Automobiles

[murphy]

I've rented Fiestas in the US. Meh. Lawnmower with a key start. Then I rented one in Switzerland. I think it had everything except a roll cage in it. Sporty!

So I'd say buy one of those European ones.

The ST that has been mentioned a lot is the sportier model (I think the pic you posted is actually of the EU Fiesta ST). So it had more amenities and sat atop the entire chain with a fun little turbo four and better suspension.

[sk_tle]

Just import a Renault Clio RS / Megane RS Trophy with the Cup chassis if you want the fastest and best handling small roads weapon. They smash the competition on any winding roads, including cars 50 to 80bhp more powerful.

A few years ago a magazine wanted to do a 4wd hatchback contest and asked some french rally drivers to take the Impreza WRX STI and Forcus RS for a spin on roads used in Rally des Cevennes. They also took a previous gen Megane RS Trophy to follow them and take pictures and films. Said rally drivers found out they had a hard time distancing the journalists driving the Megane and asked to drive it on the same roads. They found out the 275HP Megane Trophy was just simply faster everywhere than the 350bhp Focus RS thanks to it's great handling and supersharp direction response. Don't buy it if you want to tune it because bar blowing out emission regulations with a different mapping and turbo boost there is very little margin left to improve on the stock setup. The chassis and brakes are pretty much perfect.

[Saab2000]

Just import a Renault Clio RS / Megane RS Trophy with the Cup chassis if you want the fastest and best handling small roads weapon. They smash the competition on any winding roads, including cars 50 to 80bhp more powerful.

A few years ago a magazine wanted to do a 4wd hatchback contest and asked some french rally drivers to take the Impreza WRX STI and Forcus RS for a spin on roads used in Rally des Cevennes. They also took a previous gen Megane RS Trophy to follow them and take pictures and films. Said rally drivers found out they had a hard time distancing the journalists driving the Megane and asked to drive it on the same roads. They found out the 275HP Megane Trophy was just simply faster everywhere than the 350bhp Focus RS thanks to it's great handling and supersharp direction response. Don't buy it if you want to tune it because bar blowing out emission regulations with a different mapping and turbo boost there is very little margin left to improve on the stock setup. The chassis and brakes are pretty much perfect.

Unfortunately, these are not available in the US nor can they be imported. Sad actually. The market for the hot hatches is actually only a small niche in the States.

[murphy]

Unfortunately, these are not available in the US nor can they be imported. Sad actually. The market for the hot hatches is actually only a small niche in the States.

And unfortunately our options are getting smaller especially now that Ford's hot hatches are going away and the WRX is no longer made in hatch form.

[dogrange]

probably 3 or 4.

Honda usually tunes pretty aggressively for an oem and heavily relies on knock feedback for fuel/ignition trims, especially so in the turbo models they offer.

Yeah, not that I am some gearhead, but the engine in this fit is smaller than that in a biggish motorcycle, so it's not so surprising that it's a bit wimpy. What do you think it would take to get a 20% boost out of a manual transmission 2013 fit?

[mmoore]

Yeah, not that I am some gearhead, but the engine in this fit is smaller than that in a biggish motorcycle, so it's not so surprising that it's a bit wimpy. What do you think it would take to get a 20% boost out of a manual transmission 2013 fit?

that supercharger kit would do a good job.

alternatively, there are engine swap kits that you can put the civic SI engine in the fit that would bring you to around 200hp with a far superior 6 speed manual transmission.

[dogrange]

So it takes a supercharger to get 20% more? That must be what you meant when you said it was already highly-tuned! Man, I would love a 6-speed. How much am I looking at to do the Civic Si engine swap? Sorry for all the questions, I am clueless on this stuff.

[rmplum]

Ford is basically giving away Focus STs right now. Just sayin....(though I'd still choose the Fiesta ST if going blue oval and compact....)

[Saab2000]

I think souping up a car like a Fit is a slippery slope. More power will want better braking and handling and tires. If you’re actually interested in a great hatchback daily driver I’d be looking at the VW GTI.

[dogrange]

I think souping up a car like a Fit is a slippery slope. More power will want better braking and handling and tires. If you’re actually interested in a great hatchback daily driver I’d be looking at the VW GTI.

Yeah, I think this is right. Also, the Fit is great as-is, especially because it is paid off, has only 30k miles on it, and has such a well-designed interior that I can fit in a fully-equipped rando bike with wheels on. It sounds like to get it any peppier will be $$, so forget it . . .

[rmplum]

Yeah, I think this is right. Also, the Fit is great as-is, especially because it is paid off, has only 30k miles on it, and has such a well-designed interior that I can fit in a fully-equipped rando bike with wheels on. It sounds like to get it any peppier will be $$, so forget it . . .

Good call.

[rmplum]

Just got confirmed that I'm joining our tech/observation support for this event (Lightning Lap) again down at VIR. Hopefully it doesn't rain the whole time this year:

IMG_7370 all cars.jpg
(last year's cars ^ That Green AMG GT R was insane)

Some pretty cool machinery slated to run.

[AngryScientist]

the fit is an econobox.

honda is very good at engineering a product to meet a criteria.

of course, you could ram a bunch more air down the throat of the engine, but that will require higher volume fuel flow. i'm sure the transmission mated to the engine is not designed to handle the increased HP/torque, so you would be reducing the life of that. additionally, the engine internals were designed for specific power output. it would be a mistake to assume that they have enough margin designed into them to accommodate a significant increase in power output and operate reliably.

in short - it's can be an expensive endeavor to take any modern econobox car and significantly increase its power output, and ultimately, the reliability of said car will suffer.

in the old days of carburetor fueled, overbuilt steel block engines - they were operating at such low efficiency out of the factory, that there was indeed room to gain performance with less work. Automotive engineering has gotten much better over the years, and the car you buy from honda is putting out about as much as it can, while being as light and efficient as possible - that's the game.

[Too Tall]

Just got confirmed that I'm joining our tech/observation support for this event (Lightning Lap) again down at VIR. Hopefully it doesn't rain the whole time this year:

IMG_7370 all cars.jpg
(last year's cars ^ That Green AMG GT R was insane)

Some pretty cool machinery slated to run.

Let me know when you go there. If I'm able I'll drop in and say howdy. Never been to VIR.

BTW (recent posters) Why is everyone focused (wah wah) on handling and ultimate road worthiness? Gone is the bottle of bleach and smokey burnouts? Say it ain't so.

[Lionel]

Unfortunately, these are not available in the US nor can they be imported. Sad actually. The market for the hot hatches is actually only a small niche in the States.

It's a small niche everywhere

[mmoore]

So it takes a supercharger to get 20% more? That must be what you meant when you said it was already highly-tuned! Man, I would love a 6-speed. How much am I looking at to do the Civic Si engine swap? Sorry for all the questions, I am clueless on this stuff.

the supercharger kit will undoubtedly be the easiest and cheapest way to add power.

chances are the swap will compromise in some regard... airconditioning would probably get lost and your swap engine mounts will likely make the car vibrate like a tractor... but it will be quick. I expect a turnkey swap would be 5-10 grand.

asking questions like this basically mean you should sell the car and buy a faster one.

[Tamu8104]

Agreed, if you want to make a Fit more fun to drive, leave the motor alone. Strip weight, put some super light wheels on it and tighten up the suspension. A short shifter on a manual also increases the fun level. All this can be done for under $2k if you shop smart.

It’s worth adding that while it will make this can increase the kart-ish fun, it also means a louder and less comfortable ride. I did this to a Fit but wouldn’t do it again to a daily driver and don’t miss that Fit.

[Scott G.]

It's a small niche everywhere

Hatchbacks can be great, gives room for lots mo' motor.
Renault 5 Turbo.....


Attachment 107695

[Tamu8104]

My nephew had a Fiesta ST for a while and while it was a hoot to drive of the dealer floor but had very little space for a hatch. The space was so limited he didn’t keep it that long and went to small to mid-size sedan.

[davids]

Just got confirmed that I'm joining our tech/observation support for this event (Lightning Lap) again down at VIR. Hopefully it doesn't rain the whole time this year:

IMG_7370 all cars.jpg
(last year's cars ^ That Green AMG GT R was insane)

Some pretty cool machinery slated to run.

Not the AMG E-Class Wagon? #disappointed

Have fun! I love reading that report.