I live in Japan and I just bought a 2002 model Fit. It's automatic and i'm pretty sure it's not a sport model. I'm not sure if this is normal or if something is wrong with the engine.

When I'm stopped at a red light it seems like the engine cuts down power to save fuel, because the car stops that normal vibration from the engine. Also when breaking for a stop it feels like my engine is assisting me to stop because it reduces speed extremely fast without much pressure. Is this normal?

 

When you take your foot off of the throttle the ignition timing retards and the fuel injectors stop working until you are almost stopped and then start injecting again.

 

I guess. Mine does the same. It downshifts noticeably when decelerating before a stop.

Tokyo? Ouch on the exchange rate... Gambate!

 

So this is supposed to happen?

The exchange rate is horrible, yesterday it was 75 yen to the dollar.

 

I think its normal... part of the Fit character I guess... Mine's fine. Unlike others on the forum, this is my first Honda experience so don't have any other Honda experience to go on.

 

It might be normal, not sure. but while doing some searching in the forums I came a cross a similar issue, but mine doesn't seem to be bad and the fix action was to replace the spark plugs and possibly the coils. So I might try this, it wouldn't hurt since it has 100k kilos(around 50K miles) on it.