Thanks. No I wouldn't dare take the fit to its limit but had a few hair raising experiences, although that would be relative...

 

To say that Fits can be well-driven is not the same as handling. In truth, any 62% front wheel weight distribution on a FWD vehicle is not going to be a world class handling vehicle. Lets compare a Miata to a Fit; surely you don't think a Fit is anywhere near the handling of a Miata. Th Fitis handicapped by serious weight distribution where the front wheels must utilize both steering and power as well as cornering efforts, a less than successful effort. Even a CRX has limitations compared to Miatas and the CRX is a fearful competitor. A Fit cannot get anywhere near 50-50 unless you load the rear with 500 lb which of course reduces handling even more.
We have many hours of improving the Fit, mostly by reducing understeer and improved suspension components and the Fit can be good but not great.

 

Just answering a person that doesn't understand that the Fit is/can be a great handling car, and that the weight distribution alone is not a true indicator of whether a car can/will handle well.

I was not trying to put a Fit up against a more powerful RWD vehicle as a comparison, either. It's not a relative comparison. If I were to compare the Fit's handling capabilities, it would be against something in the same class & configuration, like a Mazda 2 or a Ford Fiesta.

 

we've had one of each Mazda2, Fit, and Focus evaluating for the upcomoing Sbox racer class here and both Focus and Mazda2 steamroll the Fit in stock form. And last year a Versa also bettered the Fit then and now (mostly by the more powerful engine).
The Fit can be better by improvements but still not a winner, just better. The Fit is still the best driver in its class because of its driver friendly handling in normal driving but when tracked to the limits its not the best.The upcoming Sbox class racers have different specs for allowable mods to the contenders and that will even the Mazda2, Fit, and the rest of the class. We'll see then.
PS is the Focus a legal contender?

 

Ford Fiesta yes, Focus no.

 

driver > handling

at the end of the day, nothing f n matters as long as YOU can drive it.

and about the weight distribution, once again, you need to learn how to drive your car. dont blame sh!tty driving on "oh but your car is 50/50 weight distributed." screw that, learn your car, use its disadvantages as your advantages. 1,000 bucks says my corner entry speed is far more greater than your 50/50 miata.

HAUL ASS IN CORNER, TRAIL BRAKE LIKE NO MAN EVER HAS, PUT FOOT BACK DOWN! WHEN IN DOUBT, BALLS OUT!

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From the rear:

honda fit: 105 HP
Porche GT2 RS 530 HP
Nissan 370z 332 HP
Honda civic Si 201 HP

amazing how the 105 HP car is holding on ever so closely and not in the front leading a train.



ps: I am a miata fan also, best friend is a spec miata racer.

 

Not fair!! That si has two people in it!! It would be miles ahead without the extra weight!!! Lol

(For those who don't know the above is a joke, no flame is necessary)

 

This has become quite interesting! Are there any other positive/negative experiences with our Fit's handling abilities?

 

Has anyone here ever driven an S2k (AP1 that is)? Have you ever experianced the dramatic critical SNAAAAAAP oversteer it can produce? The fit does the EXACT same thing at will with proper tuning.

 

Ultimately, THAT is what I'm talking about.

Some people buy Fits for gas mileage, some people buy them to customize as fun little toys, and others (like myself) see them as an inexpensive entry point for a weekend racing hobby/bug (b-spec). If that tends to bleed into the way I drive on public roads... it doesn't mean that I'm inviting a challenge from every sports car I see... but other drivers just can't resist making a point that our Fits are powered by 6 gerbils and 2 hamsters... It's just annoying that some d-bags get all amped up over blowing away a Fit!

 

not gonna lie, when the rednecks or douchebage tempt me on the straights, Im like this


then as I see his blinker on to engage the twisties...

FOOLS!!!!!!!! BEHOLD THE POWER!!!

 

My fit was the krypotonite to all of these poorly endowed 'Kompensator' sports car driving fools. The simple reality is that not a single person on earth, including myself, gives a damn if a bone stock 370z beats my Fit. But when my fit pulls away from a Charger R/T on the highway there is great shame for the driver of the Charger. The kind of shame you never tell anyone about. Like getting your ass beat by a female midget. It was somewhat empowering being the deliverer of 'street justice' and I only wish that more fit owners would get out there and do it.

 

Ugh I've been such a f*ckin slacker lately. I get home after a 10-14 hour day and just feel like passing out.

Pop on FF.net, check my email, read some news and pass out. Rinse, wipe repeat.

I haven't done anything to the Fit since I put the FIC in except make my baseline boost tune. I need to grab another oil pan then I'm takin her over to TheEvilOne for some exhaust fab and I can mount the turbo and start boosting... soooo far behind where I want to be.

I really want to see what 21psi on a ~45mm turbo will do

Best part is I will be keeping most of the stock exhaust and using a hobbs switch to activate a cutout. Should be a real ego slayer with any luck...

 

I won't be racing for a little while sadly.

 

winning!!!!!. :d

 

Heh heh, not to 1 up you, but it's scarier with turbo due to poor part throttle control. Put just a touch too much pedal in and you'll cross the boost threshold all the way to max boost and suddenly find your front tire spinning and even more understeer, then all you can do is lift off and get ready to apply some serious opposite lock. If you ever wanted to road race a turbo fit an electronic boost controller with a part throttle boost limiting map (based on throttle %) would be practically mandatory.

 

The supercharger is more controllable than a turbo but using an electronic throttle controller on SP7 mode will have my tires spinning before most turbocharger blades are spinning fast enough to break the tires loose.. The power delivery is more like that of having a larger engine under the hood because it is pulling hard at surprisingly low RPM.. I'm not sure I wouldn't get killed trying to drive your little beast through a curve when the boost comes on like someone flipped a switch... I'm getting to where I use the slowest setting on the electronic throttle controller... It keeps me out of trouble and I don't have to rotate and replace tires as often that way not to mention the improved fuel mileage.... I did use SP7 today at a signal light so I could shake loose a couple of kids that had been tailgating to close and laughing at a previous light as they came within inches of my back bumper.. I loved seeing the WTF looks on their faces in the rear view mirror when the light turned green.

 

Yep that SC is going to take off way better than my turbo did. It was actually funny, once enough oil got coked to my turbine blades full boost wasn't coming on until 4k. So when I launched it wouldn't even look like I was trying and then suddenly after sufficient lag the monster finally would come out. It was good for cheap thrills but if I ever decided to build for good 1/4 mile times, anti-lag methods would be mandatory. Before the rod hit the block I was contemplating a 35 shot of the juice at 2.3 k that would have been hilarious.

 

Tex You sir are genuinely awesome. It cannot be said enough.

 

Hmmm a turbo that small shouldn't need anti-lag/2-step/giggle gas

A GT30R sized turbo on a 1.5L would be about where I would start looking for spool aids..

Just my 2psi