The Fit is well put together and is the best driver of the Fit, Yaris, and Versa crowd. But:
Fit needs as much back seat knee room as Versa
Fit needs 1700 cc HX engine so it doesn't shift as much to improve mpg
Fit needs multi CD unit
Fit needs more interior color choices
Fit needs 6 speed automatic etc lower geared 3rd, 4th, and fifth and addition of 6th gear
Fit needs improved paddle shifter to stop paddle chasing in turns
Fit needs rear disc brakes on Sport models
Fit needs limited slip diff option on all Sport models

 

wow...then don't get a freakin fit...

less knee room = shorter car = fit into smaller spaces than versa
1.5 liter engine = low power and high economy, short gear ratios to keep decently sporty
multi CD unit = more money, less economical...you can plug in any audio device you want. what more do you need...use the money to buy an ipod instead of a cd changer
more interior choices?? wtf it's an economy car
6speed auto = more expensive, bigger, heavier, less economical
improved paddle shifter?? it's a freakin economy car! and all paddle shifters always follow the steering wheel
disc brakes is reasonable, but costs more
limited slip?? no need w/ 109 hp...

go get yourself a mugen si

 

You said that right... What ever MAhout

Fit needs
Fit needs
Fit needs
Fit needs
Fit needs
Fit needs A HAPPY DRIVER and THAT is ALLLLLLLLLL

 

Fit needs as much back seat knee room as Versa. - get a crown victoria (who the hell cares about knee room in the back when you are the driver?)

Fit needs 1700 cc HX engine so it doesn't shift as much to improve mpg- id be down with a redesigned b18

Fit needs multi CD unit- IT HAS A AUX JACK!! and that is more than most cars double the fits price have. if i had to choose between a cd changer or the aux jack, jack me up! (who the f*ck uses cds these days?)

Fit needs more interior choices- lack of choices indeed.

Fit needs 6 speed automatic etc- auto trans is for lazy people.but a six speed manual would be badass!

Fit needs improved paddle shifter to stop paddle chasing in turns- i never liked the idea of the paddles on the fit. its like a fat chick wearing a sexy outfit. it just doesnt belong

Fit needs rear disc brakes on Sport models- true that. but just for aesthetics.

Fit needs limited slip diff option on all Sport models- dont be a cheap ass and buy an aftermarket lsd!!

btw, i dont mean to offend. this is just my opinionated reply to your opinions.

 

hahah i don't have to be a quality engineer to think of a million things i'd want to change in any car.

every car can be made better in my opinion haha. but not everybody will agree on how it should be done.

 

that seems like total BS. most, if not all of those things are not necessary/totally opinionated.

 

Yeah thats all it is is opinion.
If you guys dont agree you dont have to post.

Tyler

 

Lol i guess the thread starter was too embarrassed to reply anything. IMO I agree that those features aren't needed, however, I could totally had done with a passenger mirror visor, and a freakin front dome light! Thats all I miss but I suppose it's money saved. Also, if this car had longer gear ratios for the base s wouldn't that be more economical, like pushing an average of 37 MPG? Just curious

 

Whew, I guess every one doesn't take well to your constructive criticism. I think the 09 Mugen version probably may be the answer to all of these. But, you got to dish out the cash. And think of it this way if it had all that where's the fun in making it your own in the aftermarket.

 

It seems like there is alway a new thread here that is dissappointed that the Fit is an economy car. My Fit seems well appointed for what I paid. It is not a $25K car. Sure, we can take the criticism but one should keep in mind how this car is priced and positioned.

 

The 1995 Civic LX (was the cheapest Honda at the time. Civics are now a higher model) that we traded in had an armrest, dead pedal, and passenger visor. We bought the Fit knowing that we'd have to add those things, but many people would just look at the Fit and not buy it. From what I understand, Honda agrees and all those things will be on the '09.

 

[quote=mahout;246960]
The Fit is well put together and is the best driver of the Fit, Yaris, and Versa crowd. But:
Fit needs as much back seat knee room as Versa
If it claims to be a four door, then it should be one
The versa fits in any space I can put my Fit in. I have both.
Fit needs 1700 cc HX engine so it doesn't shift as much to improve mpg
The Civic HX gets 40 mpg on a 1700 cc engine. And tho heavier, its
faster. Yes we have one too. 2004 Worse, the Versa gets as good mpg as the Fit and it has 1800 cc engine that doesn't work as hard as the Fit 1500. CVT tranny helps too.
Fit needs multi CD unit
Actually, it doesn't cost but $5 more. Meet the competition or die.
Fit needs more interior color choices
Meet the competition or die. Fit is the lowest seller in the Fit, Versa, and
Yaris bracket. The no. 1 reason is back seat.
Fit needs 6 speed automatic etc to improve economy and performance.
it was Sochiro's motto. And Honda's.
Fit needs improved paddle shifter to stop paddle chasing in turns
Honda has always been driver oriented, not focused on bottom feeding cell phoners.
And paddle shifters have a problem being located in turns and need
improvement. Honda is the first to say that.
My first Honda was a 1976 and I have had 22 since; some raced, some
family, some gofers. My considerable contacts with Honda personnel
have never had the ' its good enough' attitude of posts here, thank
goodness. The drive to improve has always been dominant. And why
Honda is the most reliable, best driving, and best all around cars on the
planet. Just ask Consumer's report. Or C&D.
Fit needs rear disc brakes on Sport models
No question. Discs are better and actually cheaper. I've made both.
And if discs weren't better why are they in European & Asian models?
Fit needs limited slip diff option on all Sport models.
I'm a big believer in aftermarket. My first aftermarket product for Honda
began selling in 1977. A few dozen more since. But
Couldn't find LSD for Sport automatic. Advancing age means I need
auto even on track and I think I'm not that much in a minority. In snowy
weather LSD is a gift.
None of these change the cost or price noticeably. It just makes it better.
You got a list of things you'd improve?

Hey, I don't mind disagreement. But you gotta have better reasons. Quality takes no prisoners nor bias merely for politics. Always work on improvement not status quo. Its the Honda Way.
cheers.

 

If there was an optional 'luxury' interior package with leather, better seats, cooler alloy wheels, wood veneer + upmarket ICE etc I expect Honda would sell a lot of them to commuters who are currently driving Lexus and Acura. Fit is very well engineered, looks great, and you dont need the power to commute in LA, but the interior is about as basic as i can tolerate.

 

sure, but your Fit "SiR" just turned into a $20K car. lol
why stop there? throw in a AWD and turbo.

 

Dude, but nothing.... This stuff is super subjective, I would be happy with a stock dead pedal and maybe a water temp guage I don't see a single thing in this list that qualifies as a legit comfort or quality issue. This is a wish list at best!

I have only heard rave reviews about the rear passenger seating space, I have some big friends and all they can say is "wow".

the engine is capable of 40mpg... it isn't a dog either... what more could you want?

I, like most of the rest of the civilized world tend to use MP3 CD's or the jack, a multi CD unit would be stupid option.

YOU NEED TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT Two complaints about the auto? I test drove the sport auto, I had no complaints!!! Why would you need a 6 speed auto in this car for, this isn't a 100K Lexus you know

I really don't think the Fit would benefit from having rear discs enough to be considered a quality issue. It would be a nice option, but hey if you really want it there are lots of kits out now.

Finally, why in blazes would you need an LSD on these cars??? Are you somehow getting so much power to the ground that you can't stop your wheels from spinning. Seriously, why? If you have problems in the snow, get SNOW tires... I got a set, I have no problems in driving on ice or snow.

Anyway, excuse the rant. For the record I am not intending to be a jerk.

Bottom line is this is an low cost economy car, it doesn't need these extras. Everything you listed would be an extra that would increase the bottom line of this car. I think it is great you went out and identified areas for improvement, but I would say it is best if the handful of people that need these do it themselves to keep the price within grasp of the average person.

 

Sigh...

Do you know why the Versa has more leg room? It's not some special feat of engineering - it's 12 inches longer! It's closer in size to the Civic than it is the Fit. In addition, it has less luggage capacity, and less hip room front and back.

The Versa gets worse mileage, and weighs 250 pounds more. It's less efficient and it has markedly inferior handling. The Fit has standard ABS, the Versa doesn't. They both have rear drum brakes, but the Fit outbreaks the Versa (because it's lighter and has wider tires).

By your sizing standards, should all cars increase in length by a foot so that they can match the interior space of cars larger than them?

The Fits engine was state of the art for the segment when it came out - but the car is getting old, and this is a performance oriented engine, as Americans like. The engine options available elsewhere in the world would provide much better economy (even though the Fit is already superior to the Versa)

Multi CD, Interior colors, 6-speed-automatic, LSD, rear discs (which the Versa doesn't have, and wouldn't help braking anyway) all of these things add a lot of cost, and are all available in the aftermarket for the <1% of owners who would actually care about having them.

My point is not that the Fit is good enough, or that it isn't. But the changes you are suggesting are BAD. You want the car to be bigger, heavier, more expensive - these are all BAD things. You want the car to be everything to everybody, but what makes it great is that it isn't.

I don't think any car says more about Honda today than the Fit - it's the new version of the CRX or Civic hatch that Honda keeps growing out of because people like you. "Bigger is better" Right?

And don't bring up sales, the Aveo is the subcompact sales leader (and while I loved my Aveo, it is hardly a match for the Fit)

Your philosophy is wrong, and has nothing to do with quality or the pseudo-quality engineering you are pretending to practice. You do not understand the Fit, or Honda.

 

I believe this was a never ending thread already!
Things I hate about my FIT or something like that...and true as stated above now you are turning a 15/16 thousand dollar car into a 20+ car. Now your economy car (FIT) is in comp with the CIVIC...bad move.

 

the 1700 cc engine in the Civic HX ALWAYS gets 40+ mpg and has better power. Isn't that what an economy car should be?

Limited slip differential OPTION for those of us to travel in more safety in snow.

And as a manufacturing engineer with more than a little experience in designing and building cars the rear brakes and 7 spd cvt wouldn't add enough to the cost to know it. And options are separate costs not born by stock buyers.

 

Okay. I think someone needs to tell you to get realistic here. You need to step back and look at exactly what it is the Fit is, and what segment it's in.

It's the cheapest/smallest car Honda sells in North America. Show me a civic, or even an accord with a 6 speed automatic? Seriously.

Back seat room. Again. This is a subcompact car. Want more room? Get a bigger car.

Multi-cd unit? That's what the aftermarket is for. Unless you want to see Fits priced in the 24,000-25,000 range....as it is, 09 Fit's are MSRP'd (sport w/nav) just under 20k. And selling for more than that. That's Civic territory, near Si!!! The factory stereo in the Fit is more than adequate for the segment.

Interior color choices. Again, this is an option that would drive production costs up, increasing the cost of the car. No thanks. Aftermarket again for you.

Improve paddle shifters? Again dude. Come to reality please. This is a subcompact. Are there ANY other subcompacts with paddle shifters? Shoot. Does the new accord v6 automatic even come with paddle shifters?

Rear discs? Why? IMO the stock brakes are more than adequate for street driving, and the front brakes do the majority of the braking as you already know.

I don't mean to be a nitpicking jerk, but if you expect this sort of stuff, you bought the wrong car, and you bought it for the wrong purpose.

The L15A VTEC in the Fit was built to be a powerful, compact, small displacement motor for use globally. It's smaller, lighter, and more efficient for its displacement, while providing excellent power as well.

 

And you personify why we get cheap cars for high prices. Have you considered that most of my list is done for Fits in Europe and Asia. At the same prices as ours. Americans get cheap Hondas because we don't know any better.
But lets take your complaints one at a time:

The Nissan Versa, certainly in Fits price class, has both multi-interior colors, multi-disc players, and much more rear seat room, and it costs less than Fit. Fits overseas are priced very close to American prices. Since Fits aren't made in the US, but in Japan, their costs are perfectly comparable to a Versa. That comparison with interior room is what led to the 09 body. If the Versa drove even nearly as well as the Fit the market for Fits would drop like a rock in free-fall. Aftermarket is not the answer to a lowered quality standard.

Rear discs are no more costly, and in many cases less, than drum brakes. Only American Fits get rear drums. And they work better on and off track.
My stopping distances with my rear discs are 10 to 20 feet shorter from 70 mph than drum braked Fits. I've won a few lunches that way. Think of that 10 feet as the difference between hitting a tricycle and not.

Improved paddle shifters result from CVT transmissions with better gear ranges with upshifts at redline and downshifts at low rpm as in Nissan Sentra or Versa, again in price range with the Fit. And it gets equally good mpg. Honda sells the Thai and others with 6 speed CVT's but they know quality, not us. And the gear ranges are better. Go drive a Sentra SER to see what good paddles are like,. You don't have to worry about upshifting and you downshift whenever desired as long as the engine isn't going to over-rev.

My 1500cc engine works too hard in American traffic and in hilly country; the mpg is compromised by working a small engine hard. The Versa CVT automatic with its 1800 cc engine is far more relaxed than my Fit, and my mpg is the same under the same conditions. My Civic HX wth its 1700 cc engine gets over 40 mpg and thats documented for the IRS. The HX is a litlle lighter but still gets 40 mpg simply because it doesnt strain the engine. Hondas 1500 cc engine is neither powerful, efficient, or particularly long-lived. Thats what overworking a small engine does for you.

The Fit 1500 was chosen primarily for overseas where taxes depend heavily on displacement.

Quality begins with design. Anytime you think quality is dependent on cheapness you will always produce an inferior product.

As Honda shows with Fits oversas they know how to make a quality Fit; only in America do they know they can make lesser Fits to make more profit because Americans don't know any better. Thats the Detroitization of Honda and you're seeing where it got them.
cheers.