In case anybody was interested in seeing exactly how different the new upcoming Fit is compared to the old one this artical goes into some of the finer details on it;

Honda L-Series SOHC i-VTEC Engines for the new GD Honda Fit/Jazz

I found the artical pretty interesting, havn't seen it posted up anywhere yet.

Enjoy!

 

Heres my Comparison-

Current 07-08 model
-Looks better on the exterior(very debatable)





Future 09+ model
-iVtec
-Looks better on the interior(to me)
-Better seats
-Nav options
-More power
-"Better Handling" so i hear?
-More cup holders(10 woooot!)
-More rear seat leg room
-Sweet looking rear diffusuer thing
-Exhaust tip finisher standard, it actually looks pretty nice
-Better steering wheel
-Radio buttons on the steering wheel
-map lights
-Drivers fold down arm rest(i belive)
-Wheel sizes jumped to 15" on the Base, 16"s on the sport

..I could keep going on but you get my point here lol

Tyler

 

great post! despite what people may say about its looks, the new fit (in stock form as i dunno about how the aftermarket will take to the way the new l15 is built), is going to be great.

 

looks are subjective, and while i think i like the way our fit looks better, i do know those who prefer the 09's looks. My wife is one of them. At anyrate, i agree with everything else!

 

Whoa, 09 Fits get bigger wheels!? I think it's the only thing I don't really like about my 08 Fit. I want bigger wheels so it can handle NYC size potholes. I think I saw a open manhole cover on the highway a couple weeks ago, freaked me out, good thing my wheels didn't hit it!

But I'll stick with my tried and tested 08 Fit, reliability is my top concern. I've already added all the after market stuff that makes it just right for me.

 

The 07-08's handle better than the 09's. I saw a test track video on youtube the other day about it. Was those japanese drivers comparing the two, I think it also might be posted here too, but the older model's do better around the track than the newer one.

 

Could you post a link? I just searched utube and couldn't find it. Thanks.

 

...not sure if the handling is going to be better per-say, but from what i have read the turn radius is not as tight (most likely due to the car being bigger) and the ride COMFORT is improved with the 'new' suspension in the 09.

The little extra touches throughout the car are pretty nice, though i am not crazy about the mp3player port being in the glove box.

as far as the "more power" end of the deal: I don't think it is going to be that much better. The car is slightly heavier, and only has 9 more hp. I DO however like the iVtec as an addition.

Finally, I don't car what anyone says the 09's are NOT prettier than the 07-08's. If I were looking to buy a Fit, just a Fit, and nothing but the Fit, I would be looking at a used 08 next year.




as always..... $0.02

 

Good article! The 09 Fit has more hp but not much more torque and 19.6KM/L is 46 mpg ! But the best feature was the CVT transmission that will stop the hobby-horsing on hills, improve performance, and undoubtably improve mpg ! Improving the manual's ratios could be super good too. The article didn't bring it out but the 2 inch increase in rear knee room is a gift in itself.
The article appeared to say the 2nd gen ngine is now 4 valve heads - weren't they already 4 valve? maybe they mean both the high speed intake profile is better, which is where the added 10 hp came from. The cam chart still shows only one exhaust profile and two intake profiles but differing rocker arms. Perhaps the two exhaust valves are separately controlled for in essense three stage vtec. That will take some study. Wouldn't it be neat if the 09 Fit operated each exhaust valve individually between the two lobe profiles. In other words both exhausts on low speed lobes then one on high-speed lobe while other on low speed lobe then both on high speed lobe. In fact that valve opening profile looks a lot wider than I would anticipate with two step profiles and the description of the rockers is intriguing.
Significant improvements ! BUT MY 08 fIT HAS REAR DISC BRAKES SO i'M NOT ENVIOUS ... YET.
Now the problem is with mpg becoming critical the demand by buyers for Fits will rise significantly and new buyers will pay full price and maybe more. When you've got it, flaunt it.

 

personally, i do think the 09 has a better looking interior, but honestly, if it doenst look good from the outside, i wont like it. The things that the 07-08 are lacking, can be done with the aftermarket and you can make it suit your own personal needs. Also, does anyone know if the 09 interior can fit in the 07-08 interior? or at least some of the parts? I'm mostly interested in the seats and steering wheel... paddle shifters + radio controls ftw haha

 

You can't increase the wheelbase size or add more rear leg room via the aftermarket. Retrofitting the '09 interior would likewise be very difficult, and probably cost-prohibitive. Some of those who prefer the '09 do so because the 1st gen Fits are not quite big enough on the inside and/or because the quality of the interior materials isn't quite nice enough. The aftermarket isn't the answer for everything; sometimes you have to do a FMC to improve a model.

 

FINALLY FOUND IT!
Here's the link to the post, sorry it wasn't youtube but somewhere else.

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...vs-suzuki.html

 

true, but i mean, the leg room isnt necessarily a problem for me, but things like the dead pedal, the arm rest, navi, and things like that, can be done with aftermarket and in some cases, more cost effective. but yea, i see your point, i just really really prefer the looks of the 07-08, the 09's need the jdm conversion to even come to thought imo.

 

I think i should probably point out the fact that the CVT and AWD options have not as of yet (to the best of my knowledge) been cleared for the U.S. market....

 

I would have waited for an 09' but the gov't is giving me back a total of $1650 under the eco programs.
And they cancelled it for next year so the 2009 models are not eligeble.
So I got a good deal on an 08 and snapped it up.

 

Doesnt the 09 fit have like, 21 more lbs of torque? Forget the HP, you dont think a small car like the fit is going to benefit from a 20% boost? Sounds like old gen bias talk to me.

 

more like 2.1 lb-ft of tq.

up to 107 in the 09

 

If this article is wrong, edmunds sucks.


First Drive: 2009 Honda Fit


the U.S. market will get only the all-new 1.5-liter. The incorporation of i-VTEC variable valve timing helps the 1.5-liter engine produce 118 horsepower at 6,000 rpm (an improvement of 9 hp) and 107 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm (a very useful increase of 21 lb-ft).

 

try this one on HONDA's site.

2008 Honda Fit - Features - 109-hp, 1.5-Liter, 16-Valve SOHC VTEC® engine

"The 1.5-liter, 16-valve VTEC® engine gives the Fit a generous amount of horsepower in relation to its size and impressive fuel economy. A hundred and five pound-feet of torque at a low 4800 rpm means drivers can enjoy quick acceleration and low noise levels, creating a comfortable driving experience."

 

Sounds good to me, plus I love the new exterior, a more sleek lookin' thing.
The back on the 07/08 is why I never gave the Fit a 2nd look, but once I drove it, I forced myself to like it.

But the 09s look great all around and on top of everything else you mentioned, bonus.