I think you have identified part of the difference--the Fit's steering ratio is perhaps a bit quicker than it needs to be (and I own and have raced Porsches that have great balanced steering) that really requires a light, easy touch. If you're gripping the wheel tightly that has a tendency for many drivers to cause abrupt as well as too much and too frequent steering correction when you are correcting for wind, or in general when just driving down the road. In an accident avoidance manuever it would not surprise me to see these same people roll a Fit.

As an example, my hands move very little when driving, and when negotiating a turn I turn in a smooth arc. Yet all the time I see cars next to me or in front of me, where the driver's hands are constantly making steering corrections back and forth, literally sawing their way down the road or through a curve. There's lots of causes for that, and one big one is most drivers do not look far enough down the road and instead fix their gaze a car length or two in front of them. General nervousness and death grips on steering wheels is another biggie.

I would likely give myself motion sickness, if I drove my Fit Sport using the see-sawing steering motion I see in other drivers, like this little smiley icon .

Also make sure the alignment is not off and the tire pressures are not over or under-inflated. I routinely drive 65-70 mph and lately have had winds up to 35 mph, with nothing more than relatively mild jostling. Steering corrections are little more than a momentary flex of my wrist. I also drive with both hands on the wheel at 3 and 9--old habit from Porsche racing days that now makes driving one-handed just feel off.

 

The major problem is training. We'd all be better off if the DOT mandated stringent training, similar to Europe or Japan. Teaching people how to look when driving is also important.

Driver's education classes teach 10-2 positioning, and many people are so scared of losing their grip, they white knuckle it. 10-2 isn't an easy thing to hold for extended periods, this is where the see-saw comes in.

9-3 is probably the best position to be in as far as control goes, I wish more people understood this. However, on the fit, this gives you TOO MUCH CONTROL. I'm still retraining myself a little on that one, it's hard to only drive with one hand. Heh. Honestly though, I can see how someone would manage to roll a fit, and it's due to a lack of training.

I find the fit's steering to be more responsive that an Audi TT, which can either be a cool thing, or a not-so-cool thing. It just means you've got to adjust your driving style to the vehicle you're currently piloting.

When I was having issues of being blown around, I checked the tire pressure. Lo-and-Behold, the tires were substantially under-inflated. Thanks Honda of Bel Air! I never noticed the under inflation until I took it out and drove a little hard, and it felt mushy going around the corners. Tire pressure up to within specs, and boom, more stability. (funny how that works, eh?)

 

That's all fabulous, but the fact remains that a stock Fit is sensitive to sidewinds and the wind disruptions found in and around tractor-trailer rigs.

In my STi I don't even feel them, except perhaps the really strong gusts. And the car never moves off line; in 4+ years and 100K miles I have never had to correct my direction because of wind.

That is simply not the case in my Fit, even with the Beatrush underpanel. With the underpanel it's far, far better than it was; for example nothing around tractor-trailer rigs upsets the car in the least anymore. But the car still gets jostled in sidewinds and will move offline in a strong gust.

I can imagine that a Fit Base, with its narrower tires and less lower body cladding to keep air out from under the car, could be a real handful under the same conditions.

 

The Fits here that have the most trouble with crosswinds are those with Dunslop S37's, whatever. Changing to better tires yields immediate improvement though its still not a CRX.

 

If you've checked your tire pressures and alignment, and it's still buffeting on you, then sell the car, I guess.

I don't have wind tunnel data, but I seriously doubt the cladding on a sport is anything other than purely decorative. Truly functional underbody aerodynamics in a street car that costs less than $20K. Doubt it, highly.

Tires width might make some difference, but more likely the rear anti-sway bar and suspension differences on the Sport would more likely be a potential difference, albeit subtle in cross wind situations.

The wide variances of experiences, however, suggests there's a good bit of subjectivity--what one can comfortably tolerate or not; how one drives; expectations for the car. I don't expect a Fit to have rally type handling (not sure if STI means WRX STI or Civic) nor handling that approaches a Civic STI (a lower stance car should handle better than a higher center of gravity box on wheels). That said, I've yet to have a semi blow me out of my lane, although it might jostle a tad. Nothing upsetting.

 

I have a GD and it sucked bad in the wind. I put in some tanabe GF210 springs and it greatly improved, later put a progress rear bar and 15x7 wheels with 205/50 tires. now the car is solid! it will just blow the car sideways since its so light. lol but no more tipping and swaying.

 

when I took driver's ed in in VA in '03 and '04 we were told to have out hands at 8 and 4, due to airbags. and while doing sharper turns, we were to slide our hands to meet in the center of the wheel, rather than crossing wrists.
example: turning left,

right hand on 4 turns the wheel left until 12.

at the same time, left hand slides up the wheel to meet the right hand at 12.

left hand then pulls wheel down (to the left) until the hand is at 8 again.

the same time the right hand returns to 4. repeat.

it was pretty weird learning it.

edit: I saw the top gear esp where they go to sweden and found out it takes 3 years for someone to get their license. it was pretty cool.

 

I have the Fit LX model with 15" stock dunlop tires. I'm planning a long road trip to the East coast this summer, so the highway speed wandering was bothering me enough to take it to the dealer to get it checked out last week.

I went out for a test drive with the Honda suspension/alignment specialist. He agreed that it was squirly at highway speed with any cross wind. Certainly felt more comfortable with both hands on the wheel.
He suggested we take another Fit LX out to see if it was specific to my car. Nope. This next car was brand new, and handled exactly the same. We then took out the Fit Sport, and although it did perform slightly better on this test drive, he chaulked it up to the aerodynamics and design characteristics of a small, light car.

He checked my suspension and alignment for me just the same and there was very minimal adjustment necessary. Nothing out of normal specs. He also said that there were no recall or alert notices for the Fit from Honda Canada. I suggested that I might try inflating the front tires a couple extra pounds, but he didn't think that it would make any difference. Haven't had a chance to try it yet however.
So after about 2 1/2 hours of test driving and an alignment checkup, I have the same issue. I'm thinking about opening a file with Honda Canada so that it's on their list of things to improve on for the 2010 model.

As for our trip out East, I think we'll probably end up taking my wife's Ford Escape - even though it'll cost us twice as much in gas. It'll be a much less stressful drive. I'll stick to using the Fit for my short commute to work and city driving where it performs great.

 

Did you check the brand of tires and tire pressures. More often than not that has been the source of squirreliness Fit has in crosswinds. The standard tires, especially the Dunslop SP37's, have very weak sidewalls (probably to make the ride softer) and thus the Fit twitches under varying side loads. The Fit for its size has a large side view and thus prone to waffling in side winds.
Several times we have seen the condition considerably reduced by simply changing to better tires and slightly higher pressures. Its not an absolute cure but it calms driver nerves a lot. And yes the ride isn't as soft.

 

Couldn't agree more...
I'm using Tanabe DF210 as well...And it'll sort out your bodyroll effect problem... at least well enough for both daily use and fun race...

If you want more stability, you might add the strutbar as well...either front and rear...

But i didn't apply this one... Tanabe DF210 is more than enough for daily use but have a better stability...

Yes...give it a try...

 

Drove 200 miles today through wind farm country in Illinois and for once the crosswinds didn't bother me like they usually do. I was on two-lane roads and could only go 55-60 because of traffic (and, of course, speed limits...). I didn't get out with stiff shoulders from trying to keep the car on the road in the wind.

5000 miles on the Fit now. Getting used to it?

38 mpg today in the wind. Gas prices going up again. Fit looking better every day.

Cheers

 

You know, I saw this thread before buying the fit, and didnt think anything of it...... but on the way home I was getting blown around like a mofo. It reminds me of my aunt's xA the way it gets blown around. Hopefully the coilovers will make a big difference. *crosses fingers*

 

I'm just glad I'm not imagining this to be probably the worst car I've ever dealt with in cross winds...and I've owned upwards of 30 cars.

It isn't horrible but you do need to be mindful...still love the lil' sucker!