C&D goes racing in a Fit and a 2

[Xer0]

Personally, I loved this article and this is just the kind of stuff that I dig.  Big, powerful cars are getting more and more boring the minute but being a hero in a Fit or 2 is just so endearing.  Anyway;

Among the BMWs, Porsche 911s, Mazda Miatas, and assorted sports cars at the National Auto Sport Association?s eighth annual 25 Hours of Thunderhill, three econoboxes stood out like camels in a herd of racehorses: two Mazda 2s and a Honda Fit. Always up for a challenge, we accepted invitations to join the teams behind the Fit and one of the 2s.

Racing an economy car might sound like an oxymoron?or at least very boring?but the Mazda 2 and Honda Fit acquitted themselves nobly. The idea of racing such cars came from Mazda, and is an attempt to provide affordable turn-key racers. Instead of running a one-make series for subcompact cars, Mazda talked with other manufacturers about producing a B-spec class, which is a set of rules and standards agreed upon by the participants. Once the class is defined, the originator (in this case, Mazda and Honda) shops it around to place a national championship with a sanctioning body such as NASA, Grand-Am, or the SCCA. Honda joined Mazda in readying a car for the Thunderhill race...

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q4/the_25_hours_of_thunderhill_in_the_b-spec_mazda_2_and_honda_fit-feature

[sportyaccordy]

Cool! 2o6 just busted a nut

[the Teuton]

Cool! 2o6 just busted a nut

I just busted a nut.

All we need to do is get DOHC PlastiSaturns out on the track again, and we'll be golden.

[sportyaccordy]

I just busted a nut.

All we need to do is get DOHC PlastiSaturns out on the track again, and we'll be golden.

Seriously, I'd be scared. Still scarred from my loss to a plastiwagon

[the Teuton]

[2o6]

The Mazda 2 makes the Fit feel positively terrible to drive. (In bog standard trim, mind you)


But honestly, Europe and Japan have been doing this for awhile with hotted up, stripped down versions of superminis and city cars. (Clio Williams, Cinquento Sporting, City Turbo)

[hotrodalex]

I just busted a nut.

All we need to do is get DOHC PlastiSaturns out on the track again, and we'll be golden.

Well there are two on this forum. That's enough for a racin' team!

[the Teuton]

Well there are two on this forum. That's enough for a racin' team!

3.0 has an SC2, too. There are three of us with PlastiSaturns and other with a KappaSaturn.

We can be like the Bentley Boys and dress in all white, etc. We'll be the shit.

[hotrodalex]

3.0 has an SC2, too. There are three of us with PlastiSaturns and other with a KappaSaturn.

We can be like the Bentley Boys and dress in all white, etc. We'll be the shit.

I just need to swap a manual transmission in and maybe get a dry-sump oil system (see the snow thread to see why...)

[the Teuton]

I just need to swap a manual transmission in and maybe get a dry-sump oil system (see the snow thread to see why...)

OH sNOEZ!

[hotrodalex]

PlastiCar is a good rally car, when the engine doesn't die.

[WookieOnRitalin]

Didn't Suzuki already claim this with the Suzuki Swift Sport? Doesn't the Swift absolutely destroy both the Fit and the 2? It also looks better than both of them!

Suzuki! Swift please! We're waiting!

[2o6]

Didn't Suzuki already claim this with the Suzuki Swift Sport? Doesn't the Swift absolutely destroy both the Fit and the 2? It also looks better than both of them!

Suzuki! Swift please! We're waiting!

Not really. The Swift is older, smaller inside and slower. The Chassis is good, but so is the Fiesta/2's. (We have yet to get reviews of the newest Swift, but the old one was the top of driving bliss in the segment until the Fiesta and 2 came to challenge that)


The Fit doesn't even drive all that sporty. Honestly, I felt that if the Yaris' steering box was more responsive, it would beat out the Fit in driving dynamics. The Fit is tall, soft and slow.

[Cookie Monster]

Not really. The Swift is older, smaller inside and slower. The Chassis is good, but so is the Fiesta/2's. (We have yet to get reviews of the newest Swift, but the old one was the top of driving bliss in the segment until the Fiesta and 2 came to challenge that)


The Fit doesn't even drive all that sporty. Honestly, I felt that if the Yaris' steering box was more responsive, it would beat out the Fit in driving dynamics. The Fit is tall, soft and slow.

Is the new Fit that bad? C/D put the old Fit on their best handling cars list...

[2o6]

Is the new Fit that bad? C/D put the old Fit on their best handling cars list...

That was the old Fit. I drove the new Fit.

The steering and shifter were nice, the suspension was comparatively firmer than the Yaris and Accent but the Fiesta and Mazda 2 were firmer and sportier. It feels like a sporty small van, rather than a tossable small car (Mazda 2, Fiesta). Honestly, I think a SOUL would be a better choice over a Fit.

[WookieOnRitalin]

Not really. The Swift is older, smaller inside and slower. The Chassis is good, but so is the Fiesta/2's. (We have yet to get reviews of the newest Swift, but the old one was the top of driving bliss in the segment until the Fiesta and 2 came to challenge that)


The Fit doesn't even drive all that sporty. Honestly, I felt that if the Yaris' steering box was more responsive, it would beat out the Fit in driving dynamics. The Fit is tall, soft and slow.

The Swift just got updated. The 2012 Swift should be pretty damn good I imagine. Plus, Suzuki has one of the best Rally teams in the world.

[2o6]

That last pic isn't the actual car, it's a photochop by Theophiluschin at CSS.

[WookieOnRitalin]

It's almost identical to the actual production car.

[the Teuton]

swift.

[2o6]

It's almost identical to the actual production car.

There is no 3-door Swift.


Whoopsie.

[Rupert]

Get the 500 out there!

[sportyaccordy]

That was the old Fit. I drove the new Fit.

The steering and shifter were nice, the suspension was comparatively firmer than the Yaris and Accent but the Fiesta and Mazda 2 were firmer and sportier. It feels like a sporty small van, rather than a tossable small car (Mazda 2, Fiesta). Honestly, I think a SOUL would be a better choice over a Fit.

I drove an old Fit and the current SOUL. Like I mentioned, the SOUL's suspension is unreasonably harsh. I've had modified + lowered cars that rode significantly smoother. The ride quality sacrifice was not justified by the handling either.

Just on looks alone I would probably go with the Swift. It's easily the most traditional + best looking pick of the small hatches, and I'm sure with a little work, thanks to what looks like a generally lower profile and steady footprint, it could go from fun to thrilling. With a legit engine (1.6L, ~120HP), it could def be a nice alternative for people who want a small car that's more like an old Civic hatch than a Mitsubishi Expo LRV, but don't want to pay Accord money for a Mini Cooper S. The Fiesta is prob the only other alternative I'd look at in this price bracket and that would have to be with Ecoboost