Toyota Matrix vs. Honda Fit - Page 2

lelandstanford · #16 (**permalink**) 04-20-2006, 04:05 PM

I understand now.

Wonder why Japanese automakers are going with wheel covers instead of silver painted steel wheels (other than SUV and pickups).

jake696 · #17 (**permalink**) 04-20-2006, 04:09 PM

US suppliers! AND...of course...it's cheaper.

lelandstanford · #18 (**permalink**) 04-20-2006, 05:21 PM

Maybe car owners prefer the "psudo alloy" look of wheel covers.

How can a black steel wheel + nuts + wheel cover be cheaper than silver steel wheel + center cap + lugs ?

jake696 · #19 (**permalink**) 08-26-2006, 07:13 AM

Got the first of three Fits to replace the Matrix's It's been on duty for a few weeks. The cargo capacity is staggering! I'm waiting for the first MPG report on the vehicle. That's were it'll make a difference. The Matrix top MPG's is 29...

lelandstanford · #20 (**permalink**) 08-26-2006, 03:42 PM

Congrats!

How long was the delivery time?

I know all local Honda dealers have single-digit Civics and Fits in inventory.

jake696 · #21 (**permalink**) 08-26-2006, 05:08 PM

First car took about a month and got it from one dealer. (sent out RFP's to 2) the second dealer will supply the next two and I'm supposed to get another car next week, the third we expect to get in about another month...so late Sept. We need only white cars and only the Sport models with auto trannys. I guess if a guy was more flexible you could get it sooner! We need the cruise and alloy rims the Sport has. Hubcaps stink when the tires are rotated as often as we do (3 times a month) and the tabs break off too easy. And, if I didn't get cruise control the drivers would be very unhappy with me!

jake696 · #22 (**permalink**) 09-13-2006, 11:02 PM

Got Fit #2 into service today. The first Fit is averaging 36-38 MPG's now, since it's hit the 5K mark. The Matrix's can run as high as 31MPG's for one of my "steadier" drivers.

We've auctioned off two of the old Corolla's. Both had over 200K in highway miles and both brought $4K or higher. We'll have an '05 Matrix to auction off here in a month or so when I get the last Fit delivered. The Matrix will have about 160K on it. Be interesting to see what it brings. I assume more like 6-7K based on KBB.com values.

lelandstanford · #23 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jake696

Got Fit #2 into service today. The first Fit is averaging 36-38 MPG's now, since it's hit the 5K mark.

That's an awsome MPG consider engine is not even fully break-in yet.

It probably doesn't bother you as much since gas price has dropped $.20/gal since two weeks ago.

jake696 · #24 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lelandstanford

That's an awsome MPG consider engine is not even fully break-in yet.

It probably doesn't bother you as much since gas price has dropped $.20/gal since two weeks ago.

Every break in gas price helps. Around here we dropped almost .50/gal.! Less fuel surcharge means a happier client too!

Do you not think the engine is broken in at 5K? At what mileage would you consider it broken in?

lelandstanford · #25 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 04:32 PM

In some Honda owners manuals it recommanded not to oil change until 7500 for factory "break-in" oil to do its job.

jake696 · #26 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lelandstanford

In some Honda owners manuals it recommanded not to oil change until 7500 for factory "break-in" oil to do its job.

Here's something freaky...this Fit has an oil maintenence gauge. It goes by percentage, from 100 on down. It really just measures the mileage and Honda claims this vehicle only needs oil changes every 10K. Weird.

Anyway, we'll change it every 5K or so. As we've done with all over vehicles. Partly this is because we do a tire rotation every other oil change and they give us that for free with opil changes that are set every 5K. Make sense? It does to me, as we need to do all we can to get even wear and decent mileage from tires. Changing oil every 5k can't hurt!

viamede · #27 (**permalink**) 05-25-2007, 06:17 PM

Hi...first post and probably best place to introduce myself. Hi.

We have a 2007 Matrix XR AT about 10 months old, which I drive, and a 2007 Fit Sport AT, about 3 weeks old, my wife drives. If you have any questions about how they compare and what we prefer in one over the other I would be glad to try and help.

Cheers.

lelandstanford · #28 (**permalink**) 05-26-2007, 12:30 PM

viamede:

OK. If you insist.

So how do they compare and drive? Which one do you prefer?

Do you like Matrix's (Delphi) defroster-linked A/C?

viamede · #29 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lelandstanford

viamede:

OK. If you insist.

So how do they compare and drive? Which one do you prefer?

Do you like Matrix's (Delphi) defroster-linked A/C?

I don't insist only if you must know.

Fit is stiffer (theye are both pretty stiff actually) and a bit more fun in a go-kartish sense. The Fit engine is a little smoother and idles quieter as well. Likely a newer design to the Matrix.

The Matrix is more comfortable for me, there is more padding in the seats. Seating postion is less forgiving and takes more fiddling about to get comfortable in the Fit.

The lack of a dead pedal in the Fit is a pain but will soon be rectified.

Fit has a deeper cargo well but Matrix is more usable space in the trunk. The magic sets in the fit a very useful however.

The AC in the Matrix has been great no problems and very strong. The Fit's AC is noticeably weaker and less effective. I think both kick on the AC while defrosting if that's what you mean

The Fit dash is much nicer looking at night. Fit stereo (in the sport anyway) while not astounding is significantly better than the muddy sound in the XR's.

Well there's a few things anyway

jake696 · #30 (**permalink**) 06-02-2007, 12:56 AM

OK...one of our Fits now has 60K on it and all the drivers and routes have sampled the cars.

We have 150-200K and more on the '05 Matrix's as well.

One thing that is a pain for cargo in the Fit is that it has a lip on the back end and the Matrix does not. The cargo carrying ability in the Fit is unreal, for being so small. It is only 3 cu. feet less. So far it handles everything we ever carry in the Matrix.

The Fit drives more like a go-cart. More responsive steering, it even scares a few of the older guys that work for me, they don't care for what they perceive as squirrelyness. It's tighter too. Not quite as good in snow...

The mpgs are a few better on the Fit - only 2-3mpg's tho'.

No repair issues at all on the Honda's, no fuel pumps! One Fit was wrecked last Oct. and it's replacement promptly rear-ended by a garbage truck...but only needed a rear door. The worst part of that was waiting 4 weeks to get all the parts from Honda. It was 1800.00 total in repairs and most of that was the rear door.

Factory tires were crap, they usually are. We have trouble getting more than 20K on them and we do that in 4 months. The aftermarket tires we buy from Goodyear usually give us 30-35K (either car). That is about half of the rated mileage and we get the new set pro-rated every time.

We had one set of factory tires on a Matrix a few years back that turned to hamburger in 9K. They were so ugly we (and the dealer) were sure there was serious suspension problems. It was just the tires...the alignment was dead-on...