After 9 months and 31,000 miles I need to part ways with my 2015 FIT EX-L NAVI.

I got a great deal on it used from a private seller but in the time Ive owned it, I just cannot get comfortable in the drivers seat no matter what I do or how I adjust it.

My commute is 100 miles a day round trip and Ive LOVED the 38-42 MPG Ive been seeing but after an hour or so on the road my back aches, and my legs begin to hurt and go somewhat numb. Im only 5'10 with a 31" inseam and yet I cant seem to find an angle, a position or a distance that is comfortable. My 04 GTO is supremely fun and comfy no matter how many hours Im in it, but the 21mpg of premium wont fly doing 30k a year.

Despite the 4 recalls, and the thin, dents-easy roof and body panels, (yes Ive gotten roof and hood dents from falling acorns) the car has been great.

Positives:

It drives like a go kart and after the CVT recall it seemed even better.

80mph on the highway was little trouble and I didnt feel like I was going to die at any second driving that fast. Handling and Braking were very good. I expected less out of the car having rear drums but got much more.

It hauls more stuff than you believe you can put in it

The electronics played well with both my android and my Iphone
sound quality was pretty good out of the stereo for an OEM system

MPG was great and it was easy to get around in and park.

It does what its supposed to do, and if my commute were shorter or I did mostly city driving it would be the ticket.

Negatives:

Seats are uncomfortable, front and back (per my body and my 11 yr old)

Windshield seemed soft, or maybe its the angle, but 5 "stars" that had to be fixed from rocks hitting it seemed a bit much. Ive driven this commute for 26 years with a LOT of cars and never had that many problems.

While I think the leather seats were well done, and the dash was fairly high quality for the price point of the car, the carpeting throughout the car, and materials in the trunk area were terribly cheap. I remember when honda put as much into the interior as they did the exterior and mechanicals but they have steadily declined and cost cutting is noticeable. I noticed a sharp decline with my 2001 CRV over previous hondas (since 85) and it seems that slide hasnt stopped in their lower/smaller models. Accord, Pilot etc seem to suffer less.
Just putting in heavy boxes and one set of tires nearly destroyed the cheap coverings on the backs of the rear seats in places.

while the car did handle well, it FELT at times "under tired or under wheeled", in that the body was bigger than the wheels/suspension could handle. Hollow thunks when common when hitting bumps and potholes very noticeable

All in all, it was a good car, just not good FIT for me.

My commute is set to get a bit longer with more snowy roads and driving so I let it go and bought a Subaru Crosstrek. While not in the same category, the Subie initially seems better put together, and is far more engaging to drive and feels more solid like a tank than a hollow tin can.

One striking difference is the operation of the CVTs

The Subaru has 18 more HP and 30 more lb/tq, weighs almost 1000 lbs more than the FIT, yet if feels significantly more powerful and responsive.

The FIT CVT, even after the reprogram seems as if it was designed to operate with attaining MAX MPG as goal #1 and Driveability as #2 which was often irritating.

Subaru CVT is programmed with Drivability as #1, and MPG as #2 which is engaging. No I wont attain 40mpg with the Subaru, but I should be seeing low 30s which is an acceptable trade off for me.

 

Thanks for the writeup. For those of us that frequent this forum, your cons are not new. The hatch carpeting is abysmal.

It is too bad you could not try to change the driver's seat, instead of getting a Subie. For performance I'm not sure that the CVT is to blame. The Subie has 30 more lb/ft of torque, about 30% more than the Fit, and 33% more engine, so on acceleration will certainly be more responsive.

 

Enjoy your new car. The seat thing is weird. I'm 5'8 and my partner is 5'11. We both find the seats supremely comfortable. This with multiple 8 and 12 hour days behind the wheel. And yet others like you hate them. Seriously weird.

 

The FIT didnt have enough appeal for me to warrant the work it would entail to change seats.

For performance, the subaru is pulling 1000+ lbs more than the fit so that 30% torque and HP should be negligible. I still think the difference is in the programming The honda sacrifices performance for MPG so its always hunting around trying to get to a lower RPM and I was always fighting it trying to get the car moving. Blame my addiction to V8s I guess

 

It is weird. I have a friend who is 6'1" and he is fine in his 15 Fit. Honestly for me, after 2-3 hours I can barely get out of the car without serious pain. My ankles, knees, lower back, middle back neck are all a disaster. Yet my 04 GTO I can drive 5-6 hrs and spring out of it like I wasnt driving 10 min.
Ive tried every height, fore/aft back adjustment, steering wheel position etc and nothing helped. might just be my body shape or the particular ailments that old has beset upon me. DUnno

 

I'm 6 feet tall and the car is perfect.

I have no idea what's wrong with you but you certainly got some use out of your Fit.

 

Yes, i do think seats are so painfull i was thinking on changing it for a accord or a camry becuase they have lumbar support. But I like the car tho. I was lookin for a back support pillow.


But I dunno if it will help. I also find the suburban middle seat unconfotable that i need to seat in the frot where the back lumbar support is.( I have a herniated disc).

Anyways, goodbye and enjoy your new car.

 

Good write up. I traded in my 2013 Subaru Impreza limited since it was the most boring Subaru I've ever driven and I've owned 3 of them. Especially with the cvt. The tune on the newer cvts might be better but the fit, for me, is a much funner car to drive even with less hp. However, subarus will never leave you stranded and are much better built cars than the Honda. Enjoy it.

 

Adios Why2KMax,

I hope you really enjoy your new Crosstrek. I LOVE Subarus!
I still own a 1997 Subaru Impreza Outback and a 1989 Subaru XT6. I previously had another Subaru XT6, A 1989 Subaru RX Turbo and a Subaru SVX.

Interesting on what you say about the CVT. The Crosstrek....does the CVT max out and stay at the high rpm during wide open throttle or does it do the simulated shifting? The new WRXs do the simulated shifting and I don't like or want that. I'm perfectly fine with it staying right at peak rpm during spirited driving as that seems to be perfect to me.


The tin can feel of the Honda Fit I agree with. I also agree with the gearing seeming to be more fuel economy based but I'm ok with that. I like that actually. The car seeming to be more than the wheels can handle is interesting but my wheels and tires are even smaller than stock so that feeling is even more pronounced. I can't remember how it felt stock.

If you will be posting at the NASIOC site, I'm Kevin Thomas over there. Been part of that community even before that site started.

 

Did you consider just running in "S" mode with a higher RPM? It certainly comes more alive in that mode with regard to on demand acceleration and I use that for onramps and uphill mountain driving with very good results. I flick it back to "D" after getting settled on the freeway and when the hills level out.

As for seat comfort, angling the front up an inch made a big difference for me.

 

[QUOTE=Why2kmax;1326347]After 9 months and 31,000 miles I need to part ways with my 2015 FIT EX-L NAVI.

I got a great deal on it used from a private seller but in the time Ive owned it, I just cannot get comfortable in the drivers seat no matter what I do or how I adjust it.

My commute is 100 miles a day round trip and Ive LOVED the 38-42 MPG Ive been seeing but after an hour or so on the road my back aches, and my legs begin to hurt and go somewhat numb. Im only 5'10 with a 31" inseam and yet I cant seem to find an angle, a position or a distance that is comfortable. My 04 GTO is supremely fun and comfy no matter how many hours Im in it, but the 21mpg of premium wont fly doing 30k a year.

Despite the 4 recalls, and the thin, dents-easy roof and body panels, (yes Ive gotten roof and hood dents from falling acorns) the car has been great.

Positives:

It drives like a go kart and after the CVT recall it seemed even better.

80mph on the highway was little trouble and I didnt feel like I was going to die at any second driving that fast. Handling and Braking were very good. I expected less out of the car having rear drums but got much more.

It hauls more stuff than you believe you can put in it

The electronics played well with both my android and my Iphone
sound quality was pretty good out of the stereo for an OEM system

MPG was great and it was easy to get around in and park.

It does what its supposed to do, and if my commute were shorter or I did mostly city driving it would be the ticket.

Negatives:

Seats are uncomfortable, front and back (per my body and my 11 yr old)

Windshield seemed soft, or maybe its the angle, but 5 "stars" that had to be fixed from rocks hitting it seemed a bit much. Ive driven this commute for 26 years with a LOT of cars and never had that many problems.

While I think the leather seats were well done, and the dash was fairly high quality for the price point of the car, the carpeting throughout the car, and materials in the trunk area were terribly cheap. I remember when honda put as much into the interior as they did the exterior and mechanicals but they have steadily declined and cost cutting is noticeable. I noticed a sharp decline with my 2001 CRV over previous hondas (since 85) and it seems that slide hasnt stopped in their lower/smaller models. Accord, Pilot etc seem to suffer less.
Just putting in heavy boxes and one set of tires nearly destroyed the cheap coverings on the backs of the rear seats in places.


I would agree with you, I'm 6ft myself and for the life of me I cant find a comfortable driving position in this car. To me it seems like there is just not enough space in the foot well. The front passenger leg room seems even worse. Is everyone on honda's design team between 5'4 and 5'8? Lol.

 

Yes, they are.

Average height male / female
Japan: 170.7cm 5'7" / 158cm 5'2"
Mexico: 169cm 5'6.5" / 155cm 5'1"

Canada: 176cm 5'9.5" / 163.3cm 5'4.5"
US: 175.9cm 5'9.5" / 162.1cm 5'4"
Uruguay: 170cm 5'7" / 158cm 5'2"

 

uhh get a lincoln? u can sleep on the floor literally

 

6'-4" here, with over 30K on my Fit so far. No issues with the seat… but then, everyone's body is different, so my experience is just that, mine! (c:

es

 

Sorry to see you go Why2kMax. But congrats on the new XV, it is a unique and desirable little car. Hope you have lots of fun with it.

That's awesome that you have a Holden Monaro! I'm from Australia originally, and it's always cool to see something (anything!) from Australia on American roads. Some may criticize the subdued style, but it's not garish and has aged well. Hope it's holding up well for you and that you're enjoying it.

As far the driving position on the Fit; like everyone else, I have a different interpretation of it. Unlike many, I find the seats pretty comfortable and after some long distance driving, have had no aches or complaints.

But the driver position could be better. The footwheel is very intrusive and does remind me of the old Chevy Astro van I used for work about 12 years ago. The passenger compartment is worse and the dash could give more clearance for knees.

Otherwise, the front seats do need more rearward travel for my 6'4'' frame. It does feel a little squashed and there's no way to extend my legs. Passengers often hop in the car and look for the adjustment to move the seat further back, only to find that's as far back it goes. Like someone said, it's as though none of the Honda engineers were over 5'9'' and they focused way too much on making the back seat roomy. The front seats were an afterthought.

But I do have to commend Honda for having an open and low center console that leaves a feeling of airiness and gives the knees some space to spread out. That's important in an era when many manufacturers are going for the "cockpit" feel

 

That's my biggest pet peeve. Anyone know what that sound is? I'd never heard it before in previous cars.

 

Myxalplyx:

The crosstrek CVT seems to do a little of both depending on the conditions. I have seen it acting like the Honda CVT with High RPMs no matter what and Ive seen a little bit of what looked like simulated shifting. The simulated shifting happens more at Lower RPM/throttle apps.
The FiT CVT > Crosstrek at wide open and gives you a bit more giddy up when you floor it

TBFIT:
I have driven in S but it wasnt something I wanted to do all the time. It was much better, but It really impacted MPG more than I was willing to live with.

FESTIBOI:
Yes, the 04 GTO/Monaro has been a great car. Very modification friendly, and very comfy on the highway and a great driver car once the US Spec marshmallow bushings were replaced with Pedders bits.

Agree with your other FIT comments on the seat travel. Civic is similarly limited by rearward travel. I think the driver and passenger should determine how much room there is for occupants back there not the MFR,

but in the FIT's case I think the Fuel tank position under the front seats is what/why they limited travel.

 

sounds like you just purchased the wrong car for the wrong reasons.