Looking for advice from fellow car folk. I’m looking for a warm hatch and between a 2nd gen Honda Fit and a 2nd gen Fiesta ST. Which would you choose as a fun daily, backroad weekender?
Posted by _Schmegeggy_@reddit | Autos | View on Reddit | 53 comments
Looking for overall advice from reliability, to aftermarket support to the most important factor: the X factor (pure enjoyment). I don’t plan on going crazy, OEM+, suspension, bushings, wheels and short throw. I’m well aware of the Fit’s reputation and body rigidity. The ST sounds like a 200hp Fit with a 6 speed instead of 5 but beyond that I don’t know much about it.
Looking for a pros/cons list and if you have any testimonials that would be great too. I want something to have fun to daily that will put a smile on my face every time I push it a little. If you couldn’t tell already I’m more about handling and quickness and “feel” over overtaking and going really fast. Which don’t get me wrong has its merits but I’ve had *way* more fun at 50mph than 100mph.
maufkn_ced@reddit
lol the deep fried fiesta all day. I’d bet that fit will piss you off on an on ramp.
ottrocity@reddit
I'll chime in. I've had two Fiesta STs over the last decade, and my buddy has a Honda Fit that he races in SundaeCup that I helped him build/work on (and he lets me race).
Fit has more space. It's a more normal "car." It's also more fun on the track because it has coilovers and -5 degrees of camber up front and a racing seat and a racing shifter and a racing wheel (it's a race car). It also doesn't overheat after 5 laps.
Fiesta ST is more fun to live with every day. I get 32mpg average, which can go up if I baby it (I don't). It has enough grunt to keep up with whoever tries to race me. It's comfortable on long hauls. I can bring home a bed frame from Ikea.
I can still harass him on track (even when my FiST was stock suspension) and the Fit has absolutely no chance goofing around on public roads (93hp vs ~220hp). However, no one is asking for my keys. Everyone wants to lap the silly little Fit.
My FiST gets better mileage.
I beat him at autox.
My car makes rally car noises and has enough power and torque to make Scatpack/old Mustang GT drivers mad. I get props from guys on Woodward who have 500hp cars, because they can't gap me (power/weight, baybee).
If we're talking about keeping them stock, Fiesta ST all the way. As soon as you start modding, the Fit is appealing. If you don't care at all about raw power, the Fit is even more attractive. If you want to autox? Even draw. The Fit classes well with fewer mods, but my friend's Fit with all its modifications is not competitive. The race-prepped Fit is a riot on the track, more fun than my FiST, and more reliable. My FiST is overall faster on track, but is much harder on brakes and tires.
You'd be happy with either of them if you want to mod, but more happy with the Fiesta ST for light modding and smiles per miles.
_Schmegeggy_@reddit (OP)
What mods have you done to your FiST?
ottrocity@reddit
Whoosh intake piping Green filter Turbsosmart electric BOV Symposer delete Seats from a Focus ST Bilstein PSS coilovers Camber bolts up front (-2) Camber plates in the rear (-2) Euro spec headlights 16'' Sparco Terras, black Track pads on track/Stoptech Sports (RIP) off track Castrol SRF brake fluid Mountune radiator Whoosh intercooler Boomba brake cooling deflectors Accessport with Stratified 93/91/15psi tunes TB Performance 4 point front brace TB Performance torsion beam stiffener brace Whoosh coil packs Ruthenium plugs (they last a lot longer than iridium plugs with the tune)
_Schmegeggy_@reddit (OP)
Nice!! Sounds like you’ve put quite the investment into it
ottrocity@reddit
It's been a labor of love for sure
_Schmegeggy_@reddit (OP)
Thank you for your insightful input! Much to consider.
ottrocity@reddit
Sure thing! Sorry if it's a bit rambly. I had too much coffee this morning.
thafrenzy@reddit
Honestly, it sounds like you need a 2 car solution: something sporty as well as a small people carrier.
What follows is my opinion and based on research and the experience of driving several cars from both Honda and Ford over the years. Free advice from the internet, FWIW.
You are going to have to decide what really matters.
As a sporty car guy, the FiST is the clear answer based on performance. Read the reviews, check out the socials. This car is a giant killer and a blast to drive.
When you talk about "feel," though, the Honda is the one that brings purity and balance. The Fit has better packaging, as well.
Have you been on test drives?
_Schmegeggy_@reddit (OP)
No but there are some in my area I plan to over the next few weeks. The ST seems more common than the Fit manuals. There is a ton of hype over the fit on the internet and I’ve never seen anyone talk about the fiesta, which is why I’m asking. Is the Fit hype just that and the fiesta just seen as not as quirky? Is there a reason everyone loves the Fit but no one talks about the Fiesta?
thafrenzy@reddit
I guess it's more of a question of who is doing the talking.
Before the FiST went out of production, it was a darling of the performance enthusiast community.
Fit is beloved by the JDM community for its very Hondaness. 2nd and 3rd gens seem to be most popular because of the 1.5l RS model and still minimum weight.
That's another thing to consider. The FiST feels like a planted, solid car, while the Fit—especially gen 2—reportedly feels gossamer.
Honestly, I feel like you are cross-shopping two very different vehicles and there are so many subjective factors to consider that I'm not sure any advice will do.
Test drive and see.
_Schmegeggy_@reddit (OP)
Do you mean gossamer in the pejorative? I’ve seen the lightness of the fit being described as a major asset.
thafrenzy@reddit
I've heard—and is believable based on previous experience—that it's a little floaty.
D4ng3rd4n@reddit
One more fact for you that helped make my decision: the fiesta ST was the most common car owned by car reviewers for several years. That's not a coincidence.
TranceF0rm@reddit
Warm Hatch 💀
_Schmegeggy_@reddit (OP)
Well I ain’t looking at a CTR or a FoRS 🤣
Sulipheoth@reddit
Fiesta ST will be way more fun, but I hope the build quality is better than the base model. Had a 13 base model and the door handles wanted to come off, trim turned banana shaped, had grounding issues and the 5 speed transmission wouldn't stay in first gear. Owned from 90k-120k miles.
Hopefully the ST is built substantially different, I've always liked them.
_Schmegeggy_@reddit (OP)
Different transmission and engine made for turbo, supposedly more reliable and according to one user it can reliably make 350hp on stock internals
DoctorsAdvocate@reddit
Had two fiesta sts, those things are amazing imo.
Super stout 6 speed, clunks great, can handle up to 350hp reliably.
really reliable. things that will break are plastic, blend door actuators, coolant expansion tank, hoses, evap harness. Shit ford paint.
Will need intercooler to not overheat on track. But parts are dirt cheap vs honda stuff. Intercooler, accessport, custom e30 tune you’re at 210whp 280tq at 2700lbs or less. Can reach under 2600 with minor weight reduction.
Huge con imo: 4x108 no options for cool wheels. But 15x8 team dynamics makes for cheap tires.
I love fits, chassis rigidity and magic seats. But fiesta is more fun even at low speeds. Just typing this out making me look at that kona blue one with recaros on carmax lol.
Drunken_Hamster@reddit
What would be the best bolt pattern to convert a FiST to? 4x100, 4x114, 5x100, 5x112, or 5x114? I'd think the 5 lug options (except maybe 5x100) would lock you out af 15s and 16s, especially with reasonable offsets, but 4 lug isn't really that common, either, especially the bigger one, which I didn't even know existed until last year or so...
_Schmegeggy_@reddit (OP)
No I’m looking at that one! Hahaha thanks for the input
D4ng3rd4n@reddit
Fiesta, hands down. Had one and sold it and absolutely regret my decision. It has great reliability as it doesn't have the engine or transmission from the base Fiesta. Stage 1 tune wakes up the car. That thing took me everywhere. Loved the recaros. It is the one car out of 10 that I've had that I regret selling (including an 02 special edition miata with a LSD).
shwiss@reddit
How's headroom? I'm 6'2". I could fit pretty easily in my 500 abarth but heard the fiesta is a bit of a squeeze for taller people.
stoned-autistic-dude@reddit
It’s based on proportions. If you’re mostly torso, it might be hard. Not all tall people are the same. Go sit in one if you can.
RandomTasked@reddit
I'm 5'11.5" but like 80% torso (28/29" inseam) and my hair touches the roof.
D4ng3rd4n@reddit
I'm 6ft and it was never close to being an issue
UBCSShepherd1@reddit
I'm 6'4" and fit fine in mine.
Syn3rgetic@reddit
Just get a GTI
pr0b0ner@reddit
All I can tell you is that I've been with my lady for 11 years and she's DD'd a fit the entire time and we have put probably $200 total into repairs outside of consumables. Thing is as reliable as they come.
That said, it's quite gutless.
FabOctopus@reddit
From memory a fit is way more practical and I like the interior a lot more, but the fiesta would probably be a more fun car stock for stock
hockeymisfit@reddit
Spot on. The Fiesta has a nicer interior, but the Fit has a far more usable one(and more cup holders!). I went from Fit to Miata and finally to a Fiesta and seriously miss the cavernous Fit interior, especially as someone who enjoys quick weekend camping getaways.
The Fiesta definitely is more fun to drive, but the Fit was still a joy despite being slow as molasses.
virtualracer@reddit
I’ve owned both of these cars. I had an ST for many years- did pretty much everything I could to it aside from bigger turbo. It’s an absolute riot. I chased a BMW 1M down a mountain pass one time. He could not shake me. They’re getting quite cheap now but most of them have had very hard lives and you should probably plan to put another motor in it if you don’t find a cherry low mile example. A few years ago I traded mine in on a Mustang GT 6MT (which Ive actually just sold).
Fast forward to now, I have a 2010 Fit 5 speed. It’s basically stock, all it’s got is a rear sway bar at the moment. It’s got a ton of miles on it. There’s work to be done like motor mounts and figuring out an intermittent misfire. Sounds like a downgrade? Don’t be so sure.. The Fit just has so much character. I absolute adore it. You can wring its neck anywhere and not break the law. The handling on crappy all seasons with that rear bar is just sublime. Interior is funky and there’s SO MUCH ROOM. I’m a big guy- like 300lbs 6ft. There’s a foot of headroom. Plenty of room in the driver seat. Then there’s the utility of the rear of the car. The Magic Seats (yes they’re called that lol) basically turn it into a little van if needed. I moved a fucking refrigerator in mine. ST could never. ST interior is cramped and vibrated/rattled like crazy. Cargo room was meh.
What I’m getting at is, while the ST might be more exhilarating at times because of its power potential, the Fit is better the rest of the time. Just saying- K24 swaps are a thing and will get you the power of the ST that’s missing and you get basically, in my biased opinion, the perfect small car.
_Schmegeggy_@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the input! That character is what I’m after. Anyone can put a fast engine in their car but you can’t buy character. That’s something that’s earned. My connection to cars comes from how much enjoyment I get by driving it as well as its character.
virtualracer@reddit
We both like cars for the same reasons. Go drive both- you never know what you’ll fall for. But I suspect it’ll be the Honda
_Schmegeggy_@reddit (OP)
I think so as well lol but these people have made some good arguments. You can’t help who you fall in love with. My favorite car I’ve ever owned besides my ‘99 Honda Prelude SH was my 2012 Ford Escape. It just had so much character somehow and I had so many good memories with it. It was exactly everything I needed at that time in my life.
funked1@reddit
It’s crazy how much more room there is inside the Fit than the Fiesta.
virtualracer@reddit
It’s actually Honda black magic. Must be
RedMan542@reddit
Fits are reliable and fun to drive, cheap to work on, but slow and do not make power unless you motor swap the car or do some kind of forced induction.
The ST is all the Fit is, but faster.
Both cars have killer aftermarket support so I don’t believe that will be an issue.
SkeletorsAlt@reddit
Agreed.
As a Fit owner that almost bought a FiST shortly after they came to the US market I could talk about both cars for hours.
However, I think I can distill it down to this:
If the most important thing to you is reliability, go Fit. If the most important thing to you is driving engagement, go Fiesta ST.
decriz@reddit
Plan C, Mazda 2.
_Schmegeggy_@reddit (OP)
Ooh dark horse??
funked1@reddit
The Fit is a perfect car. The amount of shit you can fit is crazy. I am NFL sized and I can sit comfortably in all four seats. Handling and shifting and engine are lovely. Great mileage and reliability. Wish we still had one.
elremeithi@reddit
Nothing beats Vtec with a manual 👌 biased opinion
purekillforce1@reddit
Economy VTEC isn't the same as performance VTEC.
elremeithi@reddit
I am biased, i know no one will like my opinion
purekillforce1@reddit
It's not your opinion. The cam profile in economy engines changes to be MORE ECONOMIC at higher rpms. VTEC there isn't used for power, but to keep fuel efficiency up as the engine gets into higher rpm speeds.
Only the performance type R engines have a cam profile designed to increase power at higher rpms.
You're not getting any "VTEC just kicked in, yo" in a non-R VTEC engine. You're just getting more fuel efficiency.
elremeithi@reddit
Good to know, my focus was more about the driving feel and feedback from the engine.
purekillforce1@reddit
Depends on the model, but yeah, a fun honda is a good car to drive!
JamesD141@reddit
I feel like you already know what you’re after if it’s more about feel than outright speed the Fit will probably make you happier it’s light playful and you don’t need to be going fast to have fun in it the ST on the other hand brings that extra punch and feels a bit more exciting day to day but it’s not quite as playful as the Fit so basically if you want pure driving fun at normal speeds Fit if you want a bit more power with your fun ST either way you can’t really go wrong
Kysiz@reddit
It’s hilarious how people parrot shit without driving either and still give some sort of input
Fiesta st owner who has driven or still own: tsx, rsx type s, del sol, rd1 crv
skark_burmer@reddit
I’m not overly familiar with either model but to choose between a ford and a Honda the choice is 100% Honda.
Gunch_@reddit
Honda Fit actually handles brilliantly once on some decent coilovers with wider wheels
But it has to be the 1.5 with vtec, the rest of them are painfully slow
noir_adam@reddit
Honda fit cheap to maintain and if you want more power k swap later.