Quote:
Originally Posted by Katita
Today I test drove a Fit and I really liked it. I have a few questions though.
1. The salesman said there is a button on the steering wheel that lets you change gears on your own, despite this being an automatic transmission. He said it's like shifting without a clutch, and would be useful, say, in the Rocky Mountains. Is this like a Continuously Variable Transmission or not? Whether or not it is a CVT, can you explain to me how this works, shifting an automatic without a clutch?
2. Consumer Reports lists the Fit Sport as getting 30/39 mpg city/highway. The sticker on the Fit had slightly lower numbers, at 27/33. The salesman said that Consumer Reports' numbers are different because they are for comparison purposes between different cars. So are CR's gas mileage ratings adjusted somehow? How does adjusting them help to compare them to other cars?
3. The main concern I've read online about the Fit is that the low-beam headlights are insufficient. While some people say they're fine, others say they're not. If I have a problem, the recommendation is to either have the dealer adjust the headlights 2 notches higher than normal, or else buy replacement bulbs. I have had one person suggest to me that replacing the lamps would be illegal... I am hoping this is not true. I have been told that Osram Silverstars are not DOT approved but are brighter than blue-tinted Sylvania Silverstars (which I am also told the latter burn out faster.) I'd like to obey the laws but I am having trouble finding info on DOT approved headlights. Are they typically marked as DOT approved? I also do not want to blind other drivers, as I myself find bluish-tinted lights to sometimes be blinding. Can you recommend some legal, DOT approved headlights, just in case I have a problem, and can I change them myself?
4. Do the side rear view mirrors fold in? On my old car the car wash would always knock them in and I'd have to get out and push them back.
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There are paddles, one on the left back of the steering whhel to get downshifts and one on the right also behind the steering wheel to get uopshifts. They are very handy to control rpm where you want it just as manual transmissions. The USA models don't have CVT but Asian models do, just like the Insect hybrid.
The sales man is wrong. CR's numbers are the EPA numbers. The reason for the change is a change in the EPA test procedure to be more like real driving. My auto gets 28 to 31 in urban driving and 34 to 39 mpg on the highway. The automatic gets better highway mileage cause its geared much higher for interstate speeds , like 2400 rpm vs 3000 rpm at 70 mph.
And drive it at nite before changing light height..