hp still increases until near redline in a diesel.
 
on a completely unrelated topic, I saw the 2009 fit at the NY auto show yesterday. Pretty cool, but I think I like the styling and dashboard layout of my 2007 better. Overall it looks a bit bigger, and I think the numbers say it is. No specs were shown with the car, so curious what the MPG will be. It wasn't open, so didn't get to sit in it. Looks like more space behind the rear seats though.

kevlang
 
I know what you mean but I was referring to hp. Diesels have a lower redline and thus have more of their hp available at normal driving speeds.
 
A while back I saw a comparison dyno of a 115 hp 2.0 VW gas engine vs a 90 hp 1.9 VW TDI. I forget the peak numbers but I remember the diesel had twice the available hp of the gas engine in the 2000 to 3000 rpm range.

elbee: the k20 sounds like ass? wow. thats probably the fisrt negative comment on the aural quality of a k series i have ever heard or read.
 
its funny: assuming that a car is going to be amazing because it has 'vtec' stamped on it is so ricer. like hondaacura said, if it says DOHC vtec, or DOHC ivtec, then it'll be nice!
 
vtec is a performance enhancing techonlogy, but it has been tuned for fuel economy many times, like in the fits case. (think civic hx.)
 
one thing is for shure; the fits engine note is worlds better than anything in the segment.

agree with the last comment - my dad's versa sounds lousy. he likes everything about the car except the exhaust note. anyone know how the Yaris sounds?

"anyone know how the Yaris sounds?"
 
Econobox, Toyota put no effort into making the Yaris sound good.