Buy the fit... you`ll be very happy you did..

 

i haven't tried hills with a full load. I got close with me and my brother but i drive a manual so i can't vouch for the auto.

 

I think the xB has a much bigger aftermarket than the Fit.

 

The xB got bloated by getting bigger and more HP and less MPG.

The 09 Fit may be a little bigger, but the MPGs are awesome, and it doesn't look or feel bloated in any way. Such a huge improvement over the first gen Fits.

 

Power is a little lacking compared to the new xB. A full load going up a mountain would be slow. The upside is with paddle shifters or the manual you can shift into 3rd and have plenty of power to maintain speed.

 

The 09 Fits are hardly bigger, 20 something pounds over the 08s. That's like a bag of groceries.

 

I have a 07 fit sport and the wife has a 08 xB. There apples and oranges. The fit is more fun to drive and gets better gas mileage. The xB will run circles around the fit but feels like a mini van in the corners. Lower the xB with the TRD stuff or some other quaility spring/struts with some sway bars and you have something. The 2nd gen fit is crappy. Test drove one and for 20K I think Honda has priced there self out of the market. It felt like it lost some power mine and the one west side honda had are both 5 speeds. As far as the Fit's power it has none. Althouhg I've never had any problems with hill's or passing even with the air on. It's a Honda, rev that sucker.

 

i used to drive my ex gf's xB1 all the time - 5 spd. it's not as dynamic as the Fit. factor in the Fit's seating configurations and it's a no brainer

 

i still think the first gen xb is sexier than the 2nd gen xb and either of the fits. imo

 

if the first gen xB had side air bags, I'd get it in a flash, but it has poor side crash ratings, which scares me, which means I wont get it.

The second gen is sexy, depending on the color[same thing witht the first gen]. That and the fit, while costing just a tad more, pays for it with gas, On some scion forums, it people get 20-28, while here EVERYone gets over 26 mpg. Its a hard choice for me to make, to be honest so I'm still on the fence. What pisses me off though is that the new xB doesn't have a telescoping wheel AND its only a 4 speed, for the auto tranny. :|

 

love the paddle shifters it's easy to down shift.
5 gear auto (not sure if the xb has 4 gear or 5 gear)
i have the vsa/navi. it's got all the fit and refinement of a 25k car. stuff you wouldn't find in a entry level car.

 

FWIW, I live in the mountains (house is at 8000 ft elevation). Yesterday, my wife and I, along with our 110 lb. dog and a two week load of groceries, went up and over the local 10,000 ft. pass. My Sport AT acted remarkably well. We didn't have to use the paddles, the normal downshift worked fine for even the steepest inclines. I'd consider what we had a full load and I was impressed.

 

I drove my friend's 1st gen xB and it was rubbish.