My thoughts on the FIT after a month.
Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 653
From: Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by alclssus2020
My thoughts on the FIT after a month of owning a VIVID BLUE PEARL SPORT AT. From 10/01/06 (mileage: 1200)
Gas Cap: Very easy to terror it by putting in 'food/chemicals/waste/etc' at anytime b/c it's always open. (Just swing open, twist caps out, and put in whatever u wish)
Highway ride: 10x better than 05 XB. (sold XB a month after b/c of unstable and rough hwy ride)
Seat: EXTREAMLY uncomfortable. My back/Lowerback and thigh is in pain after 10minutes.
Cushioning is very soft and not supportive; so butt position goes further down; making leg/foot squashed and thighs not supported.
(6' / 160lbs; a typical normal person.)
Rear seat: It's OK when front seats are moved forward to normal position.
Paddle Shifters: have no use.
MPG: 80% city 20% HWY; 20 to 25 mpg. (XB 4AT got 30 to 35 in same condition)
Transmission: this 5AT Transmission is the worst for mid speed driving because it keeps changing in 3/4/5 range. (cannot keep in one position in city/suburban driving)
ex. Typical 30 to 40 mph gear pattern (30 secs) : 4 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 4 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 4
The power is there, but I think gear setting is wrong. (feels like it is set to HWY driving) (For next year, Honda should remove all MT and AT transmissions and replace them with CVT for base and CVT-7 for Sport; and increase pricing by $1,500)
-------------------------
Overall: Good highway car, but not for city.
Gas Cap: Very easy to terror it by putting in 'food/chemicals/waste/etc' at anytime b/c it's always open. (Just swing open, twist caps out, and put in whatever u wish)
Highway ride: 10x better than 05 XB. (sold XB a month after b/c of unstable and rough hwy ride)
Seat: EXTREAMLY uncomfortable. My back/Lowerback and thigh is in pain after 10minutes.
Cushioning is very soft and not supportive; so butt position goes further down; making leg/foot squashed and thighs not supported.
(6' / 160lbs; a typical normal person.)
Rear seat: It's OK when front seats are moved forward to normal position.
Paddle Shifters: have no use.
MPG: 80% city 20% HWY; 20 to 25 mpg. (XB 4AT got 30 to 35 in same condition)
Transmission: this 5AT Transmission is the worst for mid speed driving because it keeps changing in 3/4/5 range. (cannot keep in one position in city/suburban driving)
ex. Typical 30 to 40 mph gear pattern (30 secs) : 4 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 4 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 4
The power is there, but I think gear setting is wrong. (feels like it is set to HWY driving) (For next year, Honda should remove all MT and AT transmissions and replace them with CVT for base and CVT-7 for Sport; and increase pricing by $1,500)
-------------------------
Overall: Good highway car, but not for city.
I'm 6' and my father is 6'4" when he has the seat back all the way for him to be comfortable..I still have plenty of space for my legs.
Nice opinions, although I disagree with most everyone of them, you are entitled to your opinions...
I drive my car 50% city and 50%Highway and get 30mpg not even trying...plus the ride on this is soft considering the short wheelbase ( have 16's with low pros and I'm not complaining.)
Last edited by GoFits; Oct 30, 2006 at 09:26 PM.
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 232
From: Gone
I find these complaints about mileage hard to believe myself...I think it is totally related to driving style and traffic.
For those w/ struggling mileage, try to make a concisious effort to drive at least one tank of gas with 'energy management' as first mental priority. Not that you need to creep along like a snail, but consider things like letting off the pedal far in advance of stopping, and thinking through your driving routine(taking advantage of hills, etc). It amazes me when I ride w/ other people at how carefree and thoughtless they drive. The 'get there first' mentality is intoxicating! Their minds are elsewhere, and not on the road or with the car....not that this is wrong, but I guess I'm in the minority of drivers that consider the 'human-to-machine' relationship far more seriously. And I get great mileage, still between 32-35 daily driving.
For those w/ struggling mileage, try to make a concisious effort to drive at least one tank of gas with 'energy management' as first mental priority. Not that you need to creep along like a snail, but consider things like letting off the pedal far in advance of stopping, and thinking through your driving routine(taking advantage of hills, etc). It amazes me when I ride w/ other people at how carefree and thoughtless they drive. The 'get there first' mentality is intoxicating! Their minds are elsewhere, and not on the road or with the car....not that this is wrong, but I guess I'm in the minority of drivers that consider the 'human-to-machine' relationship far more seriously. And I get great mileage, still between 32-35 daily driving.
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 60
From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by Fray Adjacent
I think the people that are getting very poor mileage like that are either driving very poorly, or operate in VERY VERY extreme city stop-and-go driving - literally driving a block then stopping, then driving a block, then stopping, then driving a block, ad infinitum. That kind of driving condition would rate very crappy fuel economy in any car.
I am surprised to see one person with the MT getting poor economy above. I'm wondering (betting) it's either the conditions he's driving in, or it's the nut behind the wheel causing it!
I am surprised to see one person with the MT getting poor economy above. I'm wondering (betting) it's either the conditions he's driving in, or it's the nut behind the wheel causing it!
Maybe I should skip the idea of having Fit as daily driver if it gets poor
MPG like my current car.
New Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11
From: Canada
I personally find the seats quite comfortable. We do a 5 hour round trip once every two weeks and find our backs far less sore than when we used to do the same trip in my Mercedes. We also easily get 30mpg. It is not incredible gas mileage but it is not bad. If it is so terrible, go buy a Smart car!
Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 66
From: UK
Originally Posted by sonorliteman
I find these complaints about mileage hard to believe myself...I think it is totally related to driving style and traffic.
For those w/ struggling mileage, try to make a concisious effort to drive at least one tank of gas with 'energy management' as first mental priority.
For those w/ struggling mileage, try to make a concisious effort to drive at least one tank of gas with 'energy management' as first mental priority.
If I happen to hit black ice a couple of metres shy of the car I'm pulling up behind it'll be a gentle nudge. Probably still crack the bumpers but that's just the way manufacturers build 'em. Shouldn't even set the airbag off by the time I've got that close.
Even with my CVT I'm still driving around towns hardly having to use my brakes. In a manual I never move it beyond third around town and you just don't need your brakes unless you actually have to stop.
Last edited by AndrueC; Oct 31, 2006 at 12:27 PM.
Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 37
From: Dennis, MA
Wow, you suck at driving! 25mpg? good job..lay off the right pedal leadfoot.
But a few weeks ago I screwed up and left chicken poaching on the stove when I went to work and remembered it about the same time it should be running out of water and starting a fire.
I ran home like the proverbial bat out of hell. (And found out my stove is far weaker than I thought and the water had barely evaporated at all.)
O M G it was SO much fun. I have never owned a car that was so much fun to drive the heck out of than the Fit! I don't drive that way, but I can see why people drive the fit so hard.
The torque converter thing makes sense. I just never knew cars did that if you weren't on the highway. I drove to work in S today and I'm pretty certain that's what it is.
Originally Posted by kathygnome
Keep in mind, I'm the slow and steady one getting 35-36mpg.
But a few weeks ago I screwed up and left chicken poaching on the stove when I went to work and remembered it about the same time it should be running out of water and starting a fire.
I ran home like the proverbial bat out of hell. (And found out my stove is far weaker than I thought and the water had barely evaporated at all.)
O M G it was SO much fun. I have never owned a car that was so much fun to drive the heck out of than the Fit! I don't drive that way, but I can see why people drive the fit so hard.
The torque converter thing makes sense. I just never knew cars did that if you weren't on the highway. I drove to work in S today and I'm pretty certain that's what it is.
But a few weeks ago I screwed up and left chicken poaching on the stove when I went to work and remembered it about the same time it should be running out of water and starting a fire.
I ran home like the proverbial bat out of hell. (And found out my stove is far weaker than I thought and the water had barely evaporated at all.)
O M G it was SO much fun. I have never owned a car that was so much fun to drive the heck out of than the Fit! I don't drive that way, but I can see why people drive the fit so hard.
The torque converter thing makes sense. I just never knew cars did that if you weren't on the highway. I drove to work in S today and I'm pretty certain that's what it is.
It's great you can both get 35 mpg when you want and drive like a bat out of hell at other times.
Sounds like you might do really well at Autocross where everyone drives like a bat out of hell. It's just 4 runs as fast as you can while managing to dodge orange cones set in a parking lot. Sport car club of America is the sponsoring body and there is likely to be events in your area every month.
You will need shoes and a rated helmet (bats have soft toes and furry heads that need protection).
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 492
From: Murfreesboro, TN
Originally Posted by MINI-Fit
You will need shoes and a rated helmet.
Helmet - you need a Snell SA95 rating or newer. Most SCCA regions have loaner helmets available to use.
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 60
From: Los Angeles, CA
I got those piloti http://www.piloti.com/ shoes for autocross... good for the
double duty of driving & running after cones.
Ok, let's let the thread get back on topic..:P
double duty of driving & running after cones.
Ok, let's let the thread get back on topic..:P
Thread Starter
|
New Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23
From: Fairfax, VA
OP here
Low/soft seating and transmission is only the major dislikes. other than those, i'm satisfied with it. (20-25 mpg is OK since 3.5L Odyssey gets 10 - 15 mpg)
To answer a few questions:
I live about 10 miles from DC and commute to DC everyday. (mainly use route 66/495 to get around here.)
to describe the driving condition, on hwy, speed is 0 mph to 25 mph, braking all the way to DC in the morning, and from 4PM, it's about the same.
I'll try the paddle shifters tomorrow morning on the highway. lock it on the 3rd.
Low/soft seating and transmission is only the major dislikes. other than those, i'm satisfied with it. (20-25 mpg is OK since 3.5L Odyssey gets 10 - 15 mpg)
To answer a few questions:
I live about 10 miles from DC and commute to DC everyday. (mainly use route 66/495 to get around here.)
to describe the driving condition, on hwy, speed is 0 mph to 25 mph, braking all the way to DC in the morning, and from 4PM, it's about the same.
I'll try the paddle shifters tomorrow morning on the highway. lock it on the 3rd.
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 60
From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by alclssus2020
i'm satisfied with it. (20-25 mpg is OK since 3.5L Odyssey gets 10 - 15 mpg)
To put it into perspective, I get 20-21mpg in LA traffic (0-25mph
most of time) with my 06 Mitsu Evo.
Someone that spends his life on FitFreak.net
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,092
From: san francisco, ca, USA
About "bad" mileage. 25 is just a lil less than normal. I htink it depends on location. I live in SF my average for my civic auto coupe 96 was 27mpg. that's EX model so i think it's 120hp.
Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 653
From: Chicago, IL
My only real complaint is how thinly insulated the car feels...like road debris hitting the inside of the fender and small rocks hitting the windshield sound like gunshots...
I know all the reasoning behind this but it's still a little concerning when you are worried about stonechips...
I know all the reasoning behind this but it's still a little concerning when you are worried about stonechips...
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 68
From: Nashville, TN
For the first month or so that I had my Fit I drove it like my grandmother drives, and I still got something like 24MPG in the city. After that I just said "screw it" and drive it just like I drove my Civic. My mileage has actually gotten better, but I assume that's because the car is breaking in.
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 60
From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by claymore
Guys we already have a GAS MILAGE post https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/general-fit-talk/3990-gas-mileage.html
If you want to discuss gas milage please use that post so we don't end up with two posts about gas milage. Use this post for other stuff on topic
If you want to discuss gas milage please use that post so we don't end up with two posts about gas milage. Use this post for other stuff on topic
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 144
From: Escondido, CA
My gas mileage has ranged from 30.1 mpg to 41.6 mpg I generally get approxiamtely 33mpg driving around San Diego (mix of city and highway). I usually just stay with the flow of traffic.
I generally shift between 3-4,000 rpm and just try to drive smoothly. The 40+ mpg were achieved on a 320 mile trip to Las Vegas (turn on cruise and relax) and traveling thru Zion & Grand Canyon National Parks (elevation as high as 8,900 ft and lots of steep mountain roads where I did need to down shift to pull the grades.
My Fit has exceeded my expectations and IMHO is worth more than I paid for it. It's a great value.
I generally shift between 3-4,000 rpm and just try to drive smoothly. The 40+ mpg were achieved on a 320 mile trip to Las Vegas (turn on cruise and relax) and traveling thru Zion & Grand Canyon National Parks (elevation as high as 8,900 ft and lots of steep mountain roads where I did need to down shift to pull the grades.
My Fit has exceeded my expectations and IMHO is worth more than I paid for it. It's a great value.
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