Looking at buying a new 2015 Honda fit. I know it is geared a little low. So to see what the RPMs would be in any gear with manual I wrote this program in Visual Basic 6. I do not know how to post so you can send me an email and I will send it to you. You are welcome to post it.

James Butler

 

I have the manual. It's funny, I've driven a stick for about 35 years and I have to get used to the stick on this new Fit. Not that it is "hard" since it is SUPER easy to shift, but the pedal feel and RPM matching is so different. For me, I don't shift in high revs anymore for fast speed, I just shift around 3000 to 3500 RPMs which is nowhere near redline.

Not the car's fault, just all this new electronic safety stuff I have to read about and change my habits how to use it all correctly compared to what I used to drive. I don't have to drive fast anyway 99% of the time, I just enjoy shifting and the Fit is such a pleasure to shift.

 

Know what you mean. Been driving a stick shift since 1972. My current car is a 1995 Ford Escort wagon I have had for 19 1/2 years with a 5 speed. It is time to start looking for a replacement car. I am used to the RPMs being a little lower on the Escort. It runs about 2000 at 55 MPH in 5th. I know the Hondas are made to rev so a little higher RPM should not be a problem. I thought with the new 6 speed in the Fit it would be like lower RPM on the highway. I am sure honda Had their reasons . I bet the new 6 speed with closer spaced ratios is a blast to drive. I do not know If we can post a pictures on this forum. If anybody knows how let me know.

 

Most of us M/T followers here wanted the lower RPM on 6th but alas, not to be. Just like you though, the "need" to once again "row the boat" was just a nagging feeling I had to address.

For posting pics you best join a Photo hosting website (e.g. Photobucket). Upload the pic and it will give you a couple of links. Copy one (IMG) and go to Advanced when you composing your post. Click on the yellow icon and paste the link. That should do it.

Congrats and keep us updated!!!

 

Our driveway has a 2015 Fit and a 1994 Escort wagon! We'll be looking to replace the Escort soon, but there aren't many options for little wagons nowadays-- it's all gone crossover It's not a car you LOVE, but the utility + MPG is pretty much unmatched.

One of my jobs is to take all the things we ever put in the Escort into the Fit and see if we can lose the extra length. Might be two Fits in the driveway before too long

 

Been reading that it may get annoying only when driving 75 or so and above. Heck, the engine should take it and it is not exactly a quiet car to begin with.

To me, a M/T is much like knitting. If you've been knitting and watching TV at the same time for many years, it can feel boring just watching TV with no knitting. I gotta "knit". And with the new Fit M/T, it is so easy, you might just call it a "paddle M/T".

 

Here is a screen shot of the program I wrote in Visual Basic 6 to allow you to set the gear and RPM and see what speed you would be running.




[IMG]https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/[/IMG]

 

It was initially annoying in my 09 m/t Fit, but after awhile, didn't notice it. The 15, also m/t, is the same. I did notice, that as soon as I put it in cruise control, a lot of the bussing seemed to go away. Maybe my imagination. RPM with and without cruise is the same, but buzzing is lowered. Or so it seems.

 

Yeah, it took a little bit to get the clutch and gas synced to shift right, but now, pretty much have it down, and it's the easiest shifting M/T I have ever used in 50 years of driving them.

 

Like you said, it truly is soooooo easy to shift. The transition though to this Fit M/T is taking me the longest on any new M/T car I've gotten. My wife is very sensitive to driving. I mean, I can NOT take any turns fast because it gets to her for some reason. And "fast" to her would make all of us yawn.

The same with engine noise and smoothness. When driving with her as a passenger, all my other cars I could keep quiet and super smooth with a great feel for what the M/T is doing, but this new Fit M/T has a gas pedal ran by electronics and the higher revs have electronics that make the revs hang up there a bit even when the gas pedal is released.

Anyway, I enjoy the challenge mainly and have gotten much better, but I"m not there yet for how smooth and quiet I want it to be as I did before.

The gas mileage though for mixed driving is high in the upper 30s, so I'm doing something right.

 

I find if I either don't touch the gas, or just barely touch it, everything works fine.

 

That technique is very foreign to me but I'll give it a go. Thanks!