To the automatic transmission Fit owners,

I can't decide if I want manual or automatic transmission in the Fit I plan to purchase soon. The manual is more fun to drive but if I had the choice to drive either my MT Eclipse or my girlfriend's AT Sportage I find myself always choosing her's. I think it's just less stress, but it also really depends on the quality of the AT. Does the transmission feel strong? Have good shift-points? Maintain good gas mileage? Are the paddle shifters fun? Are they convenient? Could it keep up with an MT or is it considerably slower? If you could change something about your AT what would it be?

So...
1. Does the tranny feel strong?
2. Does it have good shift points?
3. Does the AT maintain good gas mileage?
4. Are the paddle shifters really fun?
5. Are the paddle shifters convenient?
6. Do you feel like it could keep up with an MT?
7. If you could change your automatic transmission, what would you change?

Thanks guys!

 

test drive one of each. when you realize that the MT fit is MUCH better than the AT, get teh MT.

 

1-Tranny def. feels strong
2-Yeah, shift points are good
3-Ehh on the gas milage, depends on how you drive
4-Paddles are super fun
5-Yes, for me.
6-Yes, it was proven at a Fit meet with my buds on a canyon road
7-Bigger paddle shifters

Tyler

 

The only thing I'd change is faster shifting(like VW's DSG)and maybe one more gear(6th).If you drive in alot of traffic,auto is the way to go.The stick is faster but unless you race at the track or have alot of empty road's don't bother.It's not meant to be a fast car either way,so go with what make's you comfortable day in day out.Good Luck.

 

Only a week behind the wheel, but I can say that the engineering of the AT is top-notch. Very responsive with well mapped out shift points. It does like to hunt between 4th-5th, but the paddles can help solve that to some degree. Sport-mode is well executed and a fun diversion. AT was a pragmatic choice for my particular situation (Fit will be my DD and potentially passed to the wife in a few yrs.) and the quality of the tranny hasn't left me any regrets especially with sport mode available. Love the car and it performs.

That said, when I went to the dealer my Fit wasn't yet on the lot so I test drove the MT. It gave me some very serious pause in executing the original deal (even took a second drive). Very slick little gear box that amps up the fun factor in an already fun car. If it were my only car, I'd likely get the MT simply because it provides more engagement in the driving experience (but as Mr. Ball said, it also depends on your commute/tolerance).

As far as gas mileage and performance go, you'll be splitting hairs on those. There's not going to be much difference in either area. Good luck on your choice...the good news is that you'll win either way.

 

so I have a MT.... dont be hatin...
but here goes anyway, based on my multiple testdrives of the AT's and MT's and past auto Hondas (civics) But I am not basing this off of other brands AT's and MT's.

1) not particuarly
2) not particuarly
3) I dont know this one, but from what I have read, it varries alot based on how you drive and where. I have seen as both great and poor.
4) a bit...more enjoyable than just gimmicky (pretty awsome in this class of car though)
5) somewhat
6) Mostly depends on what you are doing but by and large absolutely
7) To an MT j/k...from what I noticed better shift points and a more confident shift would be a nice. I wouldnt have minded a 6th gear in either trim. But the fact that you can control the shift points in "S" mode is very nice and should not entirely be overlooked.

It must be said though, that even given the impovements in the AT that I would have liked/wanted...I dont think I would have chosen the AT anyway. It was just time for a personal switch back to MT.

 

it's all going to boil down to what you'll be most comfortable with day to day. i personally have not driven an MT fit, so i can't make any comments about it in comparison.

my AT has given me great mileage (up to 42 mpg on occassion), and the paddle shifters are a great option to have-i used to have an '88 CRX and it was a ridiculously fun car. at this point with my commute being 30 miles a day, mostly highway, MT wasn't as important to me. the paddles let the fit feel a little bit sportier, imo.

 

as per snap fit...just mho/my experience...pls dont hate.

i actually traded my auto in for a m/t after 2.5 months. expensive lesson.

imho:
1. yes...felt ok
2. yes...except the gear-hunting on inclines
3. i was averaging 29
4. didnt use em too much. drove in 'd' mode (not 's') most of the time
5. id flip to 's' mode on inclines & used the paddles
6. yes
7. yes, i went the extreme...trade in for m/t

i posted this before...w/ the fit completely stock (no after-market intake or exhaust)...the a/t felt great. even the gear-hunting (item2 above) didnt seem to bother me.

but after i put on my ssi and tanabe axle-back, everything the engine was doing became more obvious. i felt @ the mercy of the a/t. even the paddles couldnt save it for me. but thats just me.

im very happy with the m/t. feels great to be in control again. plus im averaging around 32 mpg now.

 

At Sport Ftw

 

I've only had mine 2 weeks, and didn't have a choice of AT or MT but it is the Sport so even though you have more loss through the drive train with the AT, you can flick through the gears much quicker with paddle shifters than you can with a stick! Again, I have never driven the MT, but with the traffic I deal with on my daily commute, the AT really suits me fine!

 

I've driven a 5AT Honda Fit and the operation of the transmission is quite good--after all, it is a derivative of the same excellent 5AT unit found on the Honda Civic. That means it has very smooth shifts and it doesn't "hunt" between gears going uphill, something that is the bane of older Honda 4AT units.