Fit a good performance platform?
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Road America
Fit a good performance platform?
I did a search and read over a number of threads, but I still wonder - is the Fit a good performance platform?
I bought the Fit to be a gas saver. However, it seems to be a fairly nice handling car. It's slow as the day is long though. I sold off my high performance cars mainly to get more garage space, but also because it was getting hard to justify a $30k car just sitting there waiting for the next $500 track day. Now that the Fit sits where said track car used to reside, I have to wonder if it couldn't pull double duty. DE's are not a race so winning isn't the point, fun is. (sidenote - Had to laugh at the Kraftwerks Fit/M5 race video. The M5 is not a very good track car.) I used to run BMW 2002s which were fast econo-boxes. The Mini S's do very well on track days, but imo, are overpriced. I wonder if the Fit could be a modern version of an old concept - cheap, roomy, mileage, performance?
That said, is the Fit a suitable platform for performance upgrades? I see the Kraftwerks SC kit which would get some hp on the menu, and I know there are suspension mods available. Toss on some R compound tires and I have to think it might be a fun car for tight tracks and auto-X.
I bought the Fit to be a gas saver. However, it seems to be a fairly nice handling car. It's slow as the day is long though. I sold off my high performance cars mainly to get more garage space, but also because it was getting hard to justify a $30k car just sitting there waiting for the next $500 track day. Now that the Fit sits where said track car used to reside, I have to wonder if it couldn't pull double duty. DE's are not a race so winning isn't the point, fun is. (sidenote - Had to laugh at the Kraftwerks Fit/M5 race video. The M5 is not a very good track car.) I used to run BMW 2002s which were fast econo-boxes. The Mini S's do very well on track days, but imo, are overpriced. I wonder if the Fit could be a modern version of an old concept - cheap, roomy, mileage, performance?
That said, is the Fit a suitable platform for performance upgrades? I see the Kraftwerks SC kit which would get some hp on the menu, and I know there are suspension mods available. Toss on some R compound tires and I have to think it might be a fun car for tight tracks and auto-X.
If you want to make power then your gunna have to supercharge/boost or kswap.
I know a lot of people do autoX with the car though and it sounds like fun. Like you said, it does handle well and with some basic suspension mods it will even better. I hear a rear sway bar is money
I know a lot of people do autoX with the car though and it sounds like fun. Like you said, it does handle well and with some basic suspension mods it will even better. I hear a rear sway bar is money
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Parañaque City, Philippines
If you can live with the fact that the car was never designed to handle Evo-busting power, then yes, I think it's a good performance platform. The fun has more to do with its inherent good handling than anything else.
I don't think the Fit would disappoint you if you push through with the double-duty idea.
I don't think the Fit would disappoint you if you push through with the double-duty idea.
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But, if there's some reason that the Fit is unsuitable, such as inherent handling issues that I am not aware of, or something about the engine that makes it not worth enhancing, I would like to know. My guess is it would be okay because I see so many Si's and GSRs at the track. Good bloodline.
Absolutely! - I should point out that my expectations are realistic. I'm not looking to hunt Evos or STis. I simply want to increase the performance above baseline making it more suitable for track. I suspect I could throw stupid money at the Fit and still get lunched by the above cars in stock form. But, if I can throw a $3k SC on it and another $2.5k in suspension and Dot Rs, I have a nice, efficient car for daily use and fun for the track. Total spent on the car would be $20k, which seems high, but it's a lot cheaper to throw $5.5k at the car than buy a track car and insurance, not to mention the above mentioned parking hassles.
But, if there's some reason that the Fit is unsuitable, such as inherent handling issues that I am not aware of, or something about the engine that makes it not worth enhancing, I would like to know. My guess is it would be okay because I see so many Si's and GSRs at the track. Good bloodline.
But, if there's some reason that the Fit is unsuitable, such as inherent handling issues that I am not aware of, or something about the engine that makes it not worth enhancing, I would like to know. My guess is it would be okay because I see so many Si's and GSRs at the track. Good bloodline.
. Not to mention keeping up with the faster Hondas.
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From: Road America
That's what I'm after - fun! Could you elaborate on the FI setup?
Push My Button
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,997
From: Calgary, Alberta
Absolutely! - I should point out that my expectations are realistic. I'm not looking to hunt Evos or STis. I simply want to increase the performance above baseline making it more suitable for track. I suspect I could throw stupid money at the Fit and still get lunched by the above cars in stock form. But, if I can throw a $3k SC on it and another $2.5k in suspension and Dot Rs, I have a nice, efficient car for daily use and fun for the track. Total spent on the car would be $20k, which seems high, but it's a lot cheaper to throw $5.5k at the car than buy a track car and insurance, not to mention the above mentioned parking hassles.
But, if there's some reason that the Fit is unsuitable, such as inherent handling issues that I am not aware of, or something about the engine that makes it not worth enhancing, I would like to know. My guess is it would be okay because I see so many Si's and GSRs at the track. Good bloodline.
But, if there's some reason that the Fit is unsuitable, such as inherent handling issues that I am not aware of, or something about the engine that makes it not worth enhancing, I would like to know. My guess is it would be okay because I see so many Si's and GSRs at the track. Good bloodline.
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Oh - got it. I thought you were referring to Fuel Injection work. Thanks for explaining. Yes, so far I've looked into the Kraftwerks. It's even on sale. I will investigate further.
It's an 08 manual Sport.
It's an 08 manual Sport.
Last edited by nevada72; Feb 19, 2009 at 01:24 PM.
just redo the turbo oil drain to somthing better and add a BOV to the HKS kit and its a very nice setup.
I had a thought the other day while perusing the eBay 'salvage' title cars. Several of them offered what could be a less expensive route for the Fit. My idea: Buy a wrecked Fit and -GUT- it. Sell off the interior (who needs a dash or airbags in a track car?) and every other part (K20 swap!) you won't be using and then build a decent little fun car for 'off-road use only'. I saw one yesterday (day before?) which needed a door, fender, and headlight and they wanted less than $6,000.
Best of both worlds. You keep your daily driver for fuel economy, then jump into your other car for playing around.
Best of both worlds. You keep your daily driver for fuel economy, then jump into your other car for playing around.
It's an econobox that happens to handle well. Why race it? That's just dumb. Just mod it to handle better and look nice, but don't expect it to beast on anything other than on another econobox. At least you were smart enough to get the stick shift. That adds to the fun factor
It's an econobox that happens to handle well. Why race it? That's just dumb. Just mod it to handle better and look nice, but don't expect it to beast on anything other than on another econobox. At least you were smart enough to get the stick shift. That adds to the fun factor
