Hi,
Could someone tell me how the Fit performs in winter conditions. i.e. Snow and Ice. I tested one yesterday and I am almost sold on it.
I have 2 complaints though.
1) I kept trying to shift gears with the windshield wiper/washer control.
2) The cover over the spare tire is pretty flimsy.
I liked everything else but these 2 items.
Thanks,
scanner

 

Put snow tires on it and it will be safer than an SUV without snow tires (most of them)

 

I would say that I will just be putting on good snow tires on and running it like that...

 

michelin blizzaks

 

Do you mean Bridgestone Blizzaks?

 

Michelin Alpins and Bridgestone Blizzaks

 

I have used both and they are both excellent. I have the newest Michelin tires as well - the x-ice. Dunlop also makes a nice snow tire. I tried the Yokohama tires and was less impressed with them. A lot of people love their Nokians, but I have never tried them.

BTW always install them in sets of 4. The traction is so much better with the snows that the car will be very unstable if it still has 2 summer/all-season tires.

 

I was also told to keep all 4 tires the same because of how EBD works....

 

Any worries about the interior carpeting not being able to stand up to salt and melted snow?
(...given that people will try to protect the floor as much as possible with mats, etc.)

 

Yes I would NOT let salt come in contact for long periods of time on the base carpet - simular carpet on my 2002 CRV is a bitch to clean salt stains out of and I ended up dying the stains

 

My big complaint is, my Fit is the coldest car I have ever owned. The dealer says they are all like that and Honda Support Canada just sends me back to the dealer who doesnt care. At less than -25C, bundle up and put on double wool socks because there is not room in the footwell for large winter boots. The first option on your purchase list should be a fur coat and mucklucks if you live north of Montana or South Dakota

 

What would you be looking at for winter tires and installation? My Honda dealer prices it at $760 Canadian (+13% tax).

 

I bought my '08 in Feb...the next day we were expecting a snow storm. I was pretty lucky since that week Canadian Tire was having a big sale on winter tires. I can always get them re-finished if they start to look pitted later on.

I sold my 15 inch Turanzas for $250 and bought a set of Michelin X-ice for $560 everything included. I got them balanced on the sport rims which seem to hold up well in our winters.