We should form picket lines in front of all the Honda Dealers if the stupid US honda markets lower the MPG's so that the new fit won't eat into the sells of their civic, civic SI, and hybrid models. They should give us the same car or better than the one in Japan since we had to wait forever to get it here in the first place, but they want to down grade it and expect stupid americans to be happy with it. No way! We should boycott Honda until they bring over the real fit! The one thats economical and has better engine and transmission.

All the talk of changing the engine, transmission, and lowed mpg better be just misconception so that the competition doesn't try to increase their numbers to be as equal as the Honda Fit. However, if the rumors and statements turn out to be true, I'll forget about Honda all together and go with Toyota.

 

Extra weight caused by US regulators. You have the power for change its called voting but most people in the US choose not to exercise it.

What does it matter anyway when the US is in the midst of an obesity epedemic which adversely effects fuel economy more than anything else.

Everything is always someone elses fault. If I spill my Coke on myself I don't blame McDonalds but yet millions of Americans can't even take responsibility for holding a cup. When will people in the US take responsibility for their own actions.

Short version. Get off you fat lazy asses and vote = no more problems.

 

Honda should bring us the real fit that we have all been waiting for. US regulators or Republicans? Probably lobbyists for big oil, pressuring for lower mpg.

The Honda Civic HX CVT since 1996 has offered americans 35 mpg city/ 39 HWY. There was a special carbuerator for the Honda Accord in the 1980's that allowed it to get up to 80 MPG. There is no reason to down grade the FIT. It should be getting even better MPG than it has been getting.

 

I think different countries use different tests to determine rated mpg, so an earlier rating might not agree with a more recent US rating.

The mileage discussed for the Fit seems comparable to the Toyota Yaris.

 

Actually, from what I've seen of the Yaris 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks, they're nothing to write home about. The Yaris definitely doesn't have the interior versatility of the Fit, that's to be sure.

However, keep an eye out for the Toyota Ractis that just starting selling in Japan a few months ago. Unlike the Yaris, the Ractis can fold its rear seats flat on the floor, and there's a chance the replacement for the Scion xA could be a Ractis derivative.

 

The Yaris is on sale in Canada now, so I have seen it. I agree that it doesn't look nearly as versitile as the Fit. My point was that the fact that the Fit may not beat the Civic mileage is not, IMHO, evidence of a plot or conspiracy. I don't think the Yaris beats the Corolla either.

I hope you are right about the Ractis coming. It looks like a nice vehicle.

 

Dude that's a little too harsh - I don't think this board is the right place for U.S. bashing.
After all they're giving away the new fit to a US resident - so you might be a little into someone else's playground at this point...

 

Will the 1300 cc Fit be sold in Canada or Mexico? It might be worth a trip just to try one out. One could add cargo to the vehicle of sufficient weight to equal a U.S. fast-food eater in the driver's seat and whatever weight the U.S. safety specs might add. My guess is the vehicle would not satisfy drivers who want "sporty" acceleration, but for the kind of driving most people do it might be just fine. The next question is, how much would the extra weight reduce the 1300's advertised 58 mpg. With the added weight, would the 1300 end up burning as much fuel as the 1500?

Of course, we have to wonder how many fast-food eaters would buy a car that small no matter how big its engine might be. The only real issue might be the effect of added weight from U.S. safety specs.

 

Largely tounge in cheek. You have to remember we Australians have a very dry sense of humour (comes with the climate). Just sick of the whingeing about fuel economy.

Ironic - considering the vast majority of people in the US drive gas guzzling trucks the fuel economy is a vast improvement.

 

Nope--the Honda Fit now on sale in Mexico uses the L15A VTEC engine rated at 109 bhp (probably pre-SAE 08/04 net definition). The Mexican-market car is probably almost identical to the US-market car.

 

Easy there Mate!!! Don't forget, we gave you guys the great music of KISS that I know you aussies love so much. :-)

Anyway, you are right that voting is important...and I agree that you shouldn't complain if you don't vote. However, voting here in the US won't do much when it comes to getting the options we want on our cars. Also, when it comes to voting...our choices are pretty limited...usually wealthy white guys that don't have the common man's interests in mind.

Back on topic, hopefully we in the U.S. will get to see the great car that the Honda Fit truly is. It will be very disappointing if the Fit is tamed down and does not offer the fuel economy and tranny that the rest of the world has come to appreciate.

 

Amen,

Besides, I just found a way to double my fuel economy with a lowly Saturn: carpooling.

 

...Honda has released another mid-model change on the Fit on December 8, 2005, according to information gleaned from THIS website.

Honda has made some changes to the headlight housing, grille design, taillamps, and also improved the L-series engines, too. That could mean the US-market car could get the improved L15A VTEC engine from this MMC with better fuel economy than originally anticipated and also possibly ULEV Level-2 emissions compliance, for starters.

In short, I'll take an educated guess that the final US-market Honda Fit will be equipped like the current Mexican-market car (L15A VTEC engine, five-speed manual or conventional CVT automatic, integrated turn signals in headlamp housing), but with most of the changes from this new MMC, including the new grille design. Honda might even offer the navigation system as a US$800 option, too.

 

Bigger front disc brakes and rear discs address 2 of the things that a lot of people said need improving and which people mod.

The emissions improvements are a jump start on the new standards coming into Europe, Australia and Japan. I understand California is also further tightening their requirements (pity about the rest of the US).

The front seat mobility swivel is interesting. The population is Japan is rapidly ageing and with less children coming on so all the manufacturers are doing things for the aged such as easier access to the vehicles and improved headlights. The ageing population phenomenia is also happening in the US and Australia. Hey the Australian government even pays A$3,000 to every couple who has a child and likewise the Singapore government pays S$4,000 to every couple who has a new child to try and encourage babies.

 

Actually, the new emission control requirements in Europe and Japan are akin to the ULEV Level-1 requirement as defined by the EPA and CARB here in the USA. CARB has no plans to further tighten gasoline engine emissions (they'll stick to ULEV Level-1/2 and AT-PZEV standards for now) but do plan a new lower emission standard for diesel engines starting in 2007, with the EPA following a similar tightening of diesel emission standards.

It should be noted that most car manufacturers now offer 50-state emissions compliance for gasoline engines since it's easier to qualify for emissions once.

 

Its about different automobile regulations.

Besides, this is expected from Honda. For years, Japanese makes have kept the best cars for themselves. Example - NSX-R, Integra Type-R, Civic Type-R, Skyline GTR, Mazdaspeed RX-8, S2000 Type-V, 2004+ S2000 with the original F20C engine while the US got the F22C engine.