Any Honda Fit/Civic owners?

[Mr. SR500]

We are thinking about a Honda Fit or Civic to have a newer car and get better gas mileage. Any comments on either?

Thanks

[Blueberry]

No direct experience with either, but here's an interesting blurb on the Fit:

http://www.blayleys.com/articles/cars/index.htm

I hear that the 2009 fit will be the Japanese version - slightly larger, better gas mileage, etc. Would likely be worth waiting for.

CA

[milkbone]

I've had two Honda Civics, one was my first car back in 98 I had for 2 years, then my current 2002 Civic EX 4-door, I bought it new and it now has over 102,000 miles on it and I still love it! It has run great for me, all I ever do is change the oil on time, new tires, new brakes, 2 batteries, and flushed and replaced all the fluids when I hit 100,000, and it runs like a Champ. I know someone who got a Fit about a year and half ago, and they just love the gas mileage. I plan to stay in the Honda "family" when I do get a new vehicle too.

Hope this helps.

[milkbone]

The Toyota Prius is a good deal too, get about 42 mpg.

[bike4ever]

I just traded in my '03 CRV for an '08 Fit. I was able to get great trade in, and I was totally wanting the better gas mileage. With three active boys, I am always having to run short errands around town. I also have loved the Fit since it came out. Finally, I see this as a new beginning in my life since I'm starting over with my divorce.

I have 240 miles on my Fit. My first tank of gas only got 25 mpg; however, I figure that has to do with my quick foot on the fast acceleration. I'm having too much fun with this car.

My bike fits inside fine. I will be putting a Yakima rack on tomorrow.

[Triskeliongirl]

Wow, I just bought a 2008 FIT and I just love it. I haven't put one of those fork mounts in yet, but I have a friend with one who gets his bike inside fine. It has great cargo room, great gas mileage (my ins. agent that recommended it to me has been averaging 38 on hers). It is ranked quite high at USNews and World Report (great reviews here on all cars by the way: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...le-Small-Cars/
. I preferred it to the civic for cargo room and price, as the mileage is similar on both.

I read that the 2008 are made in Japan and the same as those intended for the asian and european markets (called jazz there). The 2009 for the american market will be larger, but to me that defeats the purpose. It is plenty large, very peppy, and gets great mileage. It has big windows and comfy seats, and when inside I feel like I am in a much bigger vehicle.

[Blueberry]

Triskeliongirl-

That's interesting. I had heard just the opposite - that the Japanese version was a little larger and much better on fuel economy. Hmmm...

CA

[Triskeliongirl]

Hey CA, I found and re-read the review: http://www.jdpower.com/autos/article...da-Fit-Preview

My understanding is that you are right, the 2009 US version is the same as the 2008 version in Japan (they are calling it the second generation), although the 2008 US version is the same as previous Japanese versions, is made and assembled in Japan, and is the same as the Jazz euro. However, they don't say the gas mileage will be much better: "The current Fit’s 109-hp, 1.5-liter engine is rated at 28 mpg city/34 mpg highway in the U.S. Expect the new Fit to meet or exceed those numbers." My understanding is that most owners are finding the mileage of the US 2008 exceeds these numbers now, although I have yet to use up my first tank of gas, so I don't have my own numbers yet.

I am not sure I would advise waiting. I think the 2008 is plenty big, the gas mileage is great, and their price only seems to be going up as the gas prices are rising. I guess it also depends what you are driving now. We were at a point where we were spending $20 in gas to drive to a club ride, so for us this is going to make a huge difference. We also had our car die, so had to buy something quickly. We were lucky to find one, many dealers can't keep them in stock.

[Tuckervill]

We bought a 1996 Civic for my son 5 years ago. He's driven it this whole time, and we recently bought it back from him, for our 14 yo to use in 2 years. It now has 198,000 miles on it. We are having the timing belt and water pump changed (water pump is just done while the belt is off). My husband has been driving it 25 miles to work (even though it looks like crap right now), instead of his F150, because of the gas prices.

It still gets 38 miles per gallon, sometimes 40 (it's a 5-speed). I have an Element, and when I was at the dealer I noticed the new Civics are only rated at 34!

My dad has a '97 Civic that he's still driving, but they don't drive much as a rule. It only has 60K miles on it!

I wanted a Fit when I got my Element, but they were just too hard to come by, and because of my wreck I needed a car NOW. I'm glad I didn't get one now. Just too small for my husband to even sit in. He couldn't fit in the CRV, either, so the Element it was!

I think the Fit and the Civic are for two different purposes. If you like utility, get the Fit, and if you would rather have more style, get the Civic. (A friend rolls his bike into the back of his Civic, BTW.)

Karen

[OakLeaf]

One of my riding buddies just got a new '08 Civic. Her bike goes in the trunk no problem. She'd been looking for a used car, but they hold value so well that a new one was only about $2000 more. Last I talked to her it was brand new, but I'll ask her how she likes it so far.

(The Prius is really a different animal, but mine gets 46 mpg without even trying to conserve gas, a bike goes in very easily with the front wheel on, and the traction/stability control work well.)

[boy in a kilt]

I've got an '03 civic. I just turned over 80,000 miles a couple of weeks ago.

If I'm doing a normal mix of city/highway driving, I'm pulling about 380-400 miles per tank (tank holds just over 11 gallons, usually fill up somewhere around 10).

Maintenance: I've had to replace the driver's side door lock because the key wouldn't turn. However, the dealer called that a warranty repair. Other than that, a tail light and a head lamp are about all I've replaced. My only maintenance complaint is the passenger's side head lamp is a pain to replace.

I've had to get a bike rack because my car does double duty as the place I put all my stuff that I don't want in our already cluttered apartment. Also, I keep all my tools for work in there, plus assorted other useful items like my cot.

Combined with my fairly long bike and the result is I'm not putting a bike in there. So, I have a roof rack.

Here's an interesting tidbit about Hondas. We found this out when we were buying SGT's van. Honda mileage figures assume you are using regular unleaded. The mileage figures for most other auto makers assume premium.

[Blueberry]

Here's an interesting tidbit about Hondas. We found this out when we were buying SGT's van. Honda mileage figures assume you are using regular unleaded. The mileage figures for most other auto makers assume premium.

But does premium or regular get better mileage? I had always heard there wasn't much (or any) difference.

CA

[mimitabby]

My 1991 Civic gets about 35 mph in mostly city driving. My next car will probably be a Honda Fit.
I have resisted buying a new car because i'd noticed that the newer models of the car I'm driving got worse and worse mileage than my year.
Hopefully they're reversing that trend now, a little late.

[Andrea]

Finally, I see this as a new beginning in my life since I'm starting over with my divorce...
...My bike fits inside fine. I will be putting a Yakima rack on tomorrow.

I have a divorce Fit, too!!!
They're awesome cars. Last weekend, I had two bikes and two people's worth of race-weekend luggage/equipment in the back with the seats down. Throw in great handling and more pickup than you'd expect from a 30mpg motor and I see no reason to have anything else!

[Triskeliongirl]

I do not believe the new civics get worse mileage than the old. My understanding is that all the Hondas are under-rated since actual mileage does depend on your driving style, AC usage, etc. Why Hondas are under-rated and some other brands aren't, I am not sure.

I think the gas mileage is very similar between the current Fit and Civic (at least the mileage posted on their stickers is), as are all the other rankings. I agree that it depends what you want the car to do. I really like both the cargo room of the fit, and the versatility of how you arrange that cargo room (seats can be flipped up and down in various positions and combinations). For me it really suits an active lifestyle. The Civic has a classier sedan look, the fit more of a euro style. Why don't you just visit a dealer and look at them and/or go for a test drive. I also went to the dealer with both cars in mind, and when I saw them both the decision was clear for me. I think they are both great choices, and its up to personal preferences which one to go with.

We bought a 1996 Civic for my son 5 years ago. He's driven it this whole time, and we recently bought it back from him, for our 14 yo to use in 2 years. It now has 198,000 miles on it. We are having the timing belt and water pump changed (water pump is just done while the belt is off). My husband has been driving it 25 miles to work (even though it looks like crap right now), instead of his F150, because of the gas prices.

It still gets 38 miles per gallon, sometimes 40 (it's a 5-speed). I have an Element, and when I was at the dealer I noticed the new Civics are only rated at 34!

My dad has a '97 Civic that he's still driving, but they don't drive much as a rule. It only has 60K miles on it!

I wanted a Fit when I got my Element, but they were just too hard to come by, and because of my wreck I needed a car NOW. I'm glad I didn't get one now. Just too small for my husband to even sit in. He couldn't fit in the CRV, either, so the Element it was!

I think the Fit and the Civic are for two different purposes. If you like utility, get the Fit, and if you would rather have more style, get the Civic. (A friend rolls his bike into the back of his Civic, BTW.)

Karen