barefootskater
barefootskater Dork
4/15/19 10:54 a.m.

2018 Fit. I'm a year in and loving it. 11k miles and averaging 35mpg mixed, does all the dadmobile stuff, does 90% of the truck stuff I used my S10 for. Buzzy little engine loves to rev. I couldn't be happier with it. Except I could.

I told my wife I wouldn't mess with it until we have it paid off, but I mean come on, be reasonable. I'm not talking turbo or anything really good. More like just making it a little sharper, a little more aggressive for my 4 mile commute. Hey I know! Add a rear sway bar!

So, anyone with experience modifying a 3rd gen Fit? Is there a better bar? I can't seem to find any reviews or anything really definitive. Looking at this one. mostly because it is the only one I can find. Any reason not to jump? Thanks.

mazdeuce - Seth
mazdeuce - Seth Mod Squad
4/15/19 11:08 a.m.

Do it! 

What size is the stock bar? 

barefootskater
barefootskater Dork
4/15/19 11:13 a.m.

In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :

Stock size 0mm. Much room for improvement I think.

mazdeuce - Seth
mazdeuce - Seth Mod Squad
4/15/19 11:15 a.m.

In reply to barefootskater :

Heh, I just figured that out. I say do it. Report back. Have fun. 

barefootskater
barefootskater Dork
4/23/19 2:18 p.m.

I pulled the trigger. Will post with report on super sweet racecar handling once it arrives and I find time for installation.

_
_ Reader
4/23/19 6:02 p.m.

 Just remember the short wheelbase when you are on dirt and decide to lift. I have spun both generations of my Honda fit on the dirt and in the snow. And I’m talking unintentional, and unrecoverable. 

 A rear sway bar will only exacerbate this. On pavement, I’m sure it will be fine, even exciting. 

poopshovel again
poopshovel again MegaDork
4/23/19 6:14 p.m.

Awesome! Our 2nd gen behaved more like a 1st gen CRX than any car I’ve ever owned, and the greatest thing I did for my first 1st gen CRX was adding a ginormous adjustable rear bar. Therefore, you should obviously be getting pissing dog action in no time! cheeky

Also: Hennessy Honda of Woodstock eats giant buffets ov dicks.

barefootskater
barefootskater Dork
4/23/19 6:20 p.m.

In reply to _ :

No snow here. And the sport body kit means that her camry gets dirt road duty.

Fueled by Caffeine
Fueled by Caffeine MegaDork
4/23/19 7:22 p.m.
poopshovel again said:

 

Also: Hennessy Honda of Woodstock eats giant buffets ov dicks.

I forgot about this fun.  Good times. 

poopshovel again
poopshovel again MegaDork
4/23/19 8:27 p.m.

In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :

#neverforget

Floating Doc
Floating Doc GRM+ Memberand Dork
4/23/19 9:06 p.m.

I have a friend that uses his 2017 for Autocross.  I don't know much about his set up.

One cool thing is a brace between the rear shock towers that's legal for HS because the rules allow for a harness bar, but don't say where it has to be.

barefootskater
barefootskater Dork
5/1/19 9:30 p.m.

So. Installation was pretty simple. “See these four holes? Put these four bolts in the holes, these two get spacers, and tighten it all to 65”/#. Party.”

The thing has a nice paint finish, though dark colors are less fun. Didn’t even lift the car and the whole thing was less than half an hour. 

Ill report on the driving experience once I drive it. Gotta go be a dad. 

barefootskater
barefootskater Dork
5/2/19 9:15 a.m.

I'd say it is about 15% more like a go kart than it was yesterday. 10/10. Would mod again.

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Intern
5/2/19 10:02 a.m.

As a Fit owner myself (as well as an avid fan for life), I'm eager to see what else you modify down the road.

CyberEric
CyberEric HalfDork
5/2/19 10:27 a.m.

Wow, the installation is so... simple! I wonder if I could add one like that to my Festiva. 

Glad it helps it be more go-kart able!

barefootskater
barefootskater Dork
5/2/19 12:13 p.m.

In reply to Colin Wood :

Probably not much until it is paid off and out of warranty. Maybe wheels? But what do you put on an orange car? I dislike black wheels.

thatsnowinnebago
thatsnowinnebago GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
5/2/19 3:39 p.m.

In reply to barefootskater :

Silver or white?

barefootskater
barefootskater Dork
5/2/19 3:43 p.m.

In reply to thatsnowinnebago :

White is the current favorite, though at best it'll have to wait until my tires need replaced.

akamcfly
akamcfly Dork
5/2/19 4:00 p.m.
CyberEric said:

Wow, the installation is so... simple! I wonder if I could add one like that to my Festiva. 

 

Not sure anyone makes one, but the festiva mod used to be a piece of flat bar and 2 u-bolts to span the width (or part of it) of the open end of the triangular twist beam that joins the rear training arms

CyberEric
CyberEric HalfDork
5/2/19 4:09 p.m.

In reply to akamcfly :

Reeeeeally... how do you know such things? Please feel free to PM me any additional info you have. :)

barefootskater
barefootskater Dork
5/6/19 10:48 a.m.

Yesterday I took one of my car buddies out and we took turns abusing the Fit. My stated goal was to get my average MPG to drop below the gauge's 40.1. 

First thing: these Firestone rubbers (300tw) the car came with don't squeal when they slip. They do give decent feedback though and you can definitely feel the limit of grip.

Second thing: the car is stock. Power, tires, ride height. The rear bar is the second thing I've bought for the car, the first being all-weather floor mats.

Third thing: I am not a race car driver. I've been in two auto-x races and my S-10 was just about all the car I could handle.

All that said, this is worth all the money and effort. The car seems so balanced and easy at the limit. Push it and you get very predictable understeer, let off and the back comes around, all of it very easy to feel and control. Mostly testing on left turns (empty roundabouts) and a few less-than-legal uses of empty 4 lane roads (thank you sunday afternoon in rural Utah). Great fun. We even stopped at the Honda/Mazda dealer and walked the lot for a bit (where he just started working last week actually) and just looked and talked cars. Then more 6k RPM shifts and tire abuse. 

Conclusion: If you have a Fit, put a rear bar on. New average MPG: 38.2. Success!

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