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Hello! I am an owner of a new Honda Jazz 1.5 Dynamic in Skyride Blue Metallic.
I am Finnish living in Finland, but I had to buy the Jazz from Luxembourg, as the bigger engine model was not available in Finland anymore in 2020. Originally I planned to buy a pre-owned Fit DX from Canada to avoid all the assistance and safety features that belong to Dynamic model in Europe, but had to change the plan when I learned that any trailer towing is not allowed with North-American FIT models. In Europe the allowance for Jazz is 450 kg for a trailer without brakes and 1000 kg with push-type mechanical trailer brakes.
I like the performance and great space, but at the same time I genuinely do hate the safety and assistance systems. I don't like the car to interfere my driving. That is the reason I have mainly older cars in my inventory. However I have a plan to improve my Jazz by adding a switch to one of the ABS wheel sensor cables to disable traction and stability control, and a blinding sticker to disable the front camera used for lane watch and collision warning and mitigation systems.
Last edited by TnTkr; Apr 30, 2020 at 05:15 AM.
Reason: typo
Welcome aboard! Is it easy to purchase cars in Finland from a different country and simply drive them back home?
Are there structural differences between the Fits in North America versus those available elsewhere? I would think the tow capability would be the same. The NA market probably says "no towing" to avoid any liability issues that could occur.
Purchasing a car from abroad requires some paperwork mainly due to Finnish car tax, but it is still pretty easy. There are also agents to help with the bureaucracy and transportation, so it is not necessary to travel anywhere. I have previously purchased a car from Germany and driven it back home, but this time due to the COVID19 and travelling limitations I stayed home and paid for transportation.
Structurally Fits in North America and Fits/Jazzes in other markets are identical, except the low spec models have rear drum brakes in some markets. Otherwise it is same drive line, body and suspension. I have the same understanding that "no towing" for North America is to avoid liability issues. On the other hand in many countries in Europe such a limitation would be a substantial handicap as there is a culture to use any car you have to tow a light trailer for occasional transportation needs. Like carrying furniture, construction material, soil, lawn mover, rowboat, car tires, hay bales etc.
Lots of people tow trainers here in the US and Canada up to around 2000 pounds loaded. Maximum FIT tongue weight with trailer loaded is around 200 pounds when loaded which is around 10% of what you can drag behind you. I guess the heaviest I have ever towed was around 1500 pounds total weight. 400 was the actual trailer and the rest was a 455 CU engine, with transmission, and final drive attached. I picked it up in Owen Sound, Ontario and dropped it in Oklahoma City, OK which is around 1300 miles or 2100 Km, I hardly knew it was back there. I lost about 10% in gas mileage while towing it. I have towed or carried lots of other things with a FIT, like bicycles on a carrier and motorcycles on a trailer. For bigger or theaviier things I use my Colorado Pick UP truck so I have never tried going over 1500 or 2000 pounds. Going up an down mountains or hauling a high wind resistance load might make a big difference.
Some things don't develope better. I would describe Jazz's key as colossal, so huge, heavy and bulky it is. There are ways to the make car keys smaller and lighter, even with the remote central locking buttons included. I can't imagine what an earth Honda has been thinking.
