Kens Honda Fit Blog - Page 34

kenchan · #**661** (**permalink**) 12-30-2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GAFIT

CONGRATULATIONS!

My wife and I were down on the '09 Fit until we got to see and sit in a Sport. Major improvements over the '08...and we love our '08.

I know you've had your Enduratech's for a while, but can you remember how the '08 ride quality was stock? If so, how does the '09 compare?

thanks, GAFIT.

honestly i can't remember if the 08 was
softer or firmer in stock form, but the 09's are pretty firm and high
sprung... probably can drop 50-65lbs/in especially if you're in your car
alone most of the time.

i think Honda was aiming to get larger suv folks into their small
car and that means they needed to run higher spring rates than ideal
while balancing some comfort by riding on larger diameter tires and
tall sidewall to minimize the road bumps.

my 08 FitS with EnduraTechs running 195/50/15's is much smoother
overall and better balance than the stock 09 FitSW.

plus the AT really kills the fun out of the FitSW. i drove it around today
and the first 2min was kinda fun playing with the paddles but as usual,
i got seriously bored with the AT in no time. it's almost best just to
keep it in "D" and let the car do the shifting and just relax cause even
while you're in the manual mode it downshifts on its own to 1st gear
when you're slowing down in 2nd crawling in traffic.

i hear it
even shifts-up on its own when you approach redline.

WTF.

i still cant get over the disconnected slushness feel of the torque
converter.

im sure all of you want to get my initial impression of "my stock
09FitSW AT vs my modded 08 FitS MT"

it's 2 completely different cars. my modded 08 FitS is definitely
fun to drive for the sake of driving spirit with its MT and mods
it has. it feels more like a project car. it's perfect for me.
(on my car i already 'fixed' the shortcomings it had in stock form).

my 09 FitSW AT is more of a regular passenger car and fun in the
respects of the convenience features it comes with. it's perfect
for her to use for daily tasks most of it being getting from A to B.
i think it looks pretty good in stock form too. i dont plan on doing
any mods on the 09 other than factory options. if EnduraTech
offers the GE8 coilovers in the future i might consider doing that,
but that's it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davela72

Congrats on the new ride Ken! Good job on the white, how I wish the '08's came in white.

thanks davela.

yah, i wish my 08 came in white too. would've
done the black headlights for the ultimate JDM look.

TOOL · #**662** (**permalink**) 12-31-2008, 12:23 AM

Thats Awesome Ken!
Im not a fan of GEs, but they are good cars. Hope you and your wife enjoy

joquio · #**663** (**permalink**) 12-31-2008, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davela72

Congrats on the new ride Ken! Good job on the white, how I wish the '08's came in white.

funny thing is us Canadians didn't get white for 07 but for the 08......I was the 07 came in white.....

kenchan · #**664** (**permalink**) 12-31-2008, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOOL

Thats Awesome Ken!
Im not a fan of GEs, but they are good cars. Hope you and your wife enjoy

thanks TOOL.

yah, my wife will definitely enjoy it. i dont
foresee myself driving it much other than for the evening, but i do plan
on keeping it nice and tidy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joquio

funny thing is us Canadians didn't get white for 07 but for the 08......I was the 07 came in white.....

yah, i really wanted white for my 08 too.

but silver ain't bad for me.
it was silver or black and dealer had silver so i went with that for my 08.

kenchan · #**665** (**permalink**) 12-31-2008, 09:54 AM

here's a to-do list for my FitSW...

1) install snow wheelset on friday.
2) install cargo cover monday.
3) need to hardwire radar detector <= anyone know which fuse to tap?
4) need to hardwire LED for cupholder area <= anyone know which fuse to tap?

i think that's about it... oh yah, and a compass..

fitman33 · #**666** (**permalink**) 12-31-2008, 12:53 PM

Congrats Ken!!

kenchan · #**667** (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 10:16 AM

thanks fitman33!

Happy NewYear everyone!

2008 went by in a flash for me so last night
almost felt like just another wednesday evening. seems like ive yet to have
any time to 'relax' this winter. ive been off work since xmas eve, but so many
things to do around the house and looking after the kids it's been a pretty
hectic break.

here's my plan for my FitS in 2009:
1) get new wheels and tires come spring from TireRack.
2) detail the car inside and out, inspect the suspension bits.
3) remove the shitty ziex912's from the rusted DR21 wheels and paint the wheels.
4) add snow tires to the painted DR21's before winter 2009.

that's about it.

for the FitSW for 2009:
1) It will have snow wheel set tomorrow so will put the stockers back
on come Spring.
2) detail the car inside/out.
3) hardwire radar detector and center cupholder area illumination, and a compass.

that's all. nice and easy.

TOOL · #**668** (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 12:59 PM

Happy New Year Ken

kenchan · #**669** (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 01:36 PM

hi there, TOOL! happy new year.

in other news...
damn it, i was suppose to meet up with someone to sell the ex-legacy
ASA mesh wheels but he flaked out for a re-schedule. i got new wheels
coming in tomorrow so wanted to get these out of the way.

hope my 2nd potential buyer picks them up from me today...

kenchan · #**670** (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 11:06 AM

nada... the frustrations of getting rid of old wheels i can't use any
longer... lol

the ASA wheels are 5x100 PCD so doesn't match
any of the cars i got. anyway, hoping to rid them soon. i suppose
i *could* use the tires which are 215/45/17's on my cooper-s, but
my cooper-s's tires are still new.

tracked my snow wheelset for the FitSW and they are on-time for
delivery today.

hope to get them installed today or tomorrow.
going to QD the stock wheels tomorrow (temps are kinda low today)
and stack them up in the garage for a few months till spring.

GAFIT · #**671** (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 11:36 AM

I might have missed this in yor earlier posts, but what have you been doing about the TPMS light? Just letting it glow or did you find another set of sensors? I'd like to find another set of sensors, but all seem crazy expensive.

kenchan · #**672** (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 08:10 PM

GAFIT- on my cars i just let the light glow. i told the wife that with the snow
wheelset it will come on and i'll reset it when Spring comes around when i put the
stockers back on.

i check tire pressure routinely so no need for me. i encounter more errors than
actual flat from my experience. lol

hey, finally sold the legacy's wheels today.

i was able to fit the wheel/tire set
into my FitS's trunk with all 4 wheels standing up without removing the childseat.
very coool. luv the FitS's utility.

now i can relax a little...

kenchan · #**673** (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 09:59 AM

so yesterday i was checking my FitS for any chips and everything looked
pretty good... except for the chip i found on the driver side rear door.

there's like this 4mm diameter chip and the paint cracked and was
spreading to more like a 8-9mm area UNDER the paint.

ive never
seen this before so early in a car's life. it's only 1yr old. dang...
the other small chips i found on the hood, etc were the typical
exposed metal but no spreading. i cleaned and touched them up as well.

so anyway, i took a tooth pick and picked off as much loose paint from
the larger chip and touched it up for now. will inspect and touch it up
more/wet sand it down come spring. talk about weak paint.

kenchan · #**674** (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 05:59 PM

wife drove around the FitSW with the new winter wheelset and she likes them...
meaning, she can't tell a difference between them and the stockers while driving
on dry roads.

btw, here's the details of the snows im running. it does not list when
you choose 09 FitSport at TireRack, so i made up my own set based
off my 08 FitSport, but running taller tires.

Borbet Type CA ($99) 15x6.5 +40mm offset
Bridgestone Blizzak Blizzak WS60 ($74) 175/65/15
Came out to about $760 shipped.

the +40mm offset makes the wheels almost flush to the fender so i
chose the narrower 6.5" width and ran taller sidewalls. the FitSW
looks stock with this wheelset. does not look like a 4x4.

kenchan · #**675** (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 08:13 PM

so earlier i cleaned the FitSW's stock 16's since they'll be stacked up until
spring and dang, it's hard to clean between the narrow spoke split. it's a
dual spoke design and there's only like a 12mm gap.

i managed to clean it but it'll be kind of a biotch to keep clean while in
use. i might just pretend not to see between the spokes.