Hi y'all... I will likely pick up a new 2009 Fit soon... and am asking the same question. I'm probably going for manual: I like them, MPG difference is insignificant, hopefully revs and noise difference are also insignificant from auto (yes? no?)....

One thing to ask though... and this sounds like a stupid question to me, 'cause I should know, but I don't.... can manuals have cruise control? It's almost necessary for me in some cases. I've had a number of drives of 4+ hours where I get a good amount of knee pain because the muscles, etc have to stay tense to keep the pedal in the right place. Dunno, maybe I'm just malfunctioning and need to relax more. But it just made me wonder whether manuals can even have cruise control.... ?

 

Yes manuals have cruise control

 

At 70+ mph my MT is barely making noise. At 80 it still doesn't sound like it's laboring at all. Higher revs really is a non issue when deciding auto versus manual.

 

I just picked up my manual this past Saturday and the cruise control is really nice!

The only issue I'm kind of curious about is occasionally I'm starting to hear just a very faint clicking noise when I push in the clutch. Maybe I'm paranoid, and everything seems to be working just great - but does anyone know if this is unusual?

 

Manuals can have cruise control, but autos with cruise control can shift gears while on--for example in the hills.

 

Depending on how steep the hill is. It's not a good idea to keep it in high gear.
Anyone that ever rode a bicycle would know that.

I live in a relative flat area. I have not encounter frequent down shifting with any auto.

 

I drive to the mountains almost every weekend. The cruise control will downshift to keep the power when going up the hills to maintain the speed. That is what I meant...

My manual Integra, I would have to put in the clutch to downshift, which automatically turned off the cruise control.

Now, pulling it out of gear without putting in the clutch results in a whole different response... lol.

 

There is a technique called "rpm matching" in which one can shift without using a clutch. It's something I'll not try with my own car. Buyt,I have seen it done.

 

Yea if you just pull it out of gear it used to be a very bad thing lol. I hope the Fit is like my Si, it has like a pre-programed RPM table. So if you pull it out of gear and the RPM climbs or drops to where it's not supposed to be at for that gear, the car knows its not in gear and shuts off the cruise control. Another little tiny ingenious Honda feature


Rev matching is very fun too but I wont go into detail cause I don't want to start a 20 page long debate like on 8thcivic.com for the usefulness of rev matching.

 

I personally prefer a manual but since I bought the Fit for my wife it's an auto

 

I still don't have my fit yet...Really really want it....my CB7 is dying slowly...

I would get MT....More control....More fun and Prevent you from falling asleep at the wheel.....AT does that to me sadly it just boring to drive AT

 

rev matching is fun....and satisfying when done right