Hello, I do not own a Honda Fit, I will be very honest and say that I did not find the body style appealing to me at all, BUT I have been very taken by the 2015 body style. I went to the dealer today and checked them out, I find the 2015 body to be very masculine and tough looking. OK, that being said I have two questions that are bothering me.
1. The center arm rest is ABSOLUTELY useless, it is so low that it CAN NOT be used by a normal person. Now, I mentioned this to the salesman and he said, "I know I don't know why they did that". I need to place my right elbow on the the center armrest, I mean you guys must need to also. Please give me your feedback as to what you feel about this, I mean do you just drive around with no place to put your right arm. The salesman said, "people that buy these cars don't care about that", I can't imagine that, please give me your input.

2. I know we are in the world of technology now, BUT I'll tell you what it is REALLY HARD not having a volume knob. I know you have steering wheel controls, but I find it really really hard not having a knob to turn. Touching the screen every time you want to turn the music up or down is a real turn off, once again can I get some of your view points.

I am NOT knocking the car, I actually HATED the prior year models and LOVE the now look, just a few issues I find could really be a bother, thoughts?

 

Arm rest IS too low (and too far back for me, but I'm a shrimp). There's a whole thread here: https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/3rd-...-2015-fit.html

The LX has a volume knob if it's a make/break thing for you. The volume on the screen should be swiped, not poked at. That makes it much easier to use! Personally, I'm just training myself to use the steering mounted controls, which has been quicker/easier than anticipated.

 

Volume knob not a big deal for me. I will just use the steering wheel controls. No big deal. Just something to get used to.

With the armrest, I understand it is annoying for people who normally use one. However, to me, I have armless dining room chairs and when my arms are not holding a fork and knife I do just fine. So when my arms are not holding the steering wheel I'm sure I will do just fine also. Another minor annoyance thing that you can either get used to or get creative with figuring out a way to make it into what you need.

 

My 2013 EX-L Accord had the volume knob for the stereo, and I never used it. I always used the steering wheel controls for volume, etc. So I don't miss the knob on the Fit.

Never needed to rest my right elbow with both hands on the wheel when driving an AT. Could totally understand if you're driving a MT, though. Doesn't seem practical for that, I do agree.

 

I am 6'1 and drive with the seat in lowest position. I also have long arms. I think I am one of the few the armrest works for.

The knob on the stereo is nothing to me. My Pioneer DVD in my truck didn't have a knob either. I just use the steering wheel controls. Easier than a knob!

 

I respect and thank you for your response, but I don't feel that not having a center console arm rest is a "minor annoyance", I mean what are you going to do on a long drive, just let your right arm hang down. I just find it really sad that I might not be able to get this darn car because of this. I am 47 years old and have had a LOT of cars, but I always had an arm rest. Oh well, I guess I will have to go with the civic ex, it has a nice arm rest that also extends out. As for the not having a volume knob, NOW YES, that is something I can live with. I could just train myself to use the steering wheel button, would I rather have a knob, sure, but that is NOT a deal breaker for me like the arm rest is.

 

I don't think I've ever owned a car with a center armrest, and I've done plenty of long drives. I've never found it a hardship to keep my hand on the wheel, or have my arm across my lap, or (odd as it sounds) around the back of the passenger seat, grabbing the support posts for the headrest. From my point of view, at least, wondering where to put one's right arm seems to make about as much sense as wondering where to put one's left foot when driving an automatic: a non-issue in practice.

 

I guess it's like most things in life, once you have something and are used to it, it is VERY hard to not have it any more. I mean, I bet if we had to we could all get up EVERY time we had to change the channel on the t.v. if there were no more remote controls, but it would be a b*tch. That is how I feel about not having a center console arm rest, and I would bet a pretty penny that I am not alone in that, but if you don't want or need one you are all set. Just DON'T ever get a car with one or you will then need one from then on out

 

Both of those complaints don't really bother me because overall, the car presents a very good value. I've test driven the Fiesta and a couple other subcompacts, and Fit still represents the best total package of comfort, features, MPG, utility, and price IMO.

 

Everyone is complaining about the armrest, in South Africa, not one of the Fit/Jazz came with the armrest, we cant even get one from the dealers as they are not available in this country, I am guessing the 2015 wont have them either (will see when they eventually arrive here next year)
also something else strange is it looks like the Fit (in USA/Canada) does not come with the cargo cover, here it a standard item, not optional.

 

Funny, I'm 10 years older, have had quite a few cars and have never had a center arm rest. I've never missed it either!

Now the volume knob, my current car has buttons for volume and I've hated them for as long as I've had the car. Analog parameters need analog controls!

 

Here's something that was brought up in another thread... did you lower the seat? The OP of the other thread experience a huge difference in space after lowering the seat.

Pretty sure that many "modern" radio units you get now, even if they have knobs, use digital controls in the background, making the knobs, just for show.

For example, the aftermarket Alpine unit I bought some 5 years ago had a knob... but you could only turn it slightly left or right... just enough to trigger a digital signal. As soon as you let go, it snaps back.

Then, there's my 2010 Fit. The stock radio had a knob... it's a completely free turning knob... so free that, you could continue turning it down past minimum or up past maximum, but the actual level won't (or can't) go past those limits. Then, as soon as you turn in the opposite direction, the sound immediately starts changing. Which means it relies on digital volume up/down controls.

Incidentally... the stock radio for the GE were made by Alpine also. Mitsubishi makes the units for the GK.

Do I prefer buttons vs knobs? Actually, that depends on if the digital button radio has an "ATT" * button for quick sound reduction (like pulling into a fast food drive-thru), or a mute button works too. Without that button, then I need a knob if I want any hope of turning down the volume quickly.

The Kenwood navigation unit I install into my Fit has such an ATT button... the nice thing about it is... one press to lower, and a second press to return to the same level I started at. You have to pay some attention when turning a knob back up (if you don't always listen to the exact same level all the time). It isn't much... but its still a difference (as minor as it is).

*As per Kenwood's "glossary of terms" ATT represents the "Attenuator with Smooth Volume Return" feature.

 

The "armrest" is not useful for me...I'm short, and it is too low and too far back. But I don't recall that I have ever had a car where I felt the need to rest my arm while driving. Just back from a 1700 mile road trip in my 2015 EX-L and didn't give it a second thought.

The radio controls...I prefer using the steering wheel control when I'm driving. As a passenger, not a huge fan of the touch screen control. But that situation will be more an exception, not the rule.

 

I can almost bet that Honda will get an ear full of suggestions and complaints in the next year and for the 2017 year Fit, honda will make some changes to the Armrest, and Extended view mirror, and possibly knobs for the display. Maybe even some lighter colors for the interior. I'll bet on this.