09 Fits - Honda Pilot

shellebelle · 07-16-2008, 08:32 PM

Hoping to replace my aging Civic sometime early next year and I'm giving the '09 Fit serious thought. I thought I'd ask you guys since you're usually pretty savvy with this kind of stuff.

There's the old mantra of not buying a first model year car, but I might not be in a position to hold out for the '10s. I don't know if I want to do another summer with no a/c, and my Civic is just getting old. Plus, my job requires some errand running and I'd like to show up at print vendors in something nicer than a 13 year old Civic.

What are the general thoughts on it? The size/functional stuff are a good fit for me so no worries there--I'm mostly concerned with the reliability factor of a first year model. Can anyone share some insight? Are they already out in Japan (and thus any issues are being addressed?).

And, has anyone heard any rumors about whether they'll be a hot ticket (aka wait list) item?

In a perfect world, I'd have my IS250 and would be done with it, lol.

jl_ss · 07-16-2008, 09:57 PM

The fit has been around since 2001 - it's first year here was the redesigned 2007. CR only has reliability data for the 2007 model year and it's all solid red dots, except for squeaks and rattles which gets a half red dot. Safety data is posted below. People are buying Fits/Civics/Corollas instead of paying a premium and waiting for hybrid models. Edmunds shows that the fit is currently selling at invoice because of that, but there is only a $530 difference between MSRP and invoice.

shellebelle · 07-16-2008, 10:28 PM

Thanks for the info--very helpful!

Every new Honda I've been in squeeks and rattles so I just accept it as the way it is. Good incentive to turn the iPod up

whizmo · 07-16-2008, 10:43 PM

All the advanced press says it's going to be solid improvement to an already fine small car. It would be my pick in this size class, although I'd certainly drive the Versa and Yaris too. And one size class up, there are three VERY good cars: Civic, Mazda 3, and Rabbit. And if you drive a lot of miles, I'd think about the new Jetta TDI which should be good for another 10 mpg over the Fit, although the economics are going to be about the same as long as diesel prices stay well over gas.

You're always better off getting further down the production run of a heavily revised model, but it is a revised - not a completely new - model and some things like the engine basics are well proven. If you need the car around the time it appears, I'd risk it.

Given the small car demand, you probably need to get some deposits down now and I wouldn't have expectations of doing any better than MSRP. You may have to do some traveling to get an MSRP deal.

- Mark

humanoid · 07-17-2008, 12:42 AM

The Fit or the Yaris would both be excellent choices.

xGS · 07-17-2008, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by humanoid
The Fit or the Yaris would both be excellent choices.

Have you driven a Yaris?

That center-mounted instrument cluster would give me fits.
Try working with your monitor offset so that its left edge lines up with the right edge of your keyboard.

shellebelle · 07-17-2008, 09:32 AM

Yeah, I couldn't do the center guage cluster.

For the Versa--judging by the disparity between the Sentra and Altimas I've driven, there's no base of reference, lol. And it's one ugly car.

rlapid · 07-17-2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xGS

Have you driven a Yaris?

That center-mounted instrument cluster would give me fits.
Try working with your monitor offset so that its left edge lines up with the right edge of your keyboard.

i've driven a yaris on a couple long-distance trips, and the center-mounted gauges didn't bother me as much as i thought they would. basically, instead of glancing downward for a sec to see how fast you're going, you look to the right. the speedo is large and digital, making it quite easy to read.

iglesias · 07-17-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shellebelle
Thanks for the info--very helpful!

Every new Honda I've been in squeeks and rattles so I just accept it as the way it is. Good incentive to turn the iPod up

Not every new Honda you've been in sqeeked and rattled...

shellebelle · 07-18-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iglesias

Not every new Honda you've been in sqeeked and rattled...

You're just deaf.

iivtecracerii · 07-18-2008, 08:14 PM

the 09 fit is a redesign, but it will already have been on sale in japan for a year...so it wont technically be a first year car.

not sure if there will be a waiting list, but civics and fits are in high demand right now.

KarenCaren · 07-23-2008, 11:04 PM

Last week I saw a Honda Fit park a long the road. Well I would prefer to have the Fit rather than the Honda Jazz. just my 2 cents

________________
Blog to read: Autopartswarehouse.com

iivtecracerii · 07-24-2008, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KarenCaren
Last week I saw a Honda Fit park a long the road. Well I would prefer to have the Fit rather than the Honda Jazz. just my 2 cents

the fit and jazz are the same car.

CalPi · 07-24-2008, 04:07 AM

Actualy they arent, The Jazz Has a diffrent name than the Fit

rlapid · 07-24-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CalPi
Actualy they arent, The Jazz Has a diffrent name than the Fit

the Jazz is also right-hand drive, iirc.

07-16-2008, 08:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
shellebelle iglesias is my evil twin Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 486 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	09 Fits Hoping to replace my aging Civic sometime early next year and I'm giving the '09 Fit serious thought. I thought I'd ask you guys since you're usually pretty savvy with this kind of stuff. There's the old mantra of not buying a first model year car, but I might not be in a position to hold out for the '10s. I don't know if I want to do another summer with no a/c, and my Civic is just getting old. Plus, my job requires some errand running and I'd like to show up at print vendors in something nicer than a 13 year old Civic. What are the general thoughts on it? The size/functional stuff are a good fit for me so no worries there--I'm mostly concerned with the reliability factor of a first year model. Can anyone share some insight? Are they already out in Japan (and thus any issues are being addressed?). And, has anyone heard any rumors about whether they'll be a hot ticket (aka wait list) item? In a perfect world, I'd have my IS250 and would be done with it, lol.

07-17-2008, 12:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
humanoid Super Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny SoCal Posts: 2,971 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The Fit or the Yaris would both be excellent choices. __________________ 2005 EX-L Sage Brush Pearl -->OEM Running Boards, OEM rear mud guards, OEM crossbars, AVS bug deflector, 5000K HIDs, OEM Accord EX emblem, full sized spare, Hella FF 75 driving lamps, Nifty CatchAll Mats <------------ click here first, n0oB!!!

07-18-2008, 08:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
iivtecracerii Super Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 608 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	the 09 fit is a redesign, but it will already have been on sale in japan for a year...so it wont technically be a first year car. not sure if there will be a waiting list, but civics and fits are in high demand right now. __________________ 2003 Honda Pilot EX in Starlight Silver Metallic Accessories: Wheel Locks, Honda Side Steps, custom hand made floor mats 2004 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan 5MT in Satin Silver Metallic

07-24-2008, 04:07 AM	#14 (permalink)
CalPi Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunnyvale CA Posts: 22 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Actualy they arent, The Jazz Has a diffrent name than the Fit __________________ 2005 Pilot EX-l RES And 1995 Honda Odyssey EX with 6 disc changer

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07-16-2008, 10:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
shellebelle iglesias is my evil twin Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 486 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks for the info--very helpful! Every new Honda I've been in squeeks and rattles so I just accept it as the way it is. Good incentive to turn the iPod up

07-16-2008, 10:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
whizmo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: WA State Posts: 1,817 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	All the advanced press says it's going to be solid improvement to an already fine small car. It would be my pick in this size class, although I'd certainly drive the Versa and Yaris too. And one size class up, there are three VERY good cars: Civic, Mazda 3, and Rabbit. And if you drive a lot of miles, I'd think about the new Jetta TDI which should be good for another 10 mpg over the Fit, although the economics are going to be about the same as long as diesel prices stay well over gas. You're always better off getting further down the production run of a heavily revised model, but it is a revised - not a completely new - model and some things like the engine basics are well proven. If you need the car around the time it appears, I'd risk it. Given the small car demand, you probably need to get some deposits down now and I wouldn't have expectations of doing any better than MSRP. You may have to do some traveling to get an MSRP deal. - Mark

07-17-2008, 09:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
shellebelle iglesias is my evil twin Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 486 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah, I couldn't do the center guage cluster. For the Versa--judging by the disparity between the Sentra and Altimas I've driven, there's no base of reference, lol. And it's one ugly car.

07-23-2008, 11:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
KarenCaren Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beltsville, MD Posts: 26 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Last week I saw a Honda Fit park a long the road. Well I would prefer to have the Fit rather than the Honda Jazz. just my 2 cents ________________ Blog to read: Autopartswarehouse.com

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