2009 Honda Fit

Race Car Vs. Economy Car
The proverbial question, "What came first, the chicken or the egg?" has been highly debated upon, and nearly beaten to death by philosophers and scientists alike for hundreds of years. But in all fairness, who really gives a shit? Personally, I don't care if it's the zygote cell or DNA mutation that makes its presence first . . . neither of the two will help solve my problem of cash bleeding from my wallet.

Recently, I've noticed a large portion of my savings continue to dwindle, with a fair amount being spent on gas. The $5 foot-longs from Subway incurred on my bank statement pale in comparison to the $40 fill-ups I endure every three to four days at the gas pump. Every time I pass a gas station, I scowl under my breath, cursing the oil companies and government for the high cost of fuel. But in all honesty, I have no one to blame but myself for buying a sports car that guzzles gas like a drunken sailor.

So, I found myself making a phone call to test drive a Honda Fit (Sport model) press vehicle, to see if the grass is really greener on the other side. One thing is for sure-the '09 Honda Fit with its 1.5L engine isn't the "beast from the East", nor does it have any neck-snapping power to scream down the quarter-mile. But as subtle as the Fit is in horsepower, its styling cues are still light years ahead of any hybrid vehicle in today's market. With an estimated 27 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, the Fit managed to get me from L.A. to San Francisco in less than a tank and a half of fuel, with an average consumption of 40 mpg. When it comes to fuel economy, the Fit is definitely go. Upon my return home and a reality check into how much gas I burn with my 400hp Subaru, the million dollar question remains: would I trade the Subie in for a mild, and slightly less-than-exciting 1.5L powered vehicle? My gut instinct and wallet would definitely say yes, but my enthusiast side tells me to wait a couple more years until I make that decision. So which comes first, the racecar or the gas saver?

Senior Editor
Scott Tsuneishi
scott@importtuner.com