Hi everyone,
Looking for reliable, comfortable hatchback under $10,000 to drive both city and long trips. Interested in Honda Fit 2013 - possible to reduce road and engine noise and improve ride comfort? Live in San Francisco area.
My wife has had a Honda Fit since October 2012. We have NO mechanical or electrical problems with the vehicle. So, in our case, from a reliability standpoint, we couldn't ask for more.
Now, comfort is a variable thing. My wife is 5'3, 125 lbs. It's perfectly comfortable for her. I'm 6'1, 225. It's tolerable, but not terribly comfortable, at least for longer trips, for me. (I could say the same thing about the Mazda3 that my previous wife owned, in terms of relative comfort). So, it's great for a smaller person, not so much for a larger individual.
Wind/Engine noise: It's a small car, and yes, it's there's some noticeable engine and wind noise at higher speeds. Most econo-boxes have higher decibel levels (and less sound muffling tech) than mid-range sedans (such as my 08 Camry). And smaller cars have smaller wheelbases, which make for stiffer rides, whether it be a Fit, Corolla, Mazda3, Hyundai Accent, Yaris, etc.
One thing that I use to be more comfortable in any car seat is a Gelco Ultra Seat pad. Recommended.
Good luck to you.
thanks! I'm small like your wife and I will be drive the car by myself most of the time. I will definitely get the seat pad for added comfort.
For a lady, the easiest way is to -
1. Instal sound deadening mats & door stickers in all 4 doors.
2. Get 4 brand new, comfort oriented Michelin tyres.
The above 2 itself will provide you with a noticeable difference (positive) in ride quality & noise level, inside the cabin.
Thanks! That's really helpful advice. About how much would it cost to have a mechanic install insulation?
No worries. Since price will vary depending on the quality of insulation material used, I think it’s best for you to call up/visit a few shops & price out the installation for your car. Start with looking up car audio/accessory shops on Yelp/Google. As always, beware of upsells & finalise the price before they start any work on the car.
I have a 2007 Fit that I've been happy with. Reliable, yes. Comfort is ok, but not great for long drives. They can last a long time if you keep up with the maintenance and even when parts fail they are cheap to replace. Road noise isn't bad and whatever is there just becomes your normal. I would buy a Fit again if I had to.
I have a 2013 Fit Sport and it's overall a great car. The road noise isn't horrible and it's a fairly comfortable ride. That being said, in anticipation of no longer being able to work remotely and having to start driving to work again, I plan to switch to a Mazda CX-5 because I want something with a higher position. I'm also in the Bay Area so you may see the Fit on Craigslist!
