Hi everyone,
I'm looking into buying a Fit soon. I currently drive an almost 9 year old Pontiac Vibe that is at the point where I won't put any more major money into it as I'm approaching the tipping point of what it's worth (if anything, been rear ended three times) versus repair costs. Currently it's going ok but I'm a little paranoid about something else going.

This may sound silly to some but what made me look at the Fit initially was that it came in teal (metallic raspberry blue) as it's my favorite color and I decided that when I got my next car it would be that color. Some people think I'm nuts but there you go - ps I'm a graphic designer so I probably care more about that than normal people.

Once I did more research I liked the fact that the Fit seemed to always lead reviews in the subcompact hatchback market and it has a ton of storage. I also want a vehicle that has a great rep and is reliable and gets good gas mileage. Most of the time it's just me in the car (maybe a dog and some derby gear) but I want the option to be able to cram a lot in if I need to.

I'm looking at the Sport package (not the in-dash nav one) because I want the audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel but don't want the in-dash nav or the other stuff. I honestly don't care at all about the rest of the sport package stuff but it's the only one with those steering wheel controls. I'm mainly using my car to commute to work and putz around my town and I'm definitely a normal user, nothing fancy here.

I had a couple of questions that I was hoping a few of you could help me with.

- How is the actual gas mileage on a day-to-day basis in stop and go traffic? My boss' husband has a sport fit and she says they get better mpg than stated but was curious what other people are getting.

- I want bluetooth but since I don't want the Sport + package I'm looking at either having it installed by the dealer as a separate element (by a subcontractor I found out) or just buying something and having it installed. I'm know it's probably cheaper doing the latter so it's more a decision of getting something at a local big box electronics store or buying a kit online. I will say I'm not comfortable fiddling with it myself. Any recommendations for getting it installed at a store/shop or does can anyone suggest a few good kits to buy online? I'm going to poke around the forum more but wanted to ask.

- I'm a bit hell bent on the teal color and found out that Honda is discontinuing the color. Which puts a bit of pressure on me to buy sooner than I thought because there is only so many of that color in the sport package out there near where I live.

I was considering getting another standard color and getting a paint job. I have no experience ever getting my car painted and not sure what a good price is besides staying away from a super cheap price. My dad states that a paint job besides the factory will basically be crap. Any thoughts on that?

- When I was doing my research I read that the next gen Fit will be coming to the US around the summer of 2014. So that there won't be a 2014 and the next would be a 2015 in a few new models. I read that there would be approximately a 28% increase in gas mileage too. Does anyone have any more info about this or know a good place to look (besides the dealer)?

Is it stupid to buy something now when there is a newer model coming out next summer? Will there be good deals on the 2013 models when these next gen Fits roll in? I had at least one dealer tell me since that the Fit is a lower priced car that there isn't a ton of markup (I'm not naive enough to believe that fyi) that there would probably not be any better deals towards the end of the year. I've heard that the end of the year is a good time to buy.

I realize I'm asking about some basic things but I've never really purchased a car on my own so I'm a bit overwhelmed. I'm not even touching on financing here since this post is already lengthy. I appreciate any help you all can offer.

Oh, and if you can tell me other cars you were considering that would be awesome too. I've looked into the Chevy Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio, Toyota Yaris and maybe a Prius or Ford Focus. I would love a sunroof but it seems they are not offered in this class of car so gave that up.

Thank you,
Dawn

 

There are other threads on this forum about what people get for mileage. There may be a sampling error in the reports -- the people telling most about it are the ones getting the most remarkable mileage. (I've never gotten less than 42mpg on a fillup; this is an example of that sampling error.) The EPA has a site for drivers of all cars to post their real-world mileage and I found the Fit to compete well. https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do . I suspect that this site would have a broader sample than other sites.

My 2013 was made in Japan. The 2014 will be made in an all-new factory in Mexico. Honda has a great reputation for starting up new factories -- the cars are designed to go together right so the workers and robots have fewer chances to make errors. I lived near enough to the Ohio Honda factories to know several workers who told about how rigorous they were. All that is nice, but the '09 Fit had a few problems that have been ironed out and the new version may also have problems. (Then there's a thread on this forum about what you DON'T like -- mostly design decisions.)

I don't think color is the wrong reason to like the Fit. I have lived about 10 years with a color that was only OK (in a body style that's not my favorite), and now I have a color and car that I really like. Worth a lot.

I also drove
Subaru Impreza -- more solid feeling but not as lively as a Fit. I've had 2 Hondas and really like the light lively feel.
Ford Fiesta -- also more solid but didn't open up nearly as well for cargo. The dashboard is covered with buttons for bluetooth, etc., which is not for me. The automatic transmission had oddities.
Fiat 500 -- I hoped it would be so fun that I'd get over the looks. No. It does have a sunroof available.

I DIDN'T drive the Mazda that looks like a Fit and that might have been a competitor. But I have had 22 years of driving fun in 2 new Hondas and that is a big comfort.

Oh, and WELCOME to the forum.

 

Dawn, as a two generation Vibe owner and now a Fit owner as well, I can say that there probably will be only one trade off on going from a Vibe to a Fit: I wouldn't think of putting a bike hitch on the Fit and hauling bicycles around. The engine is just too small for that. Other than that, the Fit is a great car.
As for Bluetooth, the days of worrying about that are over. Simply go to Costco or on line and buy one of the many, many portable (clip on to visor) Bluetooth units like the original Jabra Tour. I see it selling for as little as $40. It pairs very easily to your cell phone and works very well.
I too love the Blue Raspberry color. I have the first generation Fit and was lucky enough to find the burnt orange, which seemed to have been very popular in 2007/8.
As for the 2014 Fit, I join the chorus of people concerned about the car being assembled in Mexico. I would stick to a Japanese built and assembled vehicle. If you are not as concerned and are looking for the best gas mileage, then don't forget about the new Nissan Versa Note. The hatchback has been totally redesigned and is a clone of the Fit. It is on sale right now. For those on a budget, the 2013 Nissan Versa hatchback is on deep discount and probably can be had for a song. The same situation will play out when the new Fit comes out. There should be plenty of bargains to move the 2013 models off of the dealer's lot. Two "similar" cars offering a good deal to anyone currently in the market for a new car.
Oh, and as far as this being the "first time" you are buying a new car, remember this:
1. dealerships are as outdated as the personal computer. Just visit them to try out cars. Dealers used people for decades. It is payback time now. Go check out cars and walk out
2. if you don't have access to a local car buying service, simply buy your car over the internet. Send out 5 e-mails to any manufacturer's dealerships and ask for a quote based on the EXACT specifications you are looking for. Internet managers will respond with their best deal.
3. if you have a used car to sell, leave it out of the conversation. Once you have signed your papers, then you can let the dealership know you are interested in selling your car. Selling your car has NOTHING to do with the business of buying a car. If that dealer is not interested in buying your car, you can drive it around to any dealer and ask for quotes on your car should you decide not to sell it on your own.
Best of luck with your decision.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about your Vibe failing you. It is after all a Toyota.

I say this because I think the new 2014 Fit is worth a consideration. I have my concerns about the Mexico assembly and first MY kinks but I think the Earth Dreams motor they're putting in it will end up being a big step forward for the Fit for the majority of drivers considering the car. I personally don't like the car's styling all that much and am not techy but all the extra doo dads might be fun. I have no intentions of trading in my '10 for the car but overall I think the 2014/15 Fit will be "more car". We have a few threads on here discussing the new car with some links with info if you search for them. I think Honda is going to clamp down on quality control at that Mexico plant, they have a lot to prove and I think they know John Q Public is looking at them with skepticism. A misstep here could be disastrous. We will see, not sure if you want to be a guinea pig.

If you want that Raspberry color and don't want to wait for the new model, the current generation Fit is a solid car that's been through it's paces. Hugely reliable and able to take a beating and keep on keeping on. Yes real world MPG is higher than EPA for many, 35+ is easily attainable if you're not constantly in gridlocked traffic.

The factory paint job IS crap and a GOOD painter can do better, but keep in mind it is not cheap to do it right, it may hurt the resale of the car (depending on quality), and to do it right your car will be out of commission for some time, this is not one-day paint kind of stuff. Best thing to do is just get the color you want in the first place and avoid this all together. Just be aware you will have to take better care of the Fit's paint than you may have had to do with other cars (wash and wax often, avoid drive-through brush washes, use quality wash towels), it scratches easily without all this.

Good luck with your decision.

 

Actual gas milage of course varies with your driving conditions and style. I've been averaging between 39 and 40 over the life of my Fit (2012 base MT, 34.5K miles—the 2012 is mechanically identical to the 2013), with pretty much all rural and highway driving. There doesn't seem to be a significant difference in real world milage between the manual and the automatic, so far as I've been able to suss out. In addition to the government site, fuelly.com is a decent resource for real-world (but self-selected) fuel milage reporting on various cars.

I would suggest at least taking a look at the base model if the only things you care about for the sport model are the steering wheel audio controls. (The current base models does have a cruise control on the steering wheel.) It's not as though it's a long reach over to the radio on the Fit, and $1500 or so seems like an awful lot of money for a few buttons.

When I was car shopping, I chose the Fit over the other competitors available at the time because of the usefulness and adaptability of the interior and the price with the creature comforts I insisted upon—primarily cruise control, which on a surprising number of cars only comes with expensive upper trim levels. If I were shopping today, I would certainly look at the Versa Note (and look twice if carrying people in the back seat is a priority).

 

combined im getting about 32mpg, surface streets only about 30.5. but i drive my car very hard at times. if i drove quietly i am sure i can do 32+ consistently. lots of hwy, i remember doing 37-38mpg when i drove my car to a neighboring state.

is BT avaliable on 2013 standard? if not, you can always get a nicer stereo installed with a large 6-7" display, rear view camera (if you wish), and much better sounding stereo, pandora, etc. via BT. mine is a '12 and i have a doubledin dvd stereo installed. i like my nav separate so i use a nuvi mounted just forward of the cup holder area.

 

Thanks for the info so far everyone, I appreciate all the nuggets of info.

@Sprocket
I'll definitely check out a few of those gas mpg websites, thanks for pointing that out

I didn't realize that the newer models were going to be made in a different facility. I agree that there probably won't be anything major wrong with that specifically but I'm not sure I want to have a brand new version of something (granted I don't necessarily think it will be bad but still it's food for thought)

I like the Ford Fiesta ok but I definitely value room (granted I do like the idea of a few gadgets)

Thanks for the welcome, if I get the Fit (which I'm 99% sure is a go) then I'll be around a bit


@BurntZ
For the bike, do you mean daily / if you are a heavy cyclist / have more than one bike? Does a road bike fit in the middle if you fold the bottoms of the back seats up? I have a road bike and I'm a casual cyclist so the idea of being able to just slide it in that middle area was appealing

I have the portable bluetooth gadget in my current car and it's ok but for the shiny new car I was thinking I'd like it installed so it was part of the radio area vs being a gadget plugged in. I realize it isn't the biggest deal but the thing I have now gets in the way sometimes and drives me a bit nuts but I enjoy it's convenience

It's interesting that people are concerned about the new facility in Mexico. Aren't some (or all) of the Fits being made in the US though? It's a little confusing to me - is it a parts issue? The parts and components are made in Japan and assembled in the US? I know it sounds silly but I'm not knowledgeable with this stuff.

Thanks for the notes about buying a car. I've heard tidbits that match those and it's nice to know they're useful hints. =)


@ Wanderer
I know my poor Vibe is the sister to the Matrix, it's that I have bad car mojo (like really bad) and put about $2,000 into it last year when the a/c went out and with that I decided that it would be the last major repair work done. I don't have family around and the last time I got a car I was put into a bad position since my car had died and I was not in the frame of mind to take my time and shop around.

What do you mean by "more car?" I'm curious. My first car was a sedan and then I got the Vibe and really liked the hatchback. I'm really short (5 ft tall) and maybe it was just easier for me to reach in and grab things. I'll def be looking at those threads about the next gen Fit regardless but I value what people are saying and providing different points of view I may not have thought of.

It's good to know that the mpg seems to be better than stated. I'm not in absolute gridlock but I hit about 20 lights in the 12 mile each way commute I'm now doing for my new job and it's taking a toll on my Vibe's mpg. Not cool nor was it expected but it is what it is.

I think I'm leaning to just get the teal color I want and be done with it. My friend pointed out that I've been talking about the teal fit since I found out it existed and I'd probably be better served just getting it and being happy when I'm making my car payments every month. I really love teal and it makes me happy to think of myself in a teal car.


@DrewE
Good point about the different packages. There are a few things in the Sport that aren't on my "must have" list but I don't mind.

Do you think the back seat is cramped? I've never ridden in the back seat of my Vibe (err actually I have when I was hurt playing roller derby and driven to the hospital twice but I wasn't exactly paying attention - a broken ankle hurts like hell). I normally don't need to worry about people driving in the back seat but I don't want anyone to feel like they're going to be squished.


@kenchan
What does driving hard mean? I feel silly asking but what the heck, I'm here for advice anyway

Nope, BT is not standard besides on the sport plus package and I don't want an in dash nav. I was ballparking about $100-200 for the bluetooth to be installed on the car and I'm open to fancier things but think that big screen will distract the heck out of me


=)
Dawn

 

"It's good to know that the mpg seems to be better than stated. I'm not in absolute gridlock but I hit about 20 lights in the 12 mile each way commute I'm now doing for my new job and it's taking a toll on my Vibe's mpg."

Based on my experience with a similar driving pattern your mpg will probably be less than 30, probably around 28. It depends on how many lights you catch red.

Clifton
I

 

I tried putting my adult sized bike in the GD Fit crosswise after folding up the magic seats, but it did not come anywhere close to fitting. I can slide it on its side through the hatch with the rear seats folded down which I only have to do when I am leaving the Fit at the Honda dealer for the day and want to ride my bike home. I personally would not attach a bike hitch underneath the rear bumper (assuming there are the required pre drilled holes to allow it) and haul my bikes on the outside rear of the car. I do so with my Vibe easily, but it gets a bit heavy when I put 3 adult bikes on the back. With the Fit having an even smaller engine displacement, I think that any bike hitch + the added weight of adult bikes would be too much for the Fit. I think that is why you see most Fit owners having Yakima or Thule bike racks on top of the car, to center the weight.
Regarding the Jabra Tour Bluetooth, it simply clips on to your visor. There are no wires in the way. It will need to be recharged every once in a great while, but you can do that inside your home if you wish or unclip it and do it from inside your car, hiding the device in your glove box or center console. I rarely have to recharge mine. The only "downside" is that it is a powerful machine and has a pretty long range, so when you get a call and you are in your home and you have not turned OFF the Bluetooth device, you will wonder why you cannot speak to the incoming caller. It is because your Bluetooth is still active and you are having a conversation with someone through the device in the car despite you being 20 yards away in your house. I too like the integrated system in my Elantra Touring, but as always, when it breaks, you are in big trouble. I like the portable idea better. I can then move it from car to car and even put it in a rental car when on vacation.

 

Canada and Europe get Fits made in China. The U.S. so far gets Fits made only in Japan. Honda in Ohio makes Accord in Marysville and CR-V in East Liberty They make Acura versions of those cars in the same plants. They've been at it since about 1980. I don't know of any other Honda plants in the U.S.

My 1980 Civic was first year for the 2nd-generation Civic and my '88 CRX was first year for the-2nd generation CRX. Both of those were significant changes. I had no "new model" problems with either car.

My Fit is too narrow to take any of my bikes across the width. With the seats down and the front wheel off, it's easy to get it in the hatch. I could probably get one in with the front wheel on, but I haven't tried.

 

i drive with a lead foot. not dangerously or offensively, just spiritedly. i like to drive. my fit is my daily driver/winter beater, i own other cars.

i suppose you can get something like a parrot installed in your car (search amazon) but if you're spending $100, i think you'd benefit more spending a tad more and getting a new head unit (stereo that has BT).

on my car my head unit lists out my phone's contacts and i just press the touchpanel screen to make a call. or receive, etc

 

I just mean more amenities, more advanced motor, more advanced transmission.

Actually now that i'm looking at the interior pictures i'm not sure how crazy I am about it. Just seems very dated. I guess it fits the exterior better since the car is no longer rounded.


I don't exactly think buying the new model is "taking a chance", i'm sure quality and all will be fine, but the old generation is Old Reliable at this point and is a well known factor.

Some people would say buying a car for the color is silly, but I am a firm believer that your car should look, sound, and drive how you want it to. If you are not happy with all of these things you will never be totally happy with the car. If getting that teal car would make you happy, and it does everything else how you want it to, you should get it.

 

you might want to wait for this next year...

Honda's All-New Urban SUV Concept - Official Site

 

^^ not a bad looking mini suv. looks hells better than the juke.

 

I wouldn't say the Fit's back seat is cramped for one or two adults, but it's not huge either. Legroom is about usual for smallish cars—which is to say adequate for people of moderate stature, but probably not great for basketball players—and headroom is very good, as you'd guess from the profile of the car. Three across the back seat is pretty miserable unless they're kids or quite skinny people, due to the (lack of) width.

I mentioned the Nissan simply because it's in an entirely different league for back seat legroom: it has more than many full-sized cars, and much more than any other small car that I know of.

 

Hi guys,
Thanks for all the info. This chick is grateful.

Another question - car wise is there a difference in the base and the sport? I don't mean amenities/looks but in how the car actually runs. I've heard a few conflicting things from some people I know and I know to take it with a grain of salt. It's one thing if the sport performs better as a vehicle and gets good mpg over the base but if it's purely a looks thing than I may be swayed to get the base since as someone pointed out it may be silly to spend over a grand just for audio controls as they are the only thing I actually care about in the sport.

Have you guys always had a good experience buying after market OEM accessories? I'm planning on buying the floor mats and cargo cover on my own (unless I get them for free) since I don't want to buy those items at a ridiculous cost at the dealer. I've seen Handa.com and a few other places online (Amazon is one) to get those things.

@flash75
yep good point about actual MPG (stupid traffic)

@BurntZ
What does the GD mean? I've seen a few acronyms you guys are using and don't know which Fit it's for. Thanks for the info about bike racks. I don't bike much but interested in getting back into it and it's good to be aware of my options. I have a road bike but don't use it a ton so would have to see how much I actually use a bike before getting a roof rack. It would only be for me though so not sure that makes a difference but I get what you're seeing about the mechanics of it. The Jabra Tour looks interesting but it doesn't go through the stereo speakers by the looks of it (aka quick Google search). I'd like to be able to stream the music and calls through the car's system.

@Sprocket
Thanks for the bike info. It seems I won't be able to fit the bike in through the middle like I thought but that isn't a game changer - just a minor pain in the ass for a short person like me to get it in lol.

@kenchan
Driving spiritedly huh? That's a good adjective =) Part of me is tempted to get the whole new stereo but the other part of me is happy to pay $40-50 and just get simply the bluetooth dongle installed and be done with it. I can always upgrade the stereo in the future.

@Wanderer
I wish they had a complete look at the new car but I agree it may not be stylistically my jam. I don't like having the radio/ac button panel tilted to me. I test drove a G6 once before I got my Vibe and it was like that and I didn't like it.

@phenoyz
Thanks for the website. I need 4 doors though lol and that looks a bit bigger than I need. No kids and 2 smallish dogs means I don't need the room.

@DrewE
I don't normally haul people around but I appreciate the info about the backseat and adults. More than likely it would be my dogs or derby girls and my league happens to be on the shorter end of the spectrum.
I plan on checking out the Nissan Note as well to get a feel for it. And it comes in teal!! But so far the Fit is the one to beat for me.

Thanks everyone for the feedback!!

- Dawn

 

The Sport has an additional anti-roll bar in the rear. This and the lower profile tires (the Base has 15": Sport 16 wheels) will improve handling, possibly making the Sport ride a bit harsher. Most people who are into this type of thing end up modifying suspension components and wheels/tires anyway rendering this moot.

The automatic in the Sport, besides having steering wheel mounted paddles to shift it manually if you're so inclined, is programmed to shift more aggressively in automatic mode, losing some MPG in the process (Base auto :28/35; Sport auto: 27/33). I never understood the allure of paddle shifters. There is no difference in manual transmissions (or engines either way).

Sure, if you can't negotiate better prices with the dealer then get them online from other honda dealers (through amazon etc). They're Honda parts either way. The driver's floormat requires cutting the floor covering, but it's more crafty than mechanics. Here's a good site to get a feeling for dealer add-on accessories.

Same deal with extended warranties. If you must, buy online after purchase through another honda dealer for a much better price, although it won't be included in your financing if you finance. I don't recommend them either way.

If you're financing, the rate is also negotiable. Dealers make more money in the finance manager's office than they do in the showroom. Be careful.


It's Honda's designation for the generation "platform." The first generation was GD. In North America this was model years through 2008. The second generation are GEs. These were out a year earlier in other markets so it's a bit confusing referring to them by year. Personally I find GE/GD more confusing but it helps to use these terms to get along with the cool fitters. This is typical for all car enthusiasts though.

Edmunds has the best summary:

Map-lights are included on the sport too, and not on the Base.

Honda's specs.

 

It's Honda's designation for the generation "platform." The first generation was GE. In North America this was model years through 2008. The second generation are GDs. These were out a year earlier in other markets so it's a bit confusing referring to them by year. Personally I find GE/GD more confusing but it helps to use these terms to get along with the cool fitters. This is typical for all car enthusiasts though.

oops: you got GD and GE backwards. GD is for the first generation models 2007-2008. GE is thereafter; second generation.

 

If I don't use the paddle shifters at all will that impact the mpg over the base? I don't plan on using those at all.

Gracias!

Is it hard to install the cargo cover? I know you all probably blow me away with ability to install stuff and I will admit to feeling car stupid. I figure something like that isn't but wanted to ask. Let's put it this way, I am not a fan of putting together Ikea furniture - it rarely ends well.

 

Yes, if you let the automatic do its own thing, in the Sport it gets worse MPG (33 highway compared to 35 highway in the Base). But it will be more fun.

Aesthetically the heavy plastic body effects troweled on the Sport is a turn-off, to me. In other markets they don't offer that crap. That and the reduced MPG for the Sport made it a non-starter for me.