Hello.

I just test drove 4 Fits and a Civic (all MT).

1)a used 2007 Fit DX (base trim in canada)
2)a new 2013 Fit LX (nicer trim in canada be4 sport)
3)a new 2013 Civic
4)a used 2009 DX
5)a used 2007 LX

I ended up near hating the GEs (post 2009) and really enjoyed the GDs (pre 2009)!

During my first test drive, I really enjoyed the spunkiness of the car. I felt like I was up to 50 km/h (speed limit in my city) in a dash, very fun. Rev matching was easy and I got the feel of it in minutes. Wanting to compare with a 2009 (or later), the dealer only had a new 2013 Fit. To my surprise, I had a real hard time driving it. I tended to over rev while chaging gears; I found that I'd have to change earlier from 1st to second (around 2k to 3k rpm) or else I would jerk the car. Try as I might to press the gas pedal to pre-rev the engine, 1st to second was a challenge and 2nd to 3rd was a bit better. All in all, I didn't feel all that comfy, because I felt that to reach the pedals comfortably, I had to move the seat forward causing me to I feel like the shift knob was too far "behind me", especially when going from 1st to second. I guess I should have really reclined the seat more and telescoped the steering wheel outwards but I had a hard time getting comfy. Also, I tried putting the pedal to the metal in 2nd and 3rd and was expecting a nice acceleration but found that I was just going forwards cosily whereas with the 2007, throttle response had my engine growling up at the 5K range and darting me forward.

The salesman told me I should try a Civic, they are more a more comfortable luxurious ride. I tried it and struggled mightily with first gear. I like to creep forwards and accelerate through first and shift quickly to 2nd, but I still like creeping forwards! When I felt the breaking point of the clutch in the civic, I tried only half depressing the gas but I could hear the engine come to a near stall. I actually stalled a few times on the test drive! I was incredibly embarrassed because I haven't stalled MT since I first learned 5 years ago! Being more generous on the gas (not to stall), as gently as I'd ease up off the clutch, I felt like the car would jerk forwards, like when down shifting at high speeds while prerevving the engine and dumping the clutch. 3rd to 4th to 5th was smooth as butter on the civic and the added horsepower is immediately evident on passing situations on the freeway. I felt even the reverse gear was geared WAAAY to high. While reversing out of the lot, I found my self releasing the clutch to 80% then clutching in immediately because, the car was jerking back as if I was going to be doing 30km in reverse! I felt like I couldn't go anywhere even near to releasing the clutch in the reverse gear, for fear of reversing too fast

So I moved on the the next dealership I had contacted and this time the salesman was friendly but a real sleazeball. So I tried the 2009 Fit with barely any miles on it. Again, I had a hard time getting comfy, hard time with the gears, tried flooring it a few times but with a very slow acceleration. Hadn't planned on trying another car but I asked "do you have an older model by any chance"? He said yes and came out with a 2008 with 114K on it. Again, driving it was fun; I felt "connected with the vehicle", wasn't afraid to roar in second and could shift to third after passing 5k with no problem. Flooring it in 2nd or 3rd had me accelerating nicely. When I parted with the salesman he said "I knew you'd like this one better, when I drove it up to the front of the store, I really felt like it drove better than the other one".

How is it possible I'm in love with the 2007-08 but can't stand the new ones? How does that make any sense? How come I can't seem to shift as well with the 2013 civic and the 2013-09 fit? Am I just a noob at driving newer vehicles? I thought a newer transmission/clutch would be more forgiving and easier to control than an older one.

P.S. Please note that I am used to a mechanical clutch and a wired throttle (my current '94 rust bucket)

 

Its reasonable. I hugely prefer driving my 08 to the 09 and 12 that I drive on a semi-regular basis.

And sadly new clutches/the stuff that attaches you to them/something feel a lot worse than old ones, at least in Hondas. My 91 Civic and 99 Integra were worlds better in transmission/clutch feel compared to my Fit.

 

i had a 08 sport MT (sold). the car was fun to drive and all, but the seating position i just could not like.

i currently have the 12 sport MT. MUCH better seating position and much more torque. i drove 150mile straight the other week. no issue. the 08, my back would be aching in like 25miles. this one's a keeper for now. i highly recommend swapping to swift springs though.