Just wondering why m/t Fit buyers bought a m/t.
We bought one for a number of reasons. Here's one.
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I hate under powered, a/t cars/trucks on the highway, in cruise, and when the slightest incline, they downshift, and scream.

I want to be able to be in 5th gear at 35 mph, without it downshifting at the slightest load, as well being able to accelerate from 45 to 55, without having the trans shifting.

 

When I went to look at the Fit, the dealership said they had no manual trans cars, but I figured I would test drive an auto to get a feel for it - also hoping that the paddle shifters would allow me to have the best of both worlds. I really did not like it - the paddle shifters were ok, but it wasn't the same.

I was about to leave when they said they had found a manual Base model on the lot. As soon as I pulled out in it, it felt a lot better.

I've had 1 auto car in the last 17 years - an '08 Focus. It was ok to toss around, but pretty mind numbing to drive on a daily basis. I just love banging gears, and the Fit is a car I surprisingly love - it replaced an '09 WRX. I'm surprised how good the car handles for being low cost, but am very happy with it - and I'm saving about $175 a month from what I was spending on the WRX (about $80 of that is gas savings).

 

When I looked at Fits I asked for a manual. I wanted to increment the amount of fun in my life. Test drove a shiny red Sport with a fat salesman riding shotgun. The car seemed underpowered (but it was probably my reluctance to rev it higher than four grand, being new and all). Coupled with the awkward rev-hang and clutch delay valve it wasn't a fun experience. My ATL commute does not require a MT to be fun (hallucinogens have helped). The A/T is well behaved (a small engine really needs lots of shifts to be in its zone of happiness). I steal my son's miata when I feel the need to row gears.

Why do you feel the need to hold a gear when shifting is normally called for? This is provided for with the Sport's paddles if you desire the non-shifting, non-clutching experience. People are dying for 6pd manuals so they get that extra shift exercise.

 

I did it for gas mileage mostly. I have always been able to beat the estimates by 5-6mpg in a m/t. Never could get the estimated amounts with an a/t.

 

I find that I can drive in a more relaxed state with a manual tranny. I never have to peak at my speedo since I know exactly what speed to expect from the gear + throttle. When driving by a school or a park, if I'm revving past 3k in second, i know im too fast for the 30km spleen limit.

I did however drive a AT fiat 500 and found that car to be a real riot! Wasn't crazy about the quality of the interior but the engine and rear disks were nice.

 

I'm getting about 36 mpgs after 40+ fillups (see signature below). It's an AT and I do miss a MT, but my wife frequently drives my car instead of her Matrix! I dont miss MT when i'm in traffic though.

 

The Fit is easy in traffic and the MT makes it soo much more fun to drive. I don't see the point of paddle shifters on an AT. I feel like they are a feature specifically designed to patronize people who want a manual or Dual-clutch trans but don't want to put in the work to learn how to drive a manual or shell out the money for a Dual-clutch. (this of course excludes people with medical conditions)

 

my '12 is MT because i like to drive, and is considerably faster than my AT FitSport which my wife uses.

 

I prefer driving a stick, and professional reviews of the car were pretty consistent about the car being a lot livelier with a m/t vs an automatic.

 

Ditto. Bought it because it was more fun to drive.

 

Keep getting good mileage with it, the AT, and have never regretted getting it. Last tank was 38mpg and we have over 50K on our 2011. Worst tank we ever had, in a very hilly area while on vacation, was 30MPG. For our daily driving it ranges from 35-39, winter to summer. The ATs of today beat the MTs for mileage almost every time. If I wanted "livelier" I would have bought a 6 cylinder car. This car was bought for one thing. Economy.

 

I bought one with the 5MT because I have a pulse.

 

Huzzah!

Also because I wanted a base and it's significantly faster than the A/T base. Also I commute 60 miles a day and would rather my two hours I spend in my car to not be dreadfully boring as I discovered it would be when I had a rented Corolla for a day and took it to work.

 

 

I bought it for more driver control.


I also bought it so I could beat the shit out of the car and still not damage anything because I know exactly what gear its in and what the car's reaction is.


For those having troubles, I filled my rear dogbone and gained a massive improvement in shifting feel and engagement

 

I didn't have much of a preference one way or the other; I've owned both automatic and manual cars in the past, and there are different times when either one is handier (and a lot of times when it really doesn't make a bit of difference). The real-world milage is comparable on the Fit, and I suspect either transmission would have perfectly adequate performance for me.

I ended up with the manual mainly because it's almost $1k less expensive.

 

I've had a lot of cars and my favorites were always stick shift. Just the control and I feel like I'm more aware when driving. Plus it helps you maintain focus since both hands are being used almost all the time. So you can't mess around with your phone or other things

Last year I had a stick shift RWD car and the only reason I made it out of the Chicago winter alive was because it was stick. If it was an auto I probably would've wrecked it.

I love manual and can never see myself doing another auto car.

 

I don't know how to drive an auto.

 

Dual clutch Evo pretty cool, but way too expensive to maintain.

Bought my fit with MT as a trade off for loss or power.

This car is surprisingly fun.

Don't have to be endangering everyone to have fun in.

 

I chose a MT Fit because it requires a person to actually drive a car. MT automobiles are for people who derive pleasure from driving and knowing when and what gear to be in for all driving situations. Driving a MT automobile requires driver interaction at all times which leads to a much more cautious driver. I hate driving behind a soccer mom driving her snoozamatic minivan chatting away on her mobile or texting and not paying attention to her driving.