[mahout]

I looked at both base ($16,407) auto and sport ($17,580) and see only one thing better in 09: The track is wider and wheels are apparently 53 mm offset 6x16 on the sport. (that means you'll have stay much closer to 53 mm offset than before. Probably not less than 45 mm if you weant to avoid rubbing but that requires us to remove at least one wheel before we make a requuirement. Right now, the 09's wheels tires are closer to the fender arch than last year's stock Fit.
Steering appears about the same: 2.41 old to 2.48 new.
The transmission ratios are changed:
08 manual 3.462, 1.870, 1.321, .970, and .757 final: 4.29
14.85, 8.02, 5.667, 4.16, and 3.24 overall.
09 manual 3.308, 1.870, 1.303, .949, and .727 final 4.62
15.28, 8.639, 6.02, 4.384, and 3.35 overall

08 auto 2.996, 1.679, 1.067, .756, and .550 final 4.560
13.66, 7.656, 4.865, 3.447, and 2.508 overall
09 auto 2.996, 1.679, 1.067, .761, and .552 final 4.560
13.66, 7.656, 4.865, 3.470, and 2.517 overall.

As you can see the manual gains a tad in torque for all gears which will make up for the weight gain and allow for the increase in rpm from 5800 to 6600 at peak power. Increasing rpm at peak power is how they got the increased power. The torque of 08 engine's 109 hp is 98.6 lbft at 5800 rpm; the 09 engine has 93 lbft at 6600 rpm which it may have had before if the programmer allowed the rpm. At 4800 rpm, peak torque for both is 105/106 lbft. Not enough difference to know it, the 09 weighs supposedly 1% more so an increase of 1 lbft torque means nothing much changed. That too is dependent on our weighing an 09. Naturally, it will cost mpg. And I doubt if there'smuch change in performance between 08's with 42 mm offset aftermarket wheels and 09's with 1.4" wider track and 53 mm offset wheels.
One other thing: the antisway bar increased from 21mm to 22mm; unless the weight gain is really 180 lb and not 50 that makes no sense at all, but at least they added 17mm rear bar on the Sport (not on base), which may work out just fine for balancing cornering power with the 22mm bar in front. (thats not too different from mine with no antisway bars that handles very well on track at speeds you don't want to do on the streets.)
The auto gears should reduce the tendency to down shift on hills in 4th and 5th but 3rd remains the same and should also have had increased ratio to offset the need to hold second too long to maintain momentum.
One thing I didn't like was the change in Sport's tires. They are now 185/55x16 which has a diameter of 24" vs the 08's 23.44". That 1% change probably wastes any improvement from the changed gearing noted above (which means lesser performance).

All considered, the 09 is still a driver's car and the best choice in the econobox class but I am disappointed that Honda again failed to put discs on the rear and CVT in the auto. My Thailand friend was back over Labor day and drove my auto (with discs rear) and stated his would drive away from mine easily and didn't down shift so much, a real improvement.
He didn't know his gear ratios though so its not a direct comparison.

Finally, I couldn't really tell any difference in my seats and the 09; nor could I feel the extra room, although it is probably there.

My advice: if you get a deal on the 08 compared to the 09 jump all over it. Its not $600 plus better than the 08. Looks? thats up to you, like favoring brunettes over blondes or redheads. Whatever floats your boat.
cheers.