2009 honda fit with navigation?

[Faithful87]

Originally, I wanted to buy a 2009 toyota yaris and posted some questions on their forums. Well, some of the people who were answering told me to consider a 2009 honda fit.

For the sake of saving time, I'll just post some of the same questions (plus some new ones) and appreciate any kind of feedback regarding this car.

Thank you

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1. I'm taking a roadtrip from Southern California through Oregon, up to Northwest Washington soon. Would this car be safe to take through mountain passes, harsh weather, icy streets, downpour, and snow? How about going up mountains/hills?

2. Can I comfortably fit atleast four people in this car?

3. Is general oil (like pennzoil) okay to use in this car, or does it work better with the special overpriced oil/coolant?

4. Is the maintenance on this car expensive?

4b. How about full coverage insurance? (for under 25 year olds)

5. Does this car need to be maintained alot?

6. Is the engine and battery in this car powerful enough for mild-to-rough weather and climate?

7. Do you think atleast 2 surfboards could fit in this car? (educated guess is fine).

8. How is this car where street bumps, dips, holes are concerned? Does your fit get damaged alot because it seems pretty close to the ground?

9.Have you ever taken a 2,000 mile (or more) roadtrip in this car? How did the car handle?

10. I've heard this car has an alarm if someone attempted to enter it with it's keyless remote....but not for vibrations. Thus, if someone mutilated your car with a bat or towed it away, it wouldn't go off. Does that make you feel safe enough?

11. Exactly just how choppy of a ride is it in this car where imperfect roads and freeways are concerned?

12. Speaking of freeways, how does it feel to drive on highway/ freeway in this car?

13. Who's the better manufacturer in your opinion, (honestly/) honda or toyota?

14. What are some perks about this car (in your opinion?)

15. Are the breaks good? If you've had break work done, around how much did it cost?

16. What are some overall cons about this car?

17. I'm used to driving a big lifted 4wd suburban. Is this car spacious enough for someone prone to getting car sick in small cars?

18. For a person who is really bad at directions and navigating, could the navigation system in this car do them justice? Is it easy to work?

19. In your opinion, is this a good car for someone who generally enjoys the outdoors/nature?

20. What colors is this car available in?

21. Does anyone know if it has a car cell phone charger for emergencies?

22. Anything else?

[davejulien]

1) I live in Michigan and had no problem with snow or anything else. The navigation version has traction control which helps quite a bit. As for mountains you might find yourself using the paddle shifters so you can maximize power while going up.

2) We fit 4 people in all the time. As long as everyone is average size and not overly tall or obese you should have no problems.

3) No idea about the oil. I have lifetime changes at Honda and they use their brand. I would imagine it's the same as any other vehicle with regard to using higher priced/better oils.

4) Had the car since October of 2008(6 months) and no maintenance so far. I have over 13k miles on it. Mostly highway. No idea about the insurance. They like to screw younger people if they see them coming.

5) No maintenance so far other then oil changes.

6) Considering Michigan weather is about as bad as your gonna get I would say it does just fine. So far no problem. Heater works fantastic. Air conditioning works average.

7) I've seen ads with 2 surf boards inside the car. They fold down the passenger and rear seats and put it on that side of the car.

8) You definitely feel the bumps more in this car. Possibly because of it's size. If you know anything about Michigan you will know it's pothole hell. I made it through winter and now spring and no damage yet I've hit some holes that made me wince a couple times.

9) I drive 2000 miles a month. No problems with handling.

10) The alarm is fairly standard for a manufacturer alarm. If you are worried about it you can always upgrade. My car is only parked at work and in my garage and at times at a store. No problem with security so far.

11) If the roads are choppy the car will handle them. Like I said above I live in Michigan and some roads are VERY bad. Overall the car has a good feel but you definitely feel the bumps more then a heavier more expensive vehicle. No problem with handling or bouncing around where you might lose control.

12) Freeways are great. I typically drive 65-75 on the way to work each day. For the size and weight of the car it drives great. Average 32mpg doing high speeds.

13) Never had a Toyota but I hear they are good. My dad and sister work for Ford yet here I am buying Honda's. I think that says a lot of what I think about the manufacturer.

14) Perks? I love the size and the functionality of what you can do with the seats. I have the blueberry color and just love it.

15) Vehicle is too new to have had a break job. So far the breaks are just fine.

16) The biggest con about the car is the seat fabric. The seats will pick up every bit of lint and fuzz and dog hair around. My dog has never been in my car yet hair is on the seats. I carry a small hand held broom so I can brush off the seats. Wish they offered leather cuz I definitely would have upgraded.

17) To me the car doesn't feel small while driving. I'm sure getting sick based on size of vehicle is different people so I really can't comment. You'll have to judge this for yourself.

18) The navigation system takes some time getting used to. Spend some time with it and it will become second nature. Just passive learning on my part took a good month or 2. Now I know how to do everything with no problem. This is my first in-car navigation system but I suspect learning another Honda or other manufacturers navigation will be easier now.

19) I don't think the car lends itself to nature any different then any other car. Maybe if you fold down the seats in the back and throw a plant back there you might feel like you are out in the woods.

20) Check web site for colors. When I was looking in October I was very limited to what colors I could choose from. I consider myself very fortunate to get a blueberry because nobody seems to have that color and it's only available with Fits with navigation.

21) You can plug your cell phone in the lighter jack. Not sure what your asking here.

22) It's a great car. I consider it a good value for the money and I fully expect the car to last 10 years like all my other cars.

Hope this helps.

[Faithful87]

thank you. you're answers were extremely helpful