Installing New Speakers in the Using the Factory Mounts
This weekend we installed some new speakers in the Fit. The install was pretty straight forward, save for some door clips and the way the factory speaker basket mounts to the door. But here’s a quick writeup for those of you looking to do a similar install. The factory speakers really are junk paper cones, and it was fun to tear them apart.
Removing the door panel is pretty straight forward. There is a single Phillips screw that goes through inside door handle, and there are 3 more screws inside the center of the door which can be accessed by pulling off the plastic cover that encases the center of the door. Once these screws are off, carefully pull on the edges of the door panel to pop off the door clips, and finally push the door handle through the door panel, remove all of the plugs and pull the panel up to bring it up over the door edge.
Now that the door is off, remove the factory speaker and basket together. You’ll notice that there aren’t any screws, what you need to do is gently pull the top part of the speaker towards you, and use a flathead screwdriver to push the tab down that will allow the speaker to come all of the way out.
To mount the new speaker, we just cut the original basket up and screwed the new speaker into it and simply replaced the whole unit into the door. We also cut and resoldered the factory clips, so that we didn’t have to cut the car’s harness.
How to reset the oil life monitor / indicator on a Honda Fit
My oil life indicator got down to 10% today (at about 6500 miles) and, since I had the day off for Columbus day, I decided to take my Fit in for its first oil change. Living in the small ghetto-ish community of Echo Park here in Los Angeles, there aren’t too many Honda service centers or even Econo Lube n Tube’s around. This is why I found myself at the little service center in my local independently run gas station. They changed the oil on the Fit for $30 and got it done fairly quickly. The only downside was that they didn’t reset the damned oil life inidicator. Thanks to the “Having a Fit” blog, I discovered how to reset the indicator myself and thought I’d share them with you:
- Press the trip meter select/reset pin until you the oil life reminder is displayed
- Press and hold the select/reset pin down for approximately 10 seconds until the oil life reminder is blinking
- Press and hold the select/reset pin down for another 5 seconds or so until the oil life reminder is reset to 100%
Big thanks to Having a Fit for posting this. Up next, I’ll be posting about my brand new Pioneer Avic F700BT.
What kind of mileage do you get in your Fit?
My fit is a 2008 Sport with automatic transmission. Since I opted for the AT over MT (a pretty damned big decision mostly influenced by the hours a week I spend on the LA freeways), I’ve known not to expect amaaazing gas mileage out of my Fit, but that said, I’m still just not that impressed with my results.
I’ve heard people say that I need to wait for the car to be truly broken in, but at this point my Fit has just over 6k miles on it and I’m still basically averaging around 29mpg. My useage is almost entirely highway and I really expected to see closer to the 34mpgpromised. I’ve even heard of some people on various Fit/Honda forums getting up to 45mpg … which leads me to wonder whether the rumors of amazing gas mileage for the Fit stem mostly from people who drive it like a 90 year old woman. I’m no where near the most aggressive driver I know, but driving in LA, you definitely need to accelerate enough to not die when merging onto the freeway.
So, whats the deal Fit lovers? What kind of mileage are you getting? Anyone have any real world, practical, tips that don’t involve drafting behind a giant truck or turning off the engine in the middle of a crowded highway?
Honda Fit Best Selling Car in Japan for 11th Month in a Row
For the 11th straight month, the Honda Fit has ranked as the best selling compact car in Japan.
Up 52% in September, the Honda fit has sold 16,350 units, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said in a release today. Toyota Motor Corp.’s Corolla ranked second with 12,176 vehicles sold, and the Vitz took third with 9,972 sold.
Demand for Honda’s Fit and the new Freed minivan boosted the Tokyo-based company’s domestic sales, excluding minicars, by 12 percent in the fiscal first half. The Fit, revamped last October, helped Honda defy the industry’s 2.9 percent drop to the lowest level in 34 years.
Japan’s first-half auto sales slumped to 1.54 million vehicles as rising unemployment and decade-high inflation sapped demand for new vehicles.
Here is a ranking of the top 10 Japanese subcompact’s for September:
——————–
No. Model
1. Honda Fit
2. Toyota Corolla
3. Toyota Vitz
4. Honda Freed
5. Mazda Demio
6. Nissan Tiida
7. Nissan Serena
8. Toyota Prius
9. Nissan Note
10. Toyota Passo
——————–
Bloomberg.com Comes Down on the Honda Fit
Unlike the LA times and many recent publications that seem to have a glowing review of the new Honda Fit, Jason Harper from Bloomberg.com didn’t seem to like it quite as much. Harper states that people might take the many positive reviews that the car has been receiving as an indication that it’s a “refined and grown-up sort of car.” Harper thinks it isn’t.
He said that in his 400 mile test drive the meek 117hp engine struggles up hills and while the chassis has been stiffened in the 2009 model there is still significant body roll through turns. Harper states that the seats are cheap, uncomfortable and don’t offer proper lumbar support, the interior looks cheap and overall he thinks the car is ugly. While the “ugly” is just an opinion, he’s right about most of his complaints, although he *is* talking about a $16k car.
The article didn’t only have bad things to say about the Fit though. Harper liked the cabin and cargo space, the large windows with no blind spots, navigation system and other amentities that have made the car so popular.
Read the full article on Bloomberg.com.
The LA Times loves the 2009 Fit
From the LA Times’ review of the 2009 Fit:
You may have guessed: The Fit is pretty near the top of my favorite-cars list, and not because it’s so fast and awesome-looking, because it oh-so ain’t. It has the beauty of a certain well-wrought urn, exactly what it needs to be — self-defined, lightly perfect. One of these days I’ll buy one, if I can ever get near the dealership.
Nothing like having the local paper justify your recent car purchase. 
A Look at the Physical Differences Between the 2008 and 2009 Honda Fit
The physical changes between model years 2008 and 2009 of the Honda Fit might be minor at first glance, but when viewed side-by-side, they become much more apparent. Wheel size went from an optional 15″ to 16″, the body became more curvaceous, while at the same time looking more aggressive with a profile similar to the honda si hatchback from a couple of years ago. Personally I love the changes they made, especially when looking at the car front-on, but to each their own. -kent
Honda hates Americans with right arms…
… at least this is the only explanation I have for why the ‘07-’08 Fit was released in North American without a center console. As I drive around in my ‘08 Fit, I find myself constantly looking for a place to comfortably rest my right arm. It just doesn’t feel right to let my arm fall limp onto the e-brake in the center. I can place my arm behind the passenger seat, but when I’m driving with a buddy, that isnt the most appropriate thing to do.
Of course, Japanese and European owners of the Fit (or its Euro counterpart the Honda Jazz) do not have this problem… which begs the question: Why does Honda hate Americans? Or at least Americans with 2 arms?
Possible Solutions:
Thankfully, there are a few solutions of which I am considering to rectify this problem.
- Import a JDM center console - This is probably the most ideal solution in that I’d not be using an aftermarket part, but rather a real Honda part that they simply didn’t feel like including with the American version of the Fit. A few places online offer this piece with the price ranging from $200-$300. Pretty expensive sadly. Check out an install video of the JDM center console w/ armrest here.
- Cup holder based arm rest - I’ve seen a few of these online like here and here. These things seem to just plug right into the cup holders in the back of the current US center console. This is definitely an ugly solution. I’ve seen these range from $50-$200 on various sites and on eBay.
So far, I’m not really happy with any solution I’ve found. Importing a JDM center console is just way too expensive, but the cup holder arm rests all just look way too cheap. Is my arm destined to always be sad? Anyone else out there have a creative solution?
The 2009 Honda Fit!
Looks like Honda has created a new site for the 2009 Honda Fit. Check it out here.
As a recent 2008 Fit owner, I’m a bit saddened that I no longer have the new hotness, but honestly I think I prefer the look of the older Fit over the 2009. I do wish the satellite linked navigation and iPod controls were an option when I bought, but I’ve been eyeing the Pioneer Avic F700BT, which should do everything the stock Honda Sat Nav system does and a lot more.
One interesting thing to note is that it appears Honda has squeezed a little more horsepower out of the going from the somewhat underpowered 109HP to a more average 117HP.
…and Honda has apparently abandoned the “Fit is Go” campaign, now going with a comic book inspired campaign. That bums me out a little bit. Sadface.
The Honda Fit Blog is Go!
Hello and welcome to HondaFitBlog.com. As a relatively new Honda Fit owner, this blog will chronicle my journey of Fit-ness. In the coming weeks and months, you’ll see detailed write ups on stereo installs, aftermarket parts and, of course, the reason to buy a Fit: Gas Mileage.
Riding shotgun on this blog will by my sherpa in all things Honda, Kento, who also writes The S2K Blog and is a lifelong Honda nut.
If you have any questions, comments or general feedback, please email us. We’d love to hear from you.
Again, welcome to The Honda Fit Blog. These are exciting times for Fit owners and now the Fit AND this blog are GO!