I test drove an 08 Fit Sport with the automatic transmission w/paddle shifters... i really like the car and will most likely still purchase one in the near future.. but i will most likely get the manual transmission b/c i prefer them and just enjoy driving them more.. my thoughts on the paddle shifters.. i had never driven them before but they are nothing too special... i mean it does give you a little bit more fun than a regular automatic, but an automatic is an automatic.. paddle shifters or not.. its just not the same without a clutch... and 3rd gear when in the sport mode(where you use the paddle shifters) seemed spongey (spell check).. im not sure if there was something wrong but in third in sport mode i would rev up to 5k rpms and it wouldnt do what it would do in 1st 2nd 4th or 5th? who knows? but it was fine in regular auto mode.. but i give the car a good overall rating.. i just hope its not like that in third gear on all fits

 

I dont get what you are trying to say about 3rd gear? I dont think i have that problem?

Tyler

 

Do you have the paddle shifters? I mean it might have just been something wrong with this particular one? idk

 

Mine doesn't do that 3rd gear thing!

 

well i said it was fine in regular automatic mode.. i am talking about in the sport mode when using paddle shifters.. and it was problably just a flaw with the particular fit i drove

 

There was nothing wrong with the automatic: its the gearing. The Fit Sport auto is geared for performance in the first three gears to 90 mph at 6500. If you don't wind it out in each of the first 3 gears you will slow down when you shift to 4th. Really slow down to 5th.
On track I get into 4th only briefly on both straights at VIR. The rest of the time I paddle from 2nd to third back and fourth. Not enough hp to haul those other 2 gears.gears.
Some say that gearing is to make the auto get better hifghway mpg than the auto but I haven't seen that yet.

 

The base has the same gearing as the Sport.
Does the base model have this problem also?

 

I haven't checked the shop manual but they both probably have the same auto. The first 3 auto gears are spread equally over the 90 mph - 30-60-90 - 4th to 130 and 5th to 180 (only off a cliff). At 6500.
The manual gets 30-55-78-106-136 calculated mph in gears so you can see that the manual will be quicker in the upper gears. Tests published indicated the manual won't reach quite 120 mph due to aero restrictions.
The auto taps out at 100. But you can see why the thought is the auto gets better mpg at interstate speeds. The auto at 75 mph is turning 2700 rpm and the manual is turning 3600 rpm. The problem though is the auto is straining to do 75 mph (well below on torque while the auto is cruising at 75 right on the low end of the torque fat) and that means the auto will shift a lot if you let it. (using Sport sidesteps that because you control the shifting.) So performance goes to the manual and convenience to the auto. Now note the 09 gets CVT auto which means things perk up a good bit and the auto won't shift as much by itself because the gears are now longer fixed but vary by possibly as much as 1000 rpm ergo no shift and better mpg. When we get the 09 CVT ratios we'll have a better idea. If you want to experience it drive Nissan Versa CVT. Nice.
But it drives like my fathers 1980 Olds.
PS I'm recalling the gear ratios from memory so they may not be precise.

 

the fit dont have the same gear problem like the SI have....