No, this is not our 2011 Mazda 2 Touring long term test car with a covering of stickers. It is in fact a race-prepped Mazda 2, built to compete in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race.
Mazda, Honda and other manufacturers are discussing a rules package for a proposed "B-spec" series for a range of subcompact cars that are known as b-segment cars within the industry.
In addition to Honda, which brought a race-prepped Honda Fit of their own to Thunderhill, the Ford Fiesta, Chevy Aveo, and Toyota Yaris are among others that could be eligible as early as the 2011 club-racing seasons in SCCA, NASA or both.
Prepartion costs are to be kept to a minimum, with unmodified factory engines paired with approved bolt-on suspension, tire, brake and exhaust mods. The above cars also have gutted interiors, which allows for proper welded-in roll cages, makes them look racier and, more importantly, improves performance by cutting out a couple of hundred pounds of weight.
What do you make of this? I think it's cool, but then I come from a background of racing small subcompacts similar to these. I can't get enough of this stuff.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing @ 3,501 miles
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport,2011 Mazda 2 Touring
One year and 25,000 miles later, our time with the little orange Honda Fit has come to an end.
It wasn't particularly powerful, but in true Honda fashion the Fit was lots of fun to drive, especially in the corners. And it provided a fuel efficient ride averaging over 31 mpg on the year.
Read the Wrap-Up of our 2009 Honda Fit Sport on Inside Line.
Any final thoughts?
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
As a compact car, it's only to be expected that the Honda Fit wouldn't compromise its space-saving interior to better accomodate my daily coffee-and-water combo.
At 7.5 inches, the Starbucks to-go cup makes the clearance, but at nearly 10 inches, my water bottle is feelin' a little tipsy.
Here's to hoping both top seals, uh, seal.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 21,598 miles
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
Call me old fashioned, but I often find inexpensive cars refreshing for their familiarity and simplicity. Here's a perfect example of that ethos. To go with its basic HVAC controls, honest approach to utility and straightforward efficiency, the Fit has a real spare tire.
That's a real spare tire, a real jack and a real lug wrench. All good things when a real driver gets a real flat in a really isolated place.
Josh Jacquot, Senior road test editor @ 21,302 miles
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
I've complimented our 2009 Honda Fit's driver-side cupholder before, but what I haven't mentioned is that it holds coffee so securely, you can drive around open-top.
I have a bit of a cafe latte habit. I don't like putting a sippy top on my beverage, because then I don't get to enjoy the crema before the foam dissolves. But in most cars, I then face the peril of having my latte splash onto surrounding upholstery and buttons that might get all sticky. The Fit is the only car I've driven in which I can leave the top off with a clear conscience.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
Car salesmen count on it and the Fit doesn't disappoint. I'm talking about the feel of the steering wheel in our Honda. As you can see, it's a pretty nice piece. A bit of an odd design maybe, but it's thicker than most wheels you'll see in cars of this class and there's a nice leather covering on it.
Also note the satellite controls. There are plenty of them, yet they don't get in the way. They're also easy to work with your thumbs, which I like.
More importantly, the actually steering feel of the car on the road is pretty solid. I always disliked the feel of our Civic Si as it always felt like it wanted to spring back to the center. The Fit is no Porsche, but it feels much more natural than that Civic Si ever did.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
As Al reported last Friday, our Fit was in need of a B1 service. So today we dropped it off at Honda of Santa Monica to get the full treatment. Three hours later, we had our Fit back after an oil change, various inspections and a tire rotation. Cost: $142.16.
What did you pay for your last similar service?
Bryn MacKinnon, Senior Editor, Edmunds.com @ 20,930 miles
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
Below are the fuel economy numbers for January 2010. We've listed the best, worst and overall average tanks.
As usual, a couple of cars are out on the road or unavailable at the time of this writing. I'll continue to add them as they come in and let you know in the comments. You'll see a couple of newcomers on this list as well.
| |
Car |
Best
|
Worst
|
Average
|
|
2009 Audi S5 |
19.4
|
13.8
|
16.2
|
|
2008 BMW 750i |
23.3
|
12.4
|
17.2
|
|
2009 BMW M3 |
21.6
|
10.8
|
16.0
|
|
2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS |
23.1
|
9.4
|
16.7
|
|
2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 |
16.4
|
16.4
|
16.4
|
|
2009 Dodge Challenger R/T |
26.4
|
10.3
|
17.1
|
|
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 |
19.4
|
10.5
|
13.9
|
|
2009 Ford Flex Limited |
26.7
|
13.3
|
19.3
|
|
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid |
36.6
|
30.1
|
33.1
|
|
2009 Honda Fit Sport |
39.0
|
24.9
|
31.3
|
|
2010 Honda Insight EX |
43.9
|
27.9
|
38.7
|
|
2009 Infiniti FX50 |
22.4
|
10.7
|
17.0
|
|
2010 Mazdaspeed 3 |
28.1
|
15.9
|
21.4
|
|
2009 Nissan 370Z |
27.0
|
13.2
|
18.7
|
|
2010 Volvo XC60 |
20.0
|
12.7
|
17.4
|
After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.
Continue reading...
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06,2009 Audi S5,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Dodge Ram 1500,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS,2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid,2010 Honda Insight EX,2010 Mazdaspeed 3,2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD
Our long-term 2009 Honda Fit recently turned 20,000 miles.
So, with 15% oil life remaining, it's asking for a B1 service. What that entails is detailed below.
Albert Austria, Senior Engineer @ 20,880 miles
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
No, we didn't take our long-term 2009 Honda Fit Sport on the track, just to the track.
As nice a runabout as the Fit is around town, I wouldn't want to take it around the Andretti hairpin.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
We missed the celebratory photo honoring our 2009 Honda Fit at the 20,000-mile mark, so please enjoy this image of 20,852 miles instead.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
Just back from a trip to the Bay Area over the weekend. Great time to drive after all the recent rain. Bright sun and lots of snow on the mountains that circle the basin.
In fact, there was so much snow that I went up U.S. 101 to avoid any potential slowdowns on snowy Interstate 5 up on top of the mountains through the Grapevine. Of course even when I cut over from U.S. 101 at Santa Barbara to the old stagecoach road across San Marcos Pass, the mountains on the other side of the Santa Ynez Valley even had a dusting of snow.
It was a great weekend to drive the old El Camino Real. Hardly anybody on the road, for California, anyway. Took the Honda Fit. For which am widely thought to be insane.
Continue reading...
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport,Vehicles
On long road trips, I nearly always use both A and B trip odometers. One to track mileage between fill-ups and the other to record the distance of the overall trip.
No A/B option for the Honda Fit. It has but one.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 19,787 miles
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
Which car doesn't, uh, Fit?
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 19,585 miles
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
I like the way our 2009 Honda Fit accelerates, shifts, steers, handles and reconfigures its rear seats. And most of the time, I am fine with the fact that this is a terminally cute car.
With those big eyes, and that bulging nose, I find myself wanting to give its quarter panels a pinch. Orange is probably the cutest Fit color, save for Tidewater Blue, and it's definitely not a good choice if you want the car to look anything but adorable.
A couple months ago, though, I spotted this black 2009 Honda Fit. I don't like all the modifications on this car, and who knows how it rides now... but the lowered stance and aftermarket wheels go some distance in toughening up the Fit.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
Below are the fuel economy numbers for December 2009. We've listed the best, worst and overall average tanks.
As usual, a couple of cars are out on the road or unavailable at the time of this writing. I'll continue to add them as they come in and let you know in the comments.
| |
Car |
Best
|
Worst
|
Average
|
|
2009 Audi A4 |
28.3
|
14.2
|
21.2
|
|
2009 Audi S5 |
22.3
|
10.8
|
17.0
|
|
2008 BMW 750i |
23.3
|
12.4
|
17.5
|
|
2009 BMW M3 |
24.2
|
10.8
|
16.0
|
|
2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS |
23.1
|
9.4
|
17.0
|
|
2009 Dodge Challenger R/T |
26.4
|
10.3
|
17.1
|
|
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 |
19.4
|
10.5
|
15.0
|
|
2009 Ford Flex Limited |
26.7
|
13.3
|
19.3
|
|
2007 Honda Civic GX |
47.3
|
12.7
|
38.4
|
|
2009 Honda Fit Sport |
39.0
|
24.9
|
31.0
|
|
2010 Honda Insight EX |
43.9
|
27.9
|
38.7
|
|
2009 Hyundai Genesis |
28.5
|
14.3
|
21.3
|
|
2009 Infiniti FX50 |
22.0
|
11.7
|
17.0
|
|
2009 Mazda 6 |
30.2
|
18.7
|
23.9
|
|
2010 Mazdaspeed 3 |
28.1
|
16.3
|
21.2
|
|
2009 Nissan 370Z |
27.0
|
12.0
|
18.0
|
|
2009 Pontiac G8 GT |
24.3
|
12.0
|
18.0
|
|
2009 Suzuki SX4 |
28.3
|
17.2
|
23.1
|
|
2010 Volvo XC60 |
20.0
|
12.7
|
17.4
|
After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.
Continue reading...
Categories: 2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 Audi S5,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Dodge Ram 1500,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Suzuki SX4,2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS,2010 Honda Insight EX,2010 Mazdaspeed 3,2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD
This seems to be a new development in our 2009 Honda Fit Sport but sometimes when shifting into Reverse, the gearshift doesn't snick into place all the way so no go. I've taken to putting it in Neutral and letting the car roll a bit until I can push the gear all the way into place. Another editor suggested putting the car in 1st gear then in Reverse.
I know this has happened in other cars but just figured it's worth mentioning considering our previous Fit had an issue with Reverse.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 18,547 miles
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
Generally speaking, I'm a Fit fan. And one of the main reasons I like this car is the way it steers.
Granted, I know what Engineering Editor Jay Kavanagh is talking about when he describes the dead zone just off center in both the Fit and Insight. But when you give the Fit a bigger steering input as you're about to enter a corner or unusually technical freeway entrance ramp, the little car turns in smartly. It's not so quick that you imagine yourself in a sport compact, but at that moment, you don't feel quite so dorky driving around in an orange hatchback. For me, it's addictive. I take every opportunity to pitch the car into corners at speed. It was the same way with the original Fit.
Obviously, there's more to the Fit's (borderline) sprightly turn-in response than the published 12.7:1 steering ratio, as the suspension setup and even the skinny P185/55R16 83H Bridgestone tires have plenty to do with how it feels. Right, it's the total package that makes the car pretty good, and I'll reiterate for the umpteenth time that I like it.
Also likeable is the 2009 Fit's 34.4-foot turning radius. I made very few multi-point turns last weekend, because you can pretty much steer your way out of a hallway in this hatch.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 18,347 miles
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
Over the weekend, I drove our 2009 Honda Fit to a toystore to buy a 20-inch bicycle for a 10-year-old. I purchased the bike unassembled and needed to load the box into the car.
Because the bike's manufacturer, Huffy, admonishes against laying the box flat, I had to find a way to keep it upright -- no easy task with the way I drive the subcompacts. Folding the "60" side of the rear seat flat accomplished this task beautifully. We wedged the box in, and it didn't budge an inch during 300 miles of driving over the next three days.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 17,951 miles
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
On beautiful days like today, you really appreciate the Fit's relatively big greenhouse. The car has a really airy cabin -- those portholes may look kinda dorky, but all that glass makes it easy to enjoy the view. Views of pretty blue skies. And *sigh* surrounding traffic.
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor
Categories: 2009 Honda Fit Sport
