About VSA: I've found it best to turn it off. I use left foot braking to trail brake, and from time to time the ECU seems to just cut out when VSA is on. I've dragged the brakes exiting a turn with the throttle on and it stumbles, like vapor lock or something. No Bueno.

My times are close to a second slower in D. The cars just sluggish, but in sport mode...wow. Revs stay up, and the car auto shifts at redline. It doesn't bounce on the limiter. It keeps pulling and the shift does not upset the car at all. You just have to keep hitting the left paddle in turns and stuff to keep the revs up. Once you get this worked out so its instinct you'll see what I mean. I am confident the CVT is faster than the manual in this car. Maybe any car.

There was a C7 Corvette running at the event, and its engine kept stumbling... We finally figured out is was likely stability control doing it.

es

Oh, congrats too! Sounds like you had a lot of fun

How do you access your MPG information on the head unit?

Touch the Info button on the main screen.

es

Stembridge,

Now that it's been a while and your suspension has settled, could you take a measurement for me when you have a moment? I'd like to know what the height is from the front lip and the ground now that you've lowered the fit. I've got an incline onto my driveway so I'm just trying to get a sanity check to make sure it'll clear once I do the mods.

Have you done any more autox with the new suspension yet?

Thanks in advance.

Here you go:

http://www.peachtreeprairie.com/road.../clearance.jpg

Looks like about 6.5" to the lowest part of the Mugen-style lip.

No more autox so far this summer; work has been munching every spare moment. There's an event in October that I have on my calendar - looking forward to that one.

Have you done any experimentation with how to launch the fastest? I was trying to "power brake" in S1, but it still seemed really sluggish out of the gate. I almost think it takes off quicker in normal D mode without trying to power brake.

es

Thanks for taking the time to measure and to take a picture. It's very much appreciated.

I think you may have me confused with JHN. he seems to do autoxing. I just use mine for commuting so no power launches lol. Not sure if it's worthwhile in DC metro traffic lol.

I just want a little better handling and add to the looks a bit.

Thanks again!

LOL! You are of course correct. (c:

I've driven in DC, and have learned it's better to leave the car parked and walk or take the train.

es

I do the brake torque thing. I hold the brake firmly, bring it up to about 2000 and let go of the brake. That's about all you can do.

Why CVTs Are Awesome Transmissions

Heh.

es

hey stembridge, what happened to the video you had posted showing the tone of the Tanabe exhaust?

It's still there… I need to make another one, as the tone has gotten even better!

es

i could have swore you had another clip showing the sound from the exterior as well.. maybe i'm mistaken. sounds good!

By popular request, here's a drive-by video sequence of my Jazz (nee Fit) with the Tanabe Medallion Touring exhaust.

Honda Fit Exhaust Sound Drive-by (low)

es

NICE! The Tanabe sounds so much deeper with a nice tone in your video compared to the other two videos on YouTube

Had a blast today at the OctoberFAST event in Pekin, IL with my son (his first autox, my second). Video soon.

http://www.peachtreeprairie.com/road...ctoberFAST.JPG

es

How'd it feel with the new suspension? Did you win an award again? lol

As promised, here's the video: link

No trophy this time! We ran in the first heat and the track was pretty wet. One of my runs was in a steady rain (wipers on). The wet actually favored the lower HP cars (there were some impressive spin-outs!). The sun came out after lunch, so the average times went down a lot - I think only one or two cars in the first heat took home an award.

My son had an absolute blast (as you'll see in the vid)!

es

Just had my VCT Actuator replaced under powertrain warranty at a bit over 50K miles. It took the dealer several attempts to replicate the rattle-on-start symptom. It's TSB 16-088 if you have the same issue.

es

thanks for the info. i'll keep an eye on that if it comes up.

Damn it's been awhile since you posted this vid. That looks fun! I like the sound of your fit a lot

Good on you. That looks like fun.

Thanks, we had a blast!

es

I like that these springs don’t have much drop. I was looking at the swift springs which I used on a Subaru but they have more drop than I want. How is the ride on these springs? Is it bouncy on the street?

The Down springs are stiffer than OEM, and even with the mild drop, I find my tires kiss the fenders much less frequently, hardly ever now, in fact.

The ride is firm, but not kidney-jarring like the springs I had put in my previous '00 New Beetle - that car was a pain on a long trip, especially with our frost-heaved Illinois roads.

I'm technically "middle aged" now, if that helps with context. I want some modicum of comfort! (c:

es

First autocross of the season this weekend in Rantoul with Champaign County Sports Car Club. Rantoul isn't a bad venue. While not a Chicago or Milwaukee, It's ranks 3rd on my list for clubs that are within a 2-3 hour drive from my house. It's also the most reasonably priced at $25 for SCCA members. I haven't figured if I'm going on Saturday or Sunday? My WRX is apart so; If I can co-drive a friends ES Mazda Miata then Saturday, if not then the Fit of Fury on Sunday.

Schedule and Results

Hmmmm. Just checked and I don't see any events listed (yet) for Mossville or Pekin, where I ran last year. I'll check with my coworker who's much more into this than me to see if he knows anything...

es

I think Central Illinois Region had their schedule or the start of their schedule listed on their Facebook page?

April 30th Pekin
June 10th & 11th Mossville.


Myself, I'll probably go to INR-SCCA on the 30th and SCCA-Chicago on June 11th.


You should take the drive to Rantoul. Always fun to run with other clubs and gives a different perspective. Back in 2014 when I started:

My first event ever with Chicago I was 64/81
Next event was with Great River Region 11/34
Third event was at Milwaukee and quite humbling. 115/133


My last event of last years season was in Rantoul in a borrowed car and came in 10/75 and 1st in class.

Ah, looking in the wrong place, then. I've been off FB for several years.

Unfortunately, Rantoul doesn't fit my weekend plans, so I'll have to wait a bit. There's another reason I can't do an event this weekend, but that will have to wait until I can write it up in more detail from home...

Sold my Fit (Jazz) - 2.5 years, 52,000 miles
 

http://www.peachtreeprairie.com/road...17_fitsold.jpg

Two weeks ago, writing a post like this was about the farthest thing from my mind. I've really enjoyed my Fit/Jazz, especially with all the mods I did to enhance the driving experience and aesthetics. My intent, actually, was to keep the car for the long term.

But a confluence of events led me to do some research on a certain imported car that's going out of production this year*. In my research, I learned there was a manufacturer 20% off MSRP sale on the car that only lasted three more days after I learned about it, and dealers do *not* negotiate on these cars at all.

After running the numbers and finding they worked (but only if I sold the Fit), I decided that if I were ever going to own a vehicle like this one, now was the only time in my life it would work out as I plan to retire in five years or so, at which point my income will go down pretty significantly! There was actually one of these in my town (automatic), so I did get a test drive, which sold me on the car.

Finally, that evening, a rare manual transmission version of the car popped up at a dealer about three hours from where I live (the next closest was in Texas). So I immediately got in touch, only to find out they had already sold the car, but that they had one more 6MT in transit from the port in California which will be mine as soon as it arrives.

http://www.peachtreeprairie.com/road...7_fitsold2.jpg

It only took a week to sell my Fit, and other than the JDM rear bumper cover (already sold), I left all the other mods intact. A couple from the Chicago area bought the car (Hi, if you find this!). Interestingly, they were cross-shopping used Mini Coopers. I have to confess, I was having second thoughts all weekend prior to signing over the title!

So at any rate, I'll leave my mod thread intact, and will continue to check in from time to time.

es

*I'm getting a 2017 Chevrolet SS, which is a lightly rebadged GM Holden Commodore VF Series II built in Australia. A total of just over 11,000 units will have been imported since 2014 when GMH shuts down later this year. I'll be rebadging it back to Holden, making it the second car I've converted to an Australian brand.

Enjoy the new ride, and thanks for all of your help. Drop by once in awhile.

Now looks like CAM-C for you?

BTW: There's a guy who competes at Rantoul with one rebadged back to Holden. If I remember correctly it's red?

Awww snap! Sorry to see you go buddy. I've enjoyed reading your build thread. Have fun with the new car.

For me the Fit is just a commuter car and doesn't evoke any passion. I can totally see why you'd want to get that SS to replace it. Feel free to come back and post about the sh*tty mileage :thumbups:;)

LOL! That's going to be one of the hardest things to adjust to, although my ¾ ton farm truck has me prepared (13 MPG)!

es

Yep, should be CAM-C... I've never seen an SS locally (other than the one I test-drove). The SS forum map shows two owners in Peoria, though. I guess I'll make that three!

es

If you have to go, this is the way to do it! Congrats on the upgrade!

Congrats on the SS, sorry to see your go, I have enjoyed your thread. I have the same color Fit, you have a pm sir ;)

Looks good.

:nod: ok. If you must leave us. I appreciate all your helpful posts here! Congrats on the new ride !