Honda Boosts the Number of 2009 Fits Headed to the US

The Honda Fit is a cool hatchback. My friend just bought a Honda Fit Sport 5-spd manual and the car feels peppy and handles pretty well. It was surprising since it has only 109hp.

I have driven the Fit and was impressed with its spunk, interior vesatility and design. The new version will have slightly higher HP, but basically retains the same design. Could not come out at a better time.

Yeah, but..... Chevy is coming out with it's Camaro.... in two years.

I LOVE WHINING 1

.

I cant afford anything more than my geo metro, i sure wish i could buy something like this

I LOVE WHINING!

I just wish Honda would throw a nice suspension package together and slap a K20 in it as theFit SI. I'd even consider it with the 1.8. With the low weight of this thing it would still pull better mileage than a Civic SI and be faster at the same time.

@Gary

Exactly... exactly why they won't do it.

Faster, cheaper, better mileage than another same-brand car? It would eat the CivicSi's sales. Ah, well.. you can always hope..

People keep talking about increasing gas prices. But at least where I live it's been $4 a gallon for regular for like 2 months now. So much for the ever increasing talk. It seems like it's capped.

I drove a Fit, it's a fantastic car, and a really good deal. I'd get a civic before the fit though.

A K20 Fit from the factory makes too much sense, hence why they will never do it. I swear, every car company has a bad gene. It explains why the easily awesome things are never done, but dumb things spew everywhere.

I do like the Fit as it is though, it's a blast to drive. It's just what we need. Fun to drive affordable utility. As soon as fools can let go of their poorly educated red neck V8 mantality, then we'll be getting somewhere.

It's a shame the Stealership tried to rape my best friend $21,000 to get one off the lot. Demand or not, that kind of markup is shameful.

wow according to msn folks are paying 23k on average for this car. It's not horrible looking but that's about 10k too high for an econobox that only gets 28/34.

Edit... that's the average for the category not the average retail for the particular car - that makes more sense.

I don't know the "real" world mileage of one of these things, but I'll stick with my 04 Corolla. Fine it looks like the most bland thing you can imagine, but I can beat the snot out of it and still get 30 mpg. My wife has been using it to commute with and is regularly getting 38 out of it.

Now what I'd LOVE to see is something along the lines of a truck (much smaller than a Tacoma) powered by the new Corolla 1.8L or maybe even the 2.4L from the Camry. Something with a bed that's maybe only 4x6 instead of 4x8 (you can leave the tailgate down or something). I just want something small to haul basic things around it, not go off roading, or haul a load of bricks.

To bad Toyota doesn't really do valve lift technology. (Note the 2ZZ-GE doesn't really count since it was really developed by Yamaha).

Dan:

Just because some of us still drive a V8 does not mean we have a redneck mentality. That would be like me saying because you drive a L4 you have a teenager mentality.(Maybe you do?) Gas at $4 a gallon or $5 a gallon will not keep me from driving my V8. There is not a production 4 cyl Honda, Toyota or Kia anywhere no matter the suspension package and shift paddles that is as fun to drive as a Mercedes with a V8. I get 22 - 24 MPG with my V8. I just dont think its worth it to go from 300+ HP and 22 Mpg to 100HP and 30 Mpg. I see it as 65% decrease in power for a 36% increase in fuel economy. Not worth the trade if you ask me.

"Fit has been exceeding sales expectations since it's release in the US in early 2006."

That is because Honda was so out of touch with the market they set retarded expectations. At the new level ok 80k units, they are STILL out of touch.

@ Austin814:

Mercedes with a V8, oh, well excuse me...Okay, so for you it's not redneck. Instead it's the typical rich person mentality *rolls eyes*, ignorance, entitlement and supremacist out the wazoo.

Do you want the grey poupon now or later? Don't you have some stocks to trade instead of posting here? Go on and get back to screwing over the little guy like you all do...

I'm disapointed my hard earned tax dollars go to paying your welfare check so you can buy a computer.

Holy crap someone worked hard enough to earn the money to buy a Mercedes? That's not fair!

Austin from here on out you're only allowed to work as hard as Dan. Being the shameful, pathetic douchebag that he is, I'm sure emulating his behavior will have you mastarbating into a sock living in your parent's basement with no friends in a matter of weeks.

Welfare my foot.

I have a Bacherlor's in Mechanical Engineering.

I own a house.

I own two cars, soon to sell one and get a motorcycle for commuting.

I am successful @ work.

I send my parents money to help them out.

I support my Church and several charities.

I'm just tired of the super rich getting richer at the expense of the people working the skin off of their hands to get by. Yes there are lazy people on welfare. Watch your blanket statements.

@ Dan

"As soon as fools can let go of their poorly educated red neck V8 mantality"

Watch YOUR blanket statements. You insulted 3 groups of people in one sentence.

By the way, for someone with a BS in anything, you've got some atrocious grammar.

...because comment boxes require AP style grammar, whatever. You're just bent because I called out your stereotype and I hit your nerve. Thanks for proving all of my points with your comments. This discussion is over.

@Dan

When you start out a discussion by insulting folks that are (presumably) different then you... don't be surprised when you reap what you sow.

You're on a car board... and a LOT of us drive V8's. My summer toy makes over 400hp and gets 27mpg during my commute - I've driven it more this year than in quite a few because it gets better mileage than my 4cyl. Soob. In fact there are quite a few V8 sports cars that make more power and get better gas mileage than the 4's and 6's they compete with.

I also come from a redneck family... but I've got more education (MSEE) and it's about 95% likely I make more than you (partially because you've only got a BS and partly because you sound young). It's funny how everyone likes to hate 'rednecks', but the folks I know that actually DO fit your derisive stereotype are some of the nicest people I've ever met... they don't deserve your summary judgment.

What do you have to gain by throwing out a stereotype that isn't likely to fit anyone who's going to read it but IS likely to rub a fair number of them the wrong way?

even more @Dan...

Let's start here Danny boy.
"As soon as fools can let go of their poorly educated red neck V8 mantality, then we'll be getting somewhere."
It's spelled mentality Dan. M-E-N-T-A-L-I-T-Y. Run your crude opinions through a spellchecker before you post narrowminded insults.

Actually spend some time in the auto industry before opening your big mouth. Seems like you are more interested in insulting peoples lifestyles than making valid points. That is called "trolling" in internet lingo BTW. Looks like you're getting back all the feedback you deserve too.

Local, state, and DEP police in the United States drive V8 vehicles. I guess the people who protect and serve are rednecks.

How about state and local municipalities that use V8 fleet vehicles ? Rednecks too according to our message board college boy Dan.

Don't forget that it snows in 1/2 of the United States. All those those people who live in the northern states and plow for a living must be rednecks too. (should we be plowing with Honda Civics ?)

Carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians, cable guys, tow truck drivers, landscapers, and anyone else who uses a V8 truck for their businesses must be rednecks too.

Almost forgot the boating industry too. Anyone on the water running a V8 regardless of their geographic location (or occupation) must be a redneck too.

Nobody out here cares about your crooked view of the world. Or your questionable education. Or your lifestyle. Not what you do, or what you own either. And i will come right out and call you a liar concerning your statements about church. Of all the people i know who follow the beliefs of god, none have such a narrow or self-absorbed mentality like yours.

My advice. Quit while you are behind. Nobody here is going to subscribe to your tripe. Take that ratty attitude and post your crude comments on YouTube with the rest of the children.

I have had positive experiences with driving the Honda Fit, the Mazda 5 and the Kia Rondo. I think they represent convenient alternatives to wagons and minivans (not so mini anymore) in this climate. It requires realistic expectations about what you need for a vehicle. I recently sold a 2000 Honda Odyssey that was super reliable, due to the fact that I did not need the space (my kids are older/no car seats/strollers/etc) and downsized. Now my situation may not be the same as others, but the Fit is on a short list for me when I finally replace my current car.

I'm in the market for a commuter car... and seeing the Fit article here got me looking at Honda offerings. I'm not particularly impressed with the fuel economy of the Fit, hardly seems worth driving a tiny car to make 10mpg more than I am now... but the Civic Hybrid looks pretty interesting. They claim 45mpg Highway(I'm 95% highway) and the price isn't too outrageous (22ish).

It's also a whole lot nicer looking than the Fit (IMO)... and the Prius of course (UGGGGLY!)

I don't get it.

What's so bad about being a redneck?

Up here in my part of Canada, where gas is $6 a gallon, Fits are starting to show up everywhere. I have driven my fit for the past year or so (may 07) and have been impressed by the mileage (regularly over 38 mpg) and usability. We have 2 young children (read 2 car seats) and we still don't have space issues. The car has performed so well that we really don't drive our Grand Caravan (06) anymore.

I have a 2008 Fit. Fantastic car. In the summer, I've been getting 34mpg in mixed driving (mostly city). I bought in January and got about 30mpg in the cold months (in Indiana). Many seem to have an aversion to small cars; my experience is that it has plenty of room and in no way feels like a small car from the inside. I actually have more headroom than in my wife's minivan. I am fairly tall and leg room is not an issue. Extremely solid car ... this isn't your parents small car.

Just to add to my previous comment. Back in January, my truck finally died on me with 278K miles. Not worth the expense of repairing. I needed a car quickly but really couldn't afford a large second car payment. With gas prices rising, I knew the prudent thing to do is buy a small car. Since I typically drive my cars for their lifespan, I really hated the idea of driving a little tin car for the next 10+ years. I did the research anyway, looking for the best value based on reviews, consumer reports, etc. and the Fit was at the top of my price/value list. I had test driven several other cars but when I actually drove the Fit, I was immediately sold. My wife (literally twice the woman I married) and kids loved the car. I was really surprised, actually. This was a car that I would have no problem driving for the next 10 years. Out of curiousity, I sat in a Civic while we were in the showroom ... I liked the Fit better. They wouldn't budge on the price, so I paid the full $15,900 for the sport model. 6 months later, I feel no different. Smartest car purchase I have ever made. Solid car and fun to drive. No, it isn't going to beat a Vette off the line but it is fast enough and being a small car, it feels quick. I have no problem getting to highway speed in a hurry when I need to and don't feel the need (or see the point) to drag race from stoplight to stoplight. It is at least as fast as my old pickup (V6). The handling is fantastic. I drive a lot and even with the car payment, I spend a little less every month than I spent on gas alone for my pickup ... making me regret that I didn't do this sooner. I play golf every week and the guy I normally play with has commented several times on our way to the golf course that he likes the car so much, he's thinking about getting one.