It's not all in how it looks as we don't know what the NA model will look like.

I'm looking forward to test driving it myself and b4 that, reading how it handles in testers hands. I have the 2007 LX from April 3, 2006 and have driven it in 2 summers and 2 winters. 90% satisfied except for the choppy ride in -30C weather when I feel all the bumps in the road. I read that the new model would have diff. suspension but if it doesn't handle corners I'll stick with my 2007.

Honda normally improves on each model. Some good, some bad. We will all have to wait and see this summer/fall.

 

Man oh man...Honda's gonna have a field day with all the suckers who'll stand in line for the new version....this car will easily hit $20K before you know it....and I'm sure the dealer's will LOVE the people willing to part with their hard earned cash for this thing.

As it is people are taking it up the wazoo for current Fits....can't wait to see what the general sheeple will do for the new one. It's too bad...I would like one...but I'm just not that willing to part with my money.

 

I doubt it. Simple economics states that that won't work for the dealerships. Besides, everyone I've shown the new Fit thinks its extremely ugly. Even if it was good looking, they would never purchase a $20,000 Fit over a new Civic Si. I don't expect to see very much Fit markup at all.

 

I'm one of the first people to say that I don't like what supposedly will be the new fit for us in 09. Sure there will be a bit of a difference in our bumpers due to our safety standards but for me it's not that appealing.

My appeal with the current fit is this: A reliable car at 15 to 17 grand, a 12 gal tank instead of a 17 gal tank (accord), ease of modifying (getting parts etc etc) since the Fit/Jazz has been out since 2001.

Sure the new fit will grow on me eventually (as i did not like the 7th gen accord sedans or coupes, but they grew on me eventually). But I know simple economics as well. The price will increase and the dealers will look at a 16 to 18 grand (maybe 19 grand) car instead. You increase HP, you put more ammenities and niceties on the car, the cost will rise to manufacture it.

If I wanted to spend 19 to 25 grand on a car then I would just easily go and get a Scion TC or a Mini Cooper, both of which will have more HP, and ammenites and niceties that go along with the price tag.

I like the fact that the FIT is priced at what it is. I'm not thinking it's going to be an all out 200hp car, we all know it's 109 maybe approaching 144hp when you put a SC in it, but the truth is people will like the new one just like people like this version of the car. It's up to you whether you want to spend more on the other things that are on the new one vs this one.

The choice is clear to me.

2008 Honda FIT Sport!!

peace,

 

I hope you're right but given how people are, I won't put it past them.

 

I had one of the guys at the dealership say that im lucky to be buying one of the last 1st gen Fits. I guess theres only 6 months left in this 6 year model. He wasnt overly impressed by the look of the next gen. Thought it was funny to hear someone at the dealership say that. I liked the look of the 1st gen since it came out...but after seeing the 2nd gen, I just dont have that initial like. Might grow though.

 

All the salesman cared about was TODAY. He just wanted to sell you a car TODAY instead of getting you excited about what's coming in 6 - 8 months. He will say anything he can to sell you a car TODAY, but I guarentee you that in 6- 8 months when the new Fit hits the dealer lot he will be gloriously praising how much better the new Fit is than the old one.

 

yeppers

 

Oh, this guy wasnt a salesperson...he was one of the guys who works in the garage. Either a mechanic or a detailer. He was just driving my car to the front of the dealership where I could drive it off. We started talking Fits for several minutes.

 

Oops....well, nevermind.

 

Does anyone know if the 1st gens will drop in price when the 2nd gen goes on sale?

Will CVT be offered in the US?

Will the 2nd gen be offered in Orange Metallic or is that going to be off the table?

-

 

Well, hopefully your questions will be answered at the New York International Auto Show this March. Except that first question. I'm not sure but wouldn't it depend on if there is still a strong demand for the 1st gen Fit at that time when the new Fit goes on sale?



Thanks for the name change!

 

I think you said it right there in the second paragraph. They really can't increase the price because they could never get 18,000 for a Fit. (They face price cannibalism, an already elastic demand, and huge competition at high prices from companies like Mini and Scion.) The Honda Fit has an extraordinary elastic demand. Also, I think you may be thinking more of than what this new Fit is going to be: Not much different. It truly won't be that much better.

In fact, it might be the same as the new one in a way. Think about it: Rigid chassis, barely faster engine in exchange for much more awkward looks. The good changes are about equal if not less than the bad changes that we're expecting with the car.

But I agree with you. Take your current Fit and be happy. After all, the "new" one isn't that much different at all, is weirder looking, and isn't that "new" anyways.

Honda has had troubles with the long run reliability of the CVT system. It's highly unlikely to come to the United States. The third question is unknown. And the first question has got to be: Yes.

 

I completely disagree with this assumption. Look at all the idiots paying well into the mid to upper $20K's for a VW GTI...who in their right mind would ever have thought a freaking VW GTI would be priced at $29K loaded and people would be pay $27K for it after negotiations?? Automakers are boiling customers in warm water like frogs...very slowly and without you realizing it.

I would not be surprised at all if people pay well above $19K if not $20K for a fit...already a Fit Sport with HRH upgrade will run you $19K or close to that will it not??

I'm not sure why you would assume this about the new Fit not being better.

You speak of the engine making the car barely faster. Who cares if it's barely faster? What about smoothness, refinement, fuel economy emissions, response? Don't those count? It's just about going faster???

You speak of the chassis. None of us know what true improvements they have made but from what I have read, they've made the chassis and frame more rigid while still make the car more comfortable (and probably more quiet). Isn't that an improvement?

You speak of the looks. I like the looks of the current Fit but I also admit that it is becoming dated...it looks dated. That doesn't mean people shouldn't like it but it does look dated.

Part of the reason why the new Fit looks "less than" spectacular than the current one is because it actually looks more flowing...it's got less add-ons and looks more like a one-piece design. Most modern cars that have less "tack-ons" (i.e. sills, etc) look simpler, more bulbous, not as striking. Give the new Fit a nice set of rims, nice body kit and it'll look impressive. The base current Fit with hub caps looks like ass if you ask me...so what's different?

You mention CVT. It would be to Honda's detriment NOT to offer CVT in th US...it would be their NUMBER ONE MISTAKE not to offer it. I don't think they don't have the technology...they do already in the Hybrid Civic. And frankly I don't see what better way to offer a new hybrid vehicle below the Civic than with the new Fit.

Car makers need to get it together and offer their best technologies as one package in one car...this has been the mistake of most if not all manufacturers.

 

The following speculation comes from Motor Trend.

2009 Honda Fit to make New York show debut | Hatchbacks Blog at Motor Trend

............I agree with everything Climatologist said and those are the reasons why I would like to buy the new Fit (ULEV 2 or better please!). But if I have to pay Civic Ex prices I may have to wait.......

 

I think you might want to clear this statement up a bit. Yes, the new Civic Hybrid has a CVT, but in no way does having a CVT automatically = hybrid. On a side note, the current gen Fit is offered with a CVT overseas, but they didn't bring that option here either, so they obviously had a reason to not offer us that option with the old Fit. I don't really see why they would bring the option to have a CVT here anyways, because looking at other cars with the option of a CVT, it jacks the price up, which is the reason we didn't get any options on the current Fit.

 

I never equated CVT with hybrid. What I said was it was already being used on the Civic Hybrid. And I also said that it would be nice to have Honda's NEW HYBRID supposedly being positioned below the Civic to end up being represented by new Fit.

Not offering the CVT here has nothing to do with price. It has more to do with market uncertainty. Nissan has been the CVT guinea pig for the rest of the auto industry and it has shown it works. If Nissan can stick a CVT transmission as smooth and functional as the one in a Sentra or Versa, then Honda can do the same for the Fit. The Fit is the most expensive car in its class apparently...so no excuses there.

Now that Nissan has proven the worthiness and functionality and benefits of CVT, perhaps Honda will be smart enough to follow with future products. Standard automatic transmissions are really becoming dinasours.

 

I just don't see a huge increase in price for the '09 Fit. I think the completely redesigned '08 Accord went up 2.5% from '07. In some cases that increase was due to equipment that is standard on the '08 that was optional on the '07 car.

If that 2.5% holds true for the Fit, a $16k car would go up by $400. I don't expect the MSRP of similarly optioned '08 and '09 Fits to be as dramatically different as some are speculating. I'm guessing $1k max.

With that said, some dealers really marked up the first generation Fits when they came out. If this happens to the '09s while the '08s get discounted for closeout, then there certainly could be a bigger difference in what you could buy the two model years for at some dealers. Likewise, if the '09 has options not available on the '08 (skyroof, CVT, nav, etc), then of course you could option out an '09 to be significantly more than an '08.

I'm much more interested in how the "improvements" affect the car. Has Honda managed to improve ride and handling as alluded to while retaining the current car's eagerness? Will the new engine and aerodynamics be able to eek out a few more mpg, even while carrying a bit more weight and producing a bit more power? It's been almost 10 years since the current model was being developed/designed, so I have to believe that some advances in that time can be leveraged.

I can't wait to start seeing some first drives and road tests of the US spec car later this year.

 

What is in bold is what made your post confusing. Jumping from the topic of CVT's to making a Fit hybrid without any further explanation made it seem like you were inferring CVT = hybrid. I am not trying to put words in your mouth, It just took me a little while to see exactly what you meant to say and I thought that your post could use some clarification for future reference.

Oh - and as to the Fit being the priciest in the B-segment, wouldn't that justify trying to keep costs down?

 

I think Honda will offer the CVT automatic on the 2009 North American market Fit. The reason is simple: if you've read the releases from Honda's corporate web site, they extensively redesigned the CVT's operation so it has a stronger acceleration "feel" to minimize the "slipping clutch" effect some drivers don't like. This change is designed to better suit the driving styles of American drivers.

By the way, it would not surprise me at all if Honda offers the 1.3-liter i-VTEC engine on the NA market model--with the CVT, it would allow for reasonable acceleration but returns excellent fuel economy. That way, Honda can offer three different trims for the new Honda Fit:

HX -- 1.3-liter i-VTEC (98 bhp) for economy model
DX -- 1.5-liter i-VTEC (115 bhp) for "standard" model
EX -- 1.5-liter i-VTEC (115 bhp) for "sporting" model with CVT-7 transmission