I think Honda did their market analysis well. And my chronic cheapness made me buy a Base Fit. I did add keyless entry and the USB interface for a total of about $260.00.

Tell me though, wouldn't you like one of those Jazzes with the glass roof and refrigerated glove box?

 

Fwiw, I would have liked a bit more poshness in the fit. Leather heated seats, auto ac, etc were things that I wanted, but a small hatchback was also what I wanted. The fit is a decent compromise.

 

Actually no - it might seem cool initially, but the car as it is has plenty enough glass, so it gets hot enough in the sun already... and would have little use for a refrigerated glove box that's really just blowing some of that already inadequate A/C into the glove box. And please no CVTs!

But there are rear disc brakes on some of the Jazz models that I'd gladly take over the TPMS sensors and VSA (but let's not go there, lest I start a huge debate again, some people here love their TPMS/VSA).

But I'm sure if Honda chose to build an Si Fit with a turbo version of the current US spec engine, they might have quite a little hot rod go kart.

 

Wow..that's weird comparison.

I own a Honda Fit Sport...and I love it. Great little car, fun to drive. But you are comparing Apples to Cashews...

The Fit is a very useable, very functional, subcompact hatch-back, with an amazing amount of configurability and a "neat" driving feel.

But even as an impressed owner, if you abandoned your Prius? And you seem to want and desire higher end creature comforts? Why are you even looking at a Fit? It is great for what it is...but it IS Honda's Sub-Compact offering.

I'm a fan of The Fit...but it sounds to me like you want more...if The Prius bothered you because of it's spartan nature...then The Fit will seem like a smaller ICE version of The Prius....

 

Ditto on that. If Civic came as a hatch I'd be on their boards annoying people.

 

Someone tell the higher-ups at Honda that... there's lots of room and demand for a Civic hatch/wagon.

You all do realize that most of those attributes can be had in a Mazda3 though, right?

 

Price, fuel economy, and that gawdawful grin on its face killed it for me. Maybe if they made the grin optional.

 

The Fit is priced so cheap there's hardly any margin left for much else to be included, so its probably reasonable to have the price go up, and fuel economy goes down as insulation and luxury adds weight... but that grin, well...

 

Every time I see a mazda coming towards me, I want to punch the driver. That just ain't right.

 

i hope honda brings over the Freed to our market. ive checked one out while i was in japan last month and it was like a Fit yet with sliding rear doors and 3rd row seats like the Maz5.

and unlike the mazduh it actually looked cool.

 

My dad has a Prius that I've driven quite a bit. I now have 2000 miles on my Fit. The Prius is very obviously a more "posh" car. Quieter, smoother, more of a bubble. But to that point, it feels numb. I enjoy everything about the Fit that is "less" than the Prius. But, this comes from a guy that drove a first gen Miata for 16 years.

For your concerns, the Fit will not be a wise choice.

 

I went to test drive the Fit again today. It is pretty noisy when you accelerate. I understand it isnt going to be Acura sounding. But, it is am econobox. It has a pretty sporty...er rough ride. It is a little package that gets the job done and leaving a wad of cash in my pocket. I think I am going to go with a fit if I can work something out with a guy selling his. I can overlook all the faults and have a wad of cash in my pocket.

 

I'm somewhat surprised no one has mentioned the upkeep costs of the Fit vs. the Lexus. Plain and simple, you can get a 18k car that gets amazing mpg, and has almost no upkeep costs for at least a fairly lengthy time; or you can get a car that is almost twice as much, has a few more luxury features, get's slightly better mpg (at most 10mpg more), and will be constantly in and out of the shop for VERY expensive repairs/maintenance within 50-80k miles. My sister-in-law has an IS250 and her brother works for a Lexus dealer and I can tell you, they're not worth their price.

To be honest, even if you get 10 mpg more with the Lexus, if you drive an average of 15k miles per year, you will only save about $347 per year, which will mean it will take 30-40 years for you to just break even on the cost of the car alone. That doesn't include the extensive upkeep costs of the Lexus either.

IMHO, I'd get either a Fit, or some other cheap small car, and save your money on the hybrids. They don't make that much of a difference in the long run, and actually can cost more if you include the batteries and such. Even if you don't want a Fit, there are many other options like the Fiesta, or others. Do some research, see what suits you best, and save yourself some cash.

 

Just an update, I decided to go with a Honda Fit. It works for me and it cheaper on insurance. Thanks for all the responses.

 

yay! let us know how you feel post-honeymoon.

First time you need to fill it with a load of stuff, it'll blow your mind. I'm annoyed how often I get called on to move people's stuff. I got rid of my Odyssey for that reason (not really, but it makes a nice story).

 

Congrats on the fit. I live in Atlanta and find the ac to be just fine, In fact one of the reasons I bought a fit was because I think it has much better ac than a yaris or corolla.

That said, the fit is rated for 25 mpg in city driving. I drive mostly short trips in the city with a lot of idling at stop lights... And I'm getting like 26 mpg. The Prius obviously excels in city.

So yes, when I go on the interstate I'm getting like 38 mpg. Which narrows the gap to Prius... But in the city that gap could be larger than you are expecting.

Make sure you get wheel locks in Chicago. And do the DIY lower grill mod.