Hello fellow Fit folks. My old Fit just died and and I am going to get another one. My Fit had 267,000 trouble free miles before the cylinder head blew. I decided not to replace the car but to get a new one since this car has been so good to me. My old Fit was a J Car. Made in Japan. Should I be looking for another J Car, or are the Mexico made cars just as good.? I have heard rumors that the J cars were better but I am seeking guidance from folks that are more knowledgable than me on this subject. The model that I had was a 2009 Fit sport and I would like to get the current sport model as well. Thanks for helping me with this and thank you for this forum. Cliff

 

You can import J cars older than 1994 now. So many possibilities ...

If you ask me the cars I have got from Japan have been better quality than not. Generalizing. That said, my 2012 Fit does not have the component quality of my 1996 car that soldiers on. And I'm sure Marysville workers would be upset at any indication their plant is any different than the ones in Japan. So take it with a grain of salt. Do they even import Japanese made Fits here?

 

I think OP is referring to USDM GE and older Fit's that were built in Japan not the new USDM ones that come out of Mexico.

They are said to be of less quality but not enough that I wouldn't buy a Mexico built one. Get whatever you like, maintain it well.

 

To be honest, I was in between "Fits" when the 3rd Generation was released. And a lot of the negative threads I read at the time about the fit and finish problems with the new Mexico Plant assembled Fits, caused me to wait. I purposely chose to get a 2016 that was assembled in Japan.
That being said? I think good vehicles can be assembled anywhere. I think Honda might of been struggling with the challenges of getting a new plant up to speed, with a new generation vehicle.
My observation would be, that with the passage of time Mexico built Fits, seem to be kind of hit or miss. Some people have had some disappointing fit and finish problems, badly spaced body panels, etc, but others claim a pretty typical and expected, positive ownership experience.

I think today? I wouldn't hesitate to buy whatever vehicle I want, assembled nearly anywhere. Auto manufacturing has just become by necessity, a much more global operation. That is, I wouldn't pass on a vehicle I want, just because it wasn't assembled in Japan. Even though I admit, I'm glad my Fit was assembled in Japan.

 

I'd wager and say a good example of quality being good no matter where produced is Honda with the Accord in the states. Literally one of the most reliable cars ever built, and one of the most American-sourced vehicles ever.

 

Thank you to all that replied and gave me great guidance. I think I'm fine with just buying the car equipped as I like. Still between a lightly used one or a new one. I hate the prospect of dealing with a car dealer. I kind of like t