Is a FIT for you?

[striker525]

Anyone here experience riding in or owning a Honda FiT? My sister's planning to make her first car purchase and get her an economical and small fun-to-drive vehicle. Was hoping I can get some opinions on people's experiences here. We test drove one last weekend and it was a blast to drive. Fun, small appearance from the outside, but hella roomy while you're inside.

 

[flaminio]

Economical, small, fun-to-drive -- sounds like a perfect "FiT". I don't think you can go to far wrong buying one.

 

[yoojeankim]

fits are the SH!T ;] even though me and my cousin compete for better mpg

i have a toyota yaris and he as a fit... he comes around 33mpg i get 40mpg ;]

 

[akira3d]

I've seriously thought about making a FIT my daily driver. I haven't been in one yet, but my wife has gone for a ride in one. She liked it.

 

[Racerxjling]

Do a search here on Prime...lots of positive experiences. We've had one now for over a year and have to say it's a BLAST to drive from a handling standpoing. Eventhough I am a manual trans guy I preferred the paddle shifters over the manual..more torque down low. You will be amazed at how much stuff it can carry w/ the "magic rear seats". We take it to Costco and fill her up.

Jeff

 

[ChopsJazz]

When they make one with hybrid tech I would get one.

 

[CDub]

It may not be a consideration factor, but the tire shop that go to, the owner switched from a pickup to a Fit. He is able to "fit" 18 tires in this little car.

 

[Alittleboost]

There are very nice cars....plenty of room for everyday chores and modifications...the downside is don't expect to pass up anybody, I was about to the the fit route....purchased its bigger brother the element instead.

 

[SoCalDude]

When they make one with hybrid tech I would get one.

Rumors are for the 2010 model?

 

[fullracehonda]

as soon as honda releases a diesel or diesel hybrid fit i will be making a nice withdrawl at the bank before stopping at honda:smile:

i think its a great car right now, but i can justify the purchase right now with 1.5l gasoline engine,if my main concern with a daily driver is mpg, then a 09 vw jetta "sportswagon" tdi"diesel" is winning that war, and its bigger

 

[Da Hapa]

i think its a great car right now, but i can justify the purchase right now with 1.5l gasoline engine,if my main concern with a daily driver is mpg, then a 09 vw jetta "sportswagon" tdi"diesel" is winning that war, and its bigger

Doesn't a Jetta Wagon starts at $19,000. That's with absolutley nothing on it. Once you add the bigger motor and a few nice touches it's easily a $20 - $25,000 car.

Thats a lot more coin than a Fit. Especially when you consider % difference.

 

[NSXrunner]

Couple NSX folks here, me included, actually own Fit's. I use it as my DD. Feel free to ask me anything specific.

Details:

2007 Vivid Blue Pearl / Sport AT

Had it since last April last year as a replacement for my 17 year old Integra. On my commute from Aliso Viejo to Irvine, CA I average about 30-31mpg. I also take it on road trips. My recent trip to Colorado Springs netted me about 39mpg.

But much like everything else, there is a catch. I like to tell people that this is a car they need to learn how to drive and get used to. Not gonna lie, the car is a slug. 0-60 in 9 seconds isn't exactly lightning. If you drive it like a normal, say, non econo car, kiss your mpg good bye. All that aside, it's a fun DD in my opinion. I looked at the Versa, Yaris, Cooper, etc. Chose to stick with the Honda family. :biggrin:

 

[striker525]

Couple NSX folks here, me included, actually own Fit's. I use it as my DD. Feel free to ask me anything specific.

Details:

2007 Vivid Blue Pearl / Sport AT

Had it since last April last year as a replacement for my 17 year old Integra. On my commute from Aliso Viejo to Irvine, CA I average about 30-31mpg. I also take it on road trips. My recent trip to Colorado Springs netted me about 39mpg.

But much like everything else, there is a catch. I like to tell people that this is a car they need to learn how to drive and get used to. Not gonna lie, the car is a slug. 0-60 in 9 seconds isn't exactly lightning. If you drive it like a normal, say, non econo car, kiss your mpg good bye. All that aside, it's a fun DD in my opinion. I looked at the Versa, Yaris, Cooper, etc. Chose to stick with the Honda family. :biggrin:

Exactly all the points you've touched in my opinion and sister's opinion about the car. I just didn't realize that the Element would be the bigger brother but comparing with all the cars in the FiT's price range and style, I think the FiT is the better deal especially it's better quality interior.

 

[striker525]

Rumors are for the 2010 model?

Yah, but with the 2009 body style (2nd gen) FiT, I'd rather take a 2008. I'm not digging the new style, looks like a Prius to me.

 

[ChopsJazz]

I like to tell people that this is a car they need to learn how to drive and get used to. Not gonna lie, the car is a slug. 0-60 in 9 seconds isn't exactly lightning.

The same applies to almost all hybrids, but that's the point. Drive them right and they reward you!

 

[BD]

"Jazz" it up!!!


The problem with buying a fit is that you can't get great deals on it because MSRP vs. Invoice profit margin in extremely small. Even in S. Cal, car discount capital of the world, dealership are still fetching MSRP for that car because literally, even at MSRP, there are almost no profit. For example, the base model Fit at MSRP only have around $500 profit.

You will see a much sweeter margin for a base Civic, and get a better bargain with that model. You'll be surprise how close both cars cost when it reach the final price. Also check the insurance pricing on both cars, you may end up paying more for insurance on Fit than civic, which may be the same bottom line cost by the time you reach second year ownership.

This is what I found online. Excluding destination charges:

Fit MSRP $14750
Fit Invoice $14221

Fit Sports MSRP $16070
Fit Sports Invoice $15488

Civic DX MSRP $15810
Civic DX Invoice $14561

Civic LX MSRP $17760
Civic LX Invoice $16349

Honda is also offering lower rate financing on the Civic, not Fit, and the new 2009 Fit will definitely be sold without discount for a while.

 

[Oyagi]

Fits are way cool, better than a mini IMHO for fun factor and reliability.

There's a big mod scene for them too. These are shots of a friend of mine in Vancouver:

 

[demigod]

I've had my Fit for about a month now and love it so far. Although the new look is starting to grow on me and I may have to trade it in after summer when I can take a look at it in person. I recently went back to a few dealers with a friend to look at some cars and they had a mark-up on all the Civics and even Fits. I guess there's a Civic shortage going on and Fits are more in demand that they used to be. Like others have said, you need to drive it right and you'll be happy with the gas mileage..it has a lot of room for a little car, and you'd be suprised at how much you can Fit in there..

Another member on the Fit forums PS's my car on the ground.. :smile:

 

[NSXDreamer2]

"Jazz" it up!!!


The problem with buying a fit is that you can't get great deals on it because MSRP vs. Invoice profit margin in extremely small. Even in S. Cal, car discount capital of the world, dealership are still fetching MSRP for that car because literally, even at MSRP, there are almost no profit. For example, the base model Fit at MSRP only have around $500 profit.

You will see a much sweeter margin for a base Civic, and get a better bargain with that model. You'll be surprise how close both cars cost when it reach the final price. Also check the insurance pricing on both cars, you may end up paying more for insurance on Fit than civic, which may be the same bottom line cost by the time you reach second year ownership.

This is what I found online. Excluding destination charges:

Fit MSRP $14750
Fit Invoice $14221

Fit Sports MSRP $16070
Fit Sports Invoice $15488

Civic DX MSRP $15810
Civic DX Invoice $14561

Civic LX MSRP $17760
Civic LX Invoice $16349

Honda is also offering lower rate financing on the Civic, not Fit, and the new 2009 Fit will definitely be sold without discount for a while.

Not sure how CA market is like right now, where I live, (and I see hondas for living.) You are smoking something to get a Fit closed to invoice from their introducion days. Fits are flying out of our lot for last 2 yrs at 2nd sticker. Even the slowest time and big clearance, we only need to sell 1-2 fits at MSRP.

Fast forward to now, at least in WA, there's a honda civic frency. Most honda dealers are out, I mean OUT of civics to sell. There's no way you could get a fit or civic less than Msrp. (btw, your price need to add $670 for destination. :wink

The car to buy right now is accord. You could almost get a LX accord at the same price as the LX civic. Which is a great deal. Accord could get 31mpg and fit only get to 33 mpg. You do the math.

The 09 fit is already on order, you could put your name down for one.

 

[nicholas421]

I have a bumper sticker on my Ferrari that says "My other ride is a Fit".... not really but I should

 

[demigod]

The 09 fit is already on order, you could put your name down for one.

What colors are they making for 09? Thanks.

 

[NSXDreamer2]

the abbreviation looks the same as 08, but then Honda uses same abbreviation for same color in different shade... Example, GY is galaxy grey in civic, but polished metal on accord, etc. and BS is atomic blue for civic, glacier blue on crv and opal blue for civic hybrid...:wink:

hopefully vtec.net will have the info. (pretty pathetic that Honda never let us know anything until the car is 3 days away from our lot.)

opps, sure enough, it's on vtec.net http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=764797
Sport

CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/BLACK
BLUE SENSATION/BLACK
TIDEWATER BLUE METALLIC/BLACK
ORANGE REVOLUTION/BLACK
BLACKBERRY PEARL/BLACK
MILANO RED/BLACK
STORM SILVER METALLIC/BLACK
TAFFETA WHITE/BLACK

Base
CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/GRAY
BLUE SENSATION/GRAY
TIDEWATER BLUE METALLIC/GRAY
MILANO RED/GRAY
STORM SILVER METALLIC/GRAY
TAFFETA WHITE/GRAY

seems like Crystal blk, Blue sensation and Orange revolution are new colors. Good thing they bring back the white. (there's no white 08 fit.)

 

[demigod]

Nice, looks like they brought back the white.. :biggrin:

 

[BD]

Not sure how CA market is like right now, where I live, (and I see hondas for living.) You are smoking something to get a Fit closed to invoice from their introducion days. Fits are flying out of our lot for last 2 yrs at 2nd sticker. Even the slowest time and big clearance, we only need to sell 1-2 fits at MSRP.

Fast forward to now, at least in WA, there's a honda civic frency. Most honda dealers are out, I mean OUT of civics to sell. There's no way you could get a fit or civic less than Msrp. (btw, your price need to add $670 for destination. :wink

The car to buy right now is accord. You could almost get a LX accord at the same price as the LX civic. Which is a great deal. Accord could get 31mpg and fit only get to 33 mpg. You do the math.

The 09 fit is already on order, you could put your name down for one.

Where about in Seattle are you in? I used to work at Honda of Seattle and Honda of Bellevue. I may have some connections.

I know what you're talking about, I remember when I was selling in 1996, the CRV were going for over $3500 over the sticker, every deal had a $1000 commission. Same goes for S2k.

Or

Just buy it here and drive it back. The trip down, price, you will still have change in pocket than the price in Seattle area.

 

[fullracehonda]

Not sure how CA market is like right now, where I live, (and I see hondas for living.) You are smoking something to get a Fit closed to invoice from their introducion days. Fits are flying out of our lot for last 2 yrs at 2nd sticker. Even the slowest time and big clearance, we only need to sell 1-2 fits at MSRP.

Fast forward to now, at least in WA, there's a honda civic frency. Most honda dealers are out, I mean OUT of civics to sell. There's no way you could get a fit or civic less than Msrp. (btw, your price need to add $670 for destination. :wink

The car to buy right now is accord. You could almost get a LX accord at the same price as the LX civic. Which is a great deal. Accord could get 31mpg and fit only get to 33 mpg. You do the math.

The 09 fit is already on order, you could put your name down for one.

the first time i went to look at a fit, they were out, had one auto base model for demo only, and they were running short on civic's, but they cut great deals on accords/elements/ridgelines, they were offering me a new fully loaded element for like 20, i cant remember, i just remember seeing used ones selling for more than a more loaded new one:wink: