HD and Sirius radio. Navigation avalible.

 

Do not base your decision on the touchscreen audio. The system is .... meh. Honestly my Fiat 500 bluetooth was easier to use. In the Honda, to see who is calling I have to look to the right at the screen. The Fiat displays that info in the middle of the gauge cluster. In the touchscreen audio, the hondalink thing is sketchy. I personally liked the alloy wheels and lanewatch in bicycle heavy Portland. I'd liked to have the EX-L for the heated seats but did not want the CVT as I've read negative reviews of the CVT.

modern steel metallic ex manual

 

I agree. The EX looks much more expensive than it is. Two people commented that it must have cost 24,000 US. I just smile and say no. Honda should have included HD radio and Sirius in the EX model.

 

In bicycle nirvana Portland Oregon the LaneWatch is a godsend. Seriously, it is so helpful to avoid crossing the path of a bicycle when I am making right turns. Come drive in downtown portland with hundreds of bicycles whirring around and you'll see what I mean.

 

OK, bicycles is a good point... but not a problem in Wisconsin. Would love to see Portland though, I hear good things.

 

Same here in The Middle West. I'm more likely to see a combine than a bicycle!

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Aint't that the truth! I don't even know the names of all the giant equipment I see on the road... but some of the are just huge! and huge tires!!

I can see how that lane watch would be super awesome anywhere people bike a lot. There are parts of Minneapolis/St. Paul that have a lot of bikers (more so when it's not snowy), but I do my best to avoid them.

Drove through Portland last August... didn't spend much time there, but I enjoyed what I saw :-) Will have to get EX if I move there someday :P

 

We went with the EX largely because of the lanewatch feature. Having a 9th generation Accord, I know how amazing lanewatch is in city traffic driving. Smart key access is also a feature worth a few hundred in itself with the convenience factor. In this case, neither of these two core functions are something you can easily add on to the car so was worth the added $1800 for the EX package.

 

The sunroof was the main reason I went with the EX but the smart key entry quickly became a top feature. It is sooo nice not to have to get my keys out. Love this car!

 

I read not so good things about the CVT but wish I'd tried one out because everyone that has one seems to like it. I may have made a mistake. The manual is a joy to drive like Honda manuals from the 80's, which were the best. But I maybe should have at least tried the CVT. I wish Honda would have geared 6th taller. Seems awfully busy for 6th gear.

 

I still keep trying to turn a key that isn't there when I want to turn off the engine. I'm wondering how long it will take to learn a new habit.

 

Same thing happened to me.

Took me a couple of days to wean off that old habit.

 

I'd like the heated mirrors too, but I get by with a credit card sized piece of plastic. I don't try to use the ice scraper on the mirrors.

 

I don't own a Fit - yet, but went to a dealer today for a test drive of a six speed manual LX. I was very pleased with the drive. I wasn't sure how I would "fit" in the Fit, so getting in for the first time I was happy to find out I had plenty of leg room (I am six feet tall), and head room. The dealer was "Planet Honda" in Golden, CO. The salesman informed me he is not on commission, and his approach was very low pressure. I drove the car on the highway, up into the foothills a bit. I loved the smoothness and easy operation of the manual trans.!
I did feel it could have used a little more power going up the hill, but when I shifted down from sixth to fourth, that helped quite a bit. The car was pretty quiet overall, a bit more engine noise of course when you are revving it more, and getting up to highway speed. Steering feel was good, as was handling. I once owned a 1983 Civic 4 door with a manual, and the shift reminded me a bit of that one (except in the old car in fifth it would rev down a bit for overdrive, I don't think the fit revs go down much). I also sat in an EX, and there was more headroom in the LX due to no sunroof. I checked out the back with seats down, so much room! I do like that the LX has a volume knob, I really think they should have kept one on the EX touchscreen. The only things on the EX I wouldn't mind having on the LX are alloy wheels, push button start and smart entry. I can easily live without lane watch and a sun roof (and would rather have the extra head room). I really don't mind starting a car with a key, and I haven't even had a car with remote entry before, which the LX has). MSRP on the vehicle I tested was approx 16,400 dollars, including destination. The salesman said they would knock off 600 on that MSRP, then add tax and dealer prep. The Salesman pointed out "clearmask" that they put on the front end of the vehicle, after reading a review of the dealer, I get the feeling that is mainly for them to get extra profit, so even though they say "no negotiation", they have their little tricks to get more $. All in all it sounded like a reasonable price for a very nice car, and I may just buy one come spring of 2015.

 

I'm glad to hear you liked the test drive and the overall feel of the Fit. The three things I really wanted on the EX over the LX was the alloy wheels, like you mentioned, the fog lights, and the paddle shifters (not an issue with manual trans. of course). All the other addons were welcome, except the radio head unit.

 

Good pictures worth a thousand words!

 

Sorry 'bout that. I didn't notice my typing error. I was supposed to be what I liked about the EX OVER the LX.

 

 

Why I got the EX over the LX:

Mainly for the sunroof. I like sunroofs. But, the alloy wheels, nicer seat fabric, keyless entry/pushbutton start, CVT with "sport mode"/paddle shifters and the right side blind spot camera sealed it. The blind spot camera is a great thing.

I didn't go for the EX-L because I don't care about leather seats. I just wish they would have put heated outside mirrors on the EX, but I was not going to pay an extra thousand dollars just for heated mirrors. And, they all should have variable intermittent wipers. Give the EX-L "speed sending" to make it "up-model".

 

Someone over in the mods section posted they installed their own side mirror heaters and the parts cost less than $100.