Fit Noob here. There are probably a few posts like this so i apologize in advance. If there are, links would be appreciated.

Basically, right now I drive a 2012 ford focus titanium hatchback. I love the way the Focus looks, its quite, and has a nice ride, but there are a lot of concerns. The transmission is terrible, it shutters, grids, and I just don't trust the mechanics behind it. There have been so many problems with the myfordtouch that I am just looking for something more basic. Finally it has rattles everywhere. For as much as it cost, i was just hoping for more.

This is where the new Fit comes in. The Fit is in my price range, gets good enough gas mileage and looks good. My brother has a 2009 one and I like the way it drives, but i haven't driven it enough to notice any annoyances. The few things he mentioned on it were that it has a few rattles, and that his driver-side rear strut is messed up.

But I wanted to hear from other owners of the fit, specifically the newer fits. How bad are the rattles after a while? Is the Bluetooth worth getting the navigation for (i would probably get a GPS anyways unless the nav is updated periodically)? I liked the hands free on the Ford, but if its bad on the Fit I would rather avoid the headache. Is the road noise bad? Any mechanical problems? Any problems that a lot of fit owners have?

Any help or advice is appreciated.

 

hi and welcome!

rattles? nothing rattled until i put a subwoofer in. pretty much the rear view mirror shook like a mofo, but thats pretty much any vehicle with a subwoofer. only other weird rattle i get is the pinky windshield wiper. i guess depending on how my engine is idling that thing vibrates like crazy.

navi? if u dont care for OEM, just get an aftermarket GPS head unit. alot are on sale now due to Cyber Monday too!

 

39,000 miles on 2010 Fit driven in/around NYC. No rattles.

 

Wow, 39,000 and now rattles? Thats great to hear. How does the car handle the winter? I live in Washington so the snow here gets pretty bad, I am hoping with snow tires that it does well enough.

Does the OEM Nave ever get updates for the maps?

 

NO rattles, not 'now rattles.'


Haven't done much snow driving, so far I've managed to avoid having to, and they're good about plowing where I live.

 

Yeah sorry, i was typing to quickly... Its great that its NOT rattling.

 

2010 Fit 77k miles.

Hella rattles. Seriously.

I have been on lowered suspension for about 40k of those miles though and don't shy away from rough roads or gravel, so i'm not surprised. All that vibration and all that. Front passenger side rattles like hell by the front window but I think that was a common problem on the earlier GE's, at least I read about it more than once from more than one user...

As far as the car as a whole I do love it. I won't be selling it. Ever I think unless it's to the junkyard.

 

If you do have a rattle by the windshield

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...sh-rattle.html

 

Hey thanks, i'm going to take a look at that. It seems to me that it's the small piece of plastic in front of the mirror is loose and letting in air, I can hear a small rattle, a small whistle and it's loose, but I will check hinge cover too.

I believe there was a thread on that small plastic piece i'm talking about as well.

 

Few rattles. Outside trim on windshield (easy fix). Passenger seat (adjust back). Some dash rattles periodically (ignore them).

Doors buzzing from bass notes is annoying too.

But hey, it's Honda's bottom feeder.

It's been pretty reliable. Only fix I've had is $250 for an A/C repair. A/C problems seem higher than normal. Oh and the A/C isn't that strong even when it's in good working order.

 

I am more ok with rattles as long as my whole car doesn't shake when i easy on the gas; the dual clutch on the focus is just horrible. The dual clutch really makes me miss an ol slush box. But the door buzzing from bass will be annoying, not sure how it will compare to the focus, which wasn't great to begin with.

 

When we were looking a couple of years ago, it came down to the Focus and Fit. We went Fit. Best vehicle choice we've made in years.

When my wife intially saw the Fit, she said no way you'll fit in that car. After the salesperson went over the car and showed us all the room and configurations, she was floored.

I've had a couple of issues with the Fit. The A/C and the 3rd Gear Pressure Switch had to be replaced under warranty. Even so, I'm not unhappy and absolutely love this car. It's versatile, has plenty of room for long trips, gets great mpg (35 avg) and is a blast to drive. 6'2" and totally comfortable in it as well.

A couple of rattles here or there. Nothing annoying. Come to think of it, I can't think of a car I've owned that hasn't had some kind of weird noise. I think you'd be happy with the Fit.

 

That piece on the windshield fell off my car last year ended up getting a new one inexpensive so if it was rattling before I do not notice it now.

 

Over here on the "wet" side of Washington, we've had a few winters where there were some fairly deep snowfalls. Probably not as severe as you can potentially get in Pullman, though.

That said, as long as it's not so deep that your front airdam's doing double-duty as a snowplow, you should have no problems if you run winter tires. I do run winter tires myself, because snow clearance is only considered important on main roads here. Once you're on side streets, the snow turns to rutted ice real fast and winter tires keep one on the straight and narrow a whole lot better in those conditions. I've never had a problem, even in airdam-deep snow, climbing hills, going around corners, or coming to a stop when winter-tire equipped.

Oh yeah, Jadzia (see below) will be 5 years old at the end of February 2014, now has just over 40K miles, and no rattles either.

 

46K and no rattles. I did have a buzzing A-pillar trim and at one point the passenger front door interior panel rattled. Both were fixed under warranty. Frankly, with an inexpensive, plasticky, stiffly sprung car, I expected some rattles at this point, but other than some creaking under 30 degrees and when the car's still cold, absolutely nothing.

The last car I had like that? Our '97 Honda CR-V, which had no rattles or squeaks after 7 years and 71K miles. Traded it in because we wanted a vehicle with a third row. Sniff...

 

I bought a base model 2013 Fit last February. The only rattle I noticed was the license plate rattling when I drove down brick or cobblestone roads. It was quickly remedied by holding it down with all four screws and I've not noticed any rattles since.

I absolutely LOVE this car. First of all, it's super versatile and practical. I have two dogs, one of which is getting up there in age. Having a four-door after so many years with two is sooooo nice. The different seat configurations make hauling stuff around easy. I'm actually surprised how often I find myself using the rear seat flip-up thing...didn't think it'd be as handy as it is.

I've only had it on one proper road trip (about 500 miles over a weekend), and it was excellent to drive on the highway for long periods of time. On the way east I averaged 41.5 mpg and on the way home 39.5 (I'm guessing I was driving into the wind when headed back west). Cabin noise is nowhere near as bad as I'd read when researching the car, at least in my opinion, and it's comfortable.

You may read in reviews that it revs too high. Don't believe it...this car is a spastic little thing. It loves high rpms. I still have to remind myself to let it rev before shifting. I'm so conditioned to shift at lower rpms, but the fit thrives at 3000 and up. You can easily train yourself by paying attention to the real-time mpg indicator bar.

Now, as for snow, I have limited experience to report, but since I live in Pittsburgh - home to several of the steepest and most narrow streets in North America - it should count as gospel. Last year, I drove one time in the snow as I bought the car late in Winter. I had no problems at all, but the snow was light. This year, I got a set of Michelin X-Ice 3 snow shoes, and holy crap. I have a large hill with a 20+% grade approaching my house, and my driveway is even steeper. I drove up it with zero effort and never felt the tires lose traction even for a second. In fact, I thought that the surface must not have been very slick (like maybe it was such wet snow that it wasn't affecting traction) until I stepped out of my car and promptly slid all the way down my driveway. So yea, it's good in the snow so far.

The only thing that has been an issue with me is the paint. I have a white one, which I understand is single-stage paint, so this may not be as big an issue for other colors, but it chips very easily. I touch up spots just about every time I wash the car. I bought a nose mask from Honda that I will use when taking road trips, though.

Anyway, I've talked long enough. There are many, many things about the car I love, but I'd be here all day. In closing, I'd say that I would recommend this car to just about anyone, and I have. I'm a lifelong VW guy, but this car has converted me.

 

did someone say... road trip?!

Took off for Key Largo for the third time this year over the long weekend. Picked up my buddy and his son at Miami Intl and headed south. His daily driver is a Cruze. His son (11) thoughtfully mentioned how spacious the Fit's back seat was compared to his dad's uncomfortable Chevy. Out of the mouth of babes. Loaded up with 2 adults and one kid, all our diving gear (sans tanks) it did quite well.

Oh and the Fit loved rolling around the keys. 45mpg all day and night. Drove to Key West to visit Hemmingway's cats. I have pictures of poppa's pisser if anyone cares.

 

I think I am gonna go for it. The A pillar rattle seems to have warranty and DIY fixes. I really enjoy the size inside of the fit, especially the magic seats. I will probably also get the sport non-navi model and just get a nice Kenwood Excelon navigation receiver (unless others have better recommendations for GPS).

 

Only had my base manual Fit a month and 1500 miles but MAN did I make the right choice! I had looked at a Focus, as well, and while I loved how the Ford drove, the Honda ingenuity and build quality cannot be topped - no rattles yet. Plus I am getting well above the rated MPG - 36 MPG over 1500 miles of 80% two-lane/in-town driving. The amount of stuff you can haul in this tiny car is amazing.

The road noise is greater than in the Focus, but it's not a deal breaker. You'll hear it the first few freeway trips and then it'll be a non-issue. If it does get to you, there are several threads on here of folks who have installed Dynamat and other noise suppressing materials.

I can't speak to the Nav (I just use my iPhone) but an aftermarket unit will certainly cost less and provide better sound as well.

You really can't go wrong with the Fit.