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Comments
My brother in law, tries out the paddle shifters. I guess he doesn't really understand the concept of shifting. He grabs at the downshift, drops it down to first doing 45mph, I think the motor spun about 4-5K, didn't even put up a fuss, couldn't hardly hear it.
I think that's because 5AT on the Fit is very closely related to the 5AT unit on the 2006 Civic, one that has torque converter lockup at all gears; that feature is not commonly found in automatic tranmisssions from European cars! :surprise:
Thanks.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm will help you understand how a torque converter works.
Why would a manual get better mileage on the highway? It gets better on the highway by EPA measure. On a long trip at a constant speed where the auto stays in lock up condition, and thus lower RPM, the auto probably would actually get better mileage. The accelerating and decelerating in the EPA test probably result in the manual being slightly higher.
My brother in law, tries out the paddle shifters. I guess he doesn't really understand the concept of shifting. He grabs at the downshift, drops it down to first doing 45mph,
This is why I recommended trying to get a Fit with fewer than 10 miles on it (you are the first driver) (not a hard thing to do since they are flying off the lots). Unlike, say, a Buick Lucerne, Fit test drivers are aggressive in their test drives.
Just my opinion
http://autos.yahoo.com/newcars/honda_fit_2007/4796/model_user_reviews.html;_ylt=- AhJxSQJAwoAbQwShfTXqrte5Ws8F?sort=mh&trimid=19021&modelid=4796&reviewid=1&review- num=33&start=1&show=atf
What is the proper way to use them and select gears?
Is there a way to hurt the vehicle when using them?
If you use the paddle shifters while in D, you can use them to get a quick boost of passing power, for example by shifting down into 4th from 5th. It will return to its chosen gear setting after a few seconds though.
If you put the gear selector in S, you can shift the car manually with the paddle shifters. I would think the car have some sort of safety mechanism to prevent you from downshifting at too high of an engine speed, but I haven't driven it so I don't know. The owner's manual should tell you.
Odd... Car and Driver, in its one-page test in the June issue of a Fit Sport AT, seemed to like the paddle shifters very much. Though they did agree that they still prefer manual.
Still, they much preferred the paddles to a conventional automatic.
odd, jeff at TOV is a manual fanatic, has much more experierience than you, and he prefers the AT/paddles in the Fit. It is the first time he has preferred an AT over the manual. I have driven the paddles for over a month and I concur with the expert at TOV. I specifically wanted the MT SPort, but after driving the paddles it was an easy decision to pass on the MT. Your wrong, the paddles are no joke. They perform immediatly and shift faster than you can with the MT. The Fit performs great with the paddles. I've also read other reviews that support this opinion as well. If you don't know how to drive with the paddles, learn!
I completely agree, but the paddle shifters aren't just a gimmick since they do allow for more control. However, nothing beats the real thing.
Someone recently criticized my purchase of the Fit with the 5MT, since in their opinion they would only purchase an automatic. Their reasoning was that they can't talk on the cell phone or drink coffee with the manual. :sick:
(like that is bad thing?!)
It is not the use of the hands that worries me about mobile phones while driving...it is the use of the mind.
I have known manual-shifting since I started driving and unless I am at a constant speed on the motorway for a long time, I usually only have one hand on the steering wheel. However, one's point of focus shifts when talking on the phone (hands-free or otherwise). When people are commanding a two-ton box of metal at 80 mph, they should be focusing on driving, and not whether their non-fat soy latte tastes fine.
Ziggy6
If the car is in "S" mode you have to do the shifting with the paddles from 1-5 and the car will not automatically shift for you.
College Hills Honda has an imports section. They will have the window visors imported from Australia, but it looks like they are not in stock yet. I have ordered from College Hills Honda, but not the visors.
I think you're partially right that it's a concentration issue, but not because conversation is that distracting, people also talk to other passengers all the time. However, the relatively poor sound quality of cell phones does require more concentration than live voices.
I think probably the biggest issue is that people take their eyes off the road to initiate a call (if they don't have voice dialing) and to answer calls (and perhaps to end them). I think those are the most dangerous times. Taking your eyes off the road seems like a bigger issue than use of a hand or conversation.
We noticed that there is a definite sort of clunk sound when the shifter goes to first, second, and third gears. No sound going into 4th or 5th. Honda service adjusted the shifter and lubricated - said some sound is normal for the Fit. We still hear the sound. Any other experiences with this sound? Any other feedback from Honda Service. Our service guys have been very reliable for our past Hondas. Thanks.
My gas mileage for general driving has averaged 42MPG (Imperial). About the same as my ex clapped out diesel VW.
My major beef is the way the interior plastic gets scuffed by anything that is against it. The back looks like a beater already from our 2 big dogs with all their grit and grime. And the front seat isn't high enough, or padded at the front enough for my long legs.
Steve
ALternatively, shift it into Neutral...
Having someone explain the mechanics of what's going on and "pulling" the clutch out with your foot instead of "releasing" it, learning the sounds, feeling what you are doing by the seat of your pants.
Good luck! I've never owned an automatic and I hope I'm never forced to.
Before even take the car on the road: Learn to balance the car with clutch and gas pedals on an inclined area such as your driveway. You're all set.
Balance means car is not moving forward or backward on an inclined driveway [brake pedal is not being applied].
Maybe when it has more miles on it this will improve.
chris
I have heard that after market cruise is not possible for the base Fit because of the drive by wire throttle.
I've been living w/o criuse for 17+ years and have learned how to maintain constant speed with my foot. It is not that hard, you can utilize fuel-saving techniques (coasting in neutral downhill etc. --btw, the Fit has tremendous roll) and you will learn to relax in "the zone" while maintaining psychic connection to the vehicle. Whereas cruise allows you to turn off your brain while the vehicle is still zooming along--can be dangerous, lulls you to complacency, inattention.
Yeah, I know long trips are tedious, I live in Texas.
Btw, I did test drive the Fit Sport. Handles better than Yaris. But interior feels cheap. No map lights, no passenger side vanity mirror, no dead pedal, no armrest. It's really very basic. although it does have 6 airbags which is impressive.
As far as a dead pedal, for me, cars like the Fit where you're sitting in a more upright position, the dead pedal or lack of one doesn't mean too much. When you're sitting lower and your legs are more stretched out then the dead pedal helps because you can't keep your left foot flat, but in the Fit (especially the auto), I can just put my left foot flat and be comfortable.
Armrests would be good if they're attached to the seat, but I've found that in my seating position, the center console armrest is never a very compfortable place for my arm.
Bottom line is you have to compare what you value versus what's available. I've been looking for the perfect 4dr hatch but couldn't find one, so I went with the Fit because for me it was the best of the non-perfect choices.
lol this is how I make my voting choices...lesser evil.
Ducking and running now....