A buddy drove a LWB Land Rover, powered by a 70-odd horsepower Diesel, from Alaska to Westsylvania. Actually, his wife drove it, as he was driving the Disco Rover towing a trailer. Not enough ass to stay ahead of trucks, iffy brakes, and 2.5 tons of Brit metal to move. It was a long trip.
Moon

 

I just got my Fit yesterday, and I'm still breaking it in, so I haven't pushed it. That said, my experience with it has been fun so far. It's a 1.5L in an economy car... it's quick enough, but it's not a sports car by any means. I followed my wife home from the dealer, and when she put her foot down in her Jetta (2.5L 5 cylinder), I laughed to myself because I knew I couldn't keep up. I knew the Fit would be a little sluggish stock, and that's fine by me...I'm glad to finally have something that makes my '96 Firebird fast in comparison, because it can't keep up with the Jetta either.

 

Wait until she goes around turn. You'll be able to catch up easily.
We have a Acura TSX 2.4l (205hp) that my wife drives as her DD. Yes in a straight line she pulls away but as soon as the twisties come I'm right on her butt.

 

Oh yes, the Jetta definitely corners like the A-team van.

 

Are you guys kidding? The Jetta handles great. In fact, you can carry much much more speed around a jug handle or off ramp than you can in the fit. I'd say it's a much much better highway car as well. I mean, look at physics! The Jetta isn't a tall sided econo-box and feels like it has a lot lower center of gravity. It's also got wider tires, more grip, and a stiffer, sportier suspension. My ex of a few years had one on a 3 year lease and I got to drive it a lot. If it wasn't for the fact that it's such a chick car, that I hated that 2.5l 5-cyl engine, and fuel economy, I honestly may have gotten the jetta base model over the Fit. They were very close in price after cash for clunkers.

Being a fit owner, I enjoy reading this forum and people talking up their cars, however, the fit doesn't touch any entry level German/euro vehicle that's sold in the USA. Well, maybe a smart car. Saying the Jetta handles like a 20-30 year old GM van is ridiculous. Lets keep it real here guys. Don't let your heads get to big.

And I'll apologize in advance to you Socialvegetable because I was reading a thread the other day where someone was blabbing about spending thousands of dollars to upgrade their fit so it would beat an entry level BMW or Audi, etc and how after he did so, he'd laugh in the face of the 'rich guy' driving it as he looks embarrassed to his significant other in the passenger seat. For real? #1, you don't have to be rich to drive a German car. They can be had for less than everyone here bought their fit for. #2, even if, say, someone here had a honda fit faster than my m coupe (which is not entry level), I would not a) feel embarrassed or b) even notice. You know why? Because i don't go around racing honda hatchbacks or civics. That's how idiots erase themselves from the world through natural selection. #3, Why is there a hatred for people with so called nicer cars than yours? It goes both ways. Hondas are associated with idiot high school kids and, shall we say, our friends from south of the boarder with extremely bad tastes in mods. 'Fart Can' mufflers are an embarrassment. It goes both ways fellas.

That shall end my rant. Stay classy Fit owners.

 

I must confess, Saturday I had the chance to test drive a 2010 Civic Si. With 197 HP, that car was pretty fast.

 

No doubt, the Jetta is a hustler and a better highway car, but our totally stock base Jetta feels like a sedan in tight corners. I wasn't calling the Jetta slow in any way, but in my limited experience so far, the Fit seems able to carve through corners pretty nimbly. My morning commute is full of s-curves and such, and while my Firebird was in the shop while back, I'd been driving the Jetta to work. The difference between the two was clear, as it should have been. The Jetta's fun to drive, but it feels like a big car, IMO.

 

especially with this cooler weather i dont think my FitS is slow by any means.

 

We just happen to have a Jetta, Firebird, and Acura here and if you caught your wife in a curve she was applying makeup in the rearview mirror.
The Fit is not fast by overall standards biut it is still by far the best driver in the subcompact class and a lot of more powerful classes including Mercedes Bulk has its demerits.. And if you downshift a couple of gears you can catch a Camaro asleep. But don't think about taking on even a Monte Carlo if its alert. And they will take advantage mostly out of jealousy which is why you need to be alert to the Fit's slowness.
Sometimes fast isn't the point, its enjoyment as a lot of posters have said.. And not the least when you fill the tank.
The aforementioned cars require effort around town to get 20 mpg and the Firebird has no chance.

 

LOL...I guess that might be true if you don't consider all of the ridiculous repairs you'll have to make

 

hahahaha, true that!

 

Keep in mind that there are people here that may take offense to your uninformed comments. This is a community intended for people to help each other, discuss maintenance and modifications, and potentially to get to know one another as friends. It is not intended for perpetuation of false stereotypes or trolling. I have a German car and a Honda Fit to daily drive for purposes of inexpensive maintenance (which you have noted), fuel economy, overall low cost of ownership, and the fact that I could care less if it gets bumped 10 times a day while parallel parked in Philadelphia. Don't think that there aren't others here that may take offense to your comments, which, for the record, are off the mark. You don't see your kind of behavior on the BMW message boards.

 

Nice rant..but a little over the top. First off this is FWD vs FWD in handling not your typical rwd sports cars we are talking about.
All I was stating in my original post was that yes the Jetta is a faster car but just like my TSX it is also almost 1000lbs more than the Fit. Its basic physics...esp. fwd vs fwd the lighter cars usually handle better. I had 260 hp Acura CL-S with suspension and I still think the Fit stock out handles that car around turns and so did my 95 Integra. My fit is lowered so it helps to lower the center of gravity even more. You should understand this with your M. Who would handle better your m coupe w/ 300hp (Est. weight 3000lbs) or a BMW 750Li with 400hp (weight 4600lbs)? Think about it....its not all about hp.

We are not saying the Jetta is a bad car what so ever. All I am stating the fit is just a smidge better at handling especially on slower sharp turns. We all know when they get out of the turn...the Jetta or TSX or whatever the faster car is will leave the Fit...but thats not really why we bought the Fit is it?

 

uninformed? guess again, i use to have MINI that had failures constantly that the dealer could not fix 4x in a row.

i only post from experience and that was reality.
if you're offended that your car is not reliable, then
you shouldn't be driving one. euro cars are fabulous
while they run. it's just part of euro car ownership.

 

I wasn't really blowing up at you in particular, it's just a bunch of high school idiots hating on anything that's not a Honda and insulting members of their own forum in here (not you, the other thread). I hear your argument, but the Jetta doesn't handle like a freaking bus or van or suv, and yes, people were saying it's a bad car. I definitely don't agree with you that a jetta doesn't out-handle a Fit having driven both a lot, but if you are going to use the word 'smidge', I can agree to disagree. Props for understanding power to weight ratio.

 

I've had 2 M Coupes, a 1999 and a 2001 over a period of nearly 4 years...both are nearing 10 years old.

My 'Repair' bill: $0

My Mod Bill: don't want to talk about it.

What's your point again? Nothing has broke. Are you referring to maintenance? DIY homie. Everyone will have their experiences. Sorry yours were bad.

 

It's not like the reliability numbers are made up...
A snapshot of cars' long-term reliability

 

Is this your first day on the internet? Grow some balls and cope, not everyone needs to share your opinion.

 

Everyone knows VW and Audi make cars that are terribly unreliable and costly to maintain. That's about as common knowledge as the fact that Honda and Toyota are very reliable. Please don't generalize or classify all German/Eurocars on the fact that VW is the worst in a category. Your point is not proven because VW is the only euro manufacturer on the list.

 

:::yawn:::.