Opinions on Honda Fit or Insight

[fiveoh]

I'm finally considering trading in my car(2011 mustang gt) for something more practical and fuel efficient.  I really don't need it and hardly ever use all the extra power.(although I am quite attached to it)  I drive approx. 40 miles a day round trip and it averages 19.5mpg with 93 octane.(required since its tuned) 

I'm looking at a 2010-12 Honda insight or Honda fit.  Any opinions on either of these cars from anyone that's owned/driven one?  The fit seems to have more room and be cheaper but the insight has better mpg.  I've got a wife and a kid and we plan to have 1 or 2 more so I need something with a backseat.(prefer 4 doors)  I like the prius too but its so much more expensive than either Honda. 

[gdborton]

It's a bit odd asking for advice on such a new vehicle on the Mustache forums.

I drive an 02 Insight, and I like it a lot.  I'm guessing, though, that you aren't going to like either car coming from a Mustang....  I punched your numbers in the calculator below and the Honda Fit is the cheapest option until about the 13 year mark, as which the hybrid starts to pay the difference.

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/calc/

[fiveoh]

It's a bit odd asking for advice on such a new vehicle on the Mustache forums.

I drive an 02 Insight, and I like it a lot.  I'm guessing, though, that you aren't going to like either car coming from a Mustang....  I punched your numbers in the calculator below and the Honda Fit is the cheapest option until about the 13 year mark, as which the hybrid starts to pay the difference.

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/calc/

The fit is one of MMM's recommended cars. 

http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/03/19/top-10-cars-for-smart-people/

Thanks for the calculator, very good info.  I'll probably drive both to see which I prefer but leaning towards the fit now. 

The cars will be a huge difference for me from the mustang I'm sure. 

I'd still like to hear from any owners of either car on likes/dislikes! 

[Kazimieras]

I've driven the regular Fit and the Hybrid Insight, not the regular one sadly. Avoid the hybrid insight. There is a lag in the car and I don't think the fuel savings justifies its premium price quite yet. I have loved the Fit every time I have driven it. It is practical, good on gas, and can store a LOT of stuff. I have moved a washer before without issue. I also moved about 800 lbs of flooring in it, and it still had some pep.

[Eric]

The Fit has a ton of storage room.  Way more than it looks like.  Those back seats fold down flat creating a large cargo area.  That's the biggest difference between the two that I can see.  I'll probably look at getting one of these '09-'10 models in about 5 years or so, assuming my car lasts that long.

[prodarwin]

It's a bit odd asking for advice on such a new vehicle on the Mustache forums.

I drive an 02 Insight, and I like it a lot.  I'm guessing, though, that you aren't going to like either car coming from a Mustang....  I punched your numbers in the calculator below and the Honda Fit is the cheapest option until about the 13 year mark, as which the hybrid starts to pay the difference.

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/calc/

That's a ridiculously terrible calculator.  It doesn't take into account the resale value of the vehicle and assumes you are going to take out a 5 YEAR LOAN on the car.  The best way to figure this out is to do look at all the costs for yourself instead of stupid calculators like this.

I like both cars, but if the Insight is an option, then so is the Prius - and its a better option IMO.

[frugalman]

I have a 2012 model Fit. Love love love it! I drive pretty much like a hypermiler (right lane on expressway, at the speed limit, disconnect cruise when I see a light or traffic slowing). I get about 38 mpg summer, 34 mpg winter (Minnesota). It's just two of us. Trunk is surprisingly large even with rear seats UP. With rear seats down, the floor is flat and the cargo area is like a small minivan, very large.

[snshijuptr]

We love our 2008 Fit. We have 1 car seat in the rear passenger side, but if you like the seat all the way back it doesn't really fit a 2nd car seat behind the driver.

[MoneyLifeandMore]

I have a Civic and my Dad has a fit. My car actually gets better gas mileage than his if that is your main concern. Of course, every model year is different so you'll have to take that into account. I think I got my Civic cheaper than my Dad got his Fit as well.

[Riceman]

I traded a 2005 Mazda tribute (and some cash) for a 2008 Honda fit.  The tribute served me well in a lot of ways, but I was moving and didn't need a high-clearance off-road vehicle anymore.  Very moustachian trade.

[Forcus]

I'd think that you'd prefer the Fit over the Insight. Jumping from a Mustang to an Insight might be too much of a shock to the system.... lol.

[ivyhedge]

I have a 2012 model Fit. Love love love it! I drive pretty much like a hypermiler (right lane on expressway, at the speed limit, disconnect cruise when I see a light or traffic slowing). I get about 38 mpg summer, 34 mpg winter (Minnesota). It's just two of us. Trunk is surprisingly large even with rear seats UP. With rear seats down, the floor is flat and the cargo area is like a small minivan, very large.

@Frugalman: check your tire inflation and make sure you're not running the A/C with great frequency. Our weather isn't the same in MA, but we kept a 5spd slushbox Fit through a rough winter and summer over about 1.5 years and saw a median 42.5mpg. Our worst months were in the winter (38mpg - lots of A/C use b/c of coastal fogging) and best were fall (45+mpg). Never hypermiled, though didn't drive faster than 63mph, either. Agree with your cargo comments! Absolutely stunning!


@OP: Of those two, the Fit will at least allow for some "spirited econo driving" (slap some 205s on it and it will handle quite smartly, with negligible efficiency impact). As much as we're Honda fans (we have a CR-Z), the Insight is horribly decontented if you're used to Hondas from ... say ... the late 1980s/90s. Ouch: it's an (hard)plastic fest. So is the Fit, but at least it's more likely that the cheapest crap is away from of your extremities. The Fit isn't underpowered, and it's great fun with a manual. The slushbox is life sucking, however (it's smooth and its programming is auto adjusting, but it's still life sucking...).

[ivyhedge]

I haven't driven the Insight but I have driven the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Echo, Toyota Tercel, Hyundai's Accent and Elantra (multiple model years.)

Of all of them, I liked the Elantra GT (c.2006) for comfort and room. The Fit is a close second for comfort and has a huge amount of cargo room. Most of the others were "meh" and the Accent was abysmally awful in every way. (I haven't driven the latest update of that though)

Look at use Fits in the 2007-2009 range and save a bundle over newer ones.

Agreed, except for their first year. And avoid the "Sport" model. Aside from slightly wider rubber, which you can plus up when it's time, there's nothing which increases performance (and the wing slightly decreases rearward visibility).

[m8547]

@Frugalman: check your tire inflation and make sure you're not running the A/C with great frequency. Our weather isn't the same in MA, but we kept a 5spd slushbox Fit through a rough winter and summer over about 1.5 years and saw a median 42.5mpg. Our worst months were in the winter (38mpg - lots of A/C use b/c of coastal fogging) and best were fall (45+mpg). Never hypermiled, though didn't drive faster than 63mph, either. Agree with your cargo comments! Absolutely stunning!

The A/C will run by default when you use the defroster, but the A/C light won't light up and you can't turn it off. If it's the same as the Civic, there's a special sequence of things you can do (a cheat code for your car!) that will reprogram it to turn on the A/C light when the A/C is on for the defroster, and then you can use the button to turn it off. You should still run the A/C occasionally in the winter to keep the compressor lubricated, but you might not need it all the time.

On an unrelated note, I saw a 2000 Insight with a little over 100k miles on Craigslist today for $3500, and I was really tempted to buy it! I's probably worth that much in scrap aluminum alone! Sadly the new Insight weighs 1000 lbs more, it's all steel.

[Forcus]

Since you like domestics, there is another option. If you are willing to go older, a Focus (standard) or SVT. I have a 2002 ZX5 and just bought a used PowerWorks supercharger for it. I expect a solid 230-250 HP when I am done, for an expenditure of around $2k (plus LSD and clutch). 250 HP in a 2700 lb car is fairly exciting. No qualms about reliability either, parts are cheap, etc, etc.

[savingtofreedom]

I just bought a 2013 Fit and really like it.  As others have mentioned you can really fit alot in the back especially if you fold the seats down.  For the price point I think it was a good value.

[ivyhedge]

@Frugalman: check your tire inflation and make sure you're not running the A/C with great frequency. Our weather isn't the same in MA, but we kept a 5spd slushbox Fit through a rough winter and summer over about 1.5 years and saw a median 42.5mpg. Our worst months were in the winter (38mpg - lots of A/C use b/c of coastal fogging) and best were fall (45+mpg). Never hypermiled, though didn't drive faster than 63mph, either. Agree with your cargo comments! Absolutely stunning!

The A/C will run by default when you use the defroster, but the A/C light won't light up and you can't turn it off. If it's the same as the Civic, there's a special sequence of things you can do (a cheat code for your car!) that will reprogram it to turn on the A/C light when the A/C is on for the defroster, and then you can use the button to turn it off. You should still run the A/C occasionally in the winter to keep the compressor lubricated, but you might not need it all the time.

On an unrelated note, I saw a 2000 Insight with a little over 100k miles on Craigslist today for $3500, and I was really tempted to buy it! I's probably worth that much in scrap aluminum alone! Sadly the new Insight weighs 1000 lbs more, it's all steel.

@M85...You can defeat the A/C in all climate modes. Hondas have, since the early 1990s on some models, included the (very useful) A/C-on with defrost. That the electronic on switch remains tripped for subsequent adjustments on a non-automated system is an annoyance but it can be overridden in any Honda with which I'm familiar (Fit, Civic, CRV, RSX, Accord, TSX, RL, CRZ - the latter four with automated systems). If you doubt this, grab a cheap ODB interface for your laptop and plug it in - there are trial tuner packages you can run in diagnostic mode to measure system load.

[charles_roberts]

Go for the fit. Only heard good things about that motor..
It's a courageous thing selling a Mustang but good on ya buddy!

[prodarwin]

@OP: Of those two, the Fit will at least allow for some "spirited econo driving" (slap some 205s on it and it will handle quite smartly, with negligible efficiency impact). As much as we're Honda fans (we have a CR-Z), the Insight is horribly decontented if you're used to Hondas from ... say ... the late 1980s/90s

Or even some modern Hondas.  My 06 S2000 handled pretty well! :)  But yes, nothing will compare if you are used to the older double-wishbone chassis cars.

The Fit and Insight are chassis-siblings and share most (all?) suspension components.  If you think the Fit can be fun to drive, I'd bet the Insight could be just as fun.

Also related:  The Fit is taller than the Insight, and actually violates the SCCA rollover rules (although is explicitly allowed) while the Insight does not.

[rtrnow]

I sold my mustang GT for a 2009 fit. It's slow of course but with the 5 speed it's not too bad. The car is pretty nimble and I average 37-38 mpg with a even mix of city/hwy and no attempt at really hypermiling. I try to predict stops but I also accelerate hard and shift around 4,000 - 4,500 rpm with the occasional run to redline. I've actually been impressed that unlike a 2005 accord I owned, this fit likes to be shifted really quickly. That does make it pretty entertaining to toss around corners and stir the gears to keep that little engine screaming.

[Flying Squirrel]

OP, you are in a very similar situation to me. After reading this blog, I decided to sell my Infiniti G35 Coupe. I ended up purchasing a bike on craigslist and being car-less for about a month. Then I eventually found a great deal on a 2011 Fit.

Also, in the Mustachian spirit, I decided to down size where I was living and ended up moving the following month. I can't tell you how extremely happy I am with the Honda Fit. I had people calling my car "Magic" due to the crazy amount of LARGE things I could fit into this TINY car!

I haven't had any regrets selling my (clown) sports car and picking up a used Honda. If anything, I feel like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders.

Good luck!

[NellGwyn]

And avoid the "Sport" model. Aside from slightly wider rubber, which you can plus up when it's time, there's nothing which increases performance (and the wing slightly decreases rearward visibility).

I have a 2008 base Fit, and on long highway trips I wish I had a Sport instead -- the base model doesn't have cruise control, and since I don't drive all that frequently, my driving leg starts to ache after about an hour. Other than cruise control, though, there's really nothing else I feel my car lacks. I love the cargo capacity and how the back seats fold up as well as down (great for keeping my dog and his hair off the seats), the fuel efficiency is really good, and it's a lot of fun to drive for a 4-cylinder. I'll be happy to keep it until it falls apart!

[rtrnow]

And avoid the "Sport" model. Aside from slightly wider rubber, which you can plus up when it's time, there's nothing which increases performance (and the wing slightly decreases rearward visibility).

I have a 2008 base Fit, and on long highway trips I wish I had a Sport instead -- the base model doesn't have cruise control, and since I don't drive all that frequently, my driving leg starts to ache after about an hour.

That's exactly why I bought the sport. I have to drive a lot for work (love getting paid 56.5 cents per mile) and no cruise would really suck. I think the newer 2012+ models all have cruise though.

[corcoran]

For the Fit, I recommend Cruise Control if you plan to take any long trips. I bought a used one without cruise control and I miss it. Maybe its a good thing because it forces me to be in control and watch the efficiency (mpg) estimator.

[Forcus]

Cruise can be added to most cars that didn't come with it. At worst, a Rostra add on kit (which looks tacky). But depending on the vehicle, it can be as simple as adding the steering wheel with the correct controls as the wiring and electronics are already there. Have to research by vehicle though.

[fiveoh]

Thanks all for the replies.  I test drove both a 2011 insight and a 2009 Fit.  Definitely liked the fit better.  It felt more roomy and handled better.  Also the insight killed the a/c when using the auto-off engine feature at stoplights.  That's a big negative for me here in  Houston.  I'm going to try and go test out a prius as well.

I have to say driving both cars had me going WTF when getting on the freeway.  450hp to 100hp is going to be a tough change....  has me rethinking keeping the stang.  I don't NEED it but damn it is nice to have...

Anyway... I'm going to check out the prius this weekend hopefully.

[ivyhedge]

Cruise can be added to most cars that didn't come with it. At worst, a Rostra add on kit (which looks tacky). But depending on the vehicle, it can be as simple as adding the steering wheel with the correct controls as the wiring and electronics are already there. Have to research by vehicle though.

Interesting. I didn't know that the Fit v1 (old Euro Jazz) didn't include cruise. The refreshed (2009+) base and sport models do.

[rtrnow]

Interesting. I didn't know that the Fit v1 (old Euro Jazz) didn't include cruise. The refreshed (2009+) base and sport models do.

Cruise is NOT standard on the 2009 or 10. I'm not sure if it was made a standard feature in 11 or 12.