Site RSS Feed2007 Honda Fit Sport
Honda's little wonder is Fit and fantastic
Sat, May 26th 2007
| VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| type | 4 door, hatchback, 2wd |
| msrp | $16,500 |
| trans | automatic |
| gas mi. | 31mpg/37mpg |
| rating |  |
Two days after the Honda Fit was delivered, gas prices hit an all-time high. That fact alone drew more than a few interested looks and a handful of questions every time I got out of the little car that could . . . save you money.
Of course, everyone wasn't quite so interested in the gas mileage. My neighbor took one look at the Fit and said, "Is that a car or a skateboard?" She was perhaps overly struck by the contrast between the Fit and the previous week's test vehicle, the monstrous GMC Sierra 2500 Heavy Duty Crew Cab truck. (The Honda Fit would almost fit in the truck bed of the Sierra. I measured!)
Laugh all you want, though: The Fit is a fantastic little car, and not at all bad as a DogCar.
Sure, you're not going to fit a quartet of Labradors inside, along with all the crates and other gear that goes with a weekend of competitive dog activities. And you probably won't be loading up your four-legged family for a cross-country trip in the little Fit.
But as one of the new class of fuel-efficient, fun-to-drive and easy-to-park "city cars," it's hard to top this brave little Honda. For me, the Fit brought back happy memories of my own first car -- little Joe Mazda, circa 1976 -- and all the places that car took me and my dogs.
But today's little cars are so much better. The Fit's interior feels incredibly roomy, and the seats are extremely comfortable, with good lumbar support. Airbags all around help to even the playing field when you're on the road with lumbering beasts that could crush you like a bug. The Fit feels tight, handles nimbly and just plain makes you smile to be in it.
The cargo space is surprisingly generous and versatile. No problem fitting in a pair of small dog crates, or one large one. For more than one big dog, though, you'll have to go to seat belts for safety -- there just isn't enough room for side-by-side big-dog crates in here.
Still, the Fit could be all you need for most every dog-hauling purpose. After all, most trips to the vet are one dog at a time, and for the money you save driving the Fit around town, you could pop for a rental on a minivan for family vacations.
To be the absolute best DogCar, the Fit would need to be a little bit bigger. But it's easy to consider a compromise by getting a little Fit for you and your dogs -- especially if it’s as a second car for the family.
So, if you're looking for a solid little versatile hatchback that'll save you some scratch from the day you drive it off the lot, the Fit is it.
-- Gina Spadafori
Carguy Comments:The Honda Fit’s engine may be small (1.5-liter, 4-cylinder VETEC with 109 horsepower), but its safety rating is outstanding: five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It’s classified as a Low Emission Vehicle 2 (LEV2) and averages 31/18 miles to the gallon with an automatic transmission and 33/38 in manual. Cargo capacity is more than 90 cubic feet with multiple seating and cargo configurations.
-- Keith Turner, The Family Car
For fun and fuel saving, the Fit is it
Comments
Our standard dog car is a 1998 LX470 with 130,000+ miles. It has never had a problem, and has a rear AC unit so the Bouviers can stay cool without freezing my wife. The floor to ceiling height in the Lexus is 41.5 inches, and I measured the 2008 FIT, and it is also 41.5 inches. This means I can see out the rear window when I change lanes and back out of parking places. The Lexus get about 11 mpg and uses premium at $4.50 -$4.60 per gallon. I only drive it around 12,000 miles per year, but these prices frustrate me. A local Honda dealer said I can bring the two dogs over, put them in the FIT, and go for a drive. If it works as well as it appears it will, I will order a 2009 model, which is slightly larger.
I read the posts about cleaning the interior – Bouvs don’t shed, so that is not a big issue. However, they get pretty messy (fresh mud makes for a great cooling off spot). The thing I would like to change is the black (hot) interior. I wonder if there is something available – perhaps at a car restoration place – that could be installed?
In the summer we leave them in the car with the AC running when we go into a store. Has anyone idled for a time with the AC on on a hot day? Does the interior stay cool?
Thanks!
Bill
2008-07-12 06:58:50
Have three large dogs and with the low rear floor the old one has no trouble getting in. The inside space is almost the same as my CRV when the rear seats are down.
2008-06-09 13:24:01
I just bought my Fit and have been getting 100 kms for 6 litres, or 46 miles to the gallon!! It’s fun to drive and easily transports my two corgies in their “Pop and Go” kennels.
2008-06-05 09:58:09
Called a Jazz in the UK, this is the best town car available,no question, we live in Jersey,British Channel Islands.So have no expierance of motorway driving in this car but for general island use (speed limit is 40mph here!) this car is great!
Have to aggree about cleaning carpets,bit of a job,but no car is perfect for our big Lab/Rott mix!
2008-05-29 15:03:07
I have two Welsh Springer Spaniels , 51-53 lbs each. would they fit in the Fit back area and be able to sit or possible stand? I was just in a Fit and did notice poor power on hills. Thanks for comments,
2008-05-26 11:55:58
We lıve ın Turkey and It is JAZZ ınstead of Fit,It ıs a great car for my golden retrıever…safe and nıce..but some tımes ıf there ıs a car behınd my car, my dog takes attentıon of them. one day ı may have an accıdent:)crush!!!!
2008-05-01 03:12:37
My fit is on its way to its first dog show, with a little tweeking I was (barely) able to squeeze 2 400 vari kennels (side by side), on top of them 2 soft crates for in the hotel, one grooming table & arm, a fairly large tack box/holds dryer and a suit case for myself. I had to scoot the drivers seat up a tad more than I would like to get the 2 crates in but will solve this problem in the future by buying 2 wire crates that measure 21 inches across instead of the standard 24 inches and they will be able to be slightly further towards the back of the car. I will also invest in a rooftop rack and carrier to give us just a little more interior room. If they brought just a small bag I could still fit an extra person since the front seat is still vacant.
This will not hold 3 dogs (Goldens) in 400 crates but with the price of gas I imagine I may be travelling to shows far more frequently in my Fit and saving my Suburban for the trips when I have to take 3+ dogs.
Over all I must give this little car a big thumbs up, only real draw back is the fabric which requires a roller brush in the door pocket for constant dog hair clean up.
2008-04-25 06:23:17
Just got our Fit. It’s a great dog car. I agree with claudia above, the fabric makes it really hard to clean after dogs have been inside. It’s great for hauling groceries and garden supplies. Milage is super, too.
2008-03-09 15:50:40
Good to know.
2008-02-03 10:34:51
I bought my Fit in June for myself, my 40# Catahoula mix, and my 80# pit bull. I also tote my roommate’s 130# Rhodesian often. All 3 dogs can fit comfortably in the car with the seats down. The mileage varies greatly according to the weight in vehicle, but I’ve never gotten under 30 even with a full load o’ critters (I avg 36 when it’s just me driving to work).
I always had trucks and SUVs in the past but was ready to downsize for environmental concerns. I do not miss my 4×4s at all, and I really enjoyed them. The Fit is so fun to drive and so enjoyable for my pets that I can hardly say enough about it.
I absolutely LOVE this car and would recommend it to anyone wanting a comfy ride for themselves and the furkids that doesn’t suck fuel.
2008-01-30 23:30:52
I can fit 3 VariKennels size 300 or 2 -300’s and one 200 in my Fit. And I still have plenty of room for my EZ-up and gear.
2008-01-30 15:40:58
I can fit 3 greyhounds and an IG in my Fit, comfortably. I traded in my Honda Element for one because the Element only got 22 mpg, and the back windows didn’t open, so dogs were always jockeying for the front seat with the window that went down.
What’s not dog friendly about the Fit:
1. interior sucks for cleaning, to put it mildly. dirt just sticks to everything including that waffle weave silly stuff on the side doors. That makes me really miss the Element. why couldn’t they have used the same interior as the Element in the Fit?
2. no roof rack – so when i do haul all the dogs i need some place for my stuff.
Some Fit car design issues:
1. really doesn’t get 40 mpg unless you drive without pushing the gas pedal down.
2. Front spoiler thing is way too low to the ground and is always scraping when you go up or down the slightest incline.
3. no arm rests
4. poor tinting on the windows, so car heats up a lot in summer without special tinting done.
5. no car mats
6. really poor carpet and material choices for interior
All that said, I do like the Fit, just wish the Element got better gas mileage.
claudia
www.greyhoundgang.org
2007-12-13 13:48:04
If you have only one large or two medium dogs, this is the best car on the market for fuel, room, fun, cost.
2007-12-11 18:10:00
I have had my Fit for 2 1/2 years, and love it. I put two 400 varie crates side by side and a 3rd dog on a tie down on front of the crates, they have plenty of room. The down side is the interior material, you vacum all the time.
Mary
2008-08-19 14:15:19