Was a solo bicycle rider for over 13 years before I got my Fit. I didn't need a car in that period. Things are different now.

Also was a period where I was loco for station wagons
Yeah Roadmasters!

 

By the time my Fit is no more?
I'm going to invest into one of those walkers with a fold down seat.
Then shuffle into Wal-Mart...flip the seat down and exclaim..."Magic Seats!"...

 

Come on man, no one is stepping up to claim their Nissan is the bomb?

I've been out of circulation for quite a number of years (bike and subway for over 13 yrs), so I really don't know the cars out there. What car(s) are out there that really took a big que from the design of the Fit? You guys know what I'm talking about when I reference a Nissan. Those Nissans aren't that special?

 

When I was a kid. I saved my money up and bought a Hercules. It was English I think. 3 speed and hand brakes. I loved that bike until someone stole it from school while I was in grade school. I looked for years at every Hercules I saw hoping to find it again. I still remember the serial number (NM3654). I never found it and never owned another bike while I was a kid. I did use my brother's and sisters' bikes occasionally.

 

I sold my 07 Mazda 3 MT hatch and bought the 08 MT Fit which was totalled last week by a hit and run. I never loved the Mazda, but loved the Fit. The Mazda is much more stable at highway speeds, but the Fit was to love.

 

If there was no Fit, for the same ballpark budget, it would have to be either the Civic, Mazda3 or Golf.

 

I am trying to decide between a new fit and this right now!

 

The Civic hatch is more comfortable, faster, quieter, handles better, rides better, nicer interior materials, better brakes....the list goes on and on.

The only two things not better about the Civic are the price and cargo volume with the seats down. Civic still has better cargo volume with seats up I believe.

 

Sonic gray pearl Civic EX Hatchback...

 

Civic - 11.9 to 25.7 ft³, 11.9 to 46.2 ft³ with seat area


Fit - 16.6 ft³, 52.7 ft³ with seat area


Call me a complete idiot that can't figure his way out of a paper bag, but google is telling me there's more volume in a Fit.



I draw the line at MT? Yes or no? Yes is bueno.

 

I think you may have pulled specs from the coupe or sedan.

Here's straight from Honda...

Civic Hatchback EX
seats up - 25.7
seats down - 46.2

Civic Sport Hatch
seats up - 22.6
seats down - 46.2

Fit EX
seats up - 16.2
seats down - 52.7

Just eyeballing the numbers, I'd say the Civic has substantially more room in the rear with the seats up. Like 50% more space. While the Fit has about 12% more with the seats down.

Passenger volume is also higher in the Civic, by a bit.

As an owner of a Fit, I'd say that you generally reach cargo capacity weight wise much quicker than you can fill up the space. Just a few bags of mulch put a serious hurting to the rear ride height. Not sure how the Civic does in comparison.

In the end, buy what you like, but the new Civic hatchback is basically better in every measurable way except for initial cost. Heck...the Civic is even rated by the EPA to get better fuel mileage. The Civic is simply a much newer design that is executed better.

 

Thanks for verifying what I was seeing! I'll give the Civic a pass since there is a MT.



Car and Driver kinda puts things in it's proper place on this subject. It reads in part;


Unlike the old naturally aspirated Honda mills, this turbocharged and direct-injected 1.5-liter inline-four lacks the multiple cam profiles that made VTEC famous in the ’90s. It does have variable camshaft phasing—today’s industry norm—and it is a fun engine to rev, proving burly low in the rev range and eager to spin to its 6500-rpm redline. It just isn’t quite as much fun as an old VTEC engine.



https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...al-test-review

 

The 11.9 number is what was throwing me. I see, in the numbers, that the Civic actually has a lot more hatch room than the Fit.

Everyone's needs are different, but for this family I look at how much luggage space there is for family trips with the seats up. In that regard, the Civic has around 50% more cargo volume than a GK Fit.

In comparison to the GK's 16.2 volume behind the seats, our GD has 21.3. Strange for Honda to go down in any spec given that the car is a little larger.

We now have a VW Golf. It's rear space behind the seats isn't so great. Our GD is quite a bit more usable.

 

I would step up the hunt for a well maintained Volvo 240 or a Honda Element, preferably manual. Preferably a wagon for the Volvo.

I've owned both of these in the past, and always have an eye out for either, even though I don't need.