Faults:

- Swaybar end links needed replacing.

- Replaced a couple of oxygen sensors.

- Muffler and part of exhaust pipe rusted out.

- Replaced serpentine belt.

- Rust hole in trunk floor.

- Rust around rear wheels.

- Rust on rocker panels.

- Replaced front pads, rotors, calipers, brake bleeder valve.

- Has recently started throwing the odd ABS sensor code for the rear driver side wheel.

- Starting throwing the odd misfire code for cyl #2 in really cold weather (and changing the plugs and coils didn't fix it).

General Comments:

The Honda Fit is a great smaller car. These are better with the manual transmission as Honda makes some of the best manuals. The engine is smoother and quieter than the engine you get in a Focus or Mazda 3 of the same era.

Mine is a Sport model. But the Sport model is actually slightly slower than the base model due to the added equipment and NO increase in power. For me, the biggest benefit to the Sport model is ABS and the better stereo.

I bought my 2008 Fit for CAD$4000 plus tax back in 2019 with 145,000km on it and over the past 5 years, I put on over 150,000km on it.

Overall, this car has held up better than expected. Yeah it's rusting now, but it's also now 16 years old, has 297,000km on it and has spent its entire life in the rust belt where the roads get salted in the winter.

Other cars I've owned (such as a 2005 Focus Wagon I owned) had similar amounts of rust in the 10-12 year age range.

The only real defect this car has is an issue where water seeps in at a slow rate into the trunk causing premature rust. I tried finding where it's coming in from but haven't been able to figure it out. Everything else is pretty much wear and tear after 16 years of driving in the rust belt.

It's been a great car. And it's still on its original clutch.

Fuel economy is good for a non-hybrid vehicle. Over the past 5 years, I've averaged about 6L/100km... which is about 39 mpg (US gallons) or 47 mpg (Imperial gallons).

It's not terribly fast (especially with the A/C on and 4 people in the car), but it's fast enough for a daily driver. The brakes are good, the handling is good and the car has a nice overall feel for an affordable car.

It's also very roomy for it's size... over 21 cu ft of trunk space with the seats up.... which is better than many larger cars.

If you liked the Honda Civic Wagons from the 1980s (such as the 1987 Civic Wagovan I once owned), the Fit is the closest new/newer car that you can buy that is comparable... except that the Fit is safer, has better fuel economy and has better performance.

No, it's not a luxury car and it doesn't have the luxury car bells and whistles.

But it also doesn't have the operating/repair costs of a luxury car... far from it.

Faults:

Oxygen sensor failed at 62,000 kilometers. Honda would not repair under warranty.

Front brake rotors warped at about 100,000 kilometers and were replaced. 2nd set of brake rotors is warped now and will have to be replaced.

Rattles and noises from the dash from day one, and it's worse when it is cold outside.

Gas mileage never lived up to Honda's claim of 51 MPG, and when I complained about it to the dealer, I was told that Honda used mileage information provided by Transport Canada, and to take it up with them.

General Comments:

This is one of the most dependable cars I have ever owned. Apart from regular maintenance and three sets of tires, I have only had to replace the oxygen sensor.

I have used my Fit for several road trips with my family, which consists of my wife and I and three girls. The Fit keeps up with highway traffic all day long, but there is quite a bit of road noise. Even at 176,000 kilometers, I would not hesitate to take it on a road trip.

There is tons of room inside, with the back seats that fold up for tall items, or fold down flat for bigger items.

Even though gas mileage was never as good as Honda claimed, I still get between 500 and 600 kilometers to a tank of gas. The most I ever got was 650 kliks.

All in all, an excellent little car. I'm going to pass it on to my daughter, and will buy myself a new Fit.