Comments on: US Honda Fit vs. Japanese Honda Fit

By: kjc117

kjc117 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:19:44 +0000

You guys think Honda can move 200,000 Fits in NA?

By: Jay Bee

Jay Bee — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:23:35 +0000

John B – that is in U.S., not imperial gallons. I live in Maine, which is not quite Canada (but sometimes close!)

By: Joshvar

Joshvar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:17:32 +0000

There are very few competitors to this car, and this one, to me, stood out last gen, and this will continue that. I still think the USDM one looks better, and I’m surprised to be in the minority. Sure, there’s more overhang, but I think it helps even out its visual weight. But, it could just be that a JDM Sport would erase this difference.

By: Bancho

Bancho — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:40:58 +0000

rtz :
Some people (like me) appreciate hatchbacks and not just the “green-ness” of a vehicle.

The Corolla is a sedan. The Corolla is more expensive. The Corolla is larger.

The Prius is more expensive by $5k – $10k on average.

Hybrid H@/H3/FJ don’t exist and if they did would *still* be less efficient and much larger/heavier than I need. In addition, they’re already expensive and would only become much moreso as hybrids.

I don’t know where you live, but where I live, and where I drive, a vehicle as small as the Fit along with its’ other virtues really shines. It may not be for everyone, but it’s a fine vehicle in its’ own right. None of the alternatives aside from a Corolla can come close to competing with a Fit on price, and none compete on the overall package.

By: John B

John B — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:22:06 +0000

Roundaboutguy:

Re: “I have gotten as much as 39 mpg with it, and have had no problems with it.”

Is that U.S. or imperial gallons (you mentioned Montreal so I don’t know if you’re Canadian)? My wife drives a four year old Mazda3 and we get about 43 mpg (imperial) on the highway.

By: detroit1701

detroit1701 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:16:22 +0000

It’s time to end the 5-mph bumper requirement. Mr. Berkowitz has it right — with overhang bumpers, it does not reduce the costs of being involved in a low-mph crash. With my 1998 Civic, the plastic covering the back bumper cost $400 to fix in a 5-7 mph hit from behind. My previous Fusion had overhang in the front (luckily no accidents). And the rear bumper of my Mazda3 is just plain ugly.

By: andyinsdca

andyinsdca — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:04:36 +0000

One of the issues of designing a car for JDM vs US is that US Americans are much taller on average than a Japanese person. So you need to add a few inches in every dimension to accomodate us.

By: shaker

shaker — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:31:11 +0000

Think of it as a go-kart that can haul an Ikea living room; looks are subjective – these cars are a blast to drive, are very efficient, and the new model has better driver ergonomics.

I test drove an auto a while ago and enjoyed the driving dynamics, but the ergos killed it for me.

They’ll sell like hotcakes when they come out.

By: CarShark

CarShark — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:11:37 +0000

No question. JDM looks better. What a bulbous front nose on the U.S. version! Still want one though…or a Fiesta…or a Mazda2.

By: rtz

rtz — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:21:35 +0000

My sister has one of these cars. That thing reminds me of a clown car at a circus everytime I see it. I expect a bunch of clowns to come piling out of it.

Lower price and better fuel mileage from a Corolla then a Fit. I’d prefer a Prius though over either of those two cars.

A hybrid FJ Cruiser or H2 or H3? That’s eco right? Would help with their green image right?

Put the Volt drive line in a H2 and H3? That would pacify the eco nazis right? Would they still burn hummers?

Bring back the Insight driveline and put that in everything? That car got like 90mpg right?

Rav4 EV…. They still make Rav4’s and at one time, made and sold electric models that got over 100 miles per charge using something other then lithium batteries! Imagine the range on a lithium version. A fully electric Prius? Toyota is chicken shit like no other on offering a plug in Prius. I asked the guy at the auto show and he was shaking in his boots about it. He knew exactly what I was talking about, yet could hardly answer on why not. Fully charge it up at home and have extended range with the electric motor! Like the Volt…

For the past two years in a row, when I enter the hummer area, the GM rep approaches me and acknowledges my presence in such a way as if I was a potential eco nazi there to vandalize their vehicles. Like a bold intentional forward approach and says “how are you doing sir” while bolding looking right at me(as if to say, don’t you dare mess with our display hummers).” It’s just obvious when what occurs at their display never and has never occurred at any other display. Two years in a row with the same type of approach and being carefully watched. I was just looking. I was interested and glad to see a V8 in the H3! Something about my image and demeanor though. How I come across. Hard to read perhaps. Still annoying though.

By: B-Rad

B-Rad — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:27:49 +0000

Regardless of which one looks better (definitely the US Fit) which one is safer?

By: Bancho

Bancho — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:18:46 +0000

Skooter :

They might not be your cup of tea, but my point was that nothing in the domestics’ respective lineups even compete on merit, let alone aesthetics.

By: Jay Bee

Jay Bee — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:15:30 +0000

As someone who has had the distinct pleasure of owning a Fit for the past 25,000 miles, let me just say that it is by far the most enjoyable vehicle I have owned. I have driven through a flood with 600 pounds of flooring from Ikea in this car, been camping with two other people and all of our stuff in this car, and driven through the snowy mountain passes on the way to and from Montreal at crazy high speeds in this car.

Is it gorgeous? No, but it does grow on you.

I have the Fit Sport with the manual-shifting automatic, and it works far better than I could have hoped for. I have gotten as much as 39 mpg with it, and have had no problems with it. None. Zilch.

After about 15,000 miles, it seemed to get more power. Maybe I broke it in? Figured it out more? I have no idea. But how much power does one need? I still get out ahead of city traffic, out turn and outmaneuver just about anything.

This is the only car I have ever unreservedly recommended to anyone who asks. End of story.

By: Skooter

Skooter — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:27:51 +0000

“None of the big 2.8 make a car as efficient or well packaged as the Fit.”

Thank God! Both are hideous.

By: mikeolan

mikeolan — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:59:57 +0000

As much as I like the current Fit, there are too many tiny things wrong with the car that keep me from buying it- no telescoping steering wheel, no right armrest, no map lights, a bit short on power (15 more hp, please!) , that in the end make it a bit unpleasant for anything other than short scoots around the city. What a shame. Honda got the big things right, now c’mon with the niggling complaints.

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:05:25 +0000

I would certainly consider the Fit if I had to buy a new car, but not for its looks. Both versions are UGLY! Did I say UGLY? Yes!!! No prizes here for commercial art! This is commercial, but it’s not art!

Couldn’t they give it a face like an RX-whatever-the-last-letter-was or an integer? NO!!! Has to be FUGLY! Oh, well. It’s still a very high quality, low impact piece of machinery, with some fun-to-drive to boot.

Not going to appear in MOMA!

By: Johnson

Johnson — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:42:16 +0000

I doubt it’s just bumper or pedestrian regulations, I think it’s more than that. Look at cars like the Camry. The JDM Camry has the same short nose and short overhangs as the USDM Camry. It might be more of a lack of engineering prowess on Honda’s part. It seems that Honda was not able to develop a short bumper that meets US regulations.

By: tdoyle

tdoyle — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:07:06 +0000

It doesn’t matter, they are both fugly!

By: Dynamic88

Dynamic88 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:58:33 +0000

Isn’t it called the Jazz everywhere but here?

By: keepaustinweird

keepaustinweird — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:50:03 +0000

Call me crazy, but neither one of them look attractive to my eyes.

By: offroadinfrontier

offroadinfrontier — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:34:59 +0000

Having a bumper poking out that far eliminates some of the greatness of having small cars… Maybe the visuals just give the overhang a more dramatic appearance, but I’d put money that my xA’s nose is much shorter; moving around tight spaces with no front nose is a blessing, especially when two suburbans park beside you, both over their respective parking lines.

Hopefully the bumper doesn’t kill off the aerodynamics, negatively impacting highway mileage. But maybe the extra bumper space will allow easier placement of intercoolers ::grin::

By: Bancho

Bancho — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:16:01 +0000

I wish there were more players in that class of car here in the US. At this point Mitsubishi is kinda circling the bowl in the US though so I’m not expecting to see any new entrant in the US from them.

By: Nemphre

Nemphre — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:13:28 +0000

Heh… you’re probably thinking of the Mitsubishi “i”. It’s just an i actually. The i is a kei car though.

I like the look of the new Fit, but I like the old interior better.

By: Michael Karesh

Michael Karesh — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:02:52 +0000

Can’t say I’m in love with either of them.

Mitsubishi has a small car along the same lines that looks better – can’t remember the name of it, begins with an i.

By: Bancho

Bancho — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:57:11 +0000

I’m just happy we’ll be getting the new Fit. If it’s gotta get a little ugly (subjective in this case) then so be it. None of the big 2.8 make a car as efficient or well packaged as the Fit.

On a personal note I like eggs as well. Maybe that’s why I like the JDM version a bit more than the US one.