How Much Has '09 Addressed These Problems?

[Lipappy]

My first Honda. My first bad car purchase

This was a LONG but helpful post to me that does cite some legitimate (and some ridiculous) complaints. A lot of replies said "I think the 2009 will address that."

Nobody has replied to this thread since 6/08, right around the time it was posted.

It would be really awesome if 2009 owners could read this and respond if/how the 2009 has addressed the problems he cites. What is still a problem? What has been remedied.

Please!

[clicq]

I'll take a stab at it, though I've only had my car for a week and a half. I'll try to address each of the guy's complaints.

1. Blind spots -- the A pillar is narrower than in the previous year, and moved further forward; I don't find it a problem at all (then again, I drove a 97 Odyssey prior to the Fit which had a thicker A-pillar). I don't see the problem with the side mirror positioning, though if you're short and have to have the seat moved up a lot, I could see it being a problem. Visibility out the back is good; they changed the headrests for 09 so they're smaller and don't block visibility, and the middle seat belt retracts into the roof if you're not using it. The rear wiper rests below the visible area of the glass, so it doesn't obstruct the view.

2. Gauges -- they're lit all the time, but this is the case in a lot of cars. I sometimes forget around sunset, but it's pretty obvious when it's dark.

3. Seats -- I've driven 220 miles, and the driver's seat is just as comfortable for me as the 97 Odyssey I used to drive. This is probably a personal thing though. You also don't need to move the front seats to fold the rear down. I did have passengers complain that the headrests are too firm though.

4. Other interior bits -- car has a dead pedal now and a driver's armrest. Center console with armrest is optional. Still no overhead console (but my old Ody didn't have one either, plus I'd rather have the headroom), and no sunroof option (though members have added one aftermarket).

5. Bumpers -- I don't think they jut out that far, it's no worse than my Odyssey (and the Fit is easier to load because the load floor is lower).

6. The rant about Honda stripping down the car for the US -- mostly true, but I think that's because people view the Fit as an econobox, and Honda's just playing into that.

7. MPG rant -- I'm still in the engine break in phase, so that means no cruise control and varying RPMs. I'm getting about 30mpg mixed, 35 highway. I think that's pretty good, and it matches or beats the expected fuel economy, so I don't know why the guy's complaining... and the gas tank is a bit small, but the mileage is higher... you could probably get 350 miles out of the tank on the highway, which is about what you'd get in a bigger car with lower mileage.

8. Gearing -- I have an automatic and it's geared fine (2500 rpm at around 70mph, just about the same as most cars I've driven). I hear the manuals are geared to have a higher RPM at speed so you don't have to downshift as much.

9. Drive-by-wire -- I haven't really noticed anything bad about the drive-by-wire system yet. A lot of cars are drive-by-wire these days anyway.

9. High speed driveability -- I don't have any sense of "liftoff" at high speeds, it actually seems more planted than my old Odyssey. Cross winds aren't too bad, though the wind buffeting from passing trucks does shake things up a little. They did make the car a little longer than the previous year, so that probably helped a lot.

10. Paint -- I'm worried about this as well, but I haven't gotten hit by any rocks yet... I'll probably get a 3M clearbra on the front.

11. A/C -- seems pretty decent to me, but I don't live anywhere too taxing on the A/C.

As an aside, I was also impressed with the Hyundai Elantra Touring that I test drove... but the Fit was more fun to drive and felt like it was better engineered.

[Lipappy]

What is "Drive By Wire?"

I would worry that a Clear Bra would / could peel in places or cause dirt/grime to accumulate near edges. Also it seems really expensive. After 5 years, when it's starting to possibly discolor, would it be a hot mess?

It sounds like a lot has been remedied though! Thanks for replying!

[clicq]

Drive by wire refers to the fact that, in contrast to a "normal" setup where the accelerator is connected to the throttle body in the engine by a mechanical link, in this car the accelerator is just connected to some electronics that measure the position of the accelerator and relay it to the computer which then adjusts the throttle for you.

The 3M clearbra is supposed to not discolor or peel if applied properly, but who knows . I'm actually thinking of doing it myself, and it doesn't seem too expensive (~$100-$150 for the precut film for the hood and fenders).

[eldaino]

Originally Posted by Lipappy

What is "Drive By Wire?"

I would worry that a Clear Bra would / could peel in places or cause dirt/grime to accumulate near edges. Also it seems really expensive. After 5 years, when it's starting to possibly discolor, would it be a hot mess?

It sounds like a lot has been remedied though! Thanks for replying!

drive by wire is an electronic throttle response system. there is no direct cable to the engine, and because of this, flooring it causes a delay before the system responds. its very slight, but it is there.

the ge's automatic seems to not really suffer from this like my gd does.

as a current gd owner, much has been improved man. the driving postion is 100x better.

[cab0053]

there are still complaints of cross winds

[clicq]

The effect of crosswinds on the car isn't too bad ... it's a boxy car, so it'll be more affected than, say, a Honda Civic, but it's not going to make you switch lanes.

As an aside, the car is rated to take 850lbs (forgot to address this is my longer comment above). It could probably take more though.

[Selden]

As I have often advised people about motorcycle helmets, if it fits, it's a good helmet; if it doesn't fit you, it's not a good helmet. Same thing applies to the Fit; apparently it doesn't fit dbzeag. Clicq covered most of the points, to which I will add only these:

Load capacity. It's a tiny car, for crying out loud, not a taxi or a truck. 700 pounds is 27% of the weight of the car. You can carry 4 people or a lot of stuff. If you want to carry thousands of pounds of stuff, get a truck or an SUV. I have found the brakes on the Sport AT more than adequate.

Blind spots. I have driven few cars with better visibility than the Fit. My 2003 Subaru Forester is one of them.

Gauges. Lights stay on all the time, which wears them out faster? I wonder if the OP uses hand signals to reduce wear and tear on the turn signals. I can't speak to the original Fit, but on the 2009, if you leave the headlights on, it beeps at you. I prefer Subaru's engineering, where turning off the ignition turns off the headlights, but the Honda approach is much more common.

Rear seat passenger room. According to reviews, much improved in 2009. It's got more room for rear seat passengers than my Forester, which is a much larger car.

Front seats. With the 2009 Fit, there is no need to move the front seats forward to lower the rear seat backs. I haven 't done a long trip yet, but so far, I rate the driver's seat much more comfortable than in the Forester -- despite the lack of adjustable lumbar support. I love the way the headrests are farther forward than on the Forester.

Armrest, etc. 2009 Sport adds armrest and dead pedal, but no overhead cubbies. As if the Fit doesn't have enough cubbies already. I hate sunroofs, so no problem for me.

Engine Speed. AT is geared much higher than MT. Honda engines are designed for high speed running. My first Honda, an N600, turned about 5000 rpms at highway speeds. When I sold it at 93,000 miles, it was still running strong. My wife has a 1989 Honda VTR 250 motorcycle, whose engine starts to come alive at 8000 rpm, and turns around 10,000 rpm at highway speeds. RPM has little to do with longevity if an engine is designed properly.

Fly by wire. The ECU determines what the engine needs, not the driver. I have never noticed any FBW delay on my 2009 fit.

Too Narrow. Hello... it's a small car. If you want to seat 3-abreast in the back, get a bigger car.

Liftoff at 70. I can't believe that the spoiler on the Sport Fit makes that much diffference; it's felt perfectly stable to me, although you do have to keep in mind that the steering is only 3 turns lock to lock, so it's very responsive.

A/C Anemic. Like fuel mileage, individual experiences seem to vary widely. I did my first test drive in Atlanta heat, and found nothing to complaint about. After purchase, driving with 2 passengers in Delaware heat and humidity was not a problem. The car cooled down in a reasonable amount of time, and once cooled down, I could move the fan switch to 1 or 2; in fact, at highway speeds, I had to turn the temp up a little.

Fuel Economy. Most people report better than 32 mpg, some don't. I have no idea why there seems to be so much variation. Since I got 30 mpg on my first tank (all stop and go), once it's broken in, I'm anticipating 30-32 around town, and 38-40 on the highway. An 11 gallon gas tank should be good for 400 miles on the highway. My Subaru holds 15 gallons, and 400 miles is a stretch at highway speeds. I would say that the Fit gas tank is sized appropriately for the vehicle and the mileage it gets.

The original reviewer hits the nail on the head near the end of his review: "Now keep in mind I am quite a negative person." As far as I can see, he failed to do due diligence (as in a thorough test drive) before buying his Fit, and now has buyer's remorse.

[HotIron]

solbrothers, as usual, had the best, most succinct reply.

[cab0053]

Originally Posted by HotIron

solbrothers, as usual, had the best, most succinct reply.

what, that it's a slow shitty econcobox?

[kenchan]

it's all fixed. go buy one.

you're not going to find a perfect car.

[novascroller]

the '09 DX here in Canada doesn't have the driver's armrest.

[warren561]

Originally Posted by Selden

RPM has little to do with longevity if an engine is designed properly.

Correct. The mid-70's to early-80's vintage Mercedes-Benz engines were usually very high revving at freeway speeds (the 4, 5, and 6 cylinders). Those engines had an amazing lifespan (for their era).

Many of their diesels (W123 models with the OM617 engine) spin at around 4300 rpm at 85 mph (red line is 4500 rpm). Those engines (properly maintained) have been known to hit 500,000 miles without issue.

The M110 engine (gasoline) spins at around 6000 rpm at 85 mph (red line is 6500 rpm). That engine is also known for its durability (200,000+ miles).

[HotIron]

Originally Posted by cab0053

what, that it's a slow shitty econcobox?

No, not at all.

I was referring to solbrothers first reply in the linked thread. He jokingly tells the OP in that thread that he should just off himself because if he approaches all decisions the same way he is approaching purchasing a car, he's massively overcomplicating his life. No car is perfect. The question is, do the pros outweigh the cons? If so, then buy. If not, then move on. Or in the case of the OP on that thread, trade it in if you hate your car. At least with the Fit, chances are he could've sold it at the time for exactly what he paid for it, even in a private sale. Not that hard.

Personally, I would've suggest the OP in the linked thread try yoga and decaf green tea, but hey, that's just me .

[Kyle is raaddd]

Originally Posted by clicq

The 3M clearbra is supposed to not discolor or peel if applied properly, but who knows . I'm actually thinking of doing it myself, and it doesn't seem too expensive (~$100-$150 for the precut film for the hood and fenders).

It seems really hard to do yourself, but if you want to go for it, that's all good with me!

Originally Posted by HotIron

solbrothers, as usual, had the best, most succinct reply.

Originally Posted by cab0053

what, that it's a slow shitty econcobox?

He telleth the truth!

[vinn]

paint sucks ass. 3M Painters tape ftw or clear bra.

[Lipappy]

I saw a clearbra on a 3 year-old mini cooper and it looked like ass. The dividing line accumulates dirt and grime and causes a very ugly very visible line across the car. I decided against it. I do occasional highway driving, but I don't commute to work on one, so I figure it's not worth it for me, aside from the ugg factor.

[Kyle is raaddd]

Originally Posted by Lipappy

I saw a clearbra on a 3 year-old mini cooper and it looked like ass. The dividing line accumulates dirt and grime and causes a very ugly very visible line across the car. I decided against it. I do occasional highway driving, but I don't commute to work on one, so I figure it's not worth it for me, aside from the ugg factor.

My brother has a white 09 WRX, and he has a clear bra, and I find it hard to notice,.. Maybe it's because of the white car though.

[secondspassed]

Originally Posted by eldaino

drive by wire is an electronic throttle response system. there is no direct cable to the engine, and because of this, flooring it causes a delay before the system responds. its very slight, but it is there.

the ge's automatic seems to not really suffer from this like my gd does.

as a current gd owner, much has been improved man. the driving postion is 100x better.

You never miss an opportunity to tweak the GE's nipples, do you? You just wanna **** that little car.

[spin out]

a couple random observations after reading the linked post...

the A-pillar (ge8) can be disruptive in certain infrequent situations.
i was on a infamous new jersey circle getting onto a highway, and the A-pillar blocked my view of another car getting onto the highway from a gas station across the street.
i find myself looking out the passenger side window sometimes, to get around the A-pillar.

the AC works fine for me. never had a problem.

i hit a low hanging tree branch at 30 mph and it dragged across the roof of the car and did no damage to the paint. i was a bit surprised.
after 10,000 miles, i have a few marks on the paint but you have to look damn close to really see them.