i have seen some post on here about jerky shifts and i thought those people where just new mt drivers i have been driving mt for about 5 years and i never had complaints until the fit came along, i know it has electronic clutch but is there any why to make it a smoother ride ??? thanks

 

it doesn't have an electronic clutch, it has an electronic throttle that takes some time to get used to. just be light on the throttle and get learn how the car reacts when you do a certain things. but yeah just get used to the car, no one in my family or my friends can drive my car smooth but me.

 

yeah i let my friend drive it once, and she drove it like shit. haha takes some getting used to

 

i drove it perfectly since day 1 and i let my friend drive (hes got a vw) and it was like he didnt even know how to drive stick! i do feel the difference between my car and his, but i dont understand why one couldn't just adapt and drive it right once u get a feel for it. im rambling cuz im @ work and tired and hung over. i love my car. peaces

 

No electric clutch.
It has "Drive By wire" throttle. I really like it on my AT, ultra sensative. Once you get he hang of it you will be fine. Alot of guys say its easy, some say its not. "Drive By Wire" is a very proven technology, used in many vehicles. Even the Blue Angles in their F-18's have "Fly by Wire", if the Blue Angles have it, it must be good!

 

I'm still not as smooth as I'd like to be on the clutch. It releases too early for my taste, and would like to adjust it so it engages closer to the floor. With the goofy steering wheel position forcing me forward a bit, its awkward on the pedals.

Any way to space the steering wheel back, which would allow a more natural gas and clutch pedal positions?

mg

 

it drives totally fine for me. i think it's just touchy depending on the driver. some people feather the clutch more or give it more throttle than others when shifting.
this clutch is way more pleasant than the one i had on my '01 subaru impreza RS. those cars have super touchy clutches. it takes a lot of work/time to get used to the way they drive.

 

all cars are different. you just have to adjust. i can drive any car pretty much. i mean from my buddies evo X from la to sd was intense. longer, stiffer clutch. but when i hop in my car clutch was so much softer and shorter.. but still no roughness on the evo or my fit. but i guess you just have to get used to driving other cars. i drive different cars on a daily basis.. esp if we have shows and what not. so maybe im more "agile" with different clutches..

 

this is one of the easier cars to drive smooth.

try a pair of shoes with a rounded heel (preferably driving shoes)
you are comfortable with and dont change shoes for a while
when driving the car. clutch-out smoothly, slowly, and linearly
until you get the hang of it.

most novice thinks too much and let out the clutch too fast
resulting in a rough engagement. also they don't apply a touch
of throttle to keep the flywheel from spinning down too fast.

dont modulate the gas pedal when you accelerate. depress
gas pedal and just keep it at the same angle as the car
accelerates. when you pass 3500rpm, gently roll off and shift.

lots of newbs modulate the gas too much making the flywheel
velocity jump all over the place and it makes it that much harder
to get a smooth engagement onto the next gear.

 

the Fit is my first MT car...im not perfectly smooth all the time but im getting better... unless my dad is in the car... jus knwing hes gnna complain on a rough ride makes me antsy and pop off the clutch too fas lol oops

 

i still prefer the traditional systems over drive-by-wire. but the fit's throttle response is good enough so no complaints from me. it was a little weird when i first drove the car but now i'm used to it.

 

Yo, i used to have the same problem on my Saxo 1.6 VTS and i found the the clutch cable was too tight making the clutch very short wich makes it hard to change smoothly. just a small adjustment and bingo... you should beable to shift more smoothly.

 

I am begining to think that the tolerances are not that consistent on our Fits.....

I have driven manuals and autos for about 10yrs or so.....and I really do not appreciate the fly by wire tech. I dont think it is awful in the Fit, it just does not work well with me (regardless of getting used to it I dont like the throttle feel on this car ) especially since it practically gives all its ooomf in the first short 1/3 throw.

I have driven a few other MT Fits other than mine and the clutch seemed to engage smoother and lower down. My particular clutch engages way, way, WAY high up to the point where I feel like I am relatively barely on it. And I have noticed this car likes the RPM's to be closer too the 3k mark and above for smoother engagement when I have done fine on most other MT's at 1800 to 2400. Which is where I run through the skip shifting gears quickly for MPG reason.

When I drive more normal and flow with every one else (traffic wise) it feels like the clutch is gunna die (scrub its a$$ off).
So I realize my car is still newish (like under 2k mi) and I am used to and enjoy older MT's (older as in 10-40yrs older!) But the other Fits MT Fits I drove trumped mine! Even the First Fit that I test drove on the lot with all of 18 miles on it drove better (As in smoother)
Go figure I just dont think there is a substantial way I can point this out to the dealer...go figure

I actually wouldnt mind the throw being shorter (clutch) if my foot didnt have to smack all that extra pading on the left, as my foot often get caught in it on the way up. I wear a size 14 but this is the only car that has ever grabbed my left foot! (And I used to drive classic minis!)

I wouldnt mind a gearchange that didnt sound like I was breaking the linkage going into 2nd (crunch not grind) or a clutch that didnt hold and kick my shift out of first like I broke my tranny (usually when cold though and sometimes in second too)

So I just think that my car is either just different or they just happen to have a wider gammut of tolerances from Fit to Fit.

I think some ppls complaints can be attributed to inexperience in general,
used to a particular way that they prefer, or just plain issues with the car (as in slight problems)

 

wow lot of responses in such a short time ...thanks for all the info...but one thing did make a difference that got people talking about the shifting is when i switched from converse to running shoes... and i have been wearing converse since 1998 i think that is what might of thrown me off ... thanks guys

 

IMO the clutch system can use alot of work. The gear ratio's sux....first into second gear is a nightmare and I have been driving manuals for a good ten years...various car companies. This one is the WORST.
Any shifting below 3 grand as stated is extremely rough. No matter how I adjust!!!
All in all it gets me where I need to go...and does the job. I believe the clutch is a HYDRO...no??
Some of the best shifting clutches IMO are the euro's. Strong and durable....capable of taking a beating. This clutch just feels like it is going to break with any kind of sport driving...ohhh well!

tonyd

 

Ok after trying a few ways, I have found what works the best on mine.
I'm short shifting at 2000 to 2200 in all gears and very easy on the gas. Slides right in with well matched RPM's
Easy up to 2000
Pop in the clutch as you lift off the gas and put it in gear and back off the clutch and on with the gas.
If I wait to as much as 3000 it's not near as reliable from the rpm matching stand point.
The bad new it's for sure the eco mode to accelerate

 

Thx for the information! Here's my issue though....if I shift at 2,000 - 2,200 RPMS I will get run over by LA traffic. This is one reason why I shift at a higher RPM in 1st gear to gain more momentum before shifting into 2nd gear.
Alot of time you will have some SUV up your a## if you don't move .....makes me mad!!
Oh well!! Thx again.


tonyd

 

yah, try to find shoes that have a rounded heel. converse does not
have a rounded heel.

all driving shoes that i know (i use piloti's) have rounded heels.

 

I'm driving the MT for 10 years, and I think that Fit has very good transmision and the changing is smooth. Small advice You need to think about the car like you are thinking about some avesome female. You mast be gentle for her and she pays you back the same. Don't listen to me I just had a beer

 

HAHAHAHAA thas funny as hell!