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Addressing the Fit's shortcomings
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Comments
-Won't happen on this generation. It's part of the design of the car, and it is this way on all Fit/Jazzes worldwide. It seems to be the lack of space from the wheel well. From what I have seen on cars, pedals spaced close together are often caused by a short-nose design in which the wheel well intrudes into the passenger space.
Seat height adjustment:
-Standard in certain other markets, not sure why they don't have it in North America
Center armrest:
-Accessory in certain other markets, not sure why they don't have it in North America. However, unlike the seat-height adjustment issue, this one probably is not that difficult to resolve. Aftermarket ones are available, or if you try hard enough you can probably get one from Honda in a European country.
Dead pedal- That is a shame. But how hard is it to add a four-inch wide plank of rubber-coated metal to the left side of the foot well? It can go above the weird little hump if need be. C'mon Honda, there's simply no good excuse for this.
Height adjustment- Another very avoidable shame. C'mon Honda, so much is good with this car, why ruin some of the Fit-ty goodness with a silly oversight like this?
Center armrest- Yeah, I'm hearing that you can import the Jazz center armrest. If true, I'll definitely be doing that if I get a Fit. Again though, have to wonder why Honda missed the ball on this one too.
So annoying to have such a good car marred by some pretty easily avoidable mistakes. :sick:
Ken
The one issue that I will bring up at oil change is a light clicking (more like a light clacking) sound I hear from the engine. It occurs only at a very specific time: when I am starting out in first gear and I let the clutch out while moderatly accelerating. Never hear it again after that...until I have to start off from a full stop.
The car runs perfectly fine, but it's just the odd sound. Maybe I'm just paranoid?
Anyone with the 5MT notice this too?
Do you hear it when the windows are rolled up? Is it a high-frequency tapping sound? Repetitive or occasional only?
Thanks for your response. The sound is easier to hear when the windows are up since much of the outside noise is filtered out. It is not a terribly loud noise and having the fan noise on 2 or higher, having the A/C on, or especially having the radio on will drown it out.
The sound is occasional, but still it is the first time I have heard it in the cars I have driven, so I was somewhat concerned. Still, it's not that big of a deal that can't wait until oil change. Relatively high frequency...I am wondering if a slight valve adjustment is in order. However, if the dealership service department determines it will not affect reliability, engine longevity, and driveability, I won't worry about it. Performance is not affected.
The sound only happens when starting from full stop when I am releasing the clutch into first gear. Even then it doesn't happen all the time. It seems like it occurs around 1500-2000 rpm. If I fully release the clutch before or above that engine speed it doesn't make the noise. The sound does not happen when I rev the engine while the car is in neutral or the clutch is fully depressed...or any other time for that matter. The conditions that I am describing seem very exact, but combining my habit of full clutch release at start-up around 1500 rpm on this car, combined with lots of stop/go driving in traffic, it does happen enough that I am interested to find the source of the sound.
All this said, this is one of the smoothest engine and transmission I have ever owned (or driven for a long period of time). Granted I haven't driven many luxury cars , but this car really is fun to drive!
P.S. I forgot to mention that it costs $690 just to get the Jazz in any color other than red.
It's about 12K.
No, the Jazz in Britain starts around $16,500. Britain doesn't represent all of Europe.
Also, you are forgetting two things. First, as plekto mentioned VAT is included. Second, the US dollar has weakened considerably against European currencies, so while the price for the car in Europe hasn't changed, it has gone up considerably in the past month when comparing it to the dollar.
Example, in Hungary the Jazz 1.2i S (exact same base model you are talking about) starts at 2,320,250 Ft or about US$11,400. That includes VAT, but not registration. However, even with the registration (also including VAT) it only goes up to US$13,000...and that's with the forint being fairly strong against the dollar right now. A month ago the price with registration would have been like US$12,200, throw on about US$300 for metallic paint.
The base price of 2.3 million Ft hasn't changed, but compared to the dollar, it's about $800 more expensive now.
US$16,500 in non-Eurozone Central Europe would get you the Jazz 1.4i ES which has everything (including automatic climate control, alloy wheels, etc.)
Even in more expensive countries like Germany the car starts at US$14,000. Again in that case, the Euro is really strong. A few months ago it would have been in the US$12,500 range and all of the prices include taxes.
Yes, this is a US (and Canadian) first for the Fit and keeping the cost down would make sense since they didn't really know how people would react. However, the US-market Fit has larger bumpers, larger front quarter panels, stretched-out headlights, and the fuel filler door has been moved up :confuse: .
Then there are some other firsts for the Fit on the US/Canadian models, including available cruise control, drive-by-wire throttle, an available 5-speed conventional automatic transmission, and side-curtain airbags. These were all specially developed for these two countries. If they could invest so much time and money on these things, adding existing features like seat height adjustment would have practically cost nothing in comparison.
Then there are some other firsts for the Fit on the US/Canadian models, including available cruise control, drive-by-wire throttle, an available 5-speed conventional automatic transmission, and side-curtain airbags. These were all specially developed for these two countries. If they could invest so much time and money on these things, adding existing features like seat height adjustment would have practically cost nothing in comparison.
Does make you wonder, doesn't it? :confuse:
All I did is inform the previous poster that it wasn't to save costs that the car is lacking things that are available in other markets.
A little bit of constructive criticism or speculating why a company does or doesn't do something doesn't imply you hate it or the product they produce. After all, this is the "Addressing the Fit's shortcomings" discussion.
Exactly. And when did we adopt this 'love it or leave it' attitude towards cars? They're just a tool we use, after all. Its not like we're hurting their feelings by pointing out any shortcomings.
Also, with Edmunds being one of the premiere auto sites, I'd like to think that someone from Honda checks in here once in a blue moon, as just one more feedback resource to see what customers really do want out of their cars (I work for a different Japanese company, non-automotive, and yes, we do look at Internet forums sometimes for product feedback). If so, we'd be doing a disservice by NOT pointing out the flaws.
I mean, how in the world do you think products get improved? By pretending they're perfect? :surprise:
I also have to jiggle back and forth sometimes to find fourth gear.
Definitely not as smooth as it was in the beginning, and I'm only up to 2300 miles.
My sport has also developed a very annoying rattle in the right rear (I think). I need to have my husband drive while I pinpoint the source of the noise, or vice versa. For now I'm just turning up the radio.
:P
P.S. Where can I learn about VAT and the current foreign exchange rates?
Unlike the state tax in the US, which can even vary between counties, the VAT is a national tax set across the country. It is included in the price of a product, and not added on during the time it is sold to the consumer. So if I buy floormats for a Jazz in Austria and they cost 100 euros, that's all I pay. If I buy floormats for 100 dollars in San Diego county California though, I pay $107.75.
Also, if you buy a product over a certain price (usually about US$100) in a country that uses VAT, but the final destination for that product is a country that uses a different currency, you can usually get the VAT returned. If I bought a Jazz in Hungary and exported out of the country, I could get my VAT refunded. At about 20% last time I checked, that's a pretty large sum. Of course then you have to deal with export costs, import costs, emissions regulations....it gets messy. :P
Give the Fit a few months and the price will slowly settle down, once supply begins to catch up with demand.
just try it out: type "100 usd in cad" in google and you get exchange rates. Just know the 3 letter reference for each currency
Unfortunately, there's no getting around it(added to base, pre VAT price) - so often people will buy a car in the U.S. and bring it into Canada to avoid this.
As for fabric protection, a can of Scotchgard costs a few bucks and takes a few minutes to apply.
A synonym for "Environmental Protection Package" is ADM, as in "Additional Dealer Markup."
so basically this option package they're trying to get me to buy is totally not worth it at all?
Wax at least 2-3 times a year or whenever water no longer beads up on the surface... or more frequently if you enjoy doing it, which you probably will since it is your first new car and it makes the car look good!
oh yeah and how do you clean an undercarriage anyway? just spray it with water or something?
It drives me nuts when I get in my wife's or mom's car, and the side mirrors are adjusted to see the side of the car. You're asking for trouble!
When stopped at an intersection, make note of the cars around you in the Rear view mirror. Take the object that is to the most-left in the RV mirror, and adjust your driver's side view mirror so that same part of that same car is in the far right of your side mirror. Then put the the right-most of your RV mirror in the left-most of your passenger's SV mirror. This way you know that you are getting the mirrors as wide as possible while still overlapping with your RV mirror.
In my Fit I did this, and now when a car approaches from the side, by the time that only the tail lights are in the SV mirror, I can see the nose of the car just out my driver's side window. ELIMINATING THE BLIND SPOT.
By making just one hatch they reduce inventory...and aggravate one of the two sets of consumers
I am 6'1" and really think I need this, my foot goes goofy when resting it on the wheel well and if I bend my knees up I have problems with the steering wheel.
If it works, I will put together an installation package (who knows, maybe I'll start up the deadpetalforfit.com website)
Still, you're definitely serving a need, so more power to you. Hope it works out.
1) Ergonomics, ergonomics, ergonomics. The Fit really does need:
- a dead pedal
- a seat height adjuster (manual is fine)
- a center armrest/console (and w/sufficient storage to hold sunglasses, cell phone, etc.)
2) Additionally on the ergonomics front, a telescoping steering column would be EXTREMELY good to have, as the 'Honda standard driving position' (which I know well from my CR-V) often has the steering wheel positioned too far away from the driver.
3) Still more ergonomics: The Base model really should have cruise standard. Its cheap, its a ticket saver, and its an ankle/foot saver as well on long trips. COMFORT is important, Honda.
4) The very limited availability of the light-colored interior on the Fit Sport needs to be fixed... many folks living in hot/sunny climes actually prefer a light-colored interior (and no, tint does not solve all issues with summer heat + a dark interior for many of us).
Currently, the Sport only offers the light interior with a white exterior- ugh. Availability should be expanded to the black and red exteriors, with which it would go well (not to suggest that the availability of the dark interior with those exterior colors should go away- just that a choice of interiors should be available).
5) Interior carpeting is very thin, 'felt-like', and cheap-feeling. Doesn't need to be plush, but some kind of upgrade here would be welcome.
6) The hideous wheel covers on the Base continue to be an embarrassment. No one expects too much here, but something non-retina-scarring would be welcome, at least. The covers on the Japanese base Fit, for instance, are at least adequate... why not use those instead?
7) Anything that can be done to get even a few more degrees of recline in the rear seatbacks is welcome, for a more refreshing 'refresh mode'.
For example, the 'removable side bolsters' trick of the Mazda 2 could be useful here, as it'd allow you to lay the Fit's rear seatback flat or nearly flat, I'd think. Now THAT's refreshing.
8) Improve rearward visibility. Larger rear windows, even bigger side mirrors, smaller form factor for the rear headrests?
9) Offer an 'EX' model with a moonroof, rear disc brakes, and 15-20 more HP. I think Honda would be suprised at how well it would sell.
Criticisms I've dropped from the list:
- Limited range/small gas tank: Yes, the tank is small, but the mileage has been proven to be good enough so that it really isn't that big a deal.
- No 'LE' model for grown-ups: While I still think it would a good idea, an 'EX' model could do the same job (in 'dressy Base' trim), and even if the EX never happens, the 'boy racer' looks of the Sport do tend to grow on you.
- 14" alloys offered as an option on the Base: Not really all that useful, as the cost would wipe out about half of the cost delta between the Base and the Sport, so... why not just get a Sport instead? Also you can get these aftermarket in any case.
Hope that covered everything.
For number 8, I would find a way to reduce the height of the head rests instead of increasing the size of the windows, which I think is unlikely. I've seen at least one Fit on the road with it's rear head rests dumped in the cargo hold. Not the preferred solution!
I think the Chevy Malibu is one of the most practical and easy to live in cars out there. I love the mileage count on the Fit but the interior of the Malibu. Not sure what I'm going to do.