when i lived in Japan, i would've taken the toyota vitz (or yaris for us USDM folk) over the Fit any day. but the us-spec yaris doesn't really match up to the Japanese market vitz in any way. it's sad how we americans usually get the scaled down versions of japanese performance vehicles. i wish they had made the civic hatch from 1996-2000 as the SI model, rather than the 99-00 coupe. but that's just me, i like hatches, as do most japanese folks. but, honda did a study and found most americans liked the coupe better than the hatch. but then the Fit is a pretty popular vehicle...and it's a hatch. and the 96-00 civic hatch is also a popular platform now as well. go figure.:rolleyes:

 

Would have considered the 4 door hatch Yaris if they had brought it over.

 

This review (below) prefers the Nissan Versa to the Fit and Yaris. I would have liked to see it before opting for the Fit, but I couldn't wait until the Versa showed up. I don't see any big advantage to the longer length of the Versa, since its interior is not versatile. The only thing I might have found tempting is those memory foam seats. I bought a memory foam cushion for the Fit's driver seat, though, so I doubt the Versa's upholstery would have been enough to sway me. The Versa may have more "pep" because of the bigger engine, but the Fit has enough for me -- and it doesn't hog my garage space.

Here's the latest Google Alerts for the Honda Fit, 6/8/06.

Nissan Versa vs. Fit & Yaris:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...606070345/1149

Business Week says the Fit is go:

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/co...ndex+page_news

Fit and Yaris lead for new (and used??!) car searches:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060607/cgw034.html?.v=51

 

I don't own either a Fit or a Yaris or have been in either yet but here is my opinion...

The Yaris reminds me of bunnies...

Stupid, I know but it looks so cute on the outside that I think of Thumper. That can be interpreted anyway you like.

 

There is some strange trend in here Tennessee (maybe elsewhere in the US, but trips to other states I have not seen this), Hondas get absolutely molsted by redneck kids. They think they are perfomance cars!

They take a base autoamtic model and hang air dams and paint the plastic bits with primer (yellow and grey seem to be the most popular colors), remove the door handles:confused: , put some terrible sounding muffler on it that sounds like me after a few bottles of Grolsch, get Japanese stickers all over them, pop off the hubcaps, et voila

...they want to race you...(fun back when I had a sleeper 1970s Mercedes 280). You cannot find a used Civic, Accord, Prelude or CRX that has not met this fate without difficulty. There is even a tricked out van on my end of town with Formula One stickers on it?!?!

Toyota never was like Nissan, they went after the likes of BMW and Alfa with the tricked out 510 sedans that started showing up in the 1970s. Toyota had its moments, fun was drifting in turns with a 1980 Celica on back roads years ago, a friend's brother that used to rally in a Supra of the same vintage....but, mundane as it sounds, I would still be driving large Toyota wagons if they sold them in the US.

 

Hey, have you taken your Corgi in your Fit yet? I picked up my 8 year old tri color Pembroke bitch from the vet the other day after a bath and brushing.....:eek: ....BAD idea. The Fit's carpet is an absolute Corgi fur magnet, it took a half hour to clean out the back hatch area!

 

ok, since there's so many great things about both cars, I'm just gonna talk about dealbrakers

yaris:
it's ugly
it's ugly
no tach on the hatchback
speedo in a funky position
the model in the price range of the Fit seems stripped down

Fit:
doesnt have a dead pedal
it's a 4 door hatchback. I wanted a 2 door
doesnt have an oil pressure gauge, water temp guage... etc( I'm used to my brother's 2000 dodge datoka r/t, which has pretty much every sort of guage you can think of)

anyways, the deal breakers seem a whole lot worse on the yaris. guess which one I'm getting?

 

Results from the NHTSA are in... way worse than the Fit!

Yaris@safercar.gov

Yaris' Results (4-door)

Front Driver: 4
Front Passenger: 4
Side Front: 3
Side Rear: 3

Fit's Results

Front Driver: 5
Front Passenger: 5
Side Front: 5
Side Rear: 3

 

Dammm right!!!!
The WRX "GOD SAVE" is not the prettiest of all cars, but is like that for a purpose. The Yaris (sedan) is just ugly for nothing. The Yaris hacht on the other hand, its so ugly that I love it, and God how I like small cars!!!!!!!
The Fit (yeah!!! my taffeta sport!!) Is pretty ugly too don't fool yourself with the Honda Bias. I think that the Versa is more serious in it's looks, but too bad for Nissan that they feel like the beauty queen that everybody has to wait for her, not me, I always have been a Nissan lover, but the Fit Is the one and I don't regret it!!
Anyway, they all are great cars, and PEOPLE OF UNATED STATES.... OPEN YOUR EYES TO SMALL CARS, cause they are not small anymore.

 

Got my Fit yesterday and I have to say that everything you touch in the Fit says Acura, not economy car. Every surface, every pannel fit, every bit of plastic. (nothwithstanding the 'carpet' which isn't carpet at all in the traditional sense but I don't think it is trying to be!) I love it, fun to drive, lightweight, and feels like quality. The feel over rough pavement is MUCH better than the Town & Country we're getting rid of. No thuds and bangs. Big grins and happy owners here!

 

Another great review for the Honda Fit, and the Yaris review on this website is a must check out, its hilarious, the author is pretty funny and brutal.

 

Corgi Dog = Good :D
Corgi Fur + Fit carpet = BAD :mad:

 

Latest articles on Yaris and Fit. (If you haven't seen the Autobytel video'd test drive of the Fit, check out the last link on the list.)

6/17/06 Google Alert

Hartford Courant Fit Review:

http://www.courant.com/business/hc-0...lines-business

Yaris review:

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...d=970599119419
**************************************************

6/16 Google Alert

Drab Yaris review (Fit briefly mentioned):

http://www.kiplinger.com/personalfin...6/car0616.html

6/16/06 from Google Alert:

Test drive (Canada):

http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/...py?artid=63122


6/16 from Fit Forum:

Funny article about switching from gas guzzler SUV to Fit:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=268

Same publication, on Yaris:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=492


6/14/06 Google Alert:

Fit mentioned in article on high tech R&D effect on profit margin:
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/13/h...s-low-profits/

Auctioning off custom painted Fit:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=115733


6/13/06:

Video! AutoBytel CarTV Video Library:

http://www.autobytel.com/content/res...it/?vid=r_0197

 

I haul dogs and bunnies to the vet and the Fit interior is a mess even though I put sheets over it. I mentioned on the forum before that I found a car vac at Walgreen's called "Ultra-Vac" that has brushes, including one for crevices, and it really pulls up the pet hair. I was wasting a lot of lint roller paper until I found it. It costs $16.99 and includes an extension cord for the brush attachment.

 

I don't have my Fit yet. Supposed to arrive before the end of the month. But my Prelude beater is full of Corgi hair. I just bought a portable vacuum cleaner and will test it out. Luckily Micky hasn't been shedding a lot. Any pics of your Pembroke?

 

No pix of the dog, sorry...wife and I still use 35mm cameras, never went digital.

I did today get the chance to see a Toyota Yarris hatch (two actually). A dealership in Columbus had none for sale, but had these as rental cars for customers?!?

The inside reminds me a lot of a 1960s Saab or VW. Narrow with small windows and tall doors. Automatic, so I did not wish to drive it, as I have driven automatic sedans before. I do think the rear has more room than that of the sedan, but the rear storage area is VERY small.

Happy with the Fit, but I did see a Scion Xa on the way out. I like those, I would have considered one if they sold it as a Toyota. I have owned enough orphan cars to know better on taking on another.

 

 

Nice dog, looks like my father's that passed away last year. He (dad) is up in age, so probably the last dog of his life.

Maybe a Fit group for Fit/Corgi owners?

 

Mixed review – Yaris test drive:
http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/stamford_templates/stamford_story/290457089741522.php

 

In my area-

There are no Fits to test drive and very very few to see.

Yaris sedans (both versions) are easy to find to test drive while the hatchbacks are in very short supply. I saw them but they were all bought and none could be test driven.

I most hated that my dealerships said that none of their corollas or Yaris came with side curtain air bags. NONE. The option exists but Toyota does not send any cars with this option my way even though that was my requirement. I gave up after a few weeks and many calls across the country.

I have driven an Echo for about a week as a loaner. I think the Yaris is much better but I just drove the sedan. I think the Yaris is safer than the Echo. I like the looks of the Yaris hatchback more than the sedan.

In my area the Fit Sport is in such high demand and short supply that dealers are asking and getting $3000+ over MSRP. People are waiting 3 to 6 months. This is the biggest problem with the Fit for me right now. That translates into about $21K for a Fit sport with AT. This is too much for that car.