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Addressing the Fit's shortcomings
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Comments
After some checking, no aftermarket here in this city would add cruise to the drive by wire (electronic throttle) Honda Fit. 3 dealers tell me they can't add it either.
There must be another way to add cruise to the Base Fit. $1300 to upgrade to the Sport just to get cruise is quite expensive. I believe Cruise is a safety feature and a ticket saver.
Bing
What about ordering the various genuine Honda cruise control parts from the parts dept (i.e. the same parts they would use to repair a Sport), and installing them into the Base? Logically it seems feasible, though I have no idea what the cost would be.
-- Lack of a dead pedal isn't just a little bad, its inexcusable. You just can't get your left foot/leg to go where it WANTS to go in this car. What in the world was Honda thinking?? :confuse:
-- Yeah, the lack of a seat height adjuster is definitely going to be a problem for a lot of people, namely shorter drivers. I'm 5'10", but have the torso of a 6-footer, and sitting the driver's seat, I was thankful I wasn't any shorter. The front seats are definitely LOW.
I'd have a hard time believing anyone under 5'8" will like the view/feel they'll have, the effect is a bit like sitting in a deep bathtub.
-- In person, the 'electric blue' color is a lot better than in photos, mainly because its a bit darker than you might think. Still a bit kiddie/outrageous, but liveable.
-- Watch out for the 'stealth' markups, they're definitely there on this car... the dealership I went to had apparently sold the the Fit I looked at to a sucker... er, I mean buyer who'd gone with the 'Xzilon' surface treatment they'd been pushing... $700 for a treatment that was 'like liquid glass'. When I gave the salesguy a look that registered my disbelief at this, he said that other dealers charged $1000 for it. So I guess there's 'rip-off' and then there's 'super rip-off', lol? :surprise:
-- Still, was impressed by the car as a whole. The load floor in back with the seats folded is SUPER low, there's ALL KINDS of space in there. The headroom is great all around (though the front seats seemed just a tiny bit narrow), and the quality of the interior (aside from the thin carpeting) is quite impressive. Also, the Fit Sport alloy wheels look absolutely great up-close, hadn't thought so from the photos.
I'm definitely interested in this car, but I might take a pass 'till the next model year, when Honda may have fixed the dead pedal and seat height adjustment issues (not to mention the sad fact that only one color of Fit Sport offers the tan interior).
Good luck Honda, let's hope you make the 2008 Fit all that and a bag of cheetos.
You certainly aren't the only one who feels that way. I mean it's both good and bad that Car and Driver listed the lack of a dead pedal as one of the two biggest things wrong with this car. The good news is that things must be pretty good overall if the lack of a dead pedal is one of the biggest flaws! The bad news is that the lack of a dead pedal is important enough to enough people that it really makes a difference that there isn't one.
On the other hand, I can't be the only one who wouldn't have even noticed this "flaw" if it weren't for reading messages about it. I'm not sure if my CR-V has a dead pedal or not -- because I never use it. My foot naturally rests on its side in front of the clutch. If I ever feel the urge to put it flat in the Fit, I just put it to the left and slightly under the clutch pedal. So, in fact, I can get *MY* left foot to go where it wants in this car.
"I'd have a hard time believing anyone under 5'8" will like the view/feel they'll have, the effect is a bit like sitting in a deep bathtub."
Maybe it's because we used to own a del Sol that I don't see the seating height as all that problematic. We definitely sat lower in the del Sol. I think some people are freaked out that they can't see the hood, but that's not going to change unless you stand up.
I know that this issue is important enough that some people are passing up the car because of it. But, I also wonder if they'd actually end up in nearly the same place with the seat after playing with a height adjustment. I think it's the lack of a CHANCE to adjust the seat that is bothering people more than the lack of actual additional seat height. People feel like they want more height, but I think they'd find that the view is not improved with more height and that any leg comfort gained by going higher would be offset by a feeling of crowding under the steering wheel.
Still, I bet Honda gets the message and puts something on the 2008. I'm not sure if the European Jazz has "refresh mode" for the front seats or not. If they do, then that means that Honda has a way to do both a front height adjustment and refresh mode.
I think Japan, Canada, and the US are the only countries to get "refresh" mode. For some reason it is not available in Europe, which is odd because the seats are the same as everywhere else. However, the driver's seat-height adjuster is available in Europe. Japan has both refresh mode, and the height adjustment feature.
Funny that you should use that example, because I drive a '99 CR-V, and it DOES have a dead pedal and I find myself using it CONSTANTLY. And yes, it really does help.
As far as people being freaked out solely by sitting low, that's not really it, in my experience. It was more a combination of sitting low plus being in a car that felt like it had a slightly high beltline wrapped around you. Haven't driven a del Sol, but from what I've seen of it, it certainly isn't a 'tall' car.
However, the Fit, when you sit in it, does feels like a tall car a bit, its that COMBINED with the low seating that I think makes short drivers yearn for a seat height adjuster. What is odd to me is that its a feature that was on the Jazz elsewhere in the world, so why was it stripped for the US market? Curiouser and curiouser. :confuse:
Whatever the case, its a simple, relatively low-cost feature that a suprising number of people seem to be citing as a 'deal-breaker', regarding buying a Fit. That to me seems sad, as the car is good in so many other ways, but I guess if I were 5'6", I could definitely see their point.
You may be right, but for my 5'1" cousin who thought the Fit was otherwise the perfect car for college, the driver's seat was like sitting in a bathtub. That was the deal killer for her. She's now considering the Yaris sedan (didn't care for the tinny hatchback). Honda doesn't need brain surgeons to figure out that nowadays customers expect a seat height adjuster (NOT a 8 way power seat) as standard equipment on EVERY vehicle.
For 2008, I hope Honda doesn't make things more absurd by limiting the $25 seat height adjuster to the more expensive Sport. I think a seat height adjuster should be part of the standard "safety for everyone" package.
For 2008, I hope Honda doesn't make things more absurd by limiting the $25 seat height adjuster to the more expensive Sport. I think a seat height adjuster should be part of the standard "safety for everyone" features."
Your cousin's experience appears to be a fairly common one among short Fit test drivers, unfortunately.
And that's a very good point you make about proper seat height/visibility being part of safety, especially in places like parking lots. Like you, I hope they fix it for the 2008 model, and across the entire line, Sport AND Base.
http://www.feelgoodstore.com/ViewProducts/SeatSupportCushion/560.aspx
It sounds like you would use it the opposite direction from how they show it... if I understand correctly, you want more seat height as you approach the steering wheel.
Anyway, this particular seat cushion is angled, from 1" of additional height to 3" of additional height.
Amother option is to buy a car with a good driving position, or wait until Honda comes to their senses.
but for my 5'1" cousin who thought the Fit was otherwise the perfect car for college, the driver's seat was like sitting in a bathtub. That was the deal killer for her. She's now considering the Mazda3.
While I'm sure the Mazda3 is a nice car too, if the Fit was "perfect" except for the seat height, one could consider just buying a seat cushion for some additional height.
I dunno... wouldn't that tend to put your hips and tush above the seat's side bolsters, which are supposed to keep you put during hard cornering? Not to mention support/firmness issues on long drives.
Yeahhh, Honda should just put a height adjuster on it and be done with it.
Carpeting cheap
Removed drivers grab handle to keep from hitting head.
Removed front of center console to give more leg side room.
Traded a 03 ECHO in lost 5 mpg in lieu of 'more room'
Other than that , I will adapt and get by.
The Yaris is a new design, the Fit is six (?) years old--so actually the Fit has been around longer. Comparably equipped, the Yaris is pretty close in price to the Fit, but the Yaris starts out much less because stripped models are available (at least in theory).
If anyone found a dealer that would do this, I would drive there tomorrow and buy it.
I've mentioned this before, I've been getting conflicting info regarding the removability of the spoilers. Honda customer service says "yes" while the 2 dealers I've asked say "no", and act very befuddled when I ask them. They seem to not like questions that may result in them having to do anything.
I would even pay full MSRP for the Sport if I could get it with the spoilers already removed.
Obviously because Fit demand is exceeding supply currently, and if they can sell all the Fits they can get their hands on with ease, they figure "Why should we lift a finger or go the extra mile? Someone else will snap it up if you don't want it as is."
I wouldn't expect their 'tude to change until the supply-demand ratio changes significantly, or you offer a lot of money to have it done. Dealers are pretty simple beasts.
Honda missed the boat here. It would have been easy to make the spoilers dealer installed so everybody got what they wanted.
Seat hieght adjuster? My wife is 5"3 and she loves the Fit and the driving position.
What's really annoying about the Fit is:
-cup holders need to be 1mm closer together.
-rear seats need to have 5mm more legroom.
-cargo area needs 2mm more width.
-engine needs just 1 more hp
-windows roll down to fast.
-windows should have a crank option, many people prefer to crank.
-auto adjusting mirrors move to slow.
-seats aren't flexible enough, not allowing maximum versatility.
-supension needs to be stiffer, feels soggy.
-steering need to be quicker.
-There is no "On Star". Can you believe this??
-radio display is a 1/4 lux to bright.
yep, this car is crap. I think I'll pass. I think you get my point.
Really? passing on the Fit because it doesn't have a dead pedal?? Those people can't be serious.
Apparently they are. The lack of a dead pedal and no seat height adjustment seem to be the two most commonly cited knocks against the Fit. Well, that and no center armrest.
Car and Driver also mentioned the lack of a dead pedal as a strike against the car in their review.
While you personally may not use a dead pedal in your driving, apparently lots of folks do.
I see your point.
Dead pedal/height adjuster is not what is keeping me from buying this car. But other, arguably equally insignifcant, issues are keeping me from buying this car. Issues involving lack of options / forced option packages.
It could be the reason that we are being so picky is that this car is appealing to first time buyers, and first time buyers are pickier. I've never bought a car before. I looked at used for a long time, and got frustrated because I find something right for me. So, I decided that I'd bite the bullet and buy new. I assumed that buying new would allow me to get exactly the options I am looking for. But what's this, can't get cruise without big wheels & big spoilers? (etc). It's disappointing to a lot of first time buyers that want their first car to be "right."
Just a thought.
As my grandmother often said "'Everbody to their own taste', said the old lady as she kissed the cow"
Ken
Personally, I'm 5'1" and have an arthritic back. I don't find the seats a problem at all. Yes, I would like a bit more height but it doesn't stop me from being able to drive and be comfortable in it. I find the lowered seats in my '04 Unlimited (compared to the '98 Wrangler) far more of a problem because they do affect my ability to see when off-roading. Since the Fit isn't leaving the graded roads, I don't worry about it.
For the first time ever I think I know why someone might want a dead petal. I've never used one (too short, would have to stretch to reach where they usually are), but I find myself resting my left foot at an indentation where a dead petal would go nicely. It really is quite handy to have that there, and I don't care if it has metal or the "carpeting" that they cover the area with (I should protect it, though - gotta get some type of mats soon!).
There is no perfect car. There is no car that fits everyone. The Fit sure fits me and my arthritic back nicely!
I just want to see it in a catalog somewhere, for the chuckle... "Dead Pedal for Honda Fit, $85.00 USD installed" or something. It'd definitely be a good thing, but I'd still find it funny in a way.
I see your point.
We love our Fit. As a matter of fact, I think Honda dang near reached vehicular perfection with the Fit. Performance, utility, price and mpg all add up to a 10 out of 10 in my book. We also have a Ridgeline which is also a superb vehicle and fun to drive, but I think I still find myself reaching for the Fit keys more often.
Oh, don't forget the tires need to be blacker the wheels rounder!
Speeden71
I don't see the Fit's "shortcomings" as disabling as that Tacoma I had!
Well said, and I tend to agree. The Fit is a very good car. But PERFECT? No, not quite.
But if Honda addressed a few of the car's honest shortcomings, the Fit might then be pretty darn close to perfect. :shades:
They just did a "GM" on this one - shipped us a Japanese model without switching anything over except for the steering wheel and pedals.
No maplight and no seat height adjuster, which are no-brainer items makes people wonder. I think if the Sport came with those standard, people would be happy as a clam. The Sport, though, is Scion-esque bling. Nothing at all is better or addressed so far as the interior goes. Well, nothing other than an input jack for their stereo(I can find $120 stereos that do this now) and cruise control.
I'd gladly trade the 1.5L engine for the 1.3L engine, go a lot slower, but have a fantastic interior for the same price. Oh, that and the Fit is about $2K overpriced.
That I can buy an Accord Value Package for $16,300 including delivery(check CarsDirect if you don't believe me), it's clear that Honda is falling for GM and Ford pricing pitfalls. I saw an Accord for $24K yesterday with the 4 cylinder engine. Every option you can imagine.
And I saw an Accord with no options for $16K. That's a 50% markup for accessories with no change in the machanicals. That verges on being usurous, in fact. I also saw $20K Civics, depsite the fact that it's clearly a $14K car that Honda is pricing at silly levels.
-It's sporty, but yet fuel thrifty and addicting to drive.
-It's little, yet huge on the inside.
-It seats 5, yet transforms into a flat cargo floor to carry most anything.
-high quality looking on the inside, yet only $16,500 (sport/auto)
If any vehicle comes close to being 2 opposites at the same time, it's the Fit.
.........but screw it, it doesn't have a dead pedal.
A $24k Accord I4 is only "usurous" if you buy one, at full price. Discounts are available, and other cars are available for much less money. No one is forced to buy a Fit, or any Honda.
But it looks like my car's going to be a Civic GX. $1 a gallon to fill up at home(yes, the appliance is $3500, but sells used for a fraction of that) I'm going to be saving $150-$200 a month in fuel alone. Free carpool lane access is a minor concern. Natrual gas prices are heavily regulated and dirt-cheap. Plus, there's no need to deal with gasoline at all. Let it get to 4 or 5 dollars a gallon - just makes my choice all the more attractive.
The price of a Fit is a shortcoming.
Only $16,500? That is no bargain compared to a NEW 2006 Accord LX Automatic for $17,799! 12 May Grand Honda Specials