Haha, there's a Charade parked a block away from my fiancee's house! I always thought it was a... um, weird name. Like it's just trying to pretend to be a real car

 

We just received our first Made in Japan Fit yesterday and I agree 100% with both observations. Comparing it to the last 15 I have in the store, the interior panels are definitely flush, with no gaps. I have not seen a 2016 Made in Mexico Fits, but it may be that all 16s have been slightly improved, regardless of where they were manufactured.

That being said, yes, absolutely, it has a completely different smell from the rest of the Honda vehicles.

It's clear that not only does it say Made in Japan, but it actually smells like it too!

 

> Japan-assembled vs. Mexico-assembled . . .

This nuance reminds me of when I was a kid. I remember the adults discussing which day of the week their car was assembled. I don't recall which day of the week was best, but I do remember it was unanimous that a car assembled on Monday or Friday would be nothing but trouble.

My Fit was assembled in Mexico. I take comfort in knowing Honda most likely stationed Japanese overlords along the assembly line to make sure that a-Honda-is-a-Honda no matter where it was assembled.

 

Unfortunately, it seems that some of the overlords have been taking cerveza breaks along with the workers!

I note that the few Fits that are trickling into SoCal are almost all "J" cars. Only one new EX-L had a "3" VIN.

 

I'm right in the middle of purchasing a JVIN 2016 EX w/CVT from one of the local dealers in Hawaii. They are presently "on the water". Will give my impressions of the car when it makes it into my hands in a few weeks.

 

As well you should. Mine and a friend's are perfect.

 

It seems that all the '16 Fits now coming to SoCal are "J" VINs. The only exceptions I see are a couple of EX-L Navi models.

 

I was at Diamond Honda in Puente Hills (20 miles east of LA) this past weekend and they had six '16 Fits on the lot, all EX-L's. Five had J Vin#'s, but one was still made in Mexico. Apparently the trim level doesn't decide where each Fit is made

 

I'm curious. Are any of these "J" VINS manuals transmissions (6MTs) or are they all CVTs? m_shake said they could not order a 6MT from Japan.

 

Are the front bumpers falling off the "J" cars?

 

Not that I can see. All the 6MTs seem to be leftover '15s from Mexico.

 

This true and one of the reasons why Honda extremely limiting production of manuals this year.

 

I'm shocked, shocked to discover that the MTs are sitting on the lots unwanted. All I read in car forums is that everybody wants MTs and the car makers should listen to consumer demand and make more of them and in more models.

 

Well, my problem is that I want a manual LX, which apparently is the proverbial Snipe. Is it weird that I think I'd compromise on a transmission before I compromise on a volume knob?

 

I have an EX without a volume knob on the radio. Wish I had standard radio controls, but it is really not that bad because the volume control is on the steering wheel.

 

The lack of volume knob is only an issue for the OCD passenger (like me when I passenge ), otherwise the volume knob on the steering wheel is very usable and more convenient except when the radio goes on loud and you instinctively try to quash it with a quick twist on the dash and it isn't there!

 

I frame it as passenger "Don't ever touch a Fit driver's radio!"

 

My local dealer has one, that's ONE leftover Fit EX MT. That's also the only Fit they have in stock, compared to two dozen CRVs, 20-30 Accords and 15 Civics. I don't see the problem here.

 

I've had my 2016 "Hecho en Mexico" Canadian base 6MT for a couple of weeks now, and I find very few quality problems so far. The front dash lines are not perfect but only have a small difference in the heights of the plastic sections. The bumper is not perfect, with a tiny bit more room at the top of the joint than below, but it is acceptable. Of course with time the bumper might sag. We shall see.

I find the paint is quite thin. I brushed up against a cardboard box in my garage and it made some visible scratches. The hatch carpets are very thin and need protection at all times.

I have not heard that any manual transmissions being shipped from Japan, so I'm not even sure if we have a choice.

 

Noob to this group! Howdy!!

I've been looking into the Fits for a while now and think I will be in the market once my divorce is final. Was originally gonna have to wait until first quarter 2017 to begin, but now maybe I can rebound in 2016. I stopped by my local dealer and they only had 1 Fit on the lot, and it was a 2016. Didn't look long enough to see if it was Japanese build for Mexico.

Should I wait for the '17s to come out and give Mexico a year to work out their bugs?? Guessing late 2016 is when the 17s will arrive?? Probably special order mine cuz I want to be specific with it!! Also, any news that Honda will put the turbo motor into a Fit??? That'd be worth waiting for....