Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater [was "Picking up my..."]

[samwichse]

Yeah, those Fits handle really nicely for such a relatively tall/narrow box. My wife's now has over 200k on it and the handling is a little sloppier... it's probably due some bushings and shocks. Though the sway arm links have weirdly never clunked or rattled.

The first gen cars with auto (what we have) get significantly worse gas mileage than the 2nd/3rd gen cars. The auto doesn't like to upshift aggressively, and even the sport model with the paddle shifters, the TCU doesn't allow a very wide band of early shifting or much torque lockup at lower speeds.

OTOH, you might try a Fiat 500. That engine is really efficient at relatively low power outputs thanks to multiair, and the transmission's gear ratios aren't nearly as short. Although they're dying for a boat tail to improve their brick-like aerodynamics (CD = 0.36, 0.35 for the Abarth).

[Gasoline Fumes]

I've used a file or angle grinder to de-rust the edges of spinning rotors. Just let it idle in 1st gear and try not to get caught by the wheel studs!

When my neighbors got their 2007 Fit, the A/C didn't work. I charged it and it worked great at least until they sold it a few years later.

The valvetrain isn't hydraulic, so I wouldn't expect any rattle.

I love the Fit handling!

[MetroMPG]

I was not surprised to learn it was on Car & Driver's 10 Best list for 2007. Easily the most fun to drive subcompact [and for years later].

But it's a bit of a porker!

I usually push my car if I'm just moving it in the driveway. The Fit is noticeably heavier:

2432 lbs for the manual. That's over 400 lbs heavier than a 2014 Mirage manual!

[MetroMPG]

+ summer tires with more PSI =





Now we're getting somewhere!


~60 km trip. Similar route & conditions as my trip home [though this one was a round trip; the 40 mpg trip home was 1-way, into a headwind].


But the mods need more modifying: the opening under the plate wasn't large enough to keep the cooling fan from cycling 5 or 6 times. And it wasn't even hot out! Low 20's C = low 70's F.

[MetroMPG]

Also!

I confirmed the stabilizer bar end links are the source of the front end clunk/rattles.

Also!

I confirmed this car is WAY more fun to throw into a curve than the Mirage. I mean, I already knew that in theory, but got a chance to put it into practice last evening on a couple of my favourite back road S bends.

Mitsu could have saved itself a lot of grief by tuning the Mirage's suspension and steering more like the Fit's for North America and Europe.

[MetroMPG]

Best round trip MPG so far on a highway route I do regularly.

Coinkydink?

Possibly, maybe.

[MetroMPG]

Classic lawn edging air dam.

I will freely admit I have not tested ANY of these mods so far, and don't intend to.

In my limited experience, the air dam has a chance of making things slightly worse rather than better. I saw that on my 2nd gen Prius (tested). But aside from that car, all other similar air dams that I've tested on 2-box cars like the Fit have shown an improvement in either coastdown times or A-B-A MPG runs.

So I'm rollin' the dice and going in blind! And mixing metaphors!

[MetroMPG]

Short shelf life in rainy weather.

I've gotten a couple of months out of CAD mods in the winter... Not gonna happen this time of year.

[19bonestock88]

Maybe spray lots of paint on the cardboard, or plasti dip?

[COcyclist]

Nice find. Let's see those mods in coroplast.