I'm 6'1'' and have the seat all the way back when I drive. I have fairly long limbs but the shifter feels too far away. Especially, throwing it into 5th seems like a huge reach. I never felt this way with previous Hondas I've owned (99 Civic SI and 06 AccordV6-6 spd).

Any other tall drivers feel this way?

 

Sit normally? Im 5'11 and although it does seem a bit far compared to my S2000, I dont think its too bad...

 

buy the t1r short shifter lever so the throw wont seem so far away.

 

i guess you can always just sacrifice a little leg space to be closer to the shifter too

 

I would also suggest that you sit normally. Just as a test, how far away are your knees from the lower part of the dash?

 

im not a fan of the ge8 dash and where my legs sit. glad i have the gd3

 

I find the location of the 2G Fit shifter is a little odd but I got used to it pretty fast. It did feel funny for the first few times I drove the car though.

It's not a Honda thing either. My daily driver is an '07 Accord EX with a 5MT.

I'm similar in size to the original poster.

 

I found the shifter low and a bit forward when I first drove it. Not bad though, as you get used to it pretty quickly. I'll live.

 

I was just thinking the other day that I could use the shifter moved back about 3 inches. I was hoping a short shifter, with an adjustable or leaned back lever would do the trick.

 

I'm 5'9". With my seat positioned in a way that is comfortable and with the steering wheel telescoped all the way out (maybe I have freakishly long legs?) I still wish the shifter was an inch or two closer, not to mention the dash audio and HVAC controls. Fifth gear just seems so far away, but I'll manage. I can't imagine being 6'1, but then again you'd have longer arms to reach the shifter.

 

I guess I'm lucky because I'm 5'4" and the shifter is perfectly located for me. I just rest my arm on the arm rest and shifting is smooth and easy. My brother is 6'4" and he drives my Fit sometimes. He loves the manual shifter and hasn't complained about the position, but I also think he has long arms!

 

May as well just use this:

eBay Motors: 1122) Hurst Shifter Stick 16.5 inch long Hurst # 4331 (item 360095831666 end time Dec-06-08 09:33:06 PST)

Just have to modify it a little and you would be fine.

 

It may or may not be an issue of proper seating position...

As a test try this:

of course you feet position is important, you should be able to put your foot under the pedals (near the firewall) and have a slight bend to the knees still, next you should have the seat as upright as comfortably possible, you should be able to drape your wrists over the top of the steering wheel without moving your shoulders off the seat. Too many times I have found people with seat so reclined they have to stretch to reach the steering wheel.

If you pass the seating test and still can't reach the shifter than it may not be the car for you. I am 6' to 6'1 and find with proper seating position that everything is quite comfortably within reach...except occasionally hitting the heater control when reaching for the shifter....

 

That gave me a good laugh!

You'll have to give it a try and do take pix!

 

Thanks CRXsi, I'll try this tomorrow!

 

I've been thinking a lot about the shifter and, when comparing the many other MTs I've had, have come to realize that the 09 Fit stick shift is too low (or the armrest is too high, or both). The knob of the stick shift should be even with or, ideally, just above the armrest. The Fits is a couple inches lower. Compare it with the stick in the Civic or Accord, for example, and you'll see what I mean.

I plan to have mine extended to be even, which would also allow me to install the center console without risk of bumping my elbow on it when shifting.

I'm also interested in a short-throw shifter. What's the T1R mentioned above? I see that Mugen unveiled one at SEMA for the Fit, but I've seen no other details.

Insofar as distance, I'm 6'5" and have the seat all the way back. I actually plan to alter the seat to allow it to go a bit farther back (am having it uninstalled and tracks remounted farther back, plus having the front of the seat cushion rebuilt to provide more thigh support), and am hoping I can still comfortably reach the shifter, radio, etc. I'll post a report once that's done, which should be right after Thanksgiving.

Simmons

 

YES! Too far!

 

I agree. It is too low as well as too far. When I'm resting my arm on the armrest, I have to lift my arm to reach down to reach the shift know.

 

If the armrest isn't down, it doesn't seem to be a problem, but with the armrest down i find it annoying to shift, just as the above stated ^^^