My college child is in the market for a first car. will have to be driving it between 300 to 500 miles weekly we're currently looking at Honda civics and Honda fits as well as Toyota corollas

My concern with the fit is the 1.5 liter engine as well as the occasional reports of issues with stuttering, loss of power, and starting troubles after certain mileage is reached.

the current ones we see in market that we can go check out are 2007-2009 models and usually the fit sport models.

any opinions, advise, suggestions in our search?

thanks in advance

 

i think toyota corollas would come on top for pure reliability.

i mean, fit is pretty reliable too, but if performance is out of equation and safety is in mind, i would say go with corolla..

 

If a Fit has these issues it is due to a lack of preventative maintenance (valve adjusts) or old ignition coils needing replacement. Many used-market 10 year old cars are behind on maintenance and would need some attention before being driven that much, but a Fit would be as reliable as the other options you're considering, provided previous owners have appreciated and cared for it (again, true for all cars!).

The GD3 Fit was sold in the US for model years 2007-2008. 2009 was the first year for the next generation Fit, the GE8. It is a more refined "modern" car, but will cost more than the GD3. The non-sport GD3s are very basic cars, and sports don't cost much more on the used market.

A GE8 is probably your best bet, if it's in your budget. Other than a valve train spring recall, it is as reliable as the GD3 without the leaky interior and feels more modern.

 

Unless your kid is carrying tons of stuff, I concur with another poster who says the Corolla is the most reliable ride for a college student. I have had both, and in terms of reliability I have to give the edge to the Corolla.

 

Hard to compete with a Corrola as far as reliability but the Fit is also very reliable and has room for more stuff. Will they be hauling clothes, food and other college stuff back and forth?

 

thanks for the input. I think we'll stick with looking at the corolla units for now. Reliability being first, storage space isn't a big thing, but 4 door option is. I appreciate the opinions. we do have a 2015 ex and are happy with it but I'm cautiously watching the smaller engine.

 

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Fit for a first car. They're great cars.

300-500 miles a week is a bunch though.

 

If we are talking about a 1st car, for a young person, my priorities in order would be, #1 Safety. Which car did best in crash tests, airbags, safety belts, and any additional safety features.
#2. Reliability and economy.

I think a Fit or Corolla are both valid choices. If I was looking for separating factors, those would be the two areas I would use.