Whats up Doc! I work in a hospital too so I can relate in a way I guess...Haven't seen a doctor with a GT-R though...Lots of Range Rovers, Porsches and BMW's.

And since I drive from San Diego to LA quite frequently, I can say that the Fit has enough power to keep up with the other cars. My normal cruising speed is 80-up but this is tolerable because I have an auto which means I cruise at 3k RPM and loud music
Going from LA to SD though is a different story. Cars usually go 90+ and the Fit is GO. Trust me, you'll love cruising in it.

 

I drive up the I-40 Old Fort Mountain grade in NC on a fairly regular basis. It has a four-mile continuous uphill section at about 8% grade, speed-limited to 55mph. I have a 2009 MT Fit and it pulls the hill OK with me, luggage, and a load of five-peoples' Xmas gifts. At worst, you might have to downshift a gear. If the speed limit was higher, probably not even then because the engine would be higher in the power. Most interstate design grades are maxed at 6%, but some like Old Fort were grand-fathered in.

 

This is now a GT-R vs Vette thread.

 

Did not mean to turn it into one at all... I respect both cars a lot.

My only point was/is: Fit is an excellent DD. Comfortable. Uber cheap to operate. Can carry a ton of stuff. Relatively safe (side/curtain airbags etc). Just don't buy it an expect crazy performance. OP says:

Dude... it's an econobox. It can merge on the freeway, other than that stock it's not going to win any laurels stoplight to stoplight. So if you want something that is still exciting (acceleration wise, comparable to the other cars you referenced) a 114hp car is probably not up your ally. But go drive an auto and a manual (if you can find one, I have a manual, think it's fun to tick through the gears but that's just me) and see if it's quick enough to get you through the day or not.

 

I HATE Corvettes and I'd still take one over a GT-R everyday of the week.

 

I like the techno-wizardy and onboard telemetry of the R35... but I love the raw driving experience of the C5/C6 Vettes, they are sharp and direct with oversteer on demand and just the noise is intoxicating.

The R35 feels like it does all that footwork for you. And it kind of does because it's missing the "man-pedal" on the left. Not only that but it's $18k for a new trans in the event you toast one. For that much you can start looking at 5 ratio dogboxes and some sequential transmissions for the Vette. I am a sucker for AWD though.

The VR38DETT and the LSx engines are both a great base to modify as well.

They both have their place, IMHO

 

Well put.

Sometimes though it's fun to be able to stab it in the corners, with an AWD and TCS, and not die.

 

I drive a Srt-4 every once in awhile but I like my fit for daily driving. Anything faster then I fit can get me in trouble. If I drove a faster car daily I would probably have a ticket by now.

 

The VR6 tranny on the R35 GT-R is hardly finicky. The issue was hyped to death by the media on account of a few isolated owners who repeatedly used the launch-control and ended up hosing their tranny as a result. Is it a perfect system? No but that's often the case with new technology. If it were truly finicky then there wouldn't be so many R35s successfully cranking 800-1000+hp through their transmissions. I respect the Corvette and actually wouldn't mind having one but I don't understand why so many Corvette owners seem to feel the need to point out something wrong with the GT-R whenever it's mentioned. I don't see too many GT-R owners calling out Corvette owners saying their car is an oversteery muscle car driven by old men, made from recycled milk bottles, and has the interior quality of a New York taxicab. In fact most GT-R owners I know like the Corvette for what it is and yet Corvette owners bang on all the time about how the GT-R is more expensive to maintain, the tranny is crap, it drives by itself, it needs a "proper manual", etc etc ad infinitum ad nauseum. At the end of the day the car scarcely matters and all the showboating of which car has what pales in comparison to the abilities of the meatbag behind the wheel. I just want to enjoy my car, whichever one floats my boat, and you can do the same.
I do agree with you about an underpowered car being a better one to learn with and that's one more reason I'm looking at the Fit. I have a modded superbike in my garage but take a fairly stock SV650 on the track with only about half the juice and a lot older tech. It's far more satisfying to pass the guy on the Ducati or MV Agusta on a cheap bike like that than on equal mounts.

Good to hear. As I said, I often have to drive in the mountains but there aren't any near enough where I live that I could get a dealer to let me take one up there to see how it gets on. Thank you for the input.

I realize it's an econobox and I probably should have been clearer on what I meant. I was more concerned with power for more practical considerations than winning at the stoplights i.e. can it handle the mountains like I asked above, can it go highway speeds without too much effort, is it quick on its feet enough for cut-and-thrust lane changes in traffic etc. With a 500hp AWD supercar in the garage I've long since accepted that most other cars will just feel mundane in comparison but competently quick and snore-inducing are two different things in my book. And the only cars I mentioned are my SUV, which I didn't say was exciting, and my GT-R - which I never hinted at the Fit being comparable to

Mostly I wanted to know is, can it still be fun? Unfortunately I don't know anyone with a Fit and they aren't available for rent so with no opportunity for any lengthier exposure than a dealer test drive I appreciate the info you guys can give.

Once again, thanks for the responses everyone!

 

That's good to know. Gonna have to see about trying a manual on the highway and see if the fuss about it lacking a true overdrive sixth is really anything. Oh, and love your sig - that's funny!

 

 

I now own a 96 escort wagon as reliable DD it has 88 hp and gets 30 mpg city and 45 mpg highway with little effort. You want to talk bout slow, my escort defines it. In comparision my fit is my peppy weekend car, that currently needs to be torn apart to investigate coolant loss. Driving that escort makes my fit feel like a corner carving rocket so i can't imagine what the fit will make the gtr feel like. Anyway the fit has plenty of power.

 

+reps to you for two of my favorite Mopars.

My Omni. Econobox.../fast weekend car.

 

That GLH is in amazing shape. You don't see many Omni's anymore, let alone a true GLH! Nice keep! Mark W.

 

Those Shelby turbo's ruled back in the 80's and 90's cuz everyone was V8 oriented and the turbo was "new technology" I had a 87 shelby Charger 5spd. and it was Ffffast it took the v8's back then!
Yours is in exceptional shape!

 

my fast car that used to be my daily driver, and is now my weekend car is a 1999 honda accord coupe. i swapped out the motor and turbocharged it running at about 330hp . ask me why i did it? lol because everyone around where im from own STI's, EVO's or civic's. i like to be different!

 

Thanks

The Fit Sport in auto isn't as bad either. I paddle shift everyday and it doesn't get old. I'm sure you can attest since you drive one. It shifts pretty quick and downshift isnt't as bad either. Plug in a throttle controller and it works wonders!

 

Currently shopping for a '10 Grand Sport to add to the stable. Overall I've been very pleased with the Fit as a winter beater but would definitely recommend the manual trans. Other "DD" type vehicles are a 95 Impala and 06 Dodge Cummins.

 

OP: The fit has ample power for the mountains when fully laden with gear. When I go home from phoenix, I start at 1000', go up to 5000', down to 3000', then up to 7000', and have no issue. The car will spin at 5500 rpm in 3rd gear up the long grades to keep you at 80, but there is no problem getting it or keeping it there.

 

We don't have it... YET but we are hoping for my Father-in-law's 1969 Shelby GT500. He's the original owner. ~Sigh

Our sporty car right now is the fit. I miss my GS-R and my wife misses her Civic Coupe but the fit was a necessary.



~SB