Whats better on fuel in a fit? The manual or automatic? Also what is the difference between the 2014 and 2015 LX?

 

Manual for the win, it's so fun, I had the same struggle last week but I went manual and don't regret it one bit

 

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And you love yours? I am getting a 2014 LX Manual this week but now I'm kinda thinking should I wait and get a 2015 automatic. I don't know what to do!! Haha

 

well I have your answers this applies to the 2nd gen Fit 2013 models.

As far as sporty feel the paddle and the 5 speed stick are pretty equal. They both are nimble, can rev the same and offer a unique fun feel to them.

As far as power, well the gearing on the 5 speed is better suited for racing. I raced my buddies 2013 sport auto and beat him by 1.5 cars from a 3rd gear(my 3rd gear 5 speed) roll up to the end of 4th gear. I take off much faster in 3rd and by 4th im not pulling much. Its due to shorter gearing in the 5 speed, I cruise at 3200rpm at 65mph and his Sport auto is at 2700rpm at 65mph.

As far as economy I average about 33.5mpg 75% freeway and so far he is at 32mpg(only had the car for 1 week) I do not know how he drives but we have the same commute and distance to work. Im gonna say they are the same in terms of economy.

So what the benefits of both? Auto is relaxing and can turn on the fun on and off. At freeway speeds its not as loud because the engine is not trying as hard. Manual you feel in tune with the car all the time and have the extra umphh at any time.

Overall i love my 5speed it keeps me happy while I am not in my evo but to be honest the fit is better suited in auto lets face its a cosmetic appealing car that lacks serious power and is used by 90% of us as a commuter daily. Why shift if you dont have to and can still play with fun paddles as an auto.

 

Manumatic FTW.

 

Totally personal preference and mpg's has way more to do with your driving style than the transmission you choose. That said, mines a manual... I can lug it around town when I want - or stomp it and dump the clutch when I want... Still get 31-33 mpgs depending on the week... and no, I don't figure it out "on paper" cause I really don't care enough about the difference between the onboard fuel monitor and a pencil.

Anyway - to me, the manual is far more entertaining. I've had cars with "pretend" manuals before - there's generally too much lag time for me to really enjoy them.

 

It's been 20 years since I had a manual for a daily driver. I think I am ready again. In fact I am searching for a white base 5 speed and may have to go several hundred miles to find one. (New car, built in trip, maybe Amtrak!)
One thing about a manual- I won't be texting at intersection. I think a manual makes you a more engaged driver. Another thing, you don't loan out your 5 speed. You can't let just anybody shift it. Everybody knows that.

 

Awesome thanks for the help everybody! I'm a college student and my school is about 50 minutes from where I live so I travel there everyday day in the school year it's about 70km one way so I need something that's awesome on gas and drives good in the winter! I figured manual would be better on gas

 

It depends on your needs. If you're driving a lot of highway the automatic will give you better mpg. The gears are set so it runs lower rpm. If you drive mainly in town you can get much better mpg with the manual.

Since you have such a long drive, the auto would do you better. And there are more of them out there so you have more to choose from.

 

Oh I thought manual had better mpg on the highway

 

All else being equal, yes. But in this case and many others, all else is not equal. The manual revs higher in top gear than the automatic, hurting mpg. If they had equal gearing the manual would be better.

 

Is there a big difference

 

Not particularly. In 13 the AT is rated a couple higher (highway) than the MT and in 15 it only squeaks by with one- although in 15 the AT's city rating pulls away from the manual's.

The real difference is that the 15 gets better numbers than the 13.

 

So would this be true for the LX model not just the sport model ?

 

Cars.com lists a manual, a CVT and an "auto-manual." The LX doesn't seem to offer the auto so you're probably looking at the CVT, which shows better numbers on the test than either the MT or the AT. CVTs are really just proof that automakers can build appliances to perform well on the EPA test than anything else, so I was ignoring it.

 

Aren't cvts not good though?

 

I hadn't driven a manual in 14 years. Bought a 13 Base with 5 MT, and it really took me a couple of months to feel comfortable in it. Don't usually think about it now. I do notice that 1. I'm not eating anthing while I drive 2. Don't talk on cell phone. Only time I miss auto trans is on freeway stop N go traffic.

 

My wife is not real keen and my sons are in their early twenties. I bought them old hard body Nissan pickups with manuals when they were teens. They really buy into the "no one clutches my truck but me idea" They won't be hitting my clutch either.

 

We have one in our '13 Accord 4 cylinder and it has been great. It's smooth and the gas mileage is really good, always 36 up to 41 if I try on a trip.