To make a long story short. I sold my 2010 Prius for a good amount of money. With the Prius, I didn't like the road noise, constant alignment issues, and rattle that couldn't get fixed. Some of these things might be the 17 wheels I put on there. I loved the MPG and the versatility of a hatchback though.

So, I am now in the market for a new car. I found a used 2011 Honda Fit Sport Navi with 2,500 miles on it. The dealer is selling it for $17,000. With taxes and fees it will be $18,400. It is in excellent condition and was traded in to get something different. Is this a good price? According to TrueCar the dealer cost is $19,124. My issues with it is that it doesn't have bluetooth or backup camera. It is an easy car to park, but I am just spoiled with a backup camera. I read it gets pretty good gas mileage and fun to drive. I have test driven one and think they are pretty fun around the city.

On the other side of the spectrum I am thinking of a Lexus CT. I know it cost almost double than a Fit Sport. It has the same engine as the Prius, but gets good MPG. The interior is nice and less hard plastics. It is more sporty to drive and quieter than the Prius on the highway. I would be getting the base model and only option would be a moonroof. It comes standard with bluetooth. They are selling for $31,775 and with taxes and fees it would be $33,000.

I am torn with buying the Fit or the Lexus. I will be paying cash and wondering if I should buy the Fit and keep $14,600 in my pocket. Or just get the Lexus CT. I take public transportation to work and would just drive it during the evenings and weekends. Is that a good price on a barely used 2011 Fit Sport Navi? Or should I just get the Lexus CT?

 

Never understood the appeal of hybrids - for less money and less things to fix later on (those batteries are NOT cheap), you can get a Fit or other cards that get very good MPG too, and the money you save buys you YEARS of gas to run the car even.

The CT is going to be slower than your Prius even, although it might have some sporty feel to it. Bluetooth is nice, but how about just not talking on the phone period when you're driving? Even with Bluetooth, having a phone conversation while driving is still a distraction, if you ask me.

I do get the backup camera - if you're in the city and constantly parking in tight spots, it doesn't hurt any having one.

 

I was in a rental 2011 Prius (low end model) for a week this year (courtesy of GM and Hertz while my wife's car was repaired).

Fits have more road noise and rattles than Priuses (Prii?) but are more fun to drive. Prius has more interior room and better A/C. Fits have no rear wheel alignment adjustment (simple torsion beam rear suspension). Some Fit owners are annoyed the rear toe is out of adjustment and there is nothing they can do about it.

If you bagged the Prius because of annoying noises, I think the Fit will drive you over the edge.

 

^^^I have to agree with Steve.

 

True on the price difference of a hybrid and a conventional car. With the difference it will take many many years to recoup the difference. But, besides the MPG I choose to have a hybrid because of my carbon footprint, emissions, and my dependency of foreign oil. I have had a Prius since 2005 and swear by them. They are great cars and I have never had anything wrong with them. The battery issue is non existent. They carry a 8 year hybrid warranty and in some states 10 or 12 year warranty. Very few people have had to replace their battery. And even if you are out of warranty they will good will it to keep the hybrid movement going.

The Prius is surprisingly quick and it has the different modes (eco, normal, and power). I don't need anything that goes fast. Just something that gets me to where I need to go in relative comfort. I don't drive to work anymore and take public transportation. My problem was probably the 17" wheels on it instead of the stock 15s that came with it. I would just be using it to run errands and such during the evening or weekends. The Honda Fit is a great car to tool around the city in. I might take it on an occasional road trip in it. I am just trying to decide if I should fill the urge of paying and driving a Lexus. Or make the financial sound decision in getting a Fit and just saving the money.

 

I wear ear plugs when I drive my fit

 

I appreciate the information. All the comments are helping me deciding on what to do.

 

But, I was relieved to turn in the Prius after a week. The center display annoyed me (and I'm a geek); I want dials in front of me. The Prius felt numb. But as a commuter cocoon the Prius is a better car. The automatic and effective A/C is almost worth it...

edit:
I only paid $15,500 (plus TTT) on an 09base auto, new. Paying $25K for a Prius wasn't a consideration no matter how good MPG it got. The Fit gives me 32-35mpg in metro Atlanta driving 50miles RT daily. Road trips will take it up to 38+MPG (on regular gas ). It makes economic sense and has a small carbon footprint.

 

You know I've always thought the fit had excellent ac. I'll admit the tints help alot, tints are a must where I live. But I will say the fit makes alot of road noise, on smooth road or freshly paved asfault it's quite, the second you get on a bumpy street, it's almost as if you had your head inside the wheel well

 

Given that, and noise issues you had with your Prius, did you ever consider the Chevy Volt? You might almost never use gas again given just rides to the station and nearby home. I would think it might be a better option than the Lexus? Since budget/cost doesn't seem to be the only concern, and you can get the credit on the Volt to offset its price.

 

The center speedometer took a little to get use to. But, having a digital display was easier to read since it was at to the top of the dash opposed to looking down. There is no doubt the Honda Fit is bang for you buck. As are any other Honda product.

 

I thought about the Chevy Volt and the Nissan leaf. The problem is that I park on the street and not able to install a charging unit. Otherwise the Chevy Volt would be a contender.

 

Would say the same as others - the noise and lack of refinement in some ways in the Fit might be a factor for you to consider. Its certainly a lively little car, and can carry a ton of stuff too. I just have the stereo playing and don't really focus on the noise - which isn't necessarily terrible, but its nowhere near a silent ride.

 

Exbauer, if you are planning to get the FIT and parking the car outside and living in Chicago. Just plan to get Wheel Locks for your rims. I'm not sure if you read the article about the FIT wheels are getting jack every chicagoland area. bunch of thieves!

 

here it is....

Thieves Targeting Wheels Of Honda Fits « CBS Chicago

 

I've found the fit to be rather noisy. Lots of road noise, engine noise, so far not many rattles from the car itself though. Compared to the prius that I've ridden in/driven, its a world of difference. If you think the prius is too noisy, I can't see you thinking the fit is even acceptable. In addition, the ride isn't all that great and the seats are marginal to a lot of people.

Backing up the fit is pretty easy, even without a camera. The rear window is big, and easy to see out of. Generally, I haven't seen a need for a backup camera. I personally don't talk on the phone while driving, so bluetooth for me is a waste.

In choosing between the two you mention, for me, it wouldn't make a lot of sense to spend a bunch on a car I wasn't going to drive often. Better performance doesn't make that much of a difference 99% of the time, as you're stuck in traffic or just going the speed limit. So I'd just keep the extra cash and live with the fit's limitations.

I'd also look into something like zipcar if you really do only want a weekend car.

 

The Lexus is very sporty looking and I wish Fits came with leather seats. Personally I would save my money in this economy.

 

are you into wasting money?

honestly your comparsion is apples to oranges. you need to focus what your priorities are.

 

It's a bit of a problem in the American market. Manufacturers like Honda are making their economy cars less posh in order not to cannibalize sales of bigger more profitable cars.

I didn't want faux sportiness of the Sport. What I really wanted was an EX model Fit with cruise, better sound insulation, better interior materials (plastic and carpeting) and maybe automatic A/C. The Euro Jazz is a good example. I would have been happy paying a couple grand more for features that were important to me.

It forces you to decide between the luxury of a different model and the frugality of the USDM Fit.

I did sit in an Insight and made vroom vroom noises. Never got as far as a test drive (it wasn't out I think, in 09.) That might be an alternative. I didn't care for the loss of cargo space and poor rear seat headroom. Economically the extra 3grand for an Insight still doesn't get paid for in MPG. But it's damn close (and it has automatic A/C).

The CRZ might also be tasty if you don't have family or too many friends.

 

The Sport's faux sportiness certainly sells the car... although I have to admit the paddle shifters on the auto doesn't do to much. If only they'd eliminate the shifting up automatically and let it hang in gear with high revs.

I don't quite understand wanting luxury in an econocar though - the idea of an EX-L Civic baffles me. I guess the Fit could use better sound insulation and materials, but automatic A/C is again something beyond me. Cloth seats are plenty fine and don't get toasty in sun or as cold in the dead of winter, and I can control the A/C myself well enough... but I wouldn't mind a more powerful/cooler A/C unit.

So better materials/build quality, yes, but luxury in a Fit? Ummm no thanks, at least, not for me.