the stiffer the suspension the better. either one is going to feel like a cadillac after 2.5 years in an evo.
i test drove what i believe was a 1.8L vibe 2008 vibe auto yesterday. it was surprisingly decent but the interior was pretty crappy. the 2009, at least in the brochures, looks much nicer on the inside. they didn't have any in stock so i couldn't check it out in person. i asked B (slopro on here) to give me a call when they get in a 2009 so i can check it out in person. i also have GM supplier pricing through work so it should be easy to get a good price.
i drove the 3 right after the vibe and i do think it felt a little crisper and a little sportier but that also could have been because it was a manual vs the auto.
anyone have opinions on the fit?
The Fit's a good car that will rev high with it's small racy engine. Although it doesn't make big power, it makes fun power and gets excellent (much better than the 3) gas mileage. If you are thinking of modification, the 3 has a very healthy aftermarket, but because the fit is a honda, there's really no comparison...there is just so much more out there for the car; keep in mind however, that if you'll be doing even light engine mods, that the fit might become a money pit if you start trying to upgrade power to match what the 3 already comes with. The Fit has a lot of clever storage solutions, but so too does the 3 hatch... so if carrying stuff is a part of your verdict-equation, then you'll need to weight these carefully.
Consumer Guide has a new cars section that is fairly thorough, so you might look there for specific numbers on things like inside and outside dimensions.
I had the same comparison to make when I was shopping, and I didn't choose the fit b/c of it's low engine output...and although it gets phenomenal mileage, under a full load, it just didn't perform as well as the 3 did, and b/c it's more narrow than the 3, I found that the ability to carry a lot of stuff was made up for by it's height..so it the amount of stuff that could be carried seemed like a dead heat to me.
Ultimately what did it for me was realizing that (for the prices that I was looking at) that the 3 was a lot more car for the price than the fit was, and that I'd be happier with the 3 out of the box than I would be with the fit. If I had gotten the fit, I would have wanted to start changing things right away...but a lot is right with the 3 from the jump, so there isn't a lot to want to change. It's well made, well priced, has an amazing suspension, crisp steering, and it's a nice and balanced looking car.
I've had mine for a year, and been on 2 long distance trips (1 fully loaded, 1 solo) and on both the car was easy to drive, quiet, and comfortable. When I want to **** the backroads by my house, the car then becomes what I want it to there as well. The 3's a car that will put a smile on your face, and not let you down in any situation. The Fit simply won't make you frown.
