My previous car -- a 2009 Mercedes Benz E350 -- lease was ending this year and I had to get something else. I didn't want another lease, didn't want to have to buy premium gas, didn't want a gas guzzler, and had to have something with some cargo space and could be towed 4 wheels down. I have a motorcoach and was limited to certain vehicles that could be towed 4 wheels down without complications (of ruining the transmission, etc.). The Honda Fit and the CRV too were the two Honda's that would tow 4 down. I chose the Fit because the 2012 CRV is a total revision and would be priced tight. Plus, the availability is delayed. That left me with the Fit.

I'm excited to have chosen this 2012 Fit Sport with automatic transmission. I really like this car. I wish it got better gas mileage as I find I have to drive 60 mph on the interstate to actually get 37 mpg or more. I don't mind driving slower anyway as I don't like being in the rat race on the interstate among all the testosterone crazed male drivers.

The biggest adjustment is that it only takes just a tiny amount of foot pressure on the accelerator. It takes a few days to learn just how much and avoid revving into a higher gear or passing gear. The object is to let it go through it's gears naturally without skipping to the fast ones. You got to learn to be patient and don't race the other traffic. Once you learn that you can get some economy out of this car. Then it becomes a little game you play with the gas pump.

Having come from a luxury car to a Fit that lists for one-third of what the Mercedes listed for surprised me that I would find such comfort. In some ways this little car is more comfortable than the Mercedes. The German car was really causing me some problems adjusting for the past 3 years to the driver's seat. I found myself not knowing how to sit properly in that car. I don't have that problem with the Fit --- although it's a tight "fit" for me since I am 6'4" tall. Fortunately, I am lanky and not overweight much. I have a friend who is about my height and weighs perhaps 75 pounds more than me. His knees almost touch the glove box. Because of that he prefers to drive whenever we go places together. Hey, saves me gas!

Things I really like:

1) Quietness on the highway
2) iPod connection in the upper glove box and the awesome iPod sound coming through the multiple speakers and sub. Love the ability from the steering when to change tracks and control volume. Also, like it that I can change playlists from the radio.
3) Quality build is great -- no complaints other than some rattle I haven't found yet coming from the spare tire area.
4) Lots of luxury features on this car that you don't typically find on a cheaper model such as the Fit is.
5) Ease of putting rear seats down for storage --- great.
6) I don't experience the "hunting" others cited while driving this car, but then I am driving on relatively flat roads.
7) Tiny engine actually seems to perform pretty good, but having a hard time adapting from my former 0-60 in a few seconds. Now I just have to take it easy or burn my gas needlessly.
8) Headlights and fog lights are pretty good.
9) Love the blue dials inside the car at night. Ambient lighting is better than expected.
10) Good ventilation system and AC/heat. Fairly easy to defog windows even though the car does not have climate control.
11) The exterior color -- alabaster silver -- easy to cool in summer. Don't give me black --- would never cool down.

I hope this car holds its value well. I expect to drive it for 4-5 years. I've spent $1,200+ having a base plate and towing apparatus installed on the front end of my car. Most of that would be lost if I traded.

Things I don't like about the 2012 Fit:

1) Fuel filler door does not lock and release from inside car.
2) Due to all the windows it's hard not to get burned by the sun bearing in on driver. Will have to get some tinting of some kind.
3) Sun visors are small and not very versatile -- especially on the driver's window when the sun comes through right at my left ear.
4) Rear view mirror -- not auto dimming. Hard to overcome this feature I've enjoyed (plus side mirrors) on many luxury cars in the past. But Amazon has a nice rear auto dimming mirror one can get installed which has compass and outside temp on it too for about $150.
5) Car has some blind spots and you just have to adjust your side mirrors carefully and look over your shoulders carefully.
6) Small tires and suspension don't absorb pot holes and other road defects, but then this is what you get with a cheaper car. It does pretty good though.
7) Would like about 3 more inches of legroom for driver and front passenger. But, I'm really really tall. Wish I was 5'9" instead of 6'4".
8) Costs nearly the same for me to insure ($600 a year) vs. the Mercedes I previously had which cost 3 times the Fit. I just pray no one hits me, but like all the air bags surrounding me.
9) Black cloth seats will be hot as hell in the summer. Get shocked getting out of car in winter due to static electricity. Seats pick up grass, etc. from dog's paws going into car. Have to vacuum often.

Overall I think the Fit is a great little car. It's ugly as hell, but very functional. Never thought I would be driving a car with a visor like overhang over the rear window. They are ugly on the Lexus RX-300's and all the cars that copied them. Just tacky, but hey --- it's a cheap little car. May as well be tacky, but eats little gas and sort of cute even though ugly. What could be worse? Having an ugly wife.

 

Oh how could I forget -- another thing I don't like about the Honda Fit!

The horn sucks! It's an annoying little horn and not very loud it seems. I would love an air horn to wake up some drivers. I used to have a pickup truck with an air horn and when I blew it at a female driver texting at the traffic light (failing to see it's now green!) you could literally see her shoulders rise above the headrest (thinking perhaps a big dump truck was about to plow into her rear (car rear that is).

Have any of you replaced your horn on the Fit? With what? What will fit in that tiny engine area?

 

That rattle in the back, I suspect 1 of 2 things. The little bag with the jack tools might be making noise, you have to tighten the strap on the bag as tight as you can. Also the jack itself lines up in a notch between the spare tire and back of car. You have to make sure its not upside down then twist it so it jacks up tightly. When I got my car the jack was just sitting there on its side making all kinds of noise.

 

Thanks Matt -- I'll check it out.

 

A lot of people around here choose an Accord horn as a replacement, as it's plug-and-play and cheap.

Thread located here:
https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...rn-ge-fit.html

I haven't done this yet but plan to, as I also HATE the stock horn. I've had air horns on some of my previous cars and loved them but don't want to hack up wiring on this one and would rather touch as little as possible.

 

To each their own. I LOVE the horn! Seems to suit the Fit perfectly.

 

I also came from a luxury car. I recommend the cipa auto dimming mirror and the clazzio PVC or leather seat covers

 

lmao..if you think the Fit has blind spots???? you're nuts of blind yourself.
with all the windows, it's probably one of the easiest cars to drive for beginners.

 

First, let me congratulate you on your new purchase, I wish you many more happy miles with your fit..


but makes me angry :P

seriously its one of the prettiest cars I've ever owned and its prettier than lots of other cars


horn and ICE are the first things that I've changed, So I guess , If you change that is where you will start..

I fixed up a low brasso (the kinda horns you get in luxury German sedans :P, loud enough and a different tone definitely wakes up drivers)

 

It does fit the car, just sucks nobody can hear it on an interstate. There's been more than one occasion i've had to honk like 5x before people notice me.

 

Thanks Wanderer, I will watch out for this safety issue. Just got my Fit so haven't had this come up yet.

 

Good review!

But I like the "meep meep" too. And ugly is in the eye of the beholder. To me the functionality/dollar makes it gorgeous.

On the rear rattle, it may also be the license plate if they didn't secure it with four screws.

be seeing you on 285 sometime...

 

While I love my 2012 Honda Fit Sport AT, I wished it had the CVT automatic that is standard on the JDM RS "Road Sailing" model (as the Fit models with the 1.5-liter L15A7 i-VTEC is known in Japan). It appears the Fit would have better acceleration with the CVT, even though some drivers may not like the "slipping clutch" feel you normally associate with CVT automatics.

 

Great that you got a Fit. Just remember that for every negative thing you said about the Fit, there are thousands of people on this site that will argue against all of them. As for me, the Fit looks a thousand times better than a Mercedes E350.... an old man's father's car. Of course, that's what I think about the look of a Mercedes, and I will get a thousand arguments about that.

I think you will begin to love the Fit for what it really is... a really good all-around car.

 

wat is a 'towing apparatus' ? you put a winch on your Fit? hahaha

 

Another thing this car needs is a little light where the ignition key goes in. I can't get it in the hole more than one time out of 10.

Many thanks to the guys who have suggested solutions to the rattle in the rear. I wrapped the tool set in a little towel and that helped the tinging noise. But I didn't know the rear license plate took 4 screws. I have a license plate cover with my college logo on it and wanted to use it, but the screw holes are on the bottom. The dealer installed the new car tag using 2 top screws so I just assumed it only used the 2 top screws. This means perhaps I can use the bottom screws instead. I can pad the thing where there is no rattle.

The rattle is vastly improved since I secured the tools. The jack was already secure. The spare seems to be secure. It all seems noisier when I have something heavy being carried in the rear. Any ideas on that?

Sorry to pinch nerves on calling this car ugly. I like it -- really I do. I do like it better than my previous drive in so many ways. I've always liked Hondas. I may pinch another nerve with this, but the Honda Accord used to be a lot better looking car, but their designers just couldn't leave well enough alone and have made it look awkward in so many ways. The interior is nice though. I would love to have an Accord, but I got to tow my car behind my motorcoach. The towing apparatus is my term for what it is, but it is made by Blue Ox and it's to make the car's front end more stable and sturdy to hook up tow bars to it from the motorcoach and control of braking and brake lights, turn signals, running lights --- whatever the coach does the car does too. There's a method to towing 4 wheels down and basically you leave the ignition key in the car turned to first accessory setting, put car in neutral from drive and pull it.....it follows without accumulating miles. There's more to it than this, of course.

I would never have bought this car if I didn't think it was a great value and fun to drive. I could have towed some luxury SUV's, but didn't want a gas guzzler.

 

I put the Stebel TM80 Magnum Twins horn on my Christmas wish list. The meep meep is amusing but just doesn't seem like it makes the cut for accident prevention.

I don't think the Fit is ugly, but I do think it looks "quirky". It's one of the many things I like about the car.

 

Practice makes perfect...

There is a modification thread (link) on adding a light ring around the ignition, but it's not something Honda would do. You might find an independent Honda mechanic that would.

Since the rear plate is only secured at the top that's the prime suspect.

Honda policy (I think it's Honda vs a specific dealer, dunno, I bought at Hennessy) is to perform free "adjustments" during the first 12 months 12,000 miles. Random noises fall in this category. Take it in and let them troubleshoot it.

 

Another guy above suggested the license plate for the source of my rattles from the rear. I've tightened it up more and dog gone it --- you guys are so right! THANK YOU!

With the suggestions on this thread from you all I've eliminated most if not all of my rattling noises.

I've found another keen way to eliminate the noises --- turn the volume up on the stereo!

 

For those who don't know what I am doing with regard to towing 4 wheels down my Fit --- here's a pic of my Fleetwood Revolution 40 ft motorcoach. It's a diesel pusher. But, of course, this is pre-Fit. This one shows towing a Jeep. The first part of January I am to be towing my Fit to Orlando, FL. Will be living on the road like a gypsy. I've packed plenty of bourbon though.