Last week our pickup ('97 Mazda B4000) left my fiance stranded again. She's a school teacher and reliable transportation is extremely important for her job. I'm taking 17 hours of coursework this semester and really don't want to worry about her and if I'm going to have to rescue her while I am studying (was right in the middle of researching at the library while I got the latest call). We decided for her needs the Honda Fit of Mazda 3 hatch would be the best choice.

We test drove both and loved both - it was a tough decision.

Before making a decision we went to dinner and discussed the options and shared our opinions. She came up with the idea of getting two, jokingly. We laughed but the more we talked the more sense it made. She hasn't really ever liked the 2000 Miata (especially after the string of problems I've had with it the past couple months; multiple misfires codes, replaced coil pack plugs and wires and it still runs rough on occasion with the CEL). Plus, with my job, I travel around to 28 different branches (some of them are 200 miles away) to maintain corporate computer equipment and systems.

We decided on the Fit - it came down to price and fuel economy. The Mazda3 hatches we wanted started at 18-19k, while a comparatively equipped Fit Sport model was 16k. The fuel economy on the Mazda3 hatch is 22city/29highway, while the Fit is 27city/34highway.

The suprise on their faces when we came back and said we were interested in two were priceless. We had already test driven the automatic, but I wanted a manual! So we took one for a quick spin. I was pretty impressed with the clutch and gearbox, it can't compare to the short snickity throws of the Miata, but the Fit, like all Hondas, is a utility car - not a sports car (minus S2000 & NSX). I was amazed with the handling for a FWD econobox. She decided she wanted an orange one (the one we first test drove), and I had trouble deciding on black or blue. A coin flip decided blue.

When it came down to talking turkey they didn't give us any BS (probably happy they were going to sell two!). We didn't have to wheel and deal at all, I had done my research and knew what we could do. They even gave me a heck of a deal on trade in for the Miata. Since she recently graduated college, the Honda people had a special program for us and gave us an great rate and terms (we were already preapproved at our credit union before shopping).

In regards to the dealership experience, I had purchased a new 2006 Miata at the Mazda dealership back in '05, and the experience wasn't good. When I bought the 2000 Miata last year (I'm not sure why I went back to that dealership) the experience was the same as the first. This was my first time buying a new car from Honda, and the experience was great at that dealership (Scholfield Honda). I was very impressed with the sales guy and sales manager. The atmosphere was comfortable and at no time were we pressured or felt we were being hornswoggled.

So here is what we got...

She got a 2008 Honda Fit Sport, 5-speed automatic (has paddle shifters!), in Blazing Orange Metallic.
I got a 2008 Honda Fit Sport, 5-speed manual, in Vivid Blue Pearl.

Having owned 11 Miatas in the past, I was pretty partial to the Mazda3. I didn't put the Fit on our list until people on the Miata.net forums highly recommended it for our needs. That says a lot about the Fit and the enthusiasts of the Miata.net forum that I regular.

A fun fact that still amazes me. The Fit can fit inside the footprint of a Miata - wow.

Here's a couple pictures of our new Fits.

 

Congratulations on your two new Fits! BTW, VBP is the best hahaha...

 

Wow! Congratz on the two new Fits and welcome to the board. Enjoy!

Tyler

 

like illusive said VBP FTW lol... congratz and welcome to the FIT family
( VTEC time yo.... lol)

 

welcome and congratz!


*COUGH*kraftwerks Supercharger for your Miata*COUGH*


EDIT- reading owns me

*COUGH*kraftwerks Supercharger for your Fits*COUGH*

 

wow, that's awesome.

when i bought my silver and drove it home, my wife said 'where's mine?'
i told her she can have mine... knowing she cant drive MT. hahaha.

 

Awesome how things worked out for you. They look great next to one another!

 

IF i recall correctly I believe you are not the only couple to purchase 2 fits at once. lol. These are really amazing cars.

 

Congrats! I'm a teacher too, and it's my reliable, get me to work regardless car. Although she'll need good winter tires for the worst winter days when they don't cancel school, grr.

 

X2!

CONGRATS! And welcome!
I guess you don't have to share then...hahhaaa
no jealousy! haaaahaa

 

Funny you mention that! It snowed about 6" today, and school was canceled - so she got to stay home today.

Oh, and thanks for the warm welcome everyone. The main thing that floors me about these cars are their fun factors. They are so much FUN to drive. I may miss having a Miata, no doubt - but I'm having the same smile on my face driving the Fit as when I had the top down driving through the twisties in my Miata. I used to do SCCA autocross pretty regularly with my Miata, and going to make it a point to do a couple Sundays this Spring to see what the Fit can do.

A lot of people at the office are completely shocked that I traded in my Miata for another car, having had 11 of them, they think Hell has frozen over - no joke. They have never even heard of the Fit, but over the past week, I have let a couple of them drive mine and more than a few have ridden with me to grab lunch and they are genuinely impressed. They are shocked at how much room there is especially for the fact that it's smaller (in footprint size) than a Miata.

Funny story. A lady in HR asked if I was the one who had the new Fit. I said yes and she mentioned she bought a silver one back in August. She couldn't stop about how much she loved her Fit. Funny part is that her husband didn't like the idea of a Fit, and still acts like he doesn't like it, but more often than not he is taking her car to run evening errands, lol.

 

Congrats on the 2 Fits! BOM and VBP look great!

 

Concratulations on the Fits! Complimentary colors too! They'll be very happy together, well, all of you will. Welcome aboard!

 

Winter tires? Man, that's a foreign concept to me. I can (and did) drive my Boxster all year on high performance summer tires. I feel sorry for y'all up there in the frozen tundra. If I lived up there, I'd score a set of extra wheels and put the seasonal tires on those, then swap for the season.

Congrats to the OP on getting TWO Fits! They're Hondas, so you KNOW they're gonna keep on driving until the wheels fall off. They should also retain value pretty well.

 

Hey, you have the University of Illinois colors

 

Funny. Even though we're both from Wichita, KS. She graduated from Northern Illinois University - and their colors are black, red, and white. So, we're a little off, hehe.

 

thems there are bears colors, too!!

daaaa bears

 

and Rams! !

 

Bear colors FTW!
My uncle was on the bears when they one the super bowl so i was born a bears fan.
Anyway, any mods planned for either?

Tyler

 

[quote=TOOL;230556]Bear colors FTW!
My uncle was on the bears when they one the super bowl so i was born a bears fan.
quote]

(that's awesome!!! i live an hour north of chicago so i'm required to be a bears fan lol)

but i say VBP ftw