We Americans have been "brainwashed" into thinking horsepower is everything....When will we learn????? It's not all about horsepower folks

 

Why is it you only hear this comment from people with cars that don't make any? LOL

The first question is what do you mean "It's"... fun to drive is not about hp? fast is not about hp?

Fast - I was looking in the racing forum and saw people are excited to run low 17's in the 1/4... I don't think thats fast by any ones standards. Being fast does directly relate to horse power and torque, if you don't have the car will not be fast. Theres still alot more to it then that but without power a car wont be fast.

Fun to drive - its about horsepower, torque, gearing, weight, power to weight, center of gravity, traction, handling, braking, steering response, etc..

Now part of the reason I liked the fit is because of all the cars I drove in its class the Fit was the most fun to drive. It is not a fast car though nor do I feel like its worth the money to try and make it one.

 

Oh and a side note...

I just talked to 2 people who are getting answers from the bank tomorrow about a loan on my car. So I should have my Fit within a week or two.

 

well good luck that sounds great! really early (maybe too early ) Congrats!

 

I own a G35coupe and may purchase the fit for my wife...My G35 puts down 330 horses after all my mods(which are too many to go into detail) and with all that horsepower(which i rarely get to use) the Fit was just as fun to throw around as my G....I fell into the "it's all about horsepower" game but it really isn't.....

 

very true. they all start talking about handling.
damn, look at all those trophies! holy crap. i think you'll like the Fit.
the gear ratio (5MT) is excellent, ample power to get you around
not feeling slow at all. it's no rocket but it's definitely not slow either.

markie- i know where you come from cause i have a 04 G35C myself in
6MT. the G's a fun car to motor in and even bestmotoring (j-vid mag)
commented the G35C's been one of their favorite FR's. even at 3nd
place just behind the two S2000's in kakeyoro. G's fun to drive.

but there's a HUGE difference when motoring a large car and a nimble
FitSport. you'll feel like the car is more part of your body than the G
and can be tossed around with ease. plus, at this price you dont
feel so obligated to be nice to it all the time. i stick
mine through those autowashes in the winter... which NEVER happens
on my fun cars.

 

Another thing to keep in mind is the G35 is a big heavy car. My other car weighs about 40-50 lbs more then a Fit and had (the turbo is back off waiting for the built motor) about 3 times as much power as a fit, with lots of suspension upgrades with sticky tires, lightweight wheels, and big brakes all the way around. That is a fun car.

Its not all about hp, its all about a hp to weight.

Btw this is a reply to Mark.

Ken you posted while I was typing but, its just a matter of time. I'm hoping I someone will bring me check today from the bank (not likely but I'm crossing my fingers)

 

I, too, looked at the Matrix, xD and Versa. The Fit was the winner hands down. Driving around town, I don't feel that the car lacks the horses to get me from point A to B. I, like the 2 posters above me, have a high HP car in the stable as well (507 HP). The only gripe I have with the low HP is when I am going faster than 75MPH on a steep long highway grade. The Fit seems to be gasping for Air and the motor is a bit buzzy in 4th gear, WOT (and I have the lower ratio AT!). But for ALL other driving (highway, byways, streets), the HP is really a non-issue. To me, HP is an on/off thing. I crave a lot or I am not craving it at all.

From a handling standpoint, the Fit feels awesome with it's lightweight and crisp steering. Much more fun to toss around than my other ride (@ 4000lbs!)

 

Nah... the M Power guys always talk about handling vs the AMG guys. Our cars are just as fast (M5's), but we ALWAYS talk about the handling and the twisties.

 

very well said Kenchan....

 

my car is sold

Well not quite yet, the loan got approved and everything, only thing thats left is finding time for the 2 of us to go to his bank for paperwork (it complicated since hes taking out a loan on a car that has a loan on it currently LOL)

I'm hoping to get my fit within a week-week and a half

 

The front seats are awful. That is my #1 complaint about the Fit so far. Even on a fairly short 2 hour road trip, I just need to get out of the car for maybe 15 minutes and walk around. They are just plain bad for long trips. There isn't much padding or back support. Lateral support is OK but I'm a bit too skinny and so I don't get much support out of them.

I don't find any issue with the power. In fact, I would love if Honda offered the 1.3L in the US. I went from a 200hp/212lb-ft V6 to the Fit and did not miss the power except on the highway. In the city, 2nd gear is very lively and 3rd is not bad either. For spirited driving on back roads I keep it between 2nd and 3rd. Throttle response and power for is great in that range. On the highway, a 6th overdrive gear would be nice because in 5th at 80, the engine is turning around 4k rpm. However, maybe the low torque of the engine limits how tall an overdrive gear can be, who knows?

Oh and be sure to grab the door frame when exiting the car or you will be in for some BIG electric shocks!

 

The fit rules. And I don't know if you got your answer about the badges, but they can be removed easily with a heatgun/blow dryer, some floss and goo gone. It's just stuck on.

 

I'm glad to here the emblem comes off without holes underneith, I hate alignment holes.

And a little update (not that anyone cares but I'm excited LOL)

The guy got the loan taken care of for my car, he has the checks in hand and is picking up the car saturday I just got off the phone with my friend (the honda salesman) and he initiated a dealer find or whatever. They are gonna dealer trade to get me a new VBP sport 5-speed from just over state lines (so I can get one without a front plate bracket screwed into the bumper). Hopefully I'll be picking it up saturday or monday.

 

Congrats! Jumping through hoops is so much fun..glad it worked out.

 

my biggest issue with the FIT are the front seats as well. didnt like them for the longest time, and now ive slowly but finally found a semi comfortable position to drive in.

no, the FIT doesnt go fast at all by any means (coming from a turbocharged car, you miss that umph). but the FIT does let you know its got the heart of a beast. try merging onto a freeway thats going a steady 65 already (rare in southern california), that FIT will be roaring like a lion...but going 35-40 mph. lol.

yea, i miss my old car for its power, but the FITs got a lot more personality than a lot of other cars out there. i drove my parents camry the other day, and while it was really comfortable and the ride was plush and had adequate power, i just wasnt enjoying myself all that much.

youll also notice that you probably wont pay much more than ~$30 per fillup. thats pretty awesome.

 

Picking it up tomorrow after work

Time to start looking for wheels

 

It's truly amazing how power obsessed people are these days. I had an 1987 VW GTI 8v a while back..car had 110 HP an about the same amount of torque. Weighed around 2300lbs..not much less than a fit. Probably the most fun car I've ever had and got around 36 MPG BACK THEN.

That car was quick enough for anything. Let's be real..for crying out loud...who needs to go to 60 in 6 seconds? BFD...I'll do it in 9.

 

I picked up my fit last night

 

No doubt, tossing a lightweight around is always more fun than being the champ from stoplight to stoplight.

While the safety gear is great, it's too bad that the sub 2600 lb vehicle has almost completely vanished in the U.S. It's either something bloated that needs 170+ ponies to have any personality, or a petite eco box with suspension engineered by tinkertoy (nothing like 100 hp and sloppy handling).