I agree with Uncle Gary.

Also remember we are in the U.S. where a lot of the people here are ignorant to small cars. The rest of the world has embraced small cars and their superior capabilities (Asia/Europe). As the U.S. is finally getting greener and getting over their ridiculous "bigger is better" mentality they are migrating to the more fuel efficient/practical cars.
IMO you are light years ahead of other people if you bought the Fit for your first car. Other people it takes years/multiple cars to find a car well rounded and reliable as yours. Embrace your smart decision.

 

You will use the magic seats at some point.

And actually, that's the whole point. How many people do you know that drive SUVs because they occasionally need to carry bigger stuff? The Fit gives you the SUV capacity when you need it 2 days out of the year and the other 363 days it's small and efficient.

You're not missing out on anything. I mean, you're missing out on performance and luxury, but you don't get that in any sub-$20k car.

 

Sometimes I selfishly wish for $4 gas again, so that my MPG gains would be even more cost effective

 

For us, who bought the Fit after buying a new MINI S convertible and deciding to "save" the MINI for exhuberant romping instead of daily commuting -- the Fit is as quiet as a Bentley.

As others have said about the snipers, ignore them. If the internet required brains to post, it would be deserted ... heck, not sure most of my posts on various forums wouldn't disappear using that standard.

Seriously, most in my neighborhood view the Fit and similar vehicles as great choices. Anyone who feels differently can buy what pleases them. No one has had the testiculosity to challenge me to my face about it, but I don't tend to suffer such jibes in silence.

As for other cars that get bad reactions, you ought to own a Fiat. Had a 131 once. Bought it in Virginia and shipped it to Italy. Really. After three years, brought it back to USA. Loved it. All that "Fix It Again Tony" stuff was, in my experience, BS. Mine was a gem. Only sold it at 215K when I needed more room for kids and pets, etc. When the new 500 gets here, I'll probably buy one for old time's sake.

Bill

 

I may be the exception since i live in japanophile California, but I'm pretty sure that most of the haters haven't actually driven a Fit. yea it's noisy, but it's just as noisy as any other of its competitors. Powerwise, it's pretty gutsy. In comparison, the MINI's 1.6 liter makes only 118 HP while our Fits' 1.5 liter makes 117 HP. Is the Fit really that bad? Absolutely not. Is there one area where the Fit shines? Absolutely not. That is the Honda tradition...Jack of all trades, master of none.

 

Agreed re jack and master, etc. Lest others be confused about MINI, tho, the HP figure you posted is for the base model. The S, which, somewhat to my astonishment, my wife opted for, does considerably better. "The Cooper S hatchback features a turbocharged version of the same engine that produces 172 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque (192 lb-ft at full throttle, thanks to an "overboost" function)."http://www.edmunds.com/mini/cooper/2009/review.html

The Fit, well, http://www.edmunds.com/honda/fit/2008/testdrive.html

Still, if I cared about that as much as the bashers, I wouldn't ride Guzzis. Life in a MINI or a FIT or a Guzzi or whatever makes miles of smiles for you is mighty fine. The mean-spirited carpers don't smile much. Their loss.

 

Here in Canada smaller cars rule.....what I like is there isn't many on the roads!

 

Well, these same people say if you drive a big car or a fast car then you have a little penis.

I drive a slow, tiny car. HAY LAYDEEZ

 

South Park Chinpokomon. Are You American? You must have big penis. We are very simple people with very small penis.

 

This is very true.

Case in point:
I just set my new personal record on Subic International Raceway, yet still set 12.769 km/L (30.1 mpg) with hot laps and highway cruising going to and from the track (roughly 185 km [114 mi] between Subic and Manila one-way).

The other cars at the trackday may have been more powerful and set way faster times, but they also ran out of gas before leaving for the trip home!

 

well I did buy the most expensive one, hahahha, and we love it. traded in our 2004 acura mdx for it. It was more space than we needed, and used lots more gas. I alrdy bought those expensive ass weathertech mats for it. they are great too

 

Since winter arrived this week, I'm really appreciating those Weathertech mats.

 

Man I agree with all of you. Everything you said is how I feel about the car. America is slowly coming around to the idea of small, fuel efficient vehicles, but we've got a long way to go before the ratio of big cars/suvs/trucks to small cars flips. And of course now that gas has been averaging $2.50 a gallon people are back to their old ways and buying gas guzzlers while the smaller cars sit on the lots. It amazes me that as much brain power exists in this country how stupid some of the population is. I mean, do these people not realize gas is going to go up again, not a matter of if, but when? It just kills me how reactive people here are rather than proactive. I've always driven smaller, fuel efficient cars. The Hyundai Sonata I owned was the biggest car I've ever owned, and even that thing got 30 mpg on the highway.

I get ragged on at work too, in a joking way but I know there is a bit of seriousness behind the jokes. Makes no difference to me, when gas is back up to $5 a gallon I'm going to have the last laugh, since most of my co-workers own suv's or pickup trucks. I'm going to laugh in their face when they come into work bitching and moaning like they did the last time gas shot up that high.

Spitting on someone's car, that is just beyond gross. Sounds like some stupid kid who did it out of jealousy. I can't picture anyone over the age of 18 spitting on someone else's car because they were either jealous or simply didn't like the car. It's too bad you didn't catch them in the act. I know if I did that kid would get the beat down from hell.

 

the fit is actually the same level as the base mini cooper...if you compare it with the Cooper S..then you're comparing apples to oranges...since the mini cost quite a bit more than the fit and it's turbo. the base mini and fit post similar times...with the handling favoring the mini.

 

Exactly.
The Mini might have better handling (stock) but you can always upgrade handling to lessen that gap on the Fit you can't upgrade space which the Fit wins hands down.
Plus I'll take Honda's reliability record any day.

 

I haven't driven the Mini, but I've sat in one. I'm a small guy, and even to me, getting into the Mini is like pulling on a very tight pair of jeans. I'll give up a bit of the Mini's legendary handling for the Fit's generous interior room.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitcious

the fit is actually the same level as the base mini cooper...if you compare it with the Cooper S..then you're comparing apples to oranges...since the mini cost quite a bit more than the fit and it's turbo. the base mini and fit post similar times...with the handling favoring the mini.

Uhm. I think I need to work on clarity in my posts. My point was not that the MINI is a better car -- whether comparing apples, oranges, or kumquats -- but that the Fit is a great car. We bought it to do what it does and it does that better, actually, than the MINI. We love our Fit.

And, the MINI (a convertible S model) was stunningly more expensive than I had planned to spend. In fact, I could (literally) have bought two base Fits for the cost of the MINI. But it makes Kathi grin and any married man knows how important that is.

Hmmmmmm. As for upgrading handling to anything approximating the MINI (at least on a budget that can get past a spousal unit as alert as mine!), I think I differ. I'll buy the beer for the discussion, tho, as I am quite interested in helping the Fit in that regard. Been meaning to wander through the older posts for info.

As for reliability, jury's still out, IMO. Loved our Accord and Civic, but I'd have to drink lots of the Honda Kool-Aid to believe they were as reliable as legend. Very fine cars, so don't get me wrong, and we just bought our third Honda (and, unlike my suits, dropping a size each time), but I'm still in a "wait; out" mode on that. Sure want it to be that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Gary

I haven't driven the Mini, but I've sat in one. I'm a small guy, and even to me, getting into the Mini is like pulling on a very tight pair of jeans. I'll give up a bit of the Mini's legendary handling for the Fit's generous interior room.

My wife -- unlike me -- looks quite fine in a tight pair of jeans, so what's your point? Seriously, that aspect has actually surprised me. I am 5'11" and ... erm ... way less slim than Kathi ... but I don't find getting in and out to be as painful as I had expected -- tho, yeah, that's damning with faint praise. But, once in, the MINI lots more leg and head room than one might think, too. Well, OK, so the back seats are a joke and the "trunk" (especially on the convertible) has barely enough room for one's Amex card to buy clothes along the way on any trips. But it is quite quick, a blast in the twisties, and will likely be ours until the "favorite grandkid" claims it in a few years. The smartest grandkid may, however, ask for the Fit!

 

I guess it's the extra inch that makes a difference. I'm 6'-0" and when I sat in a Mini Cooper my head was practically pressed against the ceiling. I personally could *never* buy one for that reason, alone.

 

Inexpensive "entry level car" + all the standard features + attractive looks + fuel economy = envy

 

Even my own sister-in-law dislikes my car. She calls it a "crackerbox" and a "rolling deathtrap". So what does she drive? A 1988 Pontiac Fiero.

She and my brother restore and drive Pontiac Fieros.