Which Fit?

Kid#1 has her summer research locked down. This means she's not coming home from school and she needs a car because the bus home doesn't run during the summer. Lots of talking and thinking has led us to a Honda fit, the question is which generation and how to shop for one. It will be an automatic, because she's lame (though I do love her) and I'll go through it like I usually do when I get things home. 

What do I look for when Fit shopping? 

I'm not a Fit expert, but it do recall that the earliest cars had a bit of an issue with the rear hatch seal and can tend to get water in the trunk. Outside of that, I would think that the general rule of thumb applies. Get the nicest example you can for your budget. 

I've been shopping for one fairly seriously in the past few months. First generation is through 2008. 2nd generation from 2009 to 2013 has a slightly longer wheelbase. Sport model has nice alloys and a small rear wing that dresses them up well. Sport model also has paddle shifters but according to Pete Gossett gets kind of boring and the paddle shifter is more of a suggestion to change gears rather than a definitive gear change like a Porsche pdk. I've seen the first Generations going for $2,000 to 4500 for low mileage. Second Generations are in the three to $7,000 range. Pete Gossett has owned 2 that were purchased with well over a hundred and fifty thousand miles and has had no problems with them. That being said I have heard that many fits are being purchased and shipped to South America. Apparently very much in demand to export

The infamous magic back seat folds flat to floor revealing a cavernous cargo area that will swallow a full sized bicycle

I would look for a Mk2 (2009-2013), which feels less like a tin can than the Mk1 (2007-2008) and less like a CR-V than the Mk3 (2015-present).

The Mk1s are lightest and cheapest, but were already 7 years old when we started getting them in the US and are not as safe or refined as the Mk2.

pointofdeparture said:

I would look for a Mk2 (2009-2013), which feels less like a tin can than the Mk1 (2007-2008) and less like a CR-V than the Mk3 (2015-present).

The Mk1s are lightest and cheapest, but were already 7 years old when we started getting them in the US and are not as safe or refined as the Mk2.

+1 for the MK2. ideal find would be a 2012+ which got cruise control as standard on the base trim. 

Has the Dead nuts reliable L15, gets 30mpg basically all the time.... great cars and the MK2 was still 100% built in Japan.. 

None?

In reply to bobzilla :

Ok Bob, whatever you suggest has to swallow a dorm room worth of 17 year old girl stuff. Give me your best.

What year did they get stability control? Did the MK2 ever have a backup camera? 

Rio5. Done. or one of the newer accent 5dr hatch. Elantra Touring. Not sure your budget, but hte Forte 5's are getting below $5k now. Spectra5. 

Of that list I'd likely go with the Spectra5. It's a much nicer place to be than a first gen Fit.

I live my 3rd gen but I think the 2nd gen was better looking. 

We've got a 2012 with stability control. It's dead nuts reliable. Slow as piss in the mountains. Nimble as all getout. I've had fun running down much sportier cars in tight corners. 

Gas mileage isn't as good as it could be considering the lack of power.

It'll haul just about anything, but 4 adults and luggage stresses the suspension almost as much as the engine. 

I keep wanting to do a K20 swap, but if I did so I'd want it to be converted to manual and not sure the wife would allow that.

As Mazdeuce said, the first gens were known to leak water into the cabin, so quite a few of them smell terrible. The owners might contribute to that a bit as well. Second gen also had the bonus of redesigned rear headrests, so the magic back seat can fold down w/o having to remove them. I believe the second gen with nav might have a backup cam. Generally, the fit got heavier and more numb with each generation...2nd gen might be the sweet spot, but subjectively I feel like the first gen was just a bit more responsive

Former gen 1&2 fit owner here. All were great vehicles. No maintenance except oil and brakes. Make sure a 2010 has had the lost motion sensor recall done. 

Having one of each in the family, unless you’re constrained by budget, or finding one quickly, hold out for a 2nd gen. The extra ~6” in length really makes a difference in the cabin & the larger diameter wheels & tires smooth out the ride just a tiny bit. 

Seriously, to echo the above, the only things that broke on our 2nd gen in ~200k were a climate control blend part(I don’t remember specifics, but I was able to change it by popping out the glovebox), the release latch for the rear hatch got sticky but we just shoot it with lube periodically, and one of the plastic windshield trim pieces broke off. 

Other than that it’s just been tires/shocks/pads/rotors/spark plugs/oil changes for 200k. 

Oh, if you hear an annoying rattle from the rear(of either the 1st or 2nd gen) that sounds like the rear shocks are about to enter the cabin, don’t worry - just pull the latches at the top of the rear seats & push them back another inch so they’re fully seated. :)

HPD makes a bolt in B-Spec rally suspension for the 2nd/3rd gens.

Price wise we can swing a second gen so that's some good advice and helps me set my CL filters. 

Perfect 17yo girl car

2nd gen for sure. I've had two of them plus a 3rd gen. The 3rd gen is a bit more refined and comfortable but not in the price range of the 2nd gen yet. The only maintenance down side to the 2nd gen is removing the cowl, most of the intake to include the upper intake manifold, and some other pieces to change the spark plugs because they are on the back side of the engine and the intake runners go over the valve cover. Still easily done in an afternoon, just not as fast as doing it on a B, D, H/F, or K series engine. Outside of that the 2nd gens are awesome. Great gas mileage, plenty of cupholders, plenty of space, magic seats offer versatility, and you get a 5spd A/T instead of a CVT. 

I have a 1st Gen fit sport, but I drove a few before I got this one. Make sure you go drive an auto because I hated the two I drove.  I've had mine over 2 years and just replaced the coils and plugs at 170k. I must be getting old because I'm thinking of upgrading my dd for something less tin box and more cushionie..like Q50 ish.

My father had a 2009 Fit Sport with a stick. I really, really loved that car.

My sister ended up with it and eventually traded it in on an HRV. I liked the Fit more.

I test drove both 1st and 2nd gen.  While I liked the 1st a little better because it felt more like a EF hatch.  It didn't really fit what I was looking for in my daily.  I opted for the 2nd gen.  The sport has an AUX cord port as well as traction control.  

I had an 07 Sport. That was a fantastic car. A rear sway bar does wonders for a Fit. That said, I think a second gen is bigger. I rode in one last year and it seemed more spacious. 

We've got an 09 Sport, auto. Crossed over 130k miles recently and the only non-oil&tires repair was an AC compressor clutch. Super reliable, love the magic seats, easy to work on. After doing many, many VW/Audi/Porsche window regulators, replacing a smashed window on the Fit was a revelation. Like 3 fastener, all the same size, and the door card was off. Lots of access to the regulator. I would have needed 4 different size torx bits to do that on the Boxster.  

79rex said:

I test drove both 1st and 2nd gen.  While I liked the 1st a little better because it felt more like a EF hatch.  It didn't really fit what I was looking for in my daily.  I opted for the 2nd gen.  The sport has an AUX cord port as well as traction control.  

Ok, this is important, do the non Sport second gens not have ESC? 

In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :

2011 or 12 it became standard on the base model..