Long Trips?
#1
Long Trips?
Just bought the 2010 Fit. Still driving through the break-in period. A little disappointed in the power and was wondering if this car will make it up the Blue Ridge Mts. for my trip down south?
#3
You could wind out the engine on winding mountain roads, but if your car's fully laden and your only way up the mountains is a straight road with a severe incline, the Fit sadly won't do very well.
#7
If you are so hesitant it makes me wonder why you bought the car? Do you really think it may not go up some of the hills? If so take the bus.
#9
Long trips? No. About 4 miles from my house is Catalina Highway that goes from 2,000 feet elevation to over 8,000 feet in 26 miles. It is a beautiful curving road that goes thru a national forest and is perhaps the most beautiful drive in s.e. Arizona. It is not a problem for the Fit. I never even thought it might be.
#11
Hmm i went over the mountain from CA to Arizona just fine. Yes some times the whind up there felt it was going to blow me off the road but never had a problem with the engine not having enough power to climb. I have made plenty of trips in my Fit from CA to FL back to OH than to TX and back to FL. I love road trips. Never had a problem so far in it.
#18
I take our Fit anywhere in the country and don't think twice about it. Want trouble? Try flogging a Taurus over the continental divide in the Rockies. The Fit's naturally aspirated engine is going to lose power due to less dense air at higher altitudes, but the Blue Ridge--no way you'll notice much. You'll really enjoy the view out that big windshield.
Wish I was headed that way.
Cheers.
Wish I was headed that way.
Cheers.
#19
I can't speak for the Fit on real mountains (the highest mine has gone was 1800 feet on CA-17 from Santa Cruz to San Jose).
But... In 2003, I drove a Toyota Echo, with two passengers and 500 lbs of junk in the trunk up to 8500 feet in Arizona. It did fine.
I fairly regularly drive a section of freeway with a 5.4% grade. It bogs in 5th, but downshift to 4th (or leave it in D) and it climbs it OK. It'll need to drop to 3rd to pass, and that requires patience!
In 2005, I drove a first-gen CR-V through the mountains of TN and northern AL. With the 4-spd automatic connected to a gutless B20 engine, and having the overeager transmission jump to third at the slightest sign of an incline, it was annoying, but the car did just fine.
Think about the typical engine in a European car (over 2L is considered a large engine). Now think about what Europe looks like. Think about the low displacement and power in your typical JDM car. Picture Japan's landscape. It'll be fine.
(No, it won't feel like a V6 or V8 charging up the mountain in overdrive)
But... In 2003, I drove a Toyota Echo, with two passengers and 500 lbs of junk in the trunk up to 8500 feet in Arizona. It did fine.
I fairly regularly drive a section of freeway with a 5.4% grade. It bogs in 5th, but downshift to 4th (or leave it in D) and it climbs it OK. It'll need to drop to 3rd to pass, and that requires patience!
In 2005, I drove a first-gen CR-V through the mountains of TN and northern AL. With the 4-spd automatic connected to a gutless B20 engine, and having the overeager transmission jump to third at the slightest sign of an incline, it was annoying, but the car did just fine.
Think about the typical engine in a European car (over 2L is considered a large engine). Now think about what Europe looks like. Think about the low displacement and power in your typical JDM car. Picture Japan's landscape. It'll be fine.
(No, it won't feel like a V6 or V8 charging up the mountain in overdrive)
#20
I've taken my Fit in the Rockies--does just fine.. Use the paddle shifters. The Fit does better than my Ford Escort or Toyota Corolla did.
Last edited by sooznd; 09-21-2010 at 10:21 PM.