So my dad wants to drive my car for a week because he's thinking about getting the same Civic Sport Hatch. (I think he should get the sedan ... or a Corolla). So I left that and drove his Fit home. It's been a year since I sold my Fit, so it's been a while.

My micro review:
Wow this car feels primitive! You sit high up with chest exposed to the windscreen, the body rolls in turns and the brakes are very sus.
The seats are just as comfy as ever, but the driving position is no longer good for me. Too high.
The ride over impacts is better than my Civic, and that's down to the awful stock wheel choice on the Sport Hatch.
My dad definitely got a better engine in his Fit than I did! Mine always felt down on power and this one doesn't. I mean don't get me wrong it is still a slow car, but it feels responsive in a way mine never did.

 

@fujisawa Thanks for that reflection. Comparisons can be useful.

 

I'm legit surprised. I thought it would feel like a more modern car. But the difference is stark.

Part of it is that my own Fit, I had outfitted with a rear sway bar and lots of sound deadening. So it cornered flat and was a wee bit more quiet that stock form.

But another piece is that the GE was already two years old in Japan, and the powertrain older, when it dropped here nearly 15 years ago. I knew the design was a little older when I bought it, it was fine, the car was perfect for me.

And then the final part is I got spoilt by driving a car made from ground up NSXs after buying the Civic. It's me, hi, I'm the problem ..

 

I like the high seating position..... Sort of like being in a small truck. But yeah, that big windshield really shines on you. I had to get ceramic tint to try and keep the heat away.

 

followup, few days in, I am starting to adjust again to the nimble front end handling and the chassis roll in turns. this is way more fun around town than a newly built civic, which feels constrained in tight turns. steering is very direct for better and worse: sneeze and the car moves around you. ride quality continues to impress for such a small car.