What are you getting your Fit for Christmas this year?
Ah, thanks. No, I wasn't thinking of offroading, either. Just wondering what it was like in the snow in everyday driving. Did you put on new all-season tires, or do you have dedicated snow tires?
I have eight inches of clearance in my '06 CR-V (along with ABS and VSC, which the '12 Fit also has), and I still avoid driving in the snow if possible.
I have eight inches of clearance in my '06 CR-V (along with ABS and VSC, which the '12 Fit also has), and I still avoid driving in the snow if possible.
Put it in last weekend.
Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 72
From: Westchester, New York
Interesting! Thanks! I test drove a '12 Fit Sport Auto today for the second time (a month apart) and couldn't believe the noise from the tires. They sounded like the snow tires on my dad's '72 Ford Country Sedan station wagon! Holy cow. Are the Kumhos quieter?
I was also struck by the amount of engine noise. The '12 Insight, which I also test drove today, is much quieter by comparison.
Oddly, neither of these things leapt out at me on my first '12 Fit test drive last month. Don't think I could stand that level of cabin noise every day.
I was also struck by the amount of engine noise. The '12 Insight, which I also test drove today, is much quieter by comparison.
Oddly, neither of these things leapt out at me on my first '12 Fit test drive last month. Don't think I could stand that level of cabin noise every day.
Interesting! Thanks! I test drove a '12 Fit Sport Auto today for the second time (a month apart) and couldn't believe the noise from the tires. They sounded like the snow tires on my dad's '72 Ford Country Sedan station wagon! Holy cow. Are the Kumhos quieter?
I was also struck by the amount of engine noise. The '12 Insight, which I also test drove today, is much quieter by comparison.
Oddly, neither of these things leapt out at me on my first '12 Fit test drive last month. Don't think I could stand that level of cabin noise every day.
I was also struck by the amount of engine noise. The '12 Insight, which I also test drove today, is much quieter by comparison.
Oddly, neither of these things leapt out at me on my first '12 Fit test drive last month. Don't think I could stand that level of cabin noise every day.
The 2012 is supposed to have more cabin sound dampening than previous models so maybe your just listening too hard for something to find wrong with it... Idk plus the insight is a hybrid with ima so its obviously going to be less noise than the fit. Plus, do you drive in silence or do you ever put on the radio?
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 782
From: WV
Some noise yes, but nothing like the Caliber and not bothersome at all to me. My wife really disliked the noise in the Caliber. She could tell the difference in the Fit right away. The noise factor was something she listened for when we shopped vehicles.
Last edited by 2012FitFan; Dec 23, 2011 at 08:53 AM.
Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 72
From: Westchester, New York
Stock tires are terrible, they stayed on my car for maybe 2 months if that. Kumhos are nice and quiet and grippy
The 2012 is supposed to have more cabin sound dampening than previous models so maybe your just listening too hard for something to find wrong with it... Idk plus the insight is a hybrid with ima so its obviously going to be less noise than the fit. Plus, do you drive in silence or do you ever put on the radio?
The 2012 is supposed to have more cabin sound dampening than previous models so maybe your just listening too hard for something to find wrong with it... Idk plus the insight is a hybrid with ima so its obviously going to be less noise than the fit. Plus, do you drive in silence or do you ever put on the radio?
Fair point about not using the radio, but I couldn't possibly crank the radio loud enough to obscure the Fit's engine noise without making my ears bleed.
Yeah, I don't know why the Insight is quieter. Its engine is smaller (98 horsepower vs. 117 in the Fit), so I would think a smaller engine would have to work harder and thus be louder than a larger one to move a vehicle. Maybe the hybrid motor's presence has something to do with it.
Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 72
From: Westchester, New York
I've drive my 2012 every day in Atlanta. I find it to be pretty quiet. I'm coming from a Dodge Caliber which was very noisy.
Some noise yes, but nothing like the Caliber and not bothersome at all to me. My wife really disliked the noise in the Caliber. She could tell the difference in the Fit right away. The noise factor was something she listened for when we shopped vehicles.
Some noise yes, but nothing like the Caliber and not bothersome at all to me. My wife really disliked the noise in the Caliber. She could tell the difference in the Fit right away. The noise factor was something she listened for when we shopped vehicles.
I don't know; maybe if I bought the car and replaced the stock tires, that would help at least a little. But having to spend $300 or $400 on tires after just having bought a new car rankles, you know?
I guess there's also the possibility I would get used to the noise.
Nice that the Kumhos are quiet and grippy. And have you tested their effect on mileage, or do you not really care?
Fair point about not using the radio, but I couldn't possibly crank the radio loud enough to obscure the Fit's engine noise without making my ears bleed.
Yeah, I don't know why the Insight is quieter. Its engine is smaller (98 horsepower vs. 117 in the Fit), so I would think a smaller engine would have to work harder and thus be louder than a larger one to move a vehicle. Maybe the hybrid motor's presence has something to do with it.
Fair point about not using the radio, but I couldn't possibly crank the radio loud enough to obscure the Fit's engine noise without making my ears bleed.
Yeah, I don't know why the Insight is quieter. Its engine is smaller (98 horsepower vs. 117 in the Fit), so I would think a smaller engine would have to work harder and thus be louder than a larger one to move a vehicle. Maybe the hybrid motor's presence has something to do with it.
I am really quite shocked that you think the fit is a loud car....It is very quiet in my opinion unless your really pushing it and have an intake and exhaust on it.
Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 72
From: Westchester, New York
I wouldn't be able to effectively compare the stockers to what I have now because they are different size tires and they are mounted on aftermarket wheels...i would be comparing banana's to screws...
I am really quite shocked that you think the fit is a loud car....It is very quiet in my opinion unless your really pushing it and have an intake and exhaust on it.
I am really quite shocked that you think the fit is a loud car....It is very quiet in my opinion unless your really pushing it and have an intake and exhaust on it.
I guess judgment of engine noise is all relative. I wasn't pushing it hard on the test drive at all; I was just driving as I would drive my CR-V (which is to say, gently). And the V is not exactly a quiet vehicle, either. Even Consumer Reports said, in part, of the Fit, "road noise is pronounced." Not sure if road noise is different from tire noise in the mag's opinion.
I also didn't notice the engine or tire noise in my first Fit test drive last month, though that was of much shorter duration and for a much shorter distance (about 10 minutes and about six miles total versus about 40 minutes and 14 miles total). On the first test drive, I really didn't get it into fourth gear (the automatic), whereas on the second, I was in fourth gear (on the automatic as well) for most of the trip. That might have been a big difference, too, at least as far as engine noise goes. Not sure why I didn't notice the tire noise the first time out.
Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,899
From: tx
What was wrong with the H-Fit I gave you? I've heard of both being installed, but that would be really short, maybe too short.
Oh, I see, about the tire comparison. Thanks for letting me know, as I wouldn't want to have to buy aftermarket wheels in addition to new tires.
I guess judgment of engine noise is all relative. I wasn't pushing it hard on the test drive at all; I was just driving as I would drive my CR-V (which is to say, gently). And the V is not exactly a quiet vehicle, either. Even Consumer Reports said, in part, of the Fit, "road noise is pronounced." Not sure if road noise is different from tire noise in the mag's opinion.
I also didn't notice the engine or tire noise in my first Fit test drive last month, though that was of much shorter duration and for a much shorter distance (about 10 minutes and about six miles total versus about 40 minutes and 14 miles total). On the first test drive, I really didn't get it into fourth gear (the automatic), whereas on the second, I was in fourth gear (on the automatic as well) for most of the trip. That might have been a big difference, too, at least as far as engine noise goes. Not sure why I didn't notice the tire noise the first time out.
I guess judgment of engine noise is all relative. I wasn't pushing it hard on the test drive at all; I was just driving as I would drive my CR-V (which is to say, gently). And the V is not exactly a quiet vehicle, either. Even Consumer Reports said, in part, of the Fit, "road noise is pronounced." Not sure if road noise is different from tire noise in the mag's opinion.
I also didn't notice the engine or tire noise in my first Fit test drive last month, though that was of much shorter duration and for a much shorter distance (about 10 minutes and about six miles total versus about 40 minutes and 14 miles total). On the first test drive, I really didn't get it into fourth gear (the automatic), whereas on the second, I was in fourth gear (on the automatic as well) for most of the trip. That might have been a big difference, too, at least as far as engine noise goes. Not sure why I didn't notice the tire noise the first time out.
Being that you were up in 4th gear I'm assuming you got onto some faster roads and cruised at that speed for awhile...is there a reason why you didnt throw it into 5th with the paddles? as long as your cruising and rpm's are low the engine is not loud at all. If your revving along at 3500 in 4th, yes its going to be a little noisy but why not at that point bring it into 5th and cruise on quietly?
In the end its obviously your decision, just throwing in my $.02
Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 72
From: Westchester, New York
When they are referring to road noise it is exactly that, the noise heard caused by the road and driving factors like pavement, tires and wind. The fit does not have the best cabin dampening however the newer models 2012's were made a bit better than the older models.
Being that you were up in 4th gear I'm assuming you got onto some faster roads and cruised at that speed for awhile...is there a reason why you didnt throw it into 5th with the paddles? as long as your cruising and rpm's are low the engine is not loud at all. If your revving along at 3500 in 4th, yes its going to be a little noisy but why not at that point bring it into 5th and cruise on quietly?
In the end its obviously your decision, just throwing in my $.02
Being that you were up in 4th gear I'm assuming you got onto some faster roads and cruised at that speed for awhile...is there a reason why you didnt throw it into 5th with the paddles? as long as your cruising and rpm's are low the engine is not loud at all. If your revving along at 3500 in 4th, yes its going to be a little noisy but why not at that point bring it into 5th and cruise on quietly?
In the end its obviously your decision, just throwing in my $.02
It's probably all relative. Different people react to sounds differently. Honda has obviously sold a lot of Fits, which means enough people are pleased with the interior noise levels.
