I found this confusing.
Are the tires and wheels the only difference?
I would have thought the Sport got different valving, lower and stiffer springs, different sway bars and bushings ect.
But I was told they are identical except for the tires?

 

Honda's not going to spend that much to separate the Base models and the Sport models on their most inexpensive car model. Besides, isn't the Sport already a good $1,000-1,500 more than the Base(DX, LX)?

Also, they have the same engine. No need to alter the suspension (unlike the Civic DX, LX, EX vs. Civic Si)

Oh, and neither come with a rear sway bar, just a front sway.

Suspension-wise, the Base models have 14" steelies with plastic covers, the Sport has 15" alloy wheels.

 

I knew they had the same engine but I found it odd that the Sport and base shared all suspension bits.
Canada has 3 models, DX (no A/C or cruise), LX (A/C , cruise and 4 speaker CD stereo) and the Sport which is the most expensive model.
The U.S only has two models?

 

We have the Base and the Sport.

We don't have a DX, probably because most of us farther south want or need the AC. Also, Our Base doesn't come with cruise control like your LX does. :-\

 

One other diff between US and Canada: You don't get the audio aux-in on the Base, while it's standard on all three Canadian trims.

We don't have the tire pressure monitor system, though.

 

My Fit has the tire pressure monitors. I bought it last week.

 

The sport isn't a performance package, it's a dress up/luxury features package. The only things that could be considered a performance up grade would be the wider/lower profile tires and the paddle shift on the automatic.

 

Ok, that makes more sense. Since my Fit has only 25km and I can return it for a Sport (if I pay the extra money) I was thinking about doing that.
But now that I know that the suspension is the same (except the wheels and tires) I will save my $2220. All I wanted was the wheels anyway.
My LX has AC, cruise ect. And the lower body bits won't do well in the deep rutted snow.
If the Sport was lower and had a more tuned suspension I would probably do it. This Fit reminds me of my 1986 Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo.
Fast, fun and agile.

 

Except for fast.


But seriously,
You're right, the plastic bodywork is not rut-friendly!

 

I would have to agree on the front/rear lip and side skirts being anti-rut/pot hole. Here in the midwest US, I have a 6 inch deep, two foot wide pothole JUST to get into the parking lot of my apartment complex. Not to mention dirty/gravel roads, pot holes, deep snow in the winter (not Canadian quality though) etc, I would tear it apart. As far as body kit goes, I'm calling it a day with a Mugen rear wing, tinted windows and new wheels/tires. The 14'' steel wheels are blegh!

 

I would not be surprized to find only springs and shocks differ. Perhaps antisway bar size. Inquire autopartswarehouse, honda on line, or similer, to see if p/n are different. If they aren't there's no diff.

 

I was told the springs , struts ect are the same.I didn't believe it at first but after doing some research I guess they were telling the truth.

 

The prices for Canada range quite a bit between the DX and the Sport.

DX starts at 14,980, LX which adds 2 speakers, cruise, AC, power locks...etc. starts at 17,380 and the Sport starts at 19,580.

Toyota Canada has dropped the prices for many of their models...so I suspect that Honda Canada might do the same for the '09 models.

 

what?!?!?!
then again i live in texas,
we'd die without a/c!
thats crazy though, still...

 

Not too crazy though, in a lot of Canada.

 

When you only need AC for two months out of the year lots of people don't buy it.
It can or has snowed in every month of the year where I live.
Its still below freezing most mornings!

 

How do you determine this? My manual indicated it was available on US models only.

 

The salesman told me but I believe he is wrong!
My manual says only the U.S cars have this and I can find no documentation in my car to support this.
Yes!
I can swap wheels freely!
These systems are troublesome on the cars at work in the cold winter. I am glad I do not have it.

 

there is no tpms on fits in canada(up to and including 08) and there are places in canada where you need your ac almost all year long, i love it for getting rid of the condensation on rainy westcoast days