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It's funny, when i decided to buy a new car, for some reason I was thinking that I'd simply be able to get the options that I wanted, one of the bonuses over buying used.
How wrong I was!
The suspension? Made for 14 inch alloys. Not that 15 inchers are much different, given the thinner profile, but 16 inchers that I've seen on a couple around town are asking for a harsh ride. The higher the profile of the tire, the softer the ride, though the less well it handles turning agressively.
Putting 195/80/13s on a 4000lb car(old classic european models for the 50s and 60s) results in a soft but wobbly ride in high winds so it can be taken to extremes. The Fit, though, weighs virtually nothing in automotive terms, so it could probably get by with *12* inch tires and still be safe. 14 inchers on a car this small is already way beyond what it can utilize.
The horn sounds and a combination of headlights, parking lights, [etc] flash if someone attempts to break into your vehicle or remove the radio. This alarm continues for 2 minutes, then it stops. To reset an alarming system before the 2 minutes have elapsed, unlock the driver's door with the key or the remote transmitter.
The security system automatically sets 15 seconds after you lock the doors, hood, and the tailgate. For the system to activate, you must lock the doors and the tailgate from the outside with the key, driver's lock tab, door lock master switch, or remote transmitter. The security system indicator on the instrument panel starts blinking immediately to show you the system is setting itsself.
Once the security system is set, opening any door, the tailgate, or the hood without using the key or the remote transmitter, will cause it to alarm. It also alarms if the radio is removed from the dashboard or the wiring is cut.
The alarm will also be activated if the passenger inside the locked vehicle turns the ignition switch on.
[The system will not activate if any door or hood is not closed. etc.]
About the spoiler on the hatch, it is attached by two bolts that are accessible from the open hatch thru holes that have rubber plugs in them and openings on the spoiler. Removing that spoiler would leave two small holes in the top of the hatch over the rear window--I think small rubber plugs with a silicone caulk seal would take care of the holes cheaply.
He said the parts department can make a "simple key" for about $10, but then I wonder how the car will start since (from what I have heard) the fuel is cut off to the engine without the microchip telling the car to start.
AT Base: Better turning radius.
AT Sport: Worse turning radius.
Now, the sport steering is probably "tuned" for 15" wheels, right? If I were to put 14 inch wheels on the Sport vehicle, I probably would -not- get those extra degrees, right? I mean, the wheels aren't the restrictive element, it would have to be the tuning of the steering, right?
Here is a picture how those same type of holes are plugged on the front of the Base Fit
It's all the tires. Putting 16 inchers on makes it a tiny bit worse, as you'd expect. The Japan version has a different steering setup and turns much farther than the U.S. version. Probably, there's a limiter somewhere in the electronic steering. The sport version is only looks and does nothing at all to compensate for the bigger tires.
One would of course have to get the hole plugs to plug up the holes left by the skirt/spoiler removal--seems like a cheap part to get if Honda stocks them. Considering that the foam gaskets for the tailights in my 91 civic wagon cost $15 each, Honda probably charges about $5 for each plug :-)
A) Buy a base model and install keyless, cruise, and upgrade the radio (if I can)
or
or
C) Keep driving my current car until I find something that I'm really sold on, with options in packages that make a little more sense.
If I'm missing something, please let me know. My wife likes to describe me as follows: Often wrong, never in doubt.
Thank you so much for taking the time to get those pictures, they've really helped me to see under my as yet undelivered Fit.
I've been worried about scraping the front spoiler, given the number of speed bumps around here - some of them are downright vicious!! Wondering if you could just remove it, and leave the side skirts? Might look odd?? Or just "different"?
Also, what would be the advantage to changing to 14" wheels & tires?
The short answer: ride quality. You also get a slight bonus to turning radius, and, if you're me, aesthetics.
Plekto does a much better job of explaining it in the "Honda Fit Accessories" thread, if you care to take a look.
Makabe, I should probably just keep driving my '93 Legacy, too. Let me know what else you discover about this process. I'm going to be talking to the guy that does our family's body work to see about some other options of filling the rear spoiler holes.
Thanks for keeping us informed.
And security system/keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and fog lights (in case anyone is wondering). Also, the paddle shifters, if you get automatic.
And to clarify... the stereo has an aux input and plays MP3 CDs (also, the extra tweeters and more power).
I'll tell you what - go Auto X a 14" wheeled Fit against a 16" HFP'ed Fit and tell me which hangs through the corners better. :P
Why not just go 10's and get your tires at Tractor supply
Also I'm 100 percent positive that Honda will revoke your corrision coverage when you yank off screwed in body parts... :surprise:
Way better than the goofy looking 17" (and over) stuff with painted on rubber.
If the dealer removes the skirts and uses factory plugs how can that void the warrenty?
Does anybody have a base with pictures of the plugs on the side.
Do we know for sure that these items are factory installed? If they were port installed, then maybe getting a fit without the stuff would be feasible.
17 inch wheels are not offered as optional or standard for the Fit. No 17" offered, goofy or not, so don't worry.
16" wheels are optional as a HFP "Honda Factory Performance" accessory.
What is painted on rubber? There are tires with color integrated into the rubber compound.
QualityAutoInteriors.com
Such low profile tires that it looks like the rubber was painted on the edge of the wheels.
I know 17's are not available from the factory, but I bet there will be plenty of Fits with tires that size or larger.
I don't really care between the 14's and 15's, though I do prefer alloys. Hubcaps can be a pain. Whatever happend to styled steel wheels (I think the Element has them). Just make the steel wheel look nice on its own and skip the hubcaps. Honda used to have a lot of really nice steel wheels years ago.
Still hoping to get either a sport without plastic add ons or a base with cruise.
Since I live in an area that has salt, ice and snow on the roads in the winter, if I had a base Fit I would purchase a set of snows and put them on the steel wheels and use the alloys with the OEM tires.
In 15" I wonder how the Kosei RT Sport would look on a Storm Silver Fit?
Also, is there an aftermarket auto dimming, outside temp, and map/reading light combination available? Not a big deal, but I sort-of miss those things (the lights mostly, but if I'm going to be doing something like that, I'll go all the way).
Finally remembered to check. It does Flash. Not solid. Does about 1 flash per second for about 15 seconds, presumably while arming. Then hesitates a moment. Then 1 flash every 2 seconds from then on. My previous post, which said solid, was incorrect.
My unit is the Sirius Starmate Replay (ST2), which also has a boom-box available. I picked it, because it's style rather mimics the Fit's stock radio, image-reversed, and has a blue backlight.
I'll tell you what - go Auto X a 14" wheeled Fit against a 16" HFP'ed Fit and tell me which hangs through the corners better.
***
Actually, once the tires get larger than is required for the car to safely corner, you could put 20 inchers on it and the suspension would be the limiting factor.
14 inchers are already larger than the car needs, and no handling differences so far have been detected other than a microscopic improvement in turning radius. I like the 14s as they save you lots of money on tires AND give you a softer ride.
But I found a nice cargo organizer at Target for $14.99.
Looks to be almost the same. No Honda emblem, or course.
I love saving money.
If it exists on my fit, there is no reason it would not exist in N/A Fits
I've heard that a sunroof won't be offered here because of Honda's obsession with safety in NA.
How much head room are you losing? (I'm 6"3'!)
Looks like a manual roof?
I showed the pics to my girlfriend and she's now talking about moving to England and buying a Jazz with sunroof! :shades:
The inside part of the roof is manual but the glass window is electric powered. Of course it operates very well, altough I never use it.
If it compromises safety, then adding an aftermarket is worse of a choice and should void the warranty.
The European Fit seem not to have factory installed roof.
Not sure
I would think that the safety impact of a properly installed sunroof is marginal. It was mentioned on another forum as a possible reason for not offering a sunroof on the Fit and it makes sense to me. Honda seems to be taking America’s concern about the safety of small cars very seriously. Perhaps too much!
Other posts I have read have pretty well dismissed the idea that a sunroof can void a warrantee.
You can get a factory-installed sunroof as a £400 option on the UK Jazz. :shades: