Hi,

I'm about to drop the coin on my next car and am getting rid of my 06 Explorer. I've been test driving and trying a batch out, but I live in the boonies and have some moderate restrictions on trying out everything I want. (My local Honda dealer doesn't stock FITs for example, so I have to drive an hour or so to try one out).

I'm an OCD type, and am interested in the opinions of GE 08 owners, to help satisfy my thirst for knowledge. I've trolled the site and seen some really wonderful mods (Black3sr's is really incredible, and Jeff_1986's is really nice as well) and if the "Fit is go" I'm sure I will troll for more thoughts...

This will be my 5th Honda (I had a 94 Civic Hatch that I stupidly sold to my nephew for nothing), among many others.

My current thoughts are a '10 FIT Sport NAV with the dealer doing the interior lighting, and then I'll add in the Parrot and start modding it with many of the Mugen and JDM parts (but not the Mugen rims... I can find much better).

That being said, if you did it again, and were sticking under that 20K mark, would you do the FIT again? Civic Sedan? Scion? Kia Soul? Nissan? Ford Fiesta? Other than tweakability, the only real requirement is that it's gotta be 4 doors, or my little girl will kill me...

Please chuck in with any supportive thoughts you have, it's my money, but observations help provide different perspectives...

 

Short answer yes. The Fit is fun to drive, it's got plenty of utility, and nothing around its price range really compares IMO. I would also be willing to bet that the aftermarket parts community is much larger for Honda than the other cars, which also makes it easier/more accessible to mod your car (if that's the route you're going). It's probably one of the better looking cars of the list you had too, with the exception of the fiesta...but of course the looks department is clearly a personal preference.

 

The GE aftermarket is a joke, nothing really you can do to the engine besides the simple stuff. I think the Fiesta will have much better aftermarket support. But the Fit is a fun car to drive, I enjoy it every time I go to work and back.

 

Hmm well i would get the Fit again but not the one ur looking at. They want way to much for it with a crappy navi. If i were you buy used and save some money in the long run. Cars only loose value so might as well be some one else lossing it than you on the first 2-3 years of ownership. That is where most of the value is lost. If you want to mod the engine go with a 07-08 Fit than you can atleast go FI with a turbo or supercharger. If you want just some cosmetics and like the look of the new Fits go with a used one. But don't buy new you just loose so much money in the end. Just look at how much the value drops as soon as you drive off the lot. Or you say for under $20k but you plan to spend money on mugen parts so really ur talking about spending above $20? If so why not look at some thing for a little above $20k that you would not want to mod. If you put youre goal at say $24k and look at used cars that our 2-3 years old so many more options are out there. Which is only about $80 a month for a car note. Depending what youre needs are and style you could get a nice WRX,Evo,S2000,GTI,IS250,Cobolt SS,Small Suv,Nice Truck,. There are to many cool cars that could fit ur life style and needs to name. The reason i went with the Fit. Is i wanted to spend less than $15k so the Fit fell into my needs and with some mods i did now it has the style i like. Hope this long response helps you.

 

OP- GE 08? GE 09 you mean?

if my GD died i would get a GE or better. if my GE died i'll probably replace it with the same car same color.

 

Yes, I'd do it again...in a heartbeat!

We recently moved, and the FIT was such the little hauler, packing more stuff than our Ford Escape could hold..

I've had 2 Scions (1st gen xB and tC), and an 09 MINI Cooper, and the FIT is far and above a better overall car than all 3 of those...

Echoing what others have said, go with an aftermarket nav system, much cheaper..but still get the Sport, it's totally worth the extra $$ over the base model.

Oh, and I got the interior lighting (after the ambient lighting in the Cooper, it's a must have now) - it's well worth the money. I also got the Body Side Molding and Rear Bumper Applique, I didn't trust myself to install these on my own.

Order your cargo cover from either College Hills or Bernardi, and don't bother with installing the snaps, it doesn't need that extra flap (I'm probably giving you too much info, but you asked)...

All in all, it's a fun little car that can get out of it's own way when it needs to, handles the twisties, and can hold some serious cargo all while averaging 35mpg, and it's a Honda - so yes, I'd get another one!

 

Thanks for comments Toph.

I bought mine for fun. I drive a 2004 Dodge Caravan. We only need one car. Last year was looking for something new and fun. When I came home with the Fit my wife said we are keeping the van. It was going to go to my daughter. My wife has bad back and two hip replacements so finds the Fit rather rough.

I ended up with one heck of an expensive toy. 20M range? Would only be dreaming of that here. Mine was in the 26M range in Cdn dollars. Since July 09 I have put another $3400 into it. Now a good chunk of that was rims and winter tires. So I am nearing $30M. But no repair fees so far except for one fuse I blew screwing with interior lights.

 

Agree with buying a used Fit and forgoeing the Navi. For the same reason that you plan to opt out of the Mugen rims....you can find a better/cheaper aftermarket Navi.

 

Definitely no regrets. I get 35MPG on my daily commute to work but it's big enough on the inside to handle trips to the hardware store, grocery store, even a family vacation...and after more than a year I still look forward to driving it. Something just fun about it.

There are more options now than there was a year ago, but even among the current set of compact hatches I still think the Fit is best choice in the price range/size class if utility is your main focus.

 

Yes. Because I purchased the Fit for the specific purpose of better mpg and just enough utility with its cargo room out of the box. I know the new Fiesta is out, but for what it's worth, the Fit still has the best use of usable space in my opinion.

 

Yes. Honda has an excellent reputation for thoughtful engineering and quality construction. If you are looking for a spacious yet small car that is priced and appointed in the "high-economy" bracket, you really can't go wrong. Every car will have things that you like and don't like about it, and everyone who buys a new car has at least an ounce of buyer's remorse- cars cost a big chunk of change so it is a natural reaction. So check out those Scions, Kias, Datsuns and Fords- but if you get the Fit, I don't think that you'll be sorry.

 

Hello there!

Absolutely, that's not a real question.

Maybe, if you can't live without a trunk.

Hell no!

Seriously?

Never, ever.

Hahaha! That's a good one! Good joke.

Fit for the win, but I'm biased as can be.

 

I love my Fit but if I had to do it again... I'm not so sure. I do a lot of highway driving through upstate NY and eastern PA, and while the Fit is competent, it's not that well suited to it. Its short wheelbase means expansion joints make the Fit shudder ... all ... the ... time. In fairness, I rode in my friend's VW GTI and it did the same thing, so I'd probably have to move up a size class to get away from that. My previous car (a 97 Odyssey) was a much better highway car.

Aside from that, it is fun to drive, gets great gas mileage, and is a marvel at space efficiency. Like everybody said, the Fit just feels like a well engineered car.

I have a Fit with the Navi, and if it wasn't for the VSA, I wouldn't have gotten it. While it's decent, you can easily get a Pioneer unit with much better features (like bluetooth integration and graphics from this decade) for probably half the price. I hear the 2011 models are going to have VSA standard, so you might think about waiting for that.

 

sounds like you should get the fit =)

 

I had a 2001 CRV. Because 2010 CRV is 10k more (than a Fit), 10 mpg less, and ugly, I got a Fit. The only thing else I considered was the Civic, but I'm not a 4dr sedan kind of guy.

 

too bad Fiesta is a FORD!

 

Just get it, you won't regret it. Even if you do, its not like its gona tank on the resale value!

On the real tho, real world usability, aftermarket tuning, track/show possibility, MPG, and safety... all 5 stars!!! even with my track suspension and my XXX bar system, i still daily drive my fit and use it to haul 'ish around everywhere, keeping my FULL interior and function of my rear seats!

GE aftermarket is not a joke, just not maintstream and easily attainable as the GD that's been around since 2k. There are SEVERAL options for the GE that exists including turbo's, S/C's (rotrex too!) and even more asthetic options that amount to even more than what's offered for the GD.


SO in a nutshell...

the FIT is GO!

I'd def get the fit again if i'd have too even tho like a lot of other fitfreakers on here, I too have other fun/exotic cars, we still find ourselves happy in the FIT!

 

Fit for the win. Doesn't get much better than taking corners with finesse and still being able to have my son's car seat (and my son lol) in the car with me.

Tons of room, good handling, great mpgs, not a first year run so none of the glitches and shiz that I am sure will plague Ford. It really is the perfect dd

 

kinda biased in here, but it is a great little car...I'm getting very good MPG, it has nice pep to get on freeways. and the rear magic seats, doors that open wide(90 degrees) it swallows up cargo really well for its small size. The ride could be a bit nicer on the freeway, but with the short wheel base you can't expect that. and many have complained about noises coming from the passenger side( probably from the glove box), but if you mange all that it's a non issue. It's nosier than most cars as well, but I also have a CAI so that might not be an accurate statement.

 

I've had my Fit 4 yrs. 85K miles. If I had to buy a car tomorrow, it would be a Fit. No match for the magic seat.