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Lovert Mafukure
The first generation Honda Fit — GD1 to GD5 — is the most popular model in the Hatch Category. It is a fun to drive Hatch with plenty of room for passengers. I’m sure it’s the best of the small cars when it comes to interior space and boot space.
Looks
The Honda Fit is quite cute and chic I’d say. Honda meant this to be a feminine car. I can tell because it has a mirror on the driver’s side sun visor. Men do not need mirrors unless they are the kind that are rather too in touch with their feminine side. Tall people like me have trouble with the leg room and steering adjustability. I had a chance to sample a Blue dot Honda Fit and I realised I needed a special driver’s seat. Apart from that, it’s quite neat, with audio steering controls on the Blue-dot model.
Engine
The Honda fit comes with the L series power plant. It is a 4-cylinder single overhead camshaft engine. Two different variations are available for the Honda Fit, L13A and L15A. They run on the same L-block platform but have different cylinder heads. The L13A is the 1399cc and it’s the one that comes with the Red dot Model and features two valves and two plugs per cylinder and runs a single overhead camshaft. According to Honda, it helps with fuel efficiency.
The L15A is the one that comes with the Blue dot Honda Fit model and is 1500cc. This variant comes with Vtec setup, 4 valves and one spark plug per cylinder. The Vtec generates more power than the iDSI setup. Both these engines are highly fuel-efficient engines and Honda claims fuel consumption of around 20km/litre.
Transmissions
Honda Fit L series engines are mated with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) or a 5 Speed manual Gearbox.
The most popular CVT is misunderstood by many people who treat it as an automatic transmission — it’s Not! The Blue-dot Honda Fit with L15A is the sportier version and comes equipped with a 7-speed option. Since its a CVT, it makes more sense to say it has 7 different speed ratios since it doesn’t actually have gears.
Price
The Pricing for these cars is quite within reach for most people. One can import on a budget in the sub region of four thousand. The local market has a wider range of cheaper models. A lot of them may have been abused as taxis. Many people consider them as taxis for their fuel efficiency, bullet proof engines and plenty cabin space.
Buying Used
Usually people start disposing when they start having problems especially gearbox problems. When you buy one get a professional to do a pre-purchase inspection for you. I’d be more than happy to assist. It is sad to see people buy bags of lemons when they think they are buying a bundle of joy. An abused cheap car can easily cost more money if one just buys with the faith that it’s a good car.
Verdict
Honda Fits are strong cars compared to other smaller cars. Honda has a history of making engines that last beyond expectation and the L series engine is no exception. The CVT is just as good and offers more efficiency than an automatic transmission ever could. There is a general point of view that Honda Fits have problematic transmissions and it’s not so true. Its transmission problems are more of human error than an engineering weakness. The challenge mainly borders around maintenance of these transmissions. People tend to neglect servicing the CV transmissions and oftentimes those who do use the wrong transmission fluid. CVTs do not use ATF. Once ATF is used, disaster ensues.
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