It is quite common for enthusiasts of any car model to dislike a major redesign.

 

For sure, I see it every new model year on the Toyota off-road boards I frequent and all of the motorcycle boards.

 

Great thread, with some really useful info.
Great job guys.

Tyler

 

09 fit looks decent, cant expect it to look amazing for a car under $25000 or benz will be out of business

 

ok, fine, I'll take both comments out.

 

Thanks for the rep!

Returned for "general awesomness"

 

any word on paint quality?

 

But that's the thing, it's not even a major redesign. Basically, the headlights are a little different, and the windshield is pushed forward a bit. That's about it. When I think major redesign, I think of the difference between a third gen and a fourth gen Camaro, for instance.

 

While the changes are certainly evolutionary and the look remains pretty similar, when the length, width, wheelbase, track, and engine changes, that's a pretty major redesign.

 

Fair enough. I guess it comes down to one's definition of "major"

 

The paste below from the first post in this thread is certainly more than a little model refresh...

How the 09 is different:

i-vtec
120 hp
10 cup holders
Dead pedal
Armrest
second glove box (for ipod)
"secret" compartment under rear seats.
smaller rear seat head rests.
Navigation Option
USB jack (AUX is still there)
Steering wheel mounted controls

Available Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®)

Enhanced Suspension Calibration improves straight-line stability & handling with less understeer than before.

New power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering with a revised rack to reduce steering effort a low speed. As speed rises, the power-assist gradually increases steering effort to a more reassuring level.

Reengineered chassis improves structural rigidity by 164 percent

Tilt-and-Telescoping Steering Wheel

Two vertically mounted stiffeners positioned inside the D-pillar above the rear springs work in conjunction with the other rear modifications to bring the rear end around quicker and flatter

New supportive sport seats built around larger full-size frame

And is generally bigger:

Wheelbase has been increased 2 inches to 98.4 inches (base-15" sport 16")
Overall Length goes up 2.2 inches to 153.5 inches.
Overall Width is 0.8 inch wider
Front Track is 1.4 inches wider
Rear Track is 1.2 inches wider
Larger Front Bushings
Torsion-Beam setup has gained another 0.8 inch in travel

 

True... that is a lot of stuff now that I'm looking at it again.. well, I guess that's why I'm waiting to buy an 09 then instead of an 08, heh.

 

Sign Me Up For A White Or Blackberry Pearl 09 Fit.

 

Same here... already on the waiting list

 

i guess ppl are griping about the looks, but with a few mods, this fit looks awesome, and the laundry list of new features makes this fit a different car

i love my fit, and im not regretting for purchasing it, but the new 09's have more to offer, and it wouldnt be fair to the future fit owners to get 08's cuz they couldve gotten more for their money with the list of features that come standard on the new fit

 

Anything in there about taller gearing or a 6th gear for the MT?

 

the 09 really does have much more to offer as far as features. and it looks amazing from MOST angles; "vtec just kicked in yo" summed it up best with his side by side pic- the elongated front window just doesn't do it for me...

 

There currently isn't any information from Honda as far as gear ratios yet. The manual transmissions will remain a 5 speed manual or 5 speed automatic with paddle shifters.

 

Has it been confirmed that VSA and NAV are a package together for '09? I don't want NAV, just VSA. It sucks if they'r'e together...pushes the price way higher.

 

Yes, it is posted on the first page of this thread.

Official Model Numbers along with exterior/interior colors again:

GE8729EW 2009 FIT 5DR 5MT KA
GE8749EW 2009 FIT 5DR SPORT 5MT KA
GE8769GW 2009 FIT 5DR SPORT VSA&NAV 5MT KA
GE8829EW 2009 FIT 5DR 5AT KA
GE8849EW 2009 FIT 5DR SPORT 5AT KA
GE8869GW 2009 FIT 5DR SPORT VSA&NAV 5AT KA