22nd Feb 2007, 18:42

But I see Saturns, Fords, Toyotas, Chevy's, and Chryslers and especially VW's with blue smoke coming out. The only difference I see in my area is that the newer American cars blow the smoke and I usually see 86-93 model year accords with the blue smoke. I have a quarter million miles and have not had any blue smoke yet on my '94. People are only critical of Honda and Toyota and get angry and feel alot of pride when they see a 16 year old Honda or Toyota with 200,000 miles or 300,000 miles burning oil.

23rd Feb 2007, 09:37

Actually I have seen cars from ALL manufacturers blowing oil at fairly low mileage (around 50k miles). Unless your driving an RX-* your still using an engine with pistons, connecting rods, rings, bearings, camshafts, and a crankshaft and the higher the RPM's you run them at the faster there gonna wear out. Hence blue smoke.

27th Feb 2007, 05:34

I wrote the original comment about being concerned with the high RPM. I'm no longer concerned with it. Since then, I've stopped everyone I see in a parking lot with a 10 year or older Honda car, some 15 or 20 years old, and I've talked to them about the car. I'm no longer concerned about the rev's; in fact, from what I've since learned, I'm pretty sure you couldn't hurt a Honda 4-cylinder engine with a bomb.

The common denominator was this: every driver was extremely enthusiastic about their car. Dyed in the wool Honda drivers. The college kids love them, and the older people talk about them like they are another one of their children. Unless everyone I talked to lied to me, no one ever had any major problems, and most never even had ANY problems other than the nuisance of putting gasoline in every once in awhile. I'll be buying a Fit as soon as possible.

28th Feb 2007, 14:45

So rather than examine a car on its inherent qualities, you simply make up your mind based on what others' opinions are?

And how is the Fit overpriced? It comes LOADED in both versions, and a comparable Cobalt is thousands more, and an inferior quality Aveo has fewer options for the same money.

And Honda engines are not "the same" as your basic Chevy engine. Anyone who knew anything about car mechanicals could tell you that.

Or why do you think the Fit extracts more mpg out of the same size engine than the Aveo?

28th Feb 2007, 18:28

No, you're NOT using the same design philosophy or design practices as a Cavalier. That's what separates the Honda engine from any other 4 cylinder in the world; better design. It actually is some kind of secret apparently, because no one else (maybe Toyota) can build a 4 cylinder that even comes close.

1st Mar 2007, 07:39

Actually, BMW makes great 4 cylinder engines. I loved the 318i (1992 - 1999). Unfortunately they only sell sixes or higher in America.

1st Mar 2007, 11:51

"Anyone who knew anything about car mechanicals could tell you that."

Class A mechanic of 26 years here. There are very few engines I haven't worked on. If you've ever been inside an engine you would know that they all look pretty damn similar inside, you would also notice that they all break down sometimes. In my 26 years as a mechanic I can confidently say that it's almost impossible to say what country's cars I see in the shop more. I will that the three brands that come in the most tend to be Chrysler, Nissan, and Volkswagen and usually for something other than the engine at that. ALL engines nowadays seem quite durable and they all use the same Otto or sometimes Atkinson internal combustion engine (sans diesel and rotary) design so that gets rid of your "there is a secret" theory. And don't even dare to talk about the quality of a car unless you've lived with it for at least 2 years. You can't make assumptions on quality because consumer reports said so.

1st Mar 2007, 14:16

Oh for goodness' sake, THANK YOU FOR A VOICE OF REASON on this stupid thread!! I couldn't agree more if I'd written it myself. Bless you, sir!

1st Mar 2007, 15:35

Consumer Reports bases their ratings on what OWNERS tell them.

And I find it hard to believe you actually think all engines are essentially the same, unless you are talking about the fact they are all internal combustion.

The Fit is a very sophisticated engine and I could tell that just from driving the automatic version of it.

1st Mar 2007, 17:47

Well I suppose by loaded you mean the minimum that any self respecting person would grudgingly accept (leather and power seats aren't even optional nor is a decent stereo). You can't even compare a Cobalt to a Fit either, the Fit is a subcompact b-car (something I wouldn't take for free) and the Cobalt is a standard compact (still wouldn't take it for free). Then there the engines 109 for the fit 148 for the Cobalt. Then there's the Chevrolets larger, more comfortable interior, and the Cobalt is actually cheaper (look them up) then once you add in the discount you can get on the Cobalt they end up being over 1000$ cheaper. And the final knockout punch... the Cobalt's 100k mile warranty. But in the end I can't stand either one, and think that they are BOTH overpriced tin cans on wheels.

1st Mar 2007, 18:14

11:51; Since you're clearly qualified, tell me if my suspicions are true; despite the fact that all engines are basically similar, I'll bet you don't see very many Toyota 4-cylinders in the shop, and even less Honda's, unless it's some 17 year old kid's car that he runs at 6 grand everywhere and can't tell you when the oil was changed last. I really would like to know, because I see many, many Honda and Toyota 4 bangers that have been beaten to what should be their death, and they just won't quit, whereas a Ford or Chevy 4-cylinder would have died long ago under the same treatment.

1st Mar 2007, 19:35

I see 17:14 hasn't done his research. The Cobalt is HEAVIER than the Fit so therefore needs MORE horsepower to do the same thing. The Fit is a class below as far as size, but has MORE room in the interior (I've driven both cars). Cobalt is NOT cheaper in America, and essentially STARTS OUT where the Fit leaves off - in fact the Cobalt I drove had MANUAL windows and door locks, things that aren't even an option in the Fit. Why would one want leather or power seats in a subcompact? Makes no sense. And the stereo, with its iPOD jack and such, is very very good.

The tin can comment is just another person who is not interested in any car this size spouting off for no reason. Drive the Fit, you'll be surprised what it can do.

And the Cobalt needs the long warranty unlike the Fit.

But the marketplace determines these things and dealers are asking upwards of $3,000 over sticker for a Fit while the Cobalt languishes by the thousands on dealer lots.