2009 Honda Fit Sport: Living Larger

I'm really looking forward to the arrival of the Fiesta..... and the Chevy Beat, the Fiat 500, Mazda2 and all the other cool cars we've been missing out on.

The more great small cars the better.

Right now the only really good ones we have are the Mini and the Fit. We need more choice if we are going to drag people out of their lumbering land yachts.

My wife has had several people come up to her in parking lots to ask her about her Fit - a pretty much unprecedented experience for her. Thankfully, she hasn't run any of them over.

I really like that orange. Although I go to UT at Austin, so I am biased.

If anyone of any age was thinking about buying any Honda I would think they were senial. You are bound to have failures like my wifes 08' Odyssey that has gone through two transmissions, rotors, eats dvd players, sliding door malfunctions, and dash rattles. I guess to an old guy like the one you almost hit, his life is almost over and it wouldn't bother him too much except for the fact that his last days on this earth will be spent in a Honda dealership service waiting room along with countless others.

I've owned a 98' Acura Integra and I haven't had any reliability issues. The only real issue I had was that this car was on the top 10 most stolen vehicle list for several years in a row. My Integra was eventually stolen out of my garage back in 05'. Which leads me to believe that this vehicle will soon top the charts on the stolen lists due to its increasing popularity.

I like the car, its economical, inexpensive and has pretty good storage capacity for a small car. But I don't wanna go through the experience of losing another car.

i just saw one in this color yesterday.

"eats dvd players"

Your Odyssey eats whole DVD players? Lol, that is indeed a problem.

I saw a previous gen grey Fit this morning followed closely by a 2009 in the blue. I was never a fan of the previous generation looks, but after seeing the 2 in a row, I really think they did a good job on the 2009's styling.

well the 2009 is an improvement over the last mode but that isnt saying much at all. The last one was truly an awkward looking econo car, especially without the alloy wheels.

I think the Fit follows in the model of the Scion xB (first generation). Truly hideous, in a way that endears itself upon the owner. Kinda like the bug-eye WRX.

Of course, Scion funked the 2nd generation xB and Honda did a decent job. I guess we'll find out which direction their sales go, which will help auto execs realize that adding 600 pounds, 33% more engine displacement, and ruining the design won't help sell cars after all :)

Joe

@ ronvpr

Anecdotal evidence doesn't actually count as evidence.

With regards to the looks of compact "econo cars", I'd pose the question: Do any of them out there actually look good?

My answer would be: Well, I think the MINI looks great but lets consider the rest of the pack: Yaris, Versa, Fit, Accent, Aveo/G3, Focus (if we consider based on price point, not on the style of vehicle).

I would say that out of those listed, the Accent is the only one that I wouldn't describe as awkward. So, if we're working under the assumption that all these small cars have awkward, or quirky if you will, designs, then I think the new Fit does a good job with its looks. Its not ugly (imo), but it is recognizable/memorable.

"Anecdotal evidence doesn't actually count as evidence.
"

It does if you have enough examples.

i.e.
Everyone I know that owned a Ford Windstar had the transmision fail. Therefore it's safe to consider their transmissions to be unreliable.

3 of the 4 people I know with early Odysseys (1999-2001) had their transmission fail early. Therefore it's safe for me to consider those transmissions to be unreliable.

However since ronpr is the first time I have heard of someone with a newer Odyssey with problems, I would classify it as a only a comment until more verifiable examples come along.

There's no reason not to believe him but I would need more then one case.

does Honda pay you guys to polish their demo cars that they give you, before taking any pictures?

dougtheeng- the SX4 looks better than the Fit by serveral orders of magnitude. They took a similar shape and concept and actually made it work from a visual persepctive while Honda exaggerated every possible detail to make the car as ugly and weird looking as possible. If I had a choice between the Fit and a lifetime transit pass, I'd take the transit pass.

I just saw the pics of the Chevy Spark- it might be even uglier than the Fit. See what Honda has done? Now everyone is an a competition to make the ugliest most awkwarding looking small in the segment.

"dougtheeng- the SX4 looks better than the Fit by serveral orders of magnitude."

I agree chavis! I forgot about the SX4 in my above list, thanks for reminding me.

"Now everyone is an a competition to make the ugliest most awkwarding looking small in the segment."

At least we have the MINI...if you consider it to be in the same segment that is.

"does Honda pay you guys to polish their demo cars that they give you, before taking any pictures?"

Dirt doesn't stick to Hondas.

"Anecdotal evidence doesn't actually count as evidence."

Well then what good is the internet? It runs on anecdotal evidence.
My car fell apart so they all must, my car gets 48 mpg and it weighs 10,000 lbs. Then you can even go to the I love my car so everyone should, or I hate that car so everyone should.
What is most funny to me is how one persons nightmare car can be another persons trouble-free car. I've known plenty of people that had a couple problems with their car and think it is junk and others that have had serious ongoing problems and think the car is the most reliable one on the road.
Many people confuse their opinion with fact.
Opinions are like a certain body opening, everyone has one, some just stink more than others.

I think the fit looks very cool from the exterior but the IP is an unmitigated disaster.

@dougtheeng:

In my eyes, Astra is a much better looking car, way higher quality and way better equipped than any sub-compacts/compacts you listed and with the current incentives, it doesn't cost more.

From the long term intro: "When navigation is applied to a Fit Sport, stability control (Vehicle Stability Assist) and traction control are also added. It seems an odd pairing at first, but the reasoning is sound."

Sooo, what is the reasoning?

".....and with the current incentives, it doesn't cost more."

Some of the cars listed have equal or even better incentives then Astra does. The Accent and Aveo/G3 in particular are about $5000 less then the discounted Astra in Vancouver right now.

I do like the Astra better but it's a big jump in price for those on a budget.

Not sure about the way higher quality either. From what I've read about them in Europe, I doubt they will match the reliablity of a Honda or Toyota.

The Astra is higher quality in terms of materials and fit/finish. According to most of the populace no cars can match the reliability of a Toyota or Honda so if that is your position there is no point in looking at any vehicles from other brands. I'm willing to bet an Astra could last 150k miles with maintenance.

banhugh- I asked the same question days ago and got no answer.

doug- I don't really consider the Mini in the same catergory due to the price. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't a Mini that has similar equipment to the Fit Sport w/nav several thousand more?? I do like the look of the Cooper S with 17"s but it still isn't quite my cup of tea. Hell, I'll accept any car's styling that doesn't physically abuse me. The Fit actually pains me.

banhugh wrote:
"From the long term intro: "When navigation is applied to a Fit Sport, stability control (Vehicle Stability Assist) and traction control are also added. It seems an odd pairing at first, but the reasoning is sound."
Sooo, what is the reasoning?"

You are flying down the street, the nav sez you've missed your turn, you slam on the brakes and make a wild u-turn. All because of the nav system. VSC and TC will be your friend....

Astra should definitely be able to last till 150k with maintenance, like almost any economy car (heck, even most non-economy cars).

It might have great build quality, but it's materials suck (IMO).

Course it's a great looking car in desperate need of the redline treatment, an armrest, 2 cupholders, and to get rid of that ridiculous display.

@firstwagon:

Astra's interior fit and finish, interior material quality and feature set exceeds those of Fit, Yaris, Versa, Aveo/G3, Accent by a large margin while the discounted price makes it cheaper than some of them in their highest trim which is still lesser than the Astra.

In Canada, you could buy an Astra XR, 5-dr, A/T w/ESP for less money than a Fit Sport A/T (no ESP available on Fit).

@joefrompa:

Weird how you say that the Astra's interior materials suck. IMO, they can be in a BMW or Audi without a problem. Astra's dash and door panels are made of nicely grained soft-touch material not the hard, cheap kind. Not that many cars in this price range have that and certainly none of the ones we are discussing here.
There is a rather nice armrest available (GM OEM) with a built-in sliding cup holder (usable) and a small storage. The armrest can be had for less than $300: http://www.astraarmrest.com/. Some of the other sub-compacts don’t even have armrests, or they are of the foldable type on the side of the seat, which is a joke (Fit included).

I actually like the foldable type, but to each his own. I've been in 2 Astras, but neither have I driven in. However, the materials I checked out were below what I was expecting.

Maybe it was just that I had heard such great things about it and my expectations were let down (it is, after all, a low-end economy car). While I find the materials in the Honda Civic to be decent, they definitely aren't "nice" materials either. VW does a pretty nice job in this price point. I digress.

"3 of the 4 people I know with early Odysseys (1999-2001) had their transmission fail early. Therefore it's safe for me to consider those transmissions to be unreliable."

Very true Firstwagon as I consider those transmissions unreliable as well. We wouldnt have purchased our 05 Ody if we knew it still had the 3 shaft unit.

" You are bound to have failures like my wifes 08' Odyssey that has gone through two transmissions."

Wasnt there another poster here a few months ago who allegedly had the same issues with his wifes Odyssey? He has since disappeared, so I thought.

RonVPR, my wife has an 05 Odyssey Touring which has had no mechanial failures within its 71,000 miles of ownership. However its been back for a couple of TSBs and 1 recall. Other than scheduled maintenance and the TSB/recall which both were performed while the vehicle was in getting scheduled maintenance, its been dead reliable.

Just in case you didnt know Honda upgraded the 3 shaft 4/5AT (00-04 Odysseys and various other V6 Honda/Acura cars) to a much more substaintial 4 shaft unit starting with the new 2005 Odyssey. Ive yet to hear of any transmission failures with the 4 shaft transmission on any Honda or Acura. Keep in mind all Honda and Acura cars didnt recieve the 4 shaft unit at the same time it was implemented in the Odyssey for the 2005 model year. There are still many 04-05 TLs, 03-05 Accords with the old 3 shaft unit with the additional oil jets installed (from the factory) and given these cars sold in very large quantities, defects should have surfaced by now.

Current 4 shaft 5AT Honda applications:
- Ridgeline
- Accord V6
- Pilot
- Odyssey

Current 4 shaft 5AT Acura applications:
- RDX
- TL
- MDX
- RL

Being that the majority of the vehicles listed have been available for quite some time if there were any transmission issues Im fairly positive the information would have surface due to the history of the 3 shaft unit. If you can provide proof then Ill buy your story, until then.......

Im certainly not suggesting to anyone Hondas are 100% reliable as they arent. However the issue has seemed to be cured with the initial installation of the additional oil jets (before the transmissions were initially installed in the vehicle) on the later 3 shaft units and the upgraded, stronger 4 shaft units to my knowledge have been very reliable.

My source is one of my best friends (Michael Mills) who is a Honda technician at Jeff Wyler Honda in Frankfort, Ky.

"In Canada, you could buy an Astra XR, 5-dr, A/T w/ESP for less money than a Fit Sport A/T (no ESP available on Fit)."

True, with discounts the Astra is simular in price to the Fit (depending on choice of options, that's the most expensive Fit while the Astra can go up another $3K).

However for the Astra you listed above you could buy 2 Pontiac G3 Waves. The 2 Waves wouldn't have as nice of plastic as the Astra or as many toys but we're talking half the price here.

I don't share some peoples obsession with the plastic on the dash so I would put the Fit as equal to the Astra. Astra having an edge in looks and character and the Fit having the edge in mileage and handleing (and likely reliablity).

Another potential problem with the Astra is it's in danger of becoming an orphan. If it (or Saturn)gets cancelled then you stuck with a car that's going to be hard (and expensive) to get parts for. GM will still offer them but because they are so rare that's the only place you will find them. That will kill your resale value which is a big strong point of the Fit.

BTW... the Fit may not have ESP but it does have a 5 speed automatic...more valuable then any ESP system.... not that I would ever get either one with an automatic (or ESP).

@firstwagon:

ESP is a safety feature where the 4/5-speed is not. No comparison in terms of the value.
Although 4-speed A/T is a thing of the past as far as I'm concerned, many manufacturers still use them in their new redesigned cars (Subaru, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, etc), especially in the B,C segment. You can only blame Astra for not standing out, not for lagging behind (BTW: this is a 2005 design).
The manual tranny does level the game for Astra.

Unless you never sat in and scrutinized both Fit and Astra, you cannot put the Fit fit and finish and interior materials quality on the same level as Astra.

You might just say that all car interiors are equal and call it a day.

4 speed auto is pretty retro, and pretty disappointing when you're trying to make the most of a small displacement engine. Given that the significant majority of buyers opt for the slushbox, a yester-tech tranny is no small shortcoming.

@jaeger1:

I totally agree with your comments, but in Astra's case is somehow forgettable because it's an old design.

What I find inexcusable is the 4 A/T in Corolla, RAV4, Elantra Touring, Kia Forte, Impreza, Forester, all new models or updated for 2008/2009/2010. Some of the models I mentioned are highly praised by the press, award winning, despite the dated transmissions.

I personally give Honda credit for using a 5-speed A/T as their entry-level tranny through the entire line-up.

"ESP is a safety feature where the 4/5-speed is not. No comparison in terms of the value."

Agreed. In almost 3 decades of driving, I can't of a simgle time where I would have needed ESP. However I would enjoy the advantage of the 5 speed everything I drove the car. No comparision there.

I was sitting in my neighbours 2 year old Fit yesterday and made a point of checking out the fit and finish. It was perfect. Not one misaligned panel, no poorly installed switches, no loose trim. No problems at all.

I agree not all interiors are equal but there's not wrong with the Fits.

I've been in an Astra once and it does look a bit more upscale but's it's no Audi either. I didn't scrutinize it at the time but I don't remember anything that made me go wow. Nothing to make me choose one car over another.

When I came up with my list above, I included the MINI and didn't include the Astra because I was making a list of the smallest cars offered from each company. If you're considering it just on price point, there are a number of other vehicles that should be included.