Which car to buy for long commutes?

[GasSavers_brick]

Originally Posted by 95avusblue

I looked at the www.fitfreak.net/ forum, and some are getting mileage that didn't do as well as factory numbers.

There are two problems with the Fit.

1) Honda geared it for the kids who like to burn rubber between lights, not for people who want serious FE. That doesn't mean it's impossible to get good FE but it's a lot tougher with the engine turning 3500+RPM at highway cruise.

2) The people at FitFreak are generally the people for whom Honda designed the car. That is to say that they are "just driving it" in the typical fashion which is the same way that 90% of Americans don't get their factory numbers, either. One guy who also owns an Insight posted that he managed a 44mpg tank through careful driving. That number sounds about right for someone who is willing to slow down a bit and take a little more time to get there.

I'm going to test drive a couple of HCH-Is today, myself. I'll let you know what I think of them when I get back.

[Spule 4]

Originally Posted by brick

There are two problems with the Fit.

1) Honda geared it for the kids who like to burn rubber between lights, not for people who want serious FE. That doesn't mean it's impossible to get good FE but it's a lot tougher with the engine turning 3500+RPM at highway cruise.

I'm going to test drive a couple of HCH-Is today, myself. I'll let you know what I think of them when I get back.

I fully dissagree with this with 15K of driving on my Fit.

The Fit DOES return good FE at highway speeds. It is geared like many European cars, it is different that the average Japanese car for the US market that 2500 is the norm to float around at 65 mph. 5th in the Fit is fine for higway, but a little "luggy" around 50 MPH or less. 4th is better, keeps the car moving, and you do not need your foot in it like 5th for 40-50 MPH driving to adjust speed/hills. I have got 40-42 MPG on all interstate trips at 65-75 MPH constant driving.

Second, I do not think you could actually burn rubber with the car, I have never tried tho, no need to.