I would get a Scangauage and start logging your mileage for a trip to the dealer. 22MPG is pretty awful! How long is your commute? If your commute is very short the engine may be getting stuck in its cold start routine. A few mods can make a world of difference as well. I run a CAI and a DC header with a Tanabe axleback. Those simple bolt ons seem to be the reason my mileage has been so stable.

 

it's the wife's car, her commute is 70% highway. that low of 22 was mostly in-and-around town, maybe 20% highway. but, there was a tank recently that i estimate to 80% hwy and got 28 mpg. that also was pretty frustrating. i have a car that runs e85 and got 23 mpg about 80% hwy, i think maybe a scangauge is a good idea. although i really don't think a dealer would care in the least bit...

on another note, i may find some r-comps for the fit. it probably would never need to change brake pads for the lifetime of the car.

 

You are probably right about the dealer not caring, although having a detailed log of your mileage is good ammo if you have to got corporate about an underperforming car. Is it an automatic? They seem to suffer from poor mileage more than the stick shift cars (mine is a manual) The scangauge can also be used as a tutorial for teaching the wife to drive for economy. Careful with putting race pads on the Fit they may last forever, but if they won't stop the car reliably their utility is wasted.

 

na, that was more a joke about how the fit doesn't have the power to generate speed that would ever require braking before a corner.

it is an AT fit, unfortunately.

 

I would try driving it exclusively in S mode for one week. Hold the lower gears longer for better acceleration and then upshift quickly to fifth once up to speed for economy. I haven't ever driven an auto Fit, modded or otherwise, so I really am flying blind on how the tranny acts in everyday driving.

 

yah, thin air does make it a challenge for most 4 bangers.

 

The only reason the air is thin around DC is because of all the loose o2 thieves in Congress stealing it from the rest of us LOL I would be guessing, but I suppose that the auto shifts early to the next higher gear in normal part throttle situations which makes the car feel anemic. Holding lower gears and using large throttle openings for shorter periods to reach your chosen speed should (and i say SHOULD) net you some kind of improvement in mileage. Or you can always swap in a K20 har dee har har.

 

agreed, and if the fit was built any different it wouldn't be as fun anymore. =)

 

On the last page of the article was a black and white photo of a Fiat 500..... I had one and it was so slow that kids on 20" wheeled bicycles passed me and stayed in front of me for a block or more. It was ridiculous and became impossible to drive when 1st gear went out because it had to be used so often to get up hills with a passenger pushing it even.... That car was more terrifying to drive than the fastest cars and even motorcycles I have driven...I really love my Fit, always have even before I put the supercharger kit on it.... I have to admit that I scan my rear view mirrors a lot more frequently than I did before though..... It is fun to get a slow car up to speed and maintain it in traffic by finding the lane that is moving and going to another before it starts to slow down by scanning ahead visually and saying no to the urge to use the brake pedal.... I learned how to do that escorting funerals on a Harley and as a newspaper contractor in North Dallas driving a 1600cc VW diesel pickup.... That was a long time ago but when I am in Dallas I still revert back to that style and it scares the hell out of anyone riding with me if they are from where I live now where there isn't any freeways.

 

700 Miles on a Kawasaki Ninja 250 - A motorcyclist's review - Pashnit Motorcycle Forum

Similar reflection from an sport-bike rider on a little Ninja 250. It's a good bit quicker than the Fit (probably 6-7 sec 0-60), but pretty damn slow for a bike,especially when <4 sec 0-60 times are the norm.

I spent 4500 miles learning to ride on a Ninja 250. They do indeed teach you to maintain momentum. Fun little bikes.

I used to own a Jeep Wrangler, with 30" tires... and a 4-cylinder. It was so slow, I joked that it had cruise control... Just push the pedal to the floor, and leave it in 5th, and it would settle around 65-75 mph.

 

cool article, loved it. i just recently picked up my second sv650 after having been off-bike for about 2 years now.

 

My other car, in addition to my Fit, is a Miata. Before that I owned a Porsche Carrera Cabriolet. I strongly agree it's much more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow.