Hello all. New to this Forum.
My girlfriend and I are considering purchaset a new 2015 Fit. I want to hear your comments and opinions of the Honda Fit. We are considering a new Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, and Subaru CX crossover.

She likes the reliability of the Honda or Subaru models. I am big on maintenance, and work as a maintainence electrician/mechanic in a powerplant. I think any vehicle will last a very long time with proper care.

I drive a lot of miles and travel alot with work. I purchased a newly redesigned 2014 Ford Fiesta last December. I considered a 2014 Fit but I knew it was being redesigned for 2015 model year so I passed it up.

Girlfriend really likes the Honda Fit but we have some gripes about the way Honda packages their vehicle options. It's our biggest hang up. She drives above average miles so leasing isn't an option. She would like satellite radio and heated seats but just cloth seats. Both of us good also do without a sunroof.
I was quite disappointed by Honda because the only way possible to get satellite radio is by purchasing the top of the line EX-L and then paying $1000 for the Nav system and then Honda thrown in satellite radio and HD radio. The sunroof is included with the EX and higher packages. I have four other windows I can open that are included with the vehicle. Paying the going rate of about $800-$1000 for 5th window in the roof isn't worth it to me or her. A sunroof only makes a bunch of noise when open. I had it other vehicle and don't miss it and would rather do without it.

I bought Ford Fiesta for some of the reasons I mentioned. I have a 5-speed manual Ford Fiesta hatch. Titanium trim w leather interior. Beige leather, not black! I have salettile radio. No Nav, no sunroof.

Getting what options we would like in a Honda Fit pushes the price over $22K. It makes the AWD Subaru a reasonable bargin.

What are your thoughts?

 

What part of the country do you live in?

 

^Pennsylvania, it says right with his post.

Fiesta is POS, I'd never recommend one.
Subaru sucks on gas.
Focus is also crap.
New Fit is made in Mexico, so....possibly crap.

That said, why the hang up on satellite radio?

 

new Fits are not crap...I just purchased one. And there is a lemon law if you should happen to get a bad one, but unlikely, and not to mention they do have warranties? Right?

 

I live in PA. I know where your going with this. Having AWD really isn't something that concerns use to much. We both drive alot and I have properly equipt previous vehicles with winter tires if needed.
We don't really care to sacrifice the fuel mileage we would sacrifice having and AWD vehicle.

I argure the expense of snow tires. Sooner or later tires will wear out and need replacing. I can only use one set of tires at a time. If I'm using winter tires then the normal tires appear to last twice as long. Total vehicle mileage is being split over two different sets of tires.
My only additional costs is having to purchase an additional set of wheels. As in the case of my Fiesta, the wheels were used and off of a previous Focus model and were quite reasonable in price.

A decent set of snow tires will last for years under normal driving and will be cheaper and just as effective as any AWD system.

 

Why not run all terrain tires all the time, they are very good in bad weather and good for every day driving? That is what I have been doing on my vehicles.

 

Well I own a Fiesta now. I don't think they are crap! In my opinion the Fiesta interior was far more elegant in design than the Fit. I think most vehicles are extremely reliable. That being said, there is few I wouldn't buy.

Why the hang up on satellite radio? Because I have to spend thousands more stuff I dont want just to be able to have Sirius radio.
We would have to buy the EX-L with Nav system to get satellite radio. Would happier with the EX model. We never use Nav much. Both of us have phones and vehicles with Bluetooth in our vehicles. I see it a complete waste money to have Nav from Honda and spend $1000. It was just Honda and their stupid packaging. I have a phone capable of Nav. Dont want spend $1000 for a redundant service.

I looked at the Nissan Versa, Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, you can get Satellite radio in all vehicles as an option in all trim levels above the base model.
No not Honda, only in the over the top top of the line model is it an option.

I like being able to pick and choose individual options. I can buy what I want and skip what I dont. I either locate a vehicle or build a vehicle and order it. Honda rolls a bunch of stuff into packages with no options.

I will also comment that the Fiesta isn't advertised by Ford. They push the Focus. And it's a shame. I follow vehicles and learn the in and outs. The Fiesta is a better built, better quality, better looking vehicle than Focus. Sadly most people will ever know that.

 

you can add satellite radio with a kit, if you don't mind a little separate box? I know I wish Honda had better option selection on different trims. I don't like that either.

 

Because they wear out more quickly, have greater rolling resistance (for worse economy), are generally louder/more uncomfortable and worsen driving dynamics in decent conditions?

Also, if you've just purchased a new car....that doesn't mean its not crap. I thought my Fiesta was nice until faults kept popping up.

And lemon laws won't cover you if the various faults are merely annoying.

I owned a 2014 Fiesta for 4 months, I disagree with every single thing you've said about them My Fiesta SE also did not have satellite radio, just AM/FM/CD/MP3/Bluetooth via the atrocious Ford SYNC.

Also, can't you download a satellite radio app for your phone and play that via bluetooth?

 

Well at least I'm not alone then in thinking that Honda packages and option choices are kinda dumb.

We do without sunroof and leather interior. Heated cloth seats would be nice. Satelitte radio would be nice. She would want automatic transmission.

As it right now, I can't buy a vehicle from Honda thay way. Now i got to decide what i willing to pay extra for even though l may not want it. Or sacrifice options I would like.

At this time. We are leaning towards a 2nd Ford Fiesta.

 

Mike401b,

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with your Fiesta. So far, in not even a year, actually drive vehicle off the lot Jan 9th. I have 46,780mi on it. So far, not a single issue with it. Never been to dealer for anything. I had some glitches with Bluetooth. Almost all of them was related to the phone settings with the phone I was trying to Sync. Not Ford's MFT system. A few months ago. Ford did release and the vehicle downloaded a new update to the operating system of the MFT. This perhaps would have resolved some of your issues.
Mine is a 5-speed manual Fiesta. I am leery of the powershift transmission. It's why I choose the manual transmission.
Once again, sorry your experience with Ford was bad.

I'm looking for 300kmi from mine!

My girlfriend owns a Subaru Baja. It has 220,000mi on it. I traded a Jeep Compass in on my Fiesta. It was a 2007 Jeep Compass 5-speed manual. According to reliability ratings, one of the crappiest vehicles on the road, it only had 258,000mi on it at trade. My single most expensive repair was new brakes and rotors on all four corners. Transmission and clutch was untouched except for a fluid change.

I'm not knocking Honda, as I'm considering buying one. I think any vehicle will go 200kmi, take care of it, 300kmi and beyond. It's highway miles for both of us and none of our vehicles are old as in years. Just high mileage.

I know I said I really didnt care for AWD. She bought her Subaru for a steal from a Estate auction from a family member who passed away. It had only 6,000mi at the time. AWD allows it to go anywhere, except past a gas station. My Jeep Compass was a FWD 4x2 model.

 

I have never had a problem with running all terrain tires all year round.

 

I also had a five speed, albeit mated to the three cylinder ecoboost.

My issues were all unrelated to those strangely. I had two power windows fail, my fuel pump was on its way out at 5k miles, stereo speaker blew, trunk cover broke....all in four months.

I wish you the best of luck with whatever you purchase, but I'll always lean towards a Honda that was built properly in Japan.

 

Why not just buy the base model then (LX) and add the radio and heated seats you want yourself using aftermarket options? That way, you're only paying for what you want.

Both sat radio and heated seat elements are easy aftermarket add-ons.

 

Not trying to be nosey or anything like that. So keep that in mind...

Are you thinking of having a family in the next few years? Sure you appear to be comfortable in your Fiesta for yourself an girlfriend but "if" you did decide on having a family while you have your next car would you be able to fit comfortably in a Fiesta or Focus with a car seat in the back?

I do not know about the Fiesta but I've checked out the Focus...no room in the back. I suspect the Fiesta would be just as bad. And the CX? I know I've looked at it but I just cannot remember how much space there is in the back. My Impreza has worked "OK" but not great for our family. So a CX might work fine.

The Fit...if you are comfortable in the Fiesta now I'd bet the Fit would be more than enough room for you....if you went had a family.

Of course....I am 6'6". So when I judge cars I view from my rather lengthy perspective...and my 7 year old appears to be taking after me. So perhaps room is no concern of your. I just thought I'd bring it up as something else to consider in your next car.


As far as your issue with satelite radio and having to go with the top of the line Fit to get it....I agree that the options for the Fit are not what I'd call ideal. If another car on your list will fit your needs (size and options) for less I'd seriously suggest going with the most econimical option (overall cost + MPG for the lifetime of the car).

 

To answer your question, I am 38. No kids. My girlfriend is older than me. Divorced. One child that is grown and on her own. We have downsized in automobiles over the years.

We both drive alot with our jobs. We both drive alot just for pleasure and travel. It is our lifestyle. We love to travel. Love to take vacations. We have season tickets to both Pittsburgh Pirates and Penquins. It's what we do.

I have gotten really cheap with vehicles other the years. The depreciate so much. I have had the privilege of owning a BMW 3 series and Ford Mustang GT. Now I drive a Fiesta. Now that I'm older I can find so many more enjoyable things to spend money on than give all to Ford, Honda, Exxon, or who ever it may be be.
Given the miles I drive, a vehicle no matter make, is worth almost nothing when I part with it. So nowadays, I buy the some of the cheapest vehicles out there.
The smaller vehicle doesn't bother us for our needs. It's just the two of us and I'm not hauling kids to soccer practice.

 

The days of buying Hondas in the States from Japan are going to be very limited on some of the Honda line up. Depends on what you want. Many are put together here in USA, Canada, or Mexico now.

 

Having just bought my Fit less than a week ago, I cannot speak for the feel, handling, etc of a fit. However, I did consider the Fit, Focus, Fiesta, and F150. To state a few obvious points. You need to decide your priorities. For me, I am single, so few passengers. I wanted to get away from a sedan and into something that could carry some cargo. So the Focus was rejected. I like the focus as I am familiar with it and it's long term reliability, comfortable ride, and good fuel economy. If I wanted a sedan, I easily would have chosen it personally. I rejected the Fiesta as I felt it could not match the Fit due to its added flexibility given its 'magic seat' and fold down front passenger seat for cargo. IMO, it offers no benefit over the Fit. I actually planned to get an F150 and made an offer on one but decided against it due to the 13/18mpg normal reported fuel economy.

Hope this helps you decide which one is right for you. In your position of not needing passenger room and perhaps not caring for cargo capacity, I think a Focus would be in top spot to compare to a Subaru. No experience with them so cannot compare myself. Good luck.

 

Yep, that is very true. My 2012 Civic Hybrid was built entirely in Japan and heard 2013 model year is going to be built in USA so I hurried up to get it.

My 2006 and 2009 were built in Ohio. 2006 quality wasn't great but wasn't bad either. 2009 quality was alot better.

Given this is brand new factory in Mexico so it bound to have some problems at first just like my 2006 did since it was a new redesign.

 

I agree with the others on buying an LX and saving yourself some cash. It comes loaded with other stuff you will probably never use.

I have been debating between a 2013 MT Fit Sport and a 2015 MT Fit LX, but finally decided on the 2013, even though it is actually costing me more.

The 2015 brand new platform/suspension/powertrain/assembly plant had me really worried about long-term quality/reliability. If there is a major problem down the line, I'll lose a ton of money trying to off load the car.

I've owned a few full model change vehicles and they've had their fair share of problems.