My first "bought-new" daily driver in 35+ years of driving, and it makes me wish that I'd splurged earlier. :-)

Followed the advice on this forum and installed O.E.M. center console and, after long road trip in the summer sun, had all windows tinted. Both of those mods have been well worth it. Awaiting delivery (next week) of rear cargo tray liner and O.E.M. floor mats--comments here about carpet un-quality well taken, and I fear that without a cargo liner, the cardboard over the spare will wear out in far less than 10 years.

Gas mileage has been pleasant surprise. My daily commute (~5 miles city, 17 highway each way) yields 41.5 to 42.7 mpg per fill up. That exceeds my old civic hx, which was a concern coming in. On long road trips, however, I use the cruise control and mpg drops to 35-37. (On a five-eight hour drive, going 60-65 mph is time consuming and outweighs a few mpg. Not so much on my commute.)

Car handles well in traffic with no blind spots. The various accessories (sound system, A/C, etc.) all perform far better than those in the various cars I've driven over the years. In fact, the car even meets my wife's more exacting standards--it is our new road trip vehicle.

Thanks to all who have posted on this forum previously--you were a big factor in my decision to purchase.

 

Welcome, glad you like the purchase. Maybe see you around. (:

 

I think we started with the same car. I have made a few changes. Mostly a leather interior. Putting fake leather over the fabric on the doors was the hardest part, but it gave me a chance to change the rear door speakers and put dynamat on most of the sheet metal surfaces in the doors.


The steering wheel cover is $20 from auto zone.

 

Ed_in_Texas: I think we started with the same car. I have made a few changes.

Very nice.

 

Thank you...

Looking at the older signature picture. I copied a Japanese grill treatment by using masking tape and black paint. etc, but the interior is what I like the best as I had never owned a car with leather seats before.

 

What are your seat covers,Ed?

 

It is a katzkin "leather" interior from shopsar.

The old upholstery is glued on, so for all except the doors that gets peeled off.

The new upholstery gets anchored to the cushion with glue as well. Every seam in the seating area gets a receiving groove carved in the foam. Then glued in there to anchor.

The material is not just a single layer but leather over 1/8th inch foam filled fabric. The looseness that you see in the white areas is the leather which is not bonded but is anchored by stitching at the seams.

Anyway. I like it. The doors are the hardest part.

 

I actually replaced mine with 1/2" plywood (so I could hang my amp down into the spare tire) and have a stronger floor back there. My PA speakers weigh in at 120lbs each, so the cardboard was not happy with that.

That looks so nice. Do they do slip on covers as well? I want to do my car completely in white and black, so black seats with white inserts would be perfect.

 

I actually replaced mine with 1/2" plywood (so I could hang my amp down into the spare tire) and have a stronger floor back there. My PA speakers weigh in at 120lbs each, so the cardboard was not happy with that.

You're making me feel my age!

I briefly thought about doing plywood or OSB, but decided that anything that heavy would be hauled in my truck.

 

A truck would certainly see use if I had one. But at 23 and paying my way through college, my Fit has to take over all the jobs! Which is one of the reasons I got it, Haul all the stuff! (in the econobox )

 

Don't know. Check Katzkin and shopsar.

As I recall they insisted I do the whole interior. Not just the fronts.

 

Thanks for sharing!

My experience has been the same so far...although I only have 1400 miles or so on my 2013 Sport 5MT. One thing you didn't mention, how FUN this car is to drive. My better half drove one in auto and liked it, but I taught her to drive manual and we both love the car to death in stick. The performance difference and fun factor over the auto is amazing in this car.

 

Have you looked at the Clazzio seat covers? You can order them in custom colors and get the black outer with white inner just like you're talking about. Here's a link:

Shop by Car Make - Honda Fit - Honda Fit 09+ - Honda Fit Clazzio Seat Covers - Bean Garage

-Dustin

 

Your highway mileage will increase with age, with 27k on my '10 sport auto I was getting 38.7 mpg on the freeway at 72 mph with the AC on.

 

Great post, I hope to buy a new car one day as well.