Dougie Pants

So I have been looking around and trying to crunch #'s since I put money down on the new Fit. Here is something I have found to be fairly interesting. We all know that the Mini Cooper is an amazing Auto X car and I am huge into SCCA Racing in the CENDIV.

Honda Fit Sport .vs. Mini Cooper (Base) - Side note that the Fit (Base) is all the same other than the tire sizing. So upgrade the tires and you have the same performance with out all of the interior options and few exterior options. Also the Base Fit is a bit lighter aswell Base .vs. Sport (MT=2432 lbs - MT=2471 lbs)


hp 109 / 115 hp
torque 105 / 111 ft*lb
weight 2471 / 2524 lbs
pct front 61.6 / 60.3 percent of weight on front wheels
wheelbase 96.5 / 97.1 inches
track frt 57.3 / 57.4 inches
track rear 57.1 / 57.7 inches
tire dia. 23.4 / 24.0 inches (Mini w/ base 175/65-15s)
1st*FD 14.87 / 14.4 (gear ratio * final drive)
2nd*FD 8.03 / 8.33
3rd*FD 5.67 / 5.48
4th*FD 4.17 / 4.11
5th*FD 3.25 / 3.51


The Mini Cooper (Base) has a multi-link rear suspension and you can order it with a "sport package" with upgraded roll bars, shocks and springs. However on a smooth surface the torsion beam rear suspension on the Fit Sport shouldn't be a hindrance.

I truely beleive that the Fit should be able to have no problem doing some dancing thru the cones...

efficiencyJunkie

Ditto, and I plan to auto-x mine as well when i get one!

Dougie Pants

I am actually interested in possiblly adding the Spoon or J's Racing Final drive to the Fit aswell. Help pep it up for the use of Auto Xing. But I am not sure how it would affect it on the road as on the Highway. I will be looking into that as well.

goforbroke

I thought it would weigh around 2200-2300lbs stock.

Dougie Pants

There is alot of extra items for safety and what not. Spoon Sport's Fit is in the 1800lbs range

efficiencyJunkie

The extra airbags im sure added to the 2300 pound figure and bigger bumpers.

Dougie Pants

I heard that there is a bit more sound deading in the North American models aswell

onePOINTsix

one way or the other i cant wait to get mine i'd still like it it have rear disks but thats something i'll look into. i'm betting that you can swap the assemblies from another car

efficiencyJunkie

im sure the brake swap will be easy, a lot of people are talking about the calipers and rotors of the EG civics.

I already bought some 15x7 that should help in the auto-x, and eibach said they will come out with springs when the Fit comes out.

NerveAgent

So much potential. I love this car.

honda93

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dougie Pants &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So I have been looking around and trying to crunch #'s since I put money down on the new Fit. Here is something I have found to be fairly interesting. We all know that the Mini Cooper is an amazing Auto X car and I am huge into SCCA Racing in the CENDIV.

Honda Fit Sport .vs. Mini Cooper (Base) - Side note that the Fit (Base) is all the same other than the tire sizing. So upgrade the tires and you have the same performance with out all of the interior options and few exterior options. Also the Base Fit is a bit lighter aswell Base .vs. Sport (MT=2432 lbs - MT=2471 lbs)


hp 109 / 115 hp
torque 105 / 111 ft*lb
weight 2471 / 2524 lbs
pct front 61.6 / 60.3 percent of weight on front wheels
wheelbase 96.5 / 97.1 inches
track frt 57.3 / 57.4 inches
track rear 57.1 / 57.7 inches
tire dia. 23.4 / 24.0 inches (Mini w/ base 175/65-15s)
1st*FD 14.87 / 14.4 (gear ratio * final drive)
2nd*FD 8.03 / 8.33
3rd*FD 5.67 / 5.48
4th*FD 4.17 / 4.11
5th*FD 3.25 / 3.51


The Mini Cooper (Base) has a multi-link rear suspension and you can order it with a "sport package" with upgraded roll bars, shocks and springs. However on a smooth surface the torsion beam rear suspension on the Fit Sport shouldn't be a hindrance.

I truely beleive that the Fit should be able to have no problem doing some dancing thru the cones... </TD></TR></TABLE>


It goes beyond all this though. I'm sure that if you are willing to race one in something other than Stock, then you may have better luck. But in H Stock, the thing just doesn't have the tire and wheel size (which must be the same as OEM for that model from the factory) to help it overcome the fact that it is narrow and tall. So, the Base and Sprt models are undersized in the wheel department AND their spring rate and sway bar sizes are pathetically small for a car that isn't really all that much lighter than my new 2006 Civic LX Coupe...

Dougie Pants

I am thinking of more the STS route. Should be fun and see what it can do...

honda93

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dougie Pants &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am thinking of more the STS route. Should be fun and see what it can do...</TD></TR></TABLE>


As long as you don't plan on doing STS nationally, you'll have fun regardless where you run. I compete nationally and I felt that the Fit just couldn't compete against the MINI. Despite being heavier and marginally more expensive, the new Civic is a better choice imho.

Dougie Pants

possibablly true. but it will be hard to say until it gets here. I have driving SCCA in the CENDIV for a long time. I ran my EG and STi in SM. Great cars for the setup and compete with the best drivers I thought aswell. But I think this car will have a chance with the right driver and proper setup. Time will only tell I think and we will all find out in April...

efficiencyJunkie

As a competitive auto-x car, it may not be what you are looking for. There are always older, lighter hondas that will own that category.

However, as a fun do it all car, that happens to auto-x, this car will rock it. I hope in the future some does do a base mini vs. scion xa vs. Fit magazine article.

Would be intresting to see what car beats what on a auto-x.

743power

i really don't think a 15x7 will fit under the fit without some serious mods. It's not really possible for any of us Americans to say yet, but just seeing the wheel and tire sizes on japanese fits, they are usually 15x6, 195/55-15, that is what the spoon fits races with. . . I'm sure if a 15x7 would work, they would have used it.

maybe it would fit but the tire size would slow the car down too much or something. ..

edit - there is alot of room for tires and a lot of proven support for minis

Dougie Pants

Spoon Fit runs 15" and 16" rims depending on setting

efficiencyJunkie

Whats the top speed in 2nd?

Dougie Pants

They are saying mid 50's

honda93

Gear Ratio / Speed
http://www.f-body.org/gears/


Fit Specs
http://www.hondanews.com/CatID...e=asc


Plug in the numbers and see... 55mph in second with the OEM Sport setup, only 54mph with the OEM Base setup.


You may need 16's to reach the commonly accepted benchmark of 60mph in second so as not to do tons of shifting on big courses... Not a bad thing since you said you will NOT be running in H Stock with the car.

efficiencyJunkie

Hey honda 93,

I now auto-x my 94 accord, and run it STS. I plan to do the same with this car, and had more questions regarding the gearing, then anything. My car currently just doesnt rev fast enough for me to get thro the course.

With the car being 2450 pounds, I dont think the brakes will be a issue, or the amount of grip, just getting the car into its powerband quick!

honda93

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by carbnjunkie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey honda 93,

I now auto-x my 94 accord, and run it STS. I plan to do the same with this car, and had more questions regarding the gearing, then anything. My car currently just doesnt rev fast enough for me to get thro the course.

With the car being 2450 pounds, I dont think the brakes will be a issue, or the amount of grip, just getting the car into its powerband quick!</TD></TR></TABLE>

IM your email address to me. I don't want to be accused of being overly negative towards the Fit by some people on this board.

But we can discuss whatever you have questions about regarding car setup and gearing, etc.