I'm not certain I'd buy a Fit again. It's a great car, but I'd strongly consider something a bit more accomodating of long legs. Anyway...

Civic Sedan: Great choice - less trunk space, but having owned a Civic sedan, I don't think you'd miss it most of the time. Would you have access to a second vehicle for hauling stuff? The Fit is decent for hauling, but no match for an SUV or minivan, and nowhere near a pickup. If you have access to these, the seat-flipping storage for occasional use is probably irrelevant.

Scion: I almost bought a Scion xB back on '06. I didn't like the new version when I test drove it. The Scion tC looks like great fun, but you specified 4 doors. I don't know much about the new xA.

Nissan Sentra: Great car, terrific on the highway (you say you live in the boonies). It's a bit more "buick-esque" than the Hondas.

Nissan will have a new car (The Juke) coming in at a bit under 20K, and offering beaucoup power compared to a Fit (188 hp). Might be worth looking into if you can put off the purchase.

I wouldn't touch a Kia with a 10 foot pole.

The Fiesta looks promising, but doesn't offer much that seems that different than a Fit.

No replacement for sitting in lots of different cars... will there be an auto show near you any time soon that you can check out (and butt-test just about every car in existance) one weekend?

 

yup, keep in mind that you buy a car to drive, not to make money; the fit has a high resale value. it handles well, and does all the things you need it do well enough. most other cars mentioned are very stylized, they wont look too good after a while, ie. pt cruiser and new beetle. the fit looks nice not great, but it will still make sense later.

 

Thanks for all of the awesome comments! I really am taking them to heart.

The Nav is purely for the VSA, and the 0.9% for 2010 models is motivating the accountant (my wife) I would bet that I'll remove it before I'd ever upgrade the software.

No real worries on fitting the fit for me, I'm a gigantic 5'7" and my stubby legs fit nicely in anything made in Japan from the 60s on... Now my 5'10" wife (who has LONG sticks) may not like it as much, oh well that's why it's mine...

I think my biggest concern is that my '94 Civic was a modders dream car. Lots of tweaks and shiny parts that you can make it personal with. I owned it while I was a soldier, and never really focused on doing anything with it. I'm kind of planning on keeping this fella for many years and tweaking it to the 9's, for me. I just want to make sure that I'm not missing something. Oh and I do have a weird thing for hatchbacks, I think they are purty...

As far as speed, I'm not too worried. I've found plenty of go fast parts for the 2010, plus I don't see me running the dirt tracks around here with it. Pretty-shiny and handling will be my focuses.

Thursday I have a test drive date, and Saturday (barring anything odd) I will be buying my new Fit...

Monday the plotting for mods will begin...

Mucho thanks guys. Keep the thoughts coming please, I am really still thinking.



Oh, as an FYI, the Fiesta was nice, but it just didn't feel right. They got the luxury idea right, but the execution is still not all there. Steering was nifty, very Golf like, but the interior was very Kia like, parts just didn't match right. Plus I'm not fully sworn on the reliability after my 06 Explorer which I had in the shop WAY too many times. Maybe the 2012 model...

 

I got the .9% and my bank account loves it lol

 

I dont think she'll have any issues. I'm 6'1" with long stick legs, put 29,000 mi on the Fit the first year (ie I drive a LOT) and have no complaints on comfort.

Marrying girl taller than you= win

 

Sh*t son, if the 2011 ford mustang v6 was available back in may of 2009 there's not a chance in hell I'd be drivinig a fit. Yet it was not, so you gotta love what you got. Every other day I wish for a deer to hop in front of my fit. Or a tornado to come and take it away. Or maybe a rear end collision with frame damage. I've depreciated my fit so much with my 'mods' the only way I'm going to get out of this thing is via insurance. But domestics do deprciate badly, so the game plan is keep the fit and buy the 2011 mustang in 2015. Who knows, maybe gas will be free and I can get a gt :/ I regret overemphasizing thrift and reliability when I was looking for a vehicle back then in 2009 I guess I was worried I would lose my job at the time, never happened.

 

If I had to do it again... YES I would. If I had more $$ saved up however It'd be a Civic Si Sedan.

We had the option of looking at a Fit NAVI but opted not to go with it. Especially with cell phones now coming with Navigation (better navi than the fit's unit) and the lack of built in bluetooth for the Fit, the VSA for $2K more isn't really worth it. If you wait for the 2011 models, you'll see VSA available on all sports.

I'd recommend a 2011 Sport Non-Navi at this point and save yourself the $2k to put in an aftermarket setup. (especially since you are already going to go with a Parrot BT Install.) Pick up the MKi9200 Parrot for all of your Bluetooth/iPod/iPhone needs and then go top of the line Garmin Nuvi (3790T ?) Add on a Valentine1 with Concealed display.

Nuvi - $450
Parrot - $230
V1 - $440

Much better overall system with $900 saved.

one other thing to remember is that if you plan on keeping this car for a number of years, the Navi will be SERIOUSLY outdated in about 4-5 years and you have to purchase new maps. With the NUVI, your maps are free (on certain models) and even if you have to pay, they will be way more updated than Honda navi Maps. (and updated more regularly). You can also place the Navi in a better location than the dash such as in the corner Window so it is more readily visible and you don't have to take your eyes off the road.

With the leftover $900, you can upgrade the Wheels & Tires for lighter ones which will improve fuel economy and performance (and style). The Stock Navi for 2011 has lost any of the value it had when VSA became standard on the sport.

~SB

 

Those options don't exist in the states, like I said, for power modes, it's a joke.

 

Specboy, you make some seriously good points...I could even skip the Valentine (sadly I rarely speed anymore) and save more cash.

Nightroad, my first car was a '68 fastback that I rebuilt from ground up, so I am completely with you on the new Mustang. My biggest worries about them are entirely related to the luck I had with my '06 Exploder.

It was my first foray into a new "American made" car, and I blew the AC Compressor, pressure cracked the radiator, fried the CPU, threw two belts on the transmission (two separate trips to the shop), and had two warranty recalls -all- within the first 3 years. All of it was under warranty mind you, but I wasn't really impressed. My service guy is really nice though.

On all of my Hondas, the most I have ever spent on repairs has been on brakes when my lovely long legged bride forgets to remind me that her brakes are squealing...

 

Point. However, I wouldn't be surprised if someone figures out a way to shoehorn in a K series or some other ungodly HP generating monster into one of our cars at some point... Back in the 80's not too many people in America bothered with messing around with import cars...

'Cause they are just for economy right...

 

I'd definitely do it again, it's a fun car to drive and the awesome cargo capacity has come in handy many times for me already since I got it. It's just a great car that just does its job well and makes it fun, at a great price. I still haven't gotten bored of it yet hehe

 

You rarely speed anymore Everyone speeds... not necessarily doing 90 in a 65 but most people speed doing 45 in a 35 or 35 in a 25. That's where the V1 has saved me most. (Primarily when I don't see the sign change) I'm practically never above 75 anymore (wouldn't want to be in the fit with all the cabin noise).

As for the Navi. I'll probably leave my current phone (Samsung Omnia with Garmin installed) in one of the cars strictly as Navigation and use the Fascinate (when I get it) as my new phone/google Navi/etc... My wife wants to get a dedicated Navi solution though such as a Nuvi.

As for the Mustang talk... My wife and I are hoping that we get my Father-in-Law's 69 Shelby GT500 (pics are through my sig photo on CarDomain). he's the original owner .

~SB

 

2003 GMC Sonoma - dead battery, blown out cooling system (leading to loss of heater in 10 degree weather), the unmistakable sound of pieces falling off at highway speeds. All in 3 yrs, less than 20k miles.

 

As for the Mustang talk... My wife and I are hoping that we get my Father-in-Law's 69 Shelby GT500 (pics are through my sig photo on CarDomain). he's the original owner .


Envy!!!

I miss my Mustang from time to time, but my lack of speeding tickets (and associated lawyers fees) remind me that its for the best. Plus I sold mine to a really good guy who has it still (22 years later) and keeps it in great condition.
Last time in St Louis I saw him out and about.

Occam

Yeah, when GM went bankrupt, I wasn't exactly surprised. There is a reason Honda and Toyota and even Hyundai are doing well. Make good stuff at a good price, and it business follows. I have a theory on "MBAitis" screwing up perfectly good companies.

Years ago I worked with cars on a daily basis and my biggest pains were Chrysler products. Be it national recalls on fuel pumps or dashes bursting into flames, or engines seizing while operating, I lost a lot of love in that company. They make some of the best looking cars on the road, and I'll never own one...

 

I would buy the Fit again, BUT, if modding it were my goal, the Civic has a lot more aftermarket support. The Fiesta is so new to the Americas that there will probably be little available for years. The Fiesta/Mazda 2 was my second choice, but I would be giving up much interior space. Versa has the utility at a lower price, but so UGLY, known as a Renault in the rest of the world because it is not really a Japanese Nissan design.

 

The deal is done!

I have a BSP Sport Navi on the way. Apparently one of the last 10's off the boat...

THANK YOU ALL for your discussion. It helped solidify my feelings.

Had to go to 2 dealerships though, one of them was apparently not interested in selling a car. The other one was ready.

 

Excellent, you'll love it! It's hard for me not to grin every time I drive mine. I actually went to the dealership intending to buy a Civic SI Coupe, and just asked to drive a Fit out of curiosity. Came home with the Fit. It was just more fun to drive, especially the handling.

Did you get MT or AT? I had been driving an AT Accord for about 5 years, since my MT Accord was totalled and I traded with the wife and got her an Odyssey. It's nice to finally get a stick back again. Just wish the Fit had a 6th gear for the highway. But it's not bad if you don't obsess about the rpm's at 70 mph and just remember Honda's race heritage.

+1 for the color choice. Just be warned, it shows scratches pretty easily. Definitely only hand wash it.

 

if i had to do it again, i might just do the Honda Element for the engine... but it does weigh 1,000 pounds more.. so its a tough decision. scion xB was my second choice when i was buying this car.

the reason behind this was because of the window tinting laws.. i like how those cars you can black out the back completely, but on the honda fit its not exactly legal to get dark tint for the back windows and the rear.. i might just end up doing it anyways tho

 

In a heartbeat, yes, yes, and yes.
I've got 3 cars a Civic Hybrid and a Supra turbo, if I want fast I do the Supra (with 450 hp it does that well), if I want gas mileage I do the hybrid (47-50 mpg usually.
If I want everything else I do the Fit, we take it everywhere. My wife and I love just about every aspect of it, the functionality, the mpg, ease of use, looks, color, etc. For us it was a great choice.
I just hope that it gives us the reliabilty that the HCH has, we have 200,000 miles on it and literally have done nothing except routine maintenance, brakes even still have plenty of pad.

 

I had a 2006 Element for three years before buying the Fit.

18-19 city, 22-23 highway with the 5MT. Sloppy handling. Louder than the Fit inside. Less legroom. About equally slow.

On the plus side, the cargo space is great. While the Fit has about 85% of the Element's cargo space with the backseats in place, and about 79% with them folded, the cargo space is much more accessible in the Element, the floor is more rugged, and the tailgate can be used to help support large objects.