Next Saturday, 24th, I'm flying to Austin, TX to buy an '09 Fit Sport Manual Navi. I live in Colorado and will be driving it back. From what I understand, constant speeds and constant gear use aren't great for a new engine/tranny. I don't really have a choice, I need to get home some time on Sunday. I'm looking at about two six hour drives for the first miles on the car.

Anything I should keep in mind or consider for the drive home? I'd like to keep this car for a minimum of 10 years. I'd like to get the best mileage I can for the life of the car. Will these first two days be a big deal?

 

No problem. Just vary your highway speeds. i.e. from 70 mph to 90 mph and in between. Or, keep a constant vehicle speed and downshift to 4th for a while.

 

don't use cruise and vary your speed. don't stay at a constant
speed.

 

Not to worry, no need to vary speeds or rpm's. This is a modern engine, just drive it!

 

I think Honda engineers will disagree with you, read your manual.

I'm not saying it will destroy your engine if you don't break it in properly, but there is a reason why the manual has break-in instructions. Beating a dead horse with this topic though.

 

I'll beat your horse!

 

just curious, why are you having to come down here to TX to get a FIT, is there a shortage in CO ? Don't get me wrong, glad to have your money in our great state, just curious.

 

Honda will no longer offer the Navi Sport in a manual transmission in 2010. There are none in CO. Had to find one somewhere!

 

I did not know that, how strange. Do they thing people with man trans don't need nav for some reason ?

 

I think, in general, manual transmissions are going the way of the buggy whip. Few people even know how to drive them, and fewer still want to, once you get outside the domain of the "car enthusiast".

Let's not forget, auto transmissions are sold at a considerable upcharge, much of it profit for the dealer and manufacturer. Does it really cost Honda $850 MORE to build an auto transmission than a manual and clutch?

 

I believe so. The Auto trans is more complicated with more that can go wrong as well, extra electronics for shifting control along with solenoids, extra plumbing for trans cooler (in addition to a different radiator for that cooler), more crap inside the trans. In addition to the fact that all the gears and shafts are different. The manual transmission is extremely simple in comparison.

"Before April 2006, all vehicles sold with an L-series engine will have had a 5-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic available. However, the introduction of the Fit in Canada and the United States will be the first time an L-series engine has been mated to a traditional automatic transmission with a torque converter."

So Manual is the cheapest, CVT is the most expensive and Auto trans slush box was added for the North American market, likely because many people wouldn't care or spend the money for CVT, and because most Americans prefer auto trans slush boxes.

Also look at the difference in the OEM parts lists for the MT vs the AT, the differential is different, the countershaft and all the gears are different, the housing etc. The AT has a lot more parts by comparison, and they only added the slushbox option for the North American market. So yeah I believe it really does cost more than the standard manual transmission.

 

Only in the states. Everywhere else in the world, manuals rule.

 

i kinda babied my black one... lol. 3500miles