The Honda Fit

[philmcneal]

34/45 my bad!

i think the fit itself is not as areodynamic as a sedan (which makes me sad because i relaly love subcompacts but can't stand the crappy shapes) and for the north american version they had to make the gearing for the manual more agressive than the auto (100 km/h 3000 rpms vs 2400 rpms) which I have no idea why but all I know is this car is a piece when it comes to saving fuel!

I have hope in the hybrid version though... assuming its hypermiling abilities are not hammered and hoping they would clean up the areodyanmics a bit.

[kickflipjr]

So they are makeing a hybrid fit? I guess it might be the replacement for the insight???

[Sludgy]

Car companies feel that it's imperative to install too-big engines in their vehicles. But why won't they offer OPTIONAL engines and axle ratios like Honda's old "HF" models?

This is THE issue that torques me off. All car companies except Honda used to do it. From the thread above, now even Honda has abandoned offering inexpensive efficiency. With $3.00 gas, a 1.3L Fit that gets 50 mpg highway at a non-hybrid price would be gobbled up by the public.

The Fit is too small for me physically, but I'd trade in my F350 diesel for any manufacturer's full size, bench-seat pickup that gets 25 mpg highway. And yes, that kind of economy is possible now with DOD and OHV VVT. The trucks just need to be geared for economy, a "stepside" bed installed, and the efficient technical bits installed on a V6 motor.

They could get 30 mpg highway with some slightly higher tech stuff or a small diesel.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Sludgy

But why won't they offer OPTIONAL engines and axle ratios like Honda's old "HF" models?

i've read a plausible theory on other forums: they won't make fuel-efficient engines available because they now have a vested interest in selling hybrid drive trains.

where in the past some of the least expensive cars were also the most efficient, this is changing. more and more, you have to pay a premium to get a vehicle with better fuel economy & reduced emissions.

[GasSavers_DaX]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

i've read a plausible theory on other forums: they won't make fuel-efficient engines available because they now have a vested interest in selling hybrid drive trains.

where in the past some of the least expensive cars were also the most efficient, this is changing. more and more, you have to pay a premium to get a vehicle with better fuel economy & reduced emissions.

Now THAT's scary.

[Sludgy]

MetroMPG wrote:

"i've read a plausible theory on other forums: they won't make fuel-efficient engines available because they now have a vested interest in selling hybrid drive trains.

where in the past some of the least expensive cars were also the most efficient, this is changing. more and more, you have to pay a premium to get a vehicle with better fuel economy & reduced emissions."

It's true that Honda and Toyota have a vested interest in selling expensive hybrids, but the American and European carmakers don't. In particular, Volkswagen has dissed hybrids in favor of diesels. The Lupo gets 78 mpg.

The question remains why global car companies won't import their Asian and European-spec (i.e. efficient) cars to America.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Sludgy

The question remains why global car companies won't import their Asian and European-spec (i.e. efficient) cars to America.

because they've decided that americans won't tolerate (buy) "underpowered" cars.

i suppose this is another reason they're going hybrid. they can pair an "underpowered" engine with an electric motor and raise performance above what the ICE could deliver by itself.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by Sludgy

The question remains why global car companies won't import their Asian and European-spec (i.e. efficient) cars to America.

I don't think blaming the VW is the right thing to do. VW would love to import the Lupo, the Polo, etc.

someone sets the laws on which cars can and cannot be imported. It's no coincidence that the very same people who make the laws also received huge campaign contributions from the competition.

It's how politics work in this country.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

someone sets the laws on which cars can and cannot be imported.

the cars, yes, but not their *drivetrains*. there's nothing legally preventing honda from selling the smaller engine in the fit in north america. the car itself has already been homologated.

i was hoping honda would offer the canadian market the smaller engine, since we tend to be more small-car-focussed. but it didn't happen. we just ended up getting a base trim model that the US won't have, according to a review i read.

sludgy has another good point: because honda and toyota seem to be putting all their "efficiency" eggs in the hybrid basket (at least in north america), it opens the door for other manufacturers to come in with a very efficient non-hybrid. of course it will probably have less overall power than the hybrid, but it might work. i'm sure it's being considered.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

the cars, yes, but not their *drivetrains*. there's nothing legally preventing honda from selling the smaller engine in the fit in north america. the car itself has already been homologated.

i was hoping honda would offer the canadian market the smaller engine, since we tend to be more small-car-focussed. but it didn't happen. we just ended up getting a base trim model that the US won't have, according to a review i read.

sludgy has another good point: because honda and toyota seem to be putting all their "efficiency" eggs in the hybrid basket (at least in north america), it opens the door for other manufacturers to come in with a very efficient non-hybrid. of course it will probably have less overall power than the hybrid, but it might work. i'm sure it's being considered.

Excellent points. I love hybrids, and I'd rather spend $12k on a new Yaris that gets 40mpg than $25k on a new Insight that gets 60-70mpg.

But then again there ARE tax breaks for owning a hybrid, which is a bonus... and the Insight is hella cool