http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...onda-fit_x.htm

 

Another positive Fit review. These reviews are actually starting to get boring!

 

I was kinda thinking the same thing. It seems like all the reviews mention the same items and come to nearly the same conclusions.

Healy did focus a little more on the price though, and I had not thought of satellite radio.

 

I read the review and I think Mr. Healy forgot a couple of things:

1. Despite what he thinks, using rear drum brakes aren't an issue since being a FWD car, most of the braking will be done by the front wheels anyway.

2. The torsion bar rear suspension has not adversely affected ride quality or handling as some had feared.

3. Honda never did offer very fancy radios for the Fit/Jazz even in Japan. The 200 watt stereo found on the US-market Fit Sport is almost identical to the top-end stereo found on the JDM Fit. Honda could have offered the stereo/navigation system similar to the JDM optional unit, but that would have been an option that could have cost over US$1,200!

4. Healy forgot that the automated climated control is a US$1,000+ option on the JDM Fit. I don't think Americans want to want over US$1,000 just for a fancy climate control system.

 

Thanks for the link...

 

1. Actually all cars mainly depend on the front brakes (whether FWD/RWD/AWD) since the weight of the vehicle shifts to the front while braking from forward motion. The reason why the Fit or other subcompacts dont really need rear discs is due to the vehicle being light.

2. Yeah I dont know why the reviewer was complaining about the rear suspension. It's a subcompact, and torsion beam suspensions are the norm.

3. The reviewer was simply complaining that you cant get integrated XM. They really should have included that. It's a moot point for me though, since I prefer Sirius.

 

Actually, given the forward weight bias of front wheel drive automobiles, in the case of the Honda Fit the vast majority of the braking force will be done by the front wheels anyway. As such, the use of rear disc brakes is far less necessary than with rear wheel drive cars, since on RWD cars there is more of the weight of the car in back.

Torsion beam suspensions are normal in subcompact cars because they allow for more space for the rear passengers. In the case of the Fit, that's what made possible the Magic Seat rear seats and the amount of cargo space available.

Given what I said about Honda not offering truly fancy stereos in even the JDM Fit, it would have created a pretty expensive option for the car. Besides, only high-end Honda models offer XM satellite radio as an option, and the option isn't a cheap one regardless of Honda/Acura model.