My wife has been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Fit and was fully planning to purchase the first one to arrive at the dealership. However, the fuel mileage figures and the speculation on the price have caused her to now seriously consider the Toyota Matrix. This is a lady who has been a diehard Honda fan since 1980 and sadly lamented the demise of the Civic Wagon. She owned 3 different Civic wagons over the years and was hoping the Fit would restore the old memories. If the fuel mileage does not approach 50 miles to the Imperial gallon and the price isn't right around $15000 CDN, she will likely opt for the Matrix. She will now actually have to test drive both before making up her mind. She bought 6 brand new Hondas since 1980 without taking a test drive. She test drove her first one and then never again. One was purchased without even seeing it until she picked it up. I just hope Honda has not really dropped the ball on the Canadian Fit.

 

By the way - my wife has taken over my Element until she gets her new car. I am stuck driving her old 1992 Civic VX Hatchback. The shift linkage is sloppy, the upper ball joints need to be replaced, and it has the trademark rust on the rear fenders. Despite all of that, it starts like a charm and gets between 50 and 60 mpg around the city! I kid you not!! This crazy, underpowered little car has gotten as high as 70 mpg on highway trips. It has a little 45 liter gas tank and I can drive it back and forth to work for a month without looking for a gas station. Strangely enough it has a 1500cc VTEC engine. That sounds much like what is being offered in the Fit, but I guess that higher emissions standards and the desire to squeeze more power out of the engine has affected gas mileage.

I will be happy to get my Element back though. I just don't like riding so close to the pavement any more.

 

I would love to see the 0-60 time for this rusty 'ol faithful slug of yours Honda cannot possibly sell many of these VX/CX hatches in today's ultra-competitive mkt. It must have some zing to sell, especially if the word "fun" is used in advertising. I for one think your wife would be making a serious mistake taking the matrix over her 7th Honda. Just look at all the standard goodies in the new Fit! The Matrix is not nearly as "cost-effective", "effecient", or "smart" as the Fit. Oh well, I wish you luck in your decision. My wife will be driving a Storm Silver Sport 5AT by the time the summer comes. And I shall put the paddle shifter to good use since I drive a 99 Civic EX Coupe 5MT with 140k trouble-free miles. It will be my 2nd Honda, her 3rd.

 

You must be wondering about 0-60 in kilometers per hour, right? The old VX will cruise along at better than 120km/h on a freeway, once you get it wound up, but get cut off and have to hit the brakes - then you better gear down, head for the right lane, and start winding her up again. Given today's driving conditions, I agree that the old VX just doesn't cut it.
Thanks for the input regarding the Matrix.

 

Sorry, meant mph. My car is around 3,500rpm @ 120kph. These cars NEED to be above 3k rpm to come alive, better yet >4k. I just know from memory any stipped down CX/VX were so low volume in the 90s, Honda dropped the hatch altogether because of it.

Today's consumer expects all the gizmos (ABS, 6AirBags, big rims, cool stereo, 5 door, etc) and be able to go when you floor it. This meant shorter gearing and packaging that better that of EX models of the past. I bought an EX civic over the DX, LX, HX, and Si/SiR because it had just the right gearing (middle) giving the best milgeage, while still delivering class winning autocross performace on just 87 pump octane. DX/LX/HX had no VTEC (latter had VTEC-e for economy) and had loooong gear ratios. Si/SiR had the shortest gearing and 91 octane for the DOHC VTEC. So the EX was a winner in my book with lotsa standard features, slightly longer gearing (than Si/SiR), SOHC VTEC that would deliver 33+mpg consistently.

I remember when the Matrix was being introduced a few years back, the only thing that was going for it was the available 180HP 1.8l vvt-i, and 4wd. If you cannot afford adding these options, there would be nothing going for it and the Fit would win hands down in standard features, effeciency, versatility and refinement.

 

I assumed your 0-60 query was in miles per hour. I suggested kilometers per hour because you wouldn't need a stopwatch to measure the mph time; it could be done on a watch with no second hand!

I am sure that once she gets a look at the Fit my wife will make the practical choice. She almost bought a Toyota Corolla in 1983, but when the sales manager called her at home, after signing the deal, and asked for another $1000, she raced back to Honda. Toyota would have to be hugely impressive for her to give them another chance, so I am fairly confident that a Fit will join the Element in our driveway.

 

I've ordered my Fit last weekend at Richmond Honda from Ricky Leung he has already put in half a dozen orders already and I suggest putting in orders early to get jap made models

 

Nope - there will be 2 of us

 

I'll be adding a Honda Fit to my stable of Honda/Acura cars.

 

Comparing the fuel economy of the 92-95 Civic VX to the 2007 Fit doesn't make sense.

As stated before, the VX was a car with 4 wheels, one outside mirror and not much else. End up with two similar crashes (Civic VX compared the the Fit), and the Fit occupants will be a hole lot safer.

I cried when I had to part with my old trusty rusty 1990 Civic Si, that could still do 5.7L/100kms on the highway with 410,000kms on the odometer. It had turned into a death trap.

Here's hoping the Canadian Fits end up with a better fuel consumption than the 2006 Civic line up. If not, the HB practicality will be replaced with a 4 door. I'll just keep using our Odyssey for hauling duty.

And heated mirrors. A power sunroof would rock too.

 

The occupants of this Fit lived.



Had it been a VX then it would have not been so fortunate.

 

I too will be buying a "Blue" Fit Sport.

Currently, I own a 1996 Honda Civic EX - I've never owned a car that long in my life (driving since 16 - I'm 42 now). Like Honda so much - I bought my wife a brand new 2001 Accord EX V6 - which she won't part with.

I have 2 daughters, but my Civic is a 5 speed - and they can drive it - but not too well - so, I need an automatic - and the Fit will Fit my price range. If my Civic was an automatic - then I wouldn't even be thinking of buying right now (only 188,000 KM - and still feels like new!).

Rgds...Geoff
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

 

iS "grey" the same colour as the "teal" colour shown in da website? cuz i want that teal colourr
and how much would deposit and downpayment cost? monthly payment for 60 months? can sum1 answser those quedstions plz? =P

Oh yaa...n r the headlights painted inside wif the body colour of da car as shown in da pics on da website?

 

No idea about the colour, but until Honda releases the official pricing and interest rates, the only thing people can do is guess.

Man that message was hard to read.

 

i have a question....it says that da fit will have electric power steering and electric throttle....does that mean its gonna have realli light/senseless steering and thrttle like the new toyotas? if it is den i guess i mite give up getting one =[

 

This is a Honda, not a Toyota. You can count on the steering and throttle efforts to be just right for most people.

But don't quote me on that come April :P

 

I'm pretty sure I've read that the steering is speed-sensitive, so it might not be too bad. I'm not a power steering fan myself. I suppose the fuse can be pulled, unless that makes the ECU throw a fit.

I don't know about the throttle, but since they've gone so far as to regear the transmission for North America, I would expect they won't throw it away with poor throttle response.

 

Hi, I'm new to this forum and I'm really looking forward to owning a Fit...I'd prolly get the Blaze Orange just cuz it's the Sports only colour...If only they had white >.< oh well...and i think it's cool that we get 3 models instead of 2 like some other places i think...but no CVT for us

 

i thought the colours were White, Black, Blue, Red, Silver for all models with Orange only for the Sport. Isn't white available for the Sport as well?

 

The teal on the website, I think, is actually Lunar Mist. It looks more light blue than teal. I saw it at the Washington Auto Show. The gray is actually silver metallic. Lunar Mist is my first choice. If I can't get that one, I'll get Silver.