What can I say -- I think it's just 'cause the xB gets more press and has a reputation for amazing space, practicality, style, and handling, which are also selling points of the Fit. You'd think it wouldn't be that way since like you said, form-wise the xA seems a natural, but definitely more people at the Fit forums are comparing it w/ the xB than the xA. And yeah, that comparo is funny -- how is having a 96" wheel base better than a 93"? Only Honda knows. . .

 

These two cars are the two I'm trying to pick from. The big differences for me are ESC (xb) vs full airbags (Fit). They are actually VERY similar spec-wise, even though the form-factors are very different on the surface.

 

Larger turning radius

 

...something that prevents accidents...

...something that offers additional protection when an accident actually happens.



Of course my opinion is biased, but I'd rather avoid the accident in the first place.

 

Exactly.

Couple other things - stock 15" wheels on the xA vs. the 14" wheels on the Fit...definite Scion advantage that was not acknowledged.

They list the xA highway mileage as 37, when it's 38 in the auto (which is what I was comparing)...the Fit highway mileage is 38, so they try to show an advantage where there is none.

They list the Honda motor as a 'vtec I4', but list the Toyota motor simply as 'I4', failing to acknowledge that the Toyota motor is vvti...no advantage for Honda there.

Also, the Honda motor is SOHC...Toyota is DOHC...one more for Toyota/Scion that Honda fails to acknowledge.

Seriously, if this was a comparison between the Honda and, say, a Chevy, the only thing you'd have to say is 'well, it's a HONDA', and the debate would be over...game, set, match. But we're comparing it to a Toyota product, so it's an even playing field. Honda has no advantage over Toyota.

Besides...Honda has the ***** to charge $700 for a goddamn push mower. A little proud of a push mower, are we?

 

Heh, yeah you have all good points there. Me, it's my first Honda experience as a driver/owner 'cause up until the Fit came out Honda's left me flat (S2k excepted) and I wasn't too keen on being labled a ricer if I bought and modded one, either. I only bought the car b/c of the car itself, so for anything Honda does I'm just as critical as I was before.

 

Speaking of small and cool cars.......Has anyone seen or looked up the NISSAN CUBE? They say it may be coming to the states in 2007. If it were to look like the pictures I've come across, I wouldn't mind owning one. Ugly/cute. I think part of what attracts me/has attracted me to foreign econoboxes and such all these years may stem from the fact that back in my "Hippie" days, I never had a VW Microbus and always wanted one. I still have some red on my neck, just not to the extent of the rest of my "iffin it ain't a FORD" family. I've always liked tiny little cars that go phhhhht, phhhht and still don't use too much gas to do it. I'm suprised I haven't been ostrasized (don't know if I spelled that correctly) from the family. They don't even pay attention when I tell them that I like lots of cars.........Corvettes, Mustangs, Ford Pickemups, and many others. Even owned a couple, but can't afford the fuel these days and can't see wasting it. Eccentric, crazy, wierd or just old hippie. Econoboxes are the way to go these days. I recently took an early retirement and plan to work part time in the near future (on my own terms) and if I do, I may have to sell my yellow rs 2.0 because I will need something even more economical and even smaller, like a Yaris, Fit, or the like but unless I strike it rich in the lottery, I don't see any gas guzzler in my future.

 

It was originally supposed to come to the states but Nissan changed their mind on that one. It's been discussed here a ways back.

 

Test drove one the other night… I must say, the instrumentation of the FIT are far superior to that of the xB. However, the head/leg room of the xB is not there… at all. For the driver (I am 6’2) there is a significantly more “cramped” feeling in the FIT. As far as rear seat passengers, they gotta be midgets if they want to ride comfortably, otherwise they will not fit! Oh how I love my xB!!!

 

How do you think the Japs got such a foot hold into the US?

They copied every single thing we did, then the Germans.

The first Toyota Celica was a knock-off of the 1970 Ford Mustang fastback.

The Mazada Miata was a complete knock off of the 1960's Lotus Elan.

It is whoever can market it better that wins, original or not.

 

That was my initial thought, but ESC can't save you from being t-boned, and side/side curtain airbags might. Its really an apples to kiwi comparison though, since each has their strength.

I'm going to try and wait until the IIHS and NHTSB crash test the fit before deciding for sure. That, and of course a test drive (or two) of each

 

You were so close...

...it's not whoever can market a car better. As the Japanese have shown (and the Americans have allowed them to show over and over and over again), it's who can actually MAKE the better car.

Everything they copied, they built BETTER. THAT'S why they've become so successful. American pride only goes so far...when you keep buying crap cars, eventually you figure out that you don't have to anymore. You can buy Japanese.

As for the Germans...they'd have just as strong a hold if their cars weren't so goddam expensive to maintain.

 

ok people!! who will you think will win 1/4 mile scion xb or a honda fit? please post your replys

 

My grandmother. Walking. Without her cane. Uphill. With John Basedow holding her back.


Seriously...in cars that BARELY break 100hp, who TF cares? These cars shouldn't even be subject to that particular test....they're THAT slow.

 

Box = original and distinitive

Fit = Suzuki Aero clone

True or false? Discuss.

 

true.

 

xb probably will. it's gearing is superior for quick stints.

 

False.

Box is only original and distinctive in the US, otherwise it's just a drop in the Japanese sea of 2Box design cars (though a quite handsome one)

Also, Aerio came out after the Fit, so Aerio=Fit clone

 

From taking a quick look at the timeslip thread, xB and the Fit seem pretty similar. Only 1 guy has posted any time for his Fit on the Fit board and it was a 16.6, but there was also a vid of a stock Fit run and it was 17.06 @76mph. I'm sure we'll see more times there as the car's get into more people's hands, but right now they're a bit hard to come by.

As for gearing, if you compare ratios for both trannys, they're almost identical. C&D had the Fit's 0-60 @ something like 8.7 (don't remember exactly), so it's not so different, I think. One thing I do notice between the two though, is the Fit has more mid-range punch than my xB did, and I think the gearing is better matched to the engine because the revs don't drop as much between shifts and you stay in the powerband much longer. 1/4 mile race and I'd say they're similar, but if it were laps on a circuit, I think the fit has the advantage. Hopefully, I'll test this soon once I break in my car some more.

 

You say that as if other countries matter