Actually what Honda needs Honda needs is an affordable sports car, or at least a 'fer real" hot hatch. Since Acura has mirror images of Civics, an improved Fit could be an Acura.
Require requirements: IRS, 4 wheel disc brakes, more powerful engine (at least 175 horsepower, limited slop differential). No wild styling.
The Civic Type R doesn't count. Ever priced one? Mid 30ls. dealers asking 10k premiums. Limited production.

No, I won't buy one, cannot afford one, and unfortunately too old (78).

 

 

They need a hot hatch since 2001.

The Civic EP3 was nice but had it's flaws compared to the previous generations.

It's not happening, ever.

 

A light, naturally aspirated hatch with V-TEC and a sweet gearbox would be awesome. Or a lightweight Integra. Or a roadster.

 

I like the way you think KentFinn! A VERY cool idea.

 

Actually, Honda could do a Fit Si very easily
From the factory:
HFP kit, with the Sport body trimmings
17" wheels
6-speed, perhaps LSD
drop in the 1.5t from the Civic
EX-L interior w/some additional bolstering
LED headlights/Foglamps
2-3 available colors unique to the Fit Si perhaps Sonic Grey Pearl, CW, Rallye Red
"Fit Si" badging
any other suggestions?
Based on current pricing, Honda could probably do this for $25-27k, could also badge it as an Acura RSX Type S
Afterthoughts: if not the 1.5t, at least 4-wheel disc brakes

 

Small problem … the turbo is on the wrong side in the Civic configuration. Not enough room under the Fit very short, pointy hood. Not a drop in, major engineering problem.

 

Didn't know that, that would be a problem, all else considered, maybe Honda has something in their International system that would drop in and be a bit higher performance. Don't know if the Jazz has some higher output engines for other markets. The Sport is just a trim group on a LX. Looks a bit neater, but all show, no go. Perhaps Honda knows their market better than our guesses on what would sell. The success of the CTR is a prime example, I would have thought a Coupe body would be closer to a real sports car, but the success of it as a 4-door hatchback proves me wrong, times have changed and I haven't.

 

Let's face reality. The "culture of the car" is dead. It's just that some of us haven't got the memo yet. The future is all electric cars and autonomous taxis. The auto industry is gearing up to sell us transportation as a service, not a product.

At least that's what I'm supposed to believe judging from the editorials that appear in my news feed every day.

I'm wondering if I'm ever going to be able to buy another stick shift car.

 

Unfortunately you may be right, Uncle G.. I already have my last new car and it is a manual shift (2015 Fit). I'm 78 and squeaking by on SS. Thanks to idiots who elect fools like AOC, the push toward "green" solutions, we're may be headed toward the brink. Gee, this isn't my usual optimism. I like driving and shifting gears. An auto auto will be boring as hell.

 

I'm not totally in yet, very much agree on Idiots, fools & AOC. The current generation seems to look at cars mostly as appliances, just a means to get transported while staying connected with their "devices", their tiny screens are their God. They get no enjoyment from the journey, only the destination matters. I'm 71, just bought my wife a 2019 Fit EX-L Navi, I got a 2019 Civic Touring Coupe in December, have done some minor cosmetics mods. Among the 40ish & up group, there's still a lot of car collectors & nuts. The Mecum Auctions and the like are still chugging along. Some car companies, like Toyota, have embraced the "appliance" culture, Honda, for the time being, still is making cars for drivers. But you're correct, we're becoming dinosaurs.

 

 

Gronk! And here I am, people telling me I look like I'm mid 50s (grin) plastic foot and all. Nothing I've done, just good genes. I've driven mostly manual shift cars since I was 18 (1954 Plymouth Savoy), Chevys, Pontiacs, Buicks, Suzuki, and 4 different Hondas. The Suzi, the Buick, and one Chevy were automatics.

 

The Fit is a great car and a blast to drive, but I long for a rear-wheel drive Honda.

 

Thanks for killing the planet for people like me and your grand children. I hope you feel great as a parent to hand your kids a world in worse shape than the one you had. Selfish ass.

 

Just ignore Mike's occasionally angry, incoherent ramblings. He also thinks abolishing the electoral college is a good idea.

Sometimes he can't help himself. Don't take it personally. Usually he behaves in a decent manner around here and is a good source of information.

 

Good luck asking Jeeves to figure out how to turn on your cars.

 

I'm pretty sure that it fit the definition of 'angry incoherent rambling'. Especially when you finished the rant with "selfish ass".

It's also unfortunate you advocate for the tyranny of the majority and mob rule.

I agree that people need to learn to Google. It's not hard. It's a disease on the Forester forum I frequent. Mods seem to spend most of their time merging redundant threads because nobody knows how or is too lazy to search.

*Edit* Boo on your ninja edit! Lol.

 

I'll just drop this here:

 

Glib... In that case hold on to the cars you have. Personally i'm in denial and given the chance to hit the lottery, I'll will stock pile mint condition manuals.

lol: Go take your meds and watch some more Faux News.

As a member of said generation, you may be right. While people I consider friends don't feel this way, I've definitely seen some truth to your statement in the car posts that've seen scroll past on social media. All these nonsense overweight minivans masquerading as "cross overs" and lol, "sport utility vehicles".