I hear you CrystalFiveMT. I can't figure out how the EPA rates the Fit and the Chevy Malibu both at 33 MPG on the highway.

My fuel economy has dipped to an average of 37-38 the past couple of weeks because it's been so humid I've had to use the air conditioning all the time. Normally I've been getting around 40 (actual-not what the meter reads).

 

yea I agree. Don't know how the EPA got the Fit so wrong.
I get 33 city easily and 38+ hwy constantly.

I took my tsx on a road trip on 3 hr road trip and got an avg of 29 hwy. EPA is 22/31 for that. How can the EPA be way off base for the Fit 27/33? lol should be 33ish/38ish.
maybe they will retest the 2010 Fit and get more realistic numbers.

 

Not so. the fiesta was German . and a good racer.

 

YouTube - 2009 Ford Fiesta X Games Rally Car Practice

Looks great here too! lol

 

If you dreive like the EPA trest program you'll get 28-30 in town and 32-34 on the highway. lots of stopping, idling, and semi-fast accelerations.

 

I shift over 4k rpm all the time in the city and still get 33 mpg city and I drive 80 mph on the hwy all the time and still get 38 mpg. Its way off trust us.
If I drive conservative (70ish) I easily get over 40 mpg on the hwy.

 

You're right on that one. I have a Ford Focus ('00 or '01, I don't recall...) ZX3 hatchback. It was really fun to drive, nice and responsive, but it had a reliable lifespan of about 3.5 years. If it was just reliable, it would've been a great car. After that point, it started to break. Regularly. Stuff literally just falls off. I've had so many things repaired that I'm not even sure I can remember them all to list them! It is currently sitting in my driveway, dead. (blown head gasket, flookie electrical issues and other things...) While it's fixable, it becomes a matter of "how much do a want to sink into this thing -again-?" and "if I do, will I even get 3 months more out of it?" I added it up and I could've had a new car eons ago, and it would not have cost any more. Bugger has cost me that much in repairs annually. I'm thinking of junkyarding it soon.

So, while the Fiesta is cute, I really don't want to repeat the experience I've had with Ford. Because of that, I wouldn't buy the Fiesta.

We've added the Fit a week or so ago and are loving it, I just have to get my darned husband out of it... and to think he didn't even want the "girly car" I barely get a chance to drive it!!

 

The best thing about the new Fiesta is the exterior styling. The Fit is currently the only car in its class that isn't FUGLY.

The only things I don't like about the Fiesta is the reduced cargo carrying capacity and the extent of dash/electronics integration (I prefer no integration). The back of the rear seats not being covered in cloth is also kind of weird. Other than those things I think it's a great car and will probably be priced competitively, but you won't be getting much resale value compared to Honda.

 

I'm curious- what DOES you mpg gauge say?

I don't know how you guys are doing it. I gotta run the real life numbers on my fit AT. My mpg gauge reads 30-31 city and I strongly feel I'm getting 3 mpg's less, only because I know my daily trip so well. But these high numbers you guys are saying is amazing to me. I wish I could say that. Maybe I can- I gotta check it- but yours seem very high. How the hell are you driving?! I'm still on my first tank of gas in my new fit. Does mpg's get better over time or something?

Dan

 

It will get better with mileage.
I have over 8K on mine. (2) I am lowered (less uplift/drag esp. hwy)
(3) I don't keep my tires at 33psi which the chart shows on the inside of the drivers door... I keep mine at 42 psi. Not saying 33 psi in under inflated but I always keep my tires about 8-9 psi under the max (51 psi max for the tire) Better mpg longer lasting tires. I don't mind if my ride is a little rougher if it saves gas and tire tread life. Plus the fact it handles a lot better in the turns.
(4) I always run full synthetic motor oil in all my cars. Engine runs smoother and quieter.
(5) its pretty flat around Ohio. If I was climbing mountains everyday yes my mpg would def. be lower.

My dash display is usually ~6% off. dash read out is 35 mpg city when I fill up it comes to about 33 mpg city.

Edit:
btw...tire manufactures state the posted psi on the inside door of a car should be treated as the minimum psi. If your running below our posted 33psi you are driving on under inflated tires. Major safety hazzard.

 

I drive mostly conservatively with bouts of ripping zealously through the gears every now and then. I'm not hypermiling. I also run 32 psi on all four corners.

You have to tell us how YOU'RE driving. There have been just a few here that report unusually low mileage for this car.

 

Ford Fiesta looks like a cool little car. I would not own one though but for domestic lovers who dread buying anything imported just for great mpg, its a great alternative.

 

cant recall who posted it but i agree: if the fiesta handles better than the fit, fine. it should. ford is MARKETING it to be the sportiest car in the class. its tiny on the inside and has virtually no room storage wise compared to our little honda egg.

if you go to the fiesta website, hell, a turbo kit is an option under 'things i'd like to have as options.'


you want to know something?

this only makes the fit a greater success: it has great chassis response, amazing steering feel, and is under 20k....and was NEVER marketed to be this end all sporty b class car...it just so happened to be.

the fiesta is a small sport compact that happens to get good gas mileage.
the fit is a small compact that has excellent flexibility and gets good gas mileage that JUST SO HAPPENS to be a great performer as well.

i'll take a jack of all trades rather than a one trick pony thanks.



*on a side note, while the new fiesta has a very fresh for ford interior, unlike the simplicity in the fit, this is an interior that will not wear well with age imo.

 

Honestly, I think it just happens to be the only one in the class with any potential at all.. plus Honda's always had a track record of making their small cars pretty good drivers

 

American car companies pull out all the stops for their Euro markets. They don't have the "home team advantage" like they do here, so they actually have to try, they can't half ass it and coast on the fact that people want to support America.

Long story short... The Fiesta looks awesome... Too bad FORD will f*ck it up by the time it gets here.

 

I really think all the Ford bashing is pretty funny. They took no bail out money from Uncle Sam
and build some decent cars. I think its great they are going to bring in a car that will compete with the Fit. The competition will hopefully encourage Honda to continue to improve the Fit. The Fiesta has been a top seller in Europe for many years and Im glad Ford is bringing the car to the states, at least its not another gas guzzler.
I owned and raced a 1978 ford Fiesta. They were built in Germany and it was a great vehicle. I also owned several Festivas in the late eighties early nineties. That car was a mazda 2 built in Korea for Ford. They were also fun to drive and very reliable.
The Fit is a great car but it is not unbeatable! Ive owned 4 of them. DONT bash Ford for bringing what should be a great option for people that want a choice in the small car market.
Just my two cents worth.....

 

I agree! + 2 cents.

 

Well I thought the escort of the 80's and 90's in Europe was a great little car. nothing like it was here in the states. I think it will be more of the same from Ford for some unknown reason.

The fit interior is pretty dang big. I am almost 6'2" and sat in the front and put in my driving position and it was very comfortable then I sat in the back behind the pushed back front seat and I was not cramped at all. I had PLENTY of room which just amazed me. I was looking at a new mazda 3 the other day and I ran the same test and the back seat was cramped and my knees were digging into the front seat.

 

I can't report bad gas mileage at this point because I haven't truly tracked it. I'm only going by my mpg gauge and it's saying an average of 30.0, never dipping under 30 at any time yet and never getting past 31.2. But as we know, the mpg gauge is not percise, so I could be getting more or less. Can't say yet. I've only driven city at this point. Highway will come this weekend.

Sorry to sidetrack the thread.

Dan

 

I drove the mazda 3 as well. blast to drive, looked good from all but the front. mileage wasnt that good.

but, the interior was much smaller than the fit. sitting in the fit really feels like you're inside a smaller minivan. its impressive.