I posted earlier about my engine shroud issue and it not being covered under warranty when I asked the dealership and American Honda. When I called American Honda they told me they would pay for half of it. Got a call from dealership the next day stating they were replacing it free of charge. Very happy with Honda so far. Shroud was replaced last Saturday.

I did extensive research on this vehicle because my 5 day daily commute is approx. 60 miles and I needed a vehicle with good mpg. Everybody knows the PRO's (gas mileage, etc) but here the CONS I've noticed, nothing really new to report:

1. The seats. As others have stated, during test drive everything was fine. About a week of driving, lower back was hurting. My back has since been aligned and origami'd and seats are comfortable to me now.

2. Intermittent windshield wiper. Yeah not a big deal but I had this in my previous vehicle and I miss it (2000 Ford Escort ZX2)

3. MP3 sorting. Wish it would put files in alphabetical order.

4. Android support = none. I dislike Apple products.

5. HDMI is useless (not able to use while in drive)

6. Needs AUX jack

7. Thin sheet metal. Very easy to dent (already have a few hail dings)


Otherwise, no major issues and it's hard not to love this little car.

 

There is debate on getting the EX or the lower LX/DX (Canada) trim. Neither have Android support, other than bluetooth. The LX/DX does not have the HDMI but it does have the aux jack and a volume knob.

I'm still trying to figure out the purpose of the HDMI jack, seeing as once you move the car blanks out the HDMI video. There is someone in the ICE forum area that is trying to defeat this, which would be a good first step, but only for Iphones. And the HDMI port is only good for Iphones and not for Android. Why would Honda do this?

The thin skin is also a major concern for me.

 

Out of your list, I would echo the comment on the intermittent wiper.

I've put 27,000 miles on my Fit in my first year and just finished another 1,500 mile round trip to my Dad's (he has dementia - trying to spend as much time with him as I can while I can). No issues with the seats at all, other than maybe wanting another 1" of rear travel (I'm 5'-16").

es

 

The seats do seem to be strangely contentious. We also have no issues. In fact, after dozens of rentals over the years, I find these to be the most comfortable of all. Same with my passenger, several 8 to 12 hour trips in tow. I'm 5'8", he's 5'11". We are both thin...maybe that plays a part?

 

I found the riding position a bit "odd" at first, but over time it seems to be more comfortable. I was on a four hour drive today with no discomfort whatsoever.


Yeah, it's a pain that the head unit sorts MPs files by date added, but I've managed to work around it.


The HDMI jack has been of no use to me as I won't pay $60 for the iPhone app and another $60 for the cable. I already have a Garmin stand-alone GPS, and I just use that.

 

Yep - the seats are much better now since the beginning. Hopefully Honda will come out with a software update for the head unit too. They are a little too strong on the safety aspect of the vehicle - the "you are responsible for passengers" message on start up and the HDMI crippled when in drive. I have my music categorized in folders:


A - E


F-K


and so on...seems to work ok that way. All in all, minor complaints. I filled up for 16.00 (1.86 per gallon in South Oklahoma City) and that will net me 300 miles and some change. My 2000 Ford ZX2 was also only 130HP but it was a tiny car - think Mazda Miata small and nowhere near the gas mileage. So love the fit - it's my baby!

 

Yeah the only thing about the EX I don't like is the HDMI. Completely useless to me and I might eliminate it and put in another USB or something. So HDMI is useless, but I don't put a lot into tech gadgets either. I only use blue tooth and have my ipod hooked up. Still the one thing I don't like is that the head lights come on when you open the drivers side door. I wish I could change that so they don't come on. And mine has intermittent wipers, just not adjustable. They clear the rain so I can see so it's all good.

 

I'm assuming that only happens when the headlights are in Auto mode because that doesn't happen to me and I don't keep mine in Auto mode. Yeah, that would be annoying. I don't use Auto mode because I don't want my headlights to stay on for the 30-40 seconds after I leave the car.

 

Well DAM! Never even thought of that. Thanks GoBucky!

 

Then why did both front and rear wipers come on when I first started the car in a thunder storm? And I plug the old but useful Garmin in the AUX jack (former resting home in old cars for the cigarette lighter). Apple, meh; Android (spit).

2015 Fit EX 6 speed manual.

 

I only have 2 cons:


First is the crooked dealers that now make Chevy dealers look honest...an almost impossible feat


The oil monitor...for the Honda supplied oil that came in it, the monitor gave a more than 10,000 mile change interval. Now I use Mobil 1, and it goes down to about 6,000. I change it earlier than that anyway, but there shouldn't be that much of a difference.

 

I didn't realize the Fit didn't have variable intermittent wipers. That's really pathetic, Honda--you're compromising basic safety to save a few bucks? It's not like the Fit is an especially inexpensive car as subcompacts go.

 

RTFM, the Fit DOES have variable intermittent wipers. LX, EX, and EXL. Page 126. Look and read before you type. Honda is no perfect but safety is a prime directive, almost to the point of being irritating. Warning sign pops up every time I push the button, shift into reverse, more warnings, turn right more of the same.

 

They are intermittent but not variable. One of the things that bugs me as well.

 

Explain the difference, por favor. Two constant speeds (slow and fast) and a single intermittent speed. Why is more needed? Intermittent does a good job for mist and first wipes on a previously dry dusty glass. Slow (relatively speaking) does pretty well for steady, moderate rain. Fast is generally good enough for heavy rain. If the rain overpowers the wipes, pull over and park.

I did that once driving from Nashville to Chicago (long before the Fit). Use that uncommon commodity, common sense.

 

Intermittent wipers give you several set speeds, but you can't vary those set speeds. On variable intermittent wipers, you can vary the speed within one of those presets--typically the lowest--to help you cope with different intensities of rain and keep your windshield clear without constantly wiping across dry glass. Essentially you get something like 8-10 speeds instead of just 2 or 3. They're really cheap for the manufacturer to install vs. just intermittent wipers, and they really do help with safety if you live somewhere where it rains a lot.

 

Picky, picky, picky. At which point does it become yet another distraction? Yes, it rains a lot, sometimes too much, here in Middle Tennessee. Fiddling to find the right speed instead of paying attention to the main task, driving safely.

Oh well, ymmv.

 

At first I missed variable intermittent wipers my 4 runner had but I don't even think about it now. I remember having to keep fiddling with it because the rain would change. I just use the presets 90%of the time.

What I do like is having the one swipe option on the stalk. Push up and the wiper makes one pass. It annoyed me the 4 runner didn't have that basic feature, when my old celica aND corolla did.

 

Well, my 15 year old VW has intermittent control, so it is something I consider a "basic feature". I miss it.

 

Mist and fog is a reason for variable intermittent mode. It can take quite a bit longer to warrant a wipe in the currently provided intermittent speed.