2009 Honda Fit Sport: Better in every way!

3 posts in one day, geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez. I'm sick of that color already. You've already summed up the improvements in one post=booooring.

I wasn't too excited about the Fit, but now that the comments are full of hatred for it I look forward to reading about it more.

Can't wait till the 2010 Fit joins the fleet!

Good post. Nice to see all the improvements.

Even nicer to prove all the naysayers (we don't need another Fit, it's the same as the old one) wrong so quickly.

Compliance - And that's why they do it, cause controversy gets hits :)

1487 - I don't believe you've driven a Fit yet, based upon your other posts. Why don't you drive one with an open mind and then put down the hatred :)

My buddy was calling me a variety of slurs for buying foreign cars in the past few years, telling me I was hurting America.

I told him I've spent tens of thousands of dollars in parts and labor buying and repairing 7 different cars in the last 7 years, including 3 american cars (Jeep, Ford, Saturn), one japanese car branded swedish and sold under GM (Saabaru), and One Japanese car built in Indiana (Subaru legacy).

Vs him, who had a 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix till 200,000 miles that was very reliable and now a 2004 Grand Prix with similar reliability.

I've obviously put far more money into the pockets of Americans with my frivolous non-ethnocentric automotive ways than that cheapskate.

:)

Flame-on!

Joe

Even nicer to prove all the naysayers (we don't need another Fit, it's the same as the old one) wrong so quickly.

This coming from someone that thinks the Accord starts at 25K. Ok then.

"This coming from someone that thinks the Accord starts at 25K. Ok then."

He clarified that comment, saying its the Canadian price. Try reading.

Hope this one doesn't puke up it's transmission.
Or was that the Civi SI? I forget.

Did you adopt a new kid? j/k

Question to all IL editors: Isn't every new model an improvement (practically speaking) over the previous version? I'm sure if you test the redesigned version of every car in the fleet you will notice similar trends but ofcourse, only Minis, BMWs, and Hondas get invited back after their redesigns.

"He clarified that comment, saying its the Canadian price. Try reading."

Excuse me then, I'm not reading everyone of his fit stroking comments. Just because Honda decided to not **** people over on the Fit's pricing doesn't make the Accord's 25K fine in Canada. We're in The US, so honestly it's not a fair comparison on this Blog and should be mentioned in the first place.

Doesn't make this fugly thing any less of an annoyance to read. 3 posts in one day yet other cars have rarely had 3 in the entire week.

There are a lot of posts the first day because they hold them back till the intro goes up. I'm sure they've had the car a week + already.

Desmo - It was the Fit in the previous LT. The Civic SI from 06-08 has known transmission issues....though mine has been trouble free since I swapped out the factory fluid.

"We're in The US, so honestly it's not a fair comparison on this Blog and should be mentioned in the first place."

I'm not in the US and neither are a number of other people on this blog.

And in the post where I said the Accord cost $25K I did say it was Canadian prices.

Quoting myself....

"Well my info comes from Canadian prices and I don't know what incentives are available in your area but by the list prices....

The Fit starts at $14,990 and the Acccord starts at $25,090. That's $10K."

Oh and pretty much every new car gets tonnes of post to start with.

Also the Accord cost 25K in Canada because the Canadian dollar is less then the US dollar. The base Fit cost the same in Canada as the US because your base Fit is our LX. We have a baser version below it that's called the DX. No A/C or power locks and maybe a couple other things.

This is the only recent model from Honda that doesn't make me scratch my head and wonder if they haven't completely lost their minds. They got just about everything right here.

cx7lover - is someone forcing you to read these blog entries that you find so annoying? Oh - and did you realize that, like, people get the internet in countries other than the US? They do. Honestly.

I'm glad you guys got this car.

It gets such great reviews (not only at Edmunds) and is very popular so a long term test is a good thing.

I don't get the Honda haters.

cx7lover - is someone forcing you to read these blog entries that you find so annoying? Oh - and did you realize that, like, people get the internet in countries other than the US? They do. Honestly.

Obviously, YOU can't read. This blog is based in the US, so when talking about 10K more, it doesn't even matter here. It does NOT apply here. Later mentioning oh that's the Canadian price.. That's nice, but it doesn't matter! Edmunds didn't buy it in Canada! It's true, just accept it. And I can hate one particular car all I want. I'm not alone in doing so.

"I don't get the Honda haters. "

I don't get people who hate any car company. Every car maker has models I don't like but they also have models I do.

I really feel sorry for people who are so narrow minded they stick to one brand and call everything else crap.

They are missing out on a lot of wonderful cars.

"Obviously, YOU can't read. This blog is based in the US, so when talking about 10K more, it doesn't even matter here. It does NOT apply here. Later mentioning oh that's the Canadian price.. "

Oh lighten up a bit.

The prices between Canada and the US are different but the percentages are nomally the same. If it's 10K more in Canada, it will be around 10K more in the states too.

I didn't know at that time our base version is more base then your base version.

If you had the DX it would likely be priced around $12,900 and we would be right back to the 10K difference.

Make more sense to you now???

cx7lover - what a surprise - that didn't take you long now did it? Sorry to break it to you but Edmunds blogs don't have a US-only policy. Maybe you could start a petition or something - you seem in desperate need of a cause (among other things).

Oh - and about that guy holing a gun to your head forcing you to read all these Fit blogs that you find so annoying - maybe if you just asked him nicely to leave your house you could return to subjects that actually interest you.

If hating makes you feel good about yorself, rock right on and wrap yourself warmly in your delusions. There are reasons the new Fit has been all but universally applauded by the world automotive press. If your hatred won't let you see those reasons, well, that's no great loss to the rest of us.

this is how this addition to IL fleet affects us "haters". On an average day there are only so many posts here in the long term blog. If 30 to 40 percent of those are dedicated to the car that we're not interested in, then it's a waste of our expectations and time.

"The 2009 version has an even roomier interior, looks more substantial and forces FAR fewer compromises around town and on the highway. The car is clearly more powerful, the transmission feels more precise and, this is a big one, the interior remains surprisingly quiet even at 70 mph and the ride is much more comfortable."

Thanks for pointing out the most obvious thing in the world - the evidence of a car redesign. Yes, we kind of expected the new fit to be slightly better than the old one. Anything else about this car you want to talk about?

"If 30 to 40 percent of those are dedicated to the car that we're not interested in, then it's a waste of our expectations and time"

I'm have no interest in the GT-R, X5 or the FX50 (overpriced crap).

Thus I rarely ever read posts on them. I realize the world does not not revolve around me and I let other people read about cars they like without complaining (most of the time).

Give it a try. Edmunds does not test cars just for your reading alone.

"I realize the world does not not revolve around me and I let other people read about cars they like without complaining (most of the time)."

someday (perhaps) you'll learn that complaining is a good thing because it can be effective in getting what you want. If you're 100% fine with what IL is doing - that's great. I pity the kind of people that will agree with everything and never express their opinion/criticism. I'm sure institutions like our governments love that kind of audience.

I am not complaining to you personally so you might as well take your own advice and start skipping my posts while remaining happy. Just ignore them and shut it.

I just find it funny how you try to get off like a wise man while attempting to teach me good manners. By all means attack my arguments, but don't lecture me on life.

I'd say on average that 30-40 % of the long term vehicles (and hence the related blogs) don't interest me. I don't have a problem with that - the other 60-70% Do interest me, and that is where I spend my time. I find that time spent worthwhile.

Now, if I were spending a large chunk of my time on that 30-40 whining and crying about how they don't interest me, I'd be the one with the problem. Worse yet, if I found those blogs inherently annoying - and yet voluntarily posted SEVERAL responses in each one well, I might be in need of some real help.

The Fit is a significantly revised if not all-new rendition of a very successful model. I'm glad that it's here.

cx7lover: If he clearly stated he was talking Canadian dollars (which he did), then his comment was fine. Don't cover up your lack of comprehension with ignorant comments about nationalities.

cx7lover: If he clearly stated he was talking Canadian dollars (which he did), then his comment was fine. Don't cover up your lack of comprehension with ignorant comments about nationalities.

He mentioned it AFTERRRRRRRRRR the fact, did you NOT notice that? It still means nothing!

Lets see now. Your original cheap shot at my saying the Accord cost $25K....

"This coming from someone that thinks the Accord starts at 25K. Ok then."

And the line where I said the Accord cost $25K....

"Well my info comes from Canadian prices and I don't know what incentives are available in your area but by the list prices....

The Fit starts at $14,990 and the Acccord starts at $25,090. That's $10K."

You'll notice right before I said it cost $25,090 I said my info comes from Canadian prices.

Earlier I had said in general that a Fit cost $10K less then some mid sized cars (and it does). And when I found out that you don't get the base model (Fit DX) that we do, I even explained that.

My whole point is you can't compare the Fit to a mid sized car. Yes you can run to Fit up to near the price of a mid sized but you don't have to (and you can run a mid sized up to the price of a BMW if you really want).

Note to Edmonds! Your Introduction to the 2009 Honda Fit Sport Long Term Test includes the following incorrrect statements:

1. "Every Fit gets four-wheel disc brakes..." In reality every Fit has rear drum brakes.

2. "The rear seat continues to slide back and forth..." I can say for certain that the rear seats do not slide back and forth.

I really like the Edmonds web site, but it is a little hard to understand how a "car expert" could get these simple facts wrong. What gives?

wowee! Ctpax is an automotive super genius - he's never seen a new version of a car that's been a disappointment. I guess when the Accord got much bigger that was perfect, change from Mustang to Mustang II again, stellar! How about the Impala changing to front wheel drive or the Toyota Camry getting progessively de-contented, or the oval look Ford Taurus, how about a heavier and more expensive Z4? All great I guess - but that's stating the obvious.

hey, everyone from Consumer Reports to Road and Track to Inside Line, let's just shut the whole thing down, ctpax says new versions of existing cars are better. Someone cue don meredith.

"1487 - I don't believe you've driven a Fit yet, based upon your other posts. Why don't you drive one with an open mind and then put down the hatred :)"

Joe ease up with the hyperbole (I know its hard) because I dont hate the Fit. I am indifferent towards the Fit and get confused as to how it gets as much ink as the ZR1 or GTR. Its a cheap car that performs and looks like a cheap car. I have not driven one and I don't need to in order to understand I am not impressed. Odd styling, hard plastics inside, odd interior layout, mediocre performance, mediocre mileage- why exactly do I need to drive the car?

The ire isnt so much directed at the Fit as it is directed at the fact that THEY JUST HAD ONE. I'm not sure what is so hard to understand about that. In a fleet where we cant get a Vette or Genesis or Cobalt SS I dont see why we are reading about another Fit a few months after they retired a 2008 model. This has nothing to do with "Honda haters" or any other such nonsense. I dont hate Hondas, I merely marvel at the fact that people worship Honda as if their vehicles are head and shoulders above the competition when they are not when you compare them objectively.

ctpax,

Remember, many here feel as though us "normal people" are not qualified to have opinions or question the long term fleet choices. People say
"if you dont like it go somewhere else" but thats not the point. These LT tests are for the consumers and readers, not the editors. We are the ones who visit this site and we are the consumers advertisers are trying to court with their ads. Sorry, but we have every right to voice our opinion. If a poll had been conducted to determine what cars should be added the Fit would not have been near the top of the list. Period. With the exception of Honda-philes and big car haters (and there are many that post here) people are not interested in reading about the Fit less than a year after the old one left. If you read the comments here you will see there is a lot of common interest in several other vehicles that have not been tested or even mentioned as potential additions. Karl even did a blog months back asking about what cars should be added in 2009. Many mentioned the Genesis, Fusion and Camaro. Few mentioned the Fit.

holy s#!t, am i on autoblog?

^^blankfocus: no, you're on fitfreak.com, except they're writing in complete sentences. Fellas: IL got the car for FREE... along with other websites... of course they'll test a FREE car.

siar,

I am thinking you are right. Maybe Honda hands over free cars faster than other manufacturers- good way to keep the LT fleet tilted in their favor. Could a free Pilot be far behind? To be honest I dont know why thats a factor becaues I'm sure edmunds can afford to buy most of these cars outright.

"Its a cheap car that performs and looks like a cheap car. I have not driven one and I don't need to in order to understand I am not impressed. Odd styling, hard plastics inside, odd interior layout, mediocre performance, mediocre mileage- why exactly do I need to drive the car? "

You know, you exhibit this mindset in almost all your entries. You don't understand why a car can be loved when it doesn't fit your world-view of why a car should be loved, and you don't need to drive it to figure out why so many people feel differently than you (so many people being the hordes that buy the Fit exhausting U.S. supply and keeping the price at MSRP for years running now).

Did you read my miata comparison before? A cheap car with all the specs to make it look like no one in their right mind would want one....except now it's 19 years old with the respect of the automotive world, a loyal following, and a great trophy in mazda's war chest.

But I guess you can say "it's a cheap car and I am not impressed" without ever having experienced what makes it a good car.

You call my usage of the word "hatred" hyperbole, but here's the definition:

1) noun, a feeling of intense dislike; enmity

I think that "fits" when you can not see why a car is popular and you don't need to drive one to !know! that it's the epitomy of mediocrity.

joe,

You continue to jump to conclusions. I have no "world view" on what cars have to be or not be. I understand that different people have different needs. Where you and I disagree is that I dont believe the Fit is FAR superior to other cheap car. I just dont see it. Sure it can probably corner better than some of them but that is the least of concerns for most buyers looking in this segment. The car sells for high prices because supply is constrained. If any automaker tried to limit supply the prices of any model will go up. If the Fit sold 300k copies and maintained its high pricing relative to MSRP I would be impressed. Selling 80k or 90k units is not a sign a high volume vehicle.

"I think that "fits" when you can not see why a car is popular and you don't need to drive one to !know! that it's the epitomy of mediocrity."

Since you are on a dictionary kick look up popular. Who said the Fit is popular? Its outsold by numerous compact models. The Fit has garnered sales partially because its a new entry from Honda and brand loyalists are often amongst the first to scoop up a new model entry. Its the same thing with teh Ridgeline or Tundra or Odyssey. Much of the initial success comes because that brand didnt have a similar offering before. You seem to have this notion that the Fit is breaking sales records and luring Focus, Corolla and Civic drivers by the hundreds of thousands. The car has sold well relative to Honda's (typical) lowball sales projections. Do you even have any idea how many Fits were sold last year?

joe - I think you are spot on.