Paddle shifters on the steering wheel? (Honda Fit)

[ibex333]

I rescently bought a 2007 Honda Fit. It is a sport edition, with the spoiler, slightly better wheels and paddle shifters. What I gather from the manual is that these paddles allow to switch speeds just like a stick shifter. But I highly doubt that's the case. Otherwise my car wouldnt be an automatic?

I would try to just use these in action, but here in NYC there's not that many places to experiment with such things. (At least not where I live) Can someone tell me what these paddles are for and how they work? Thanks!

Also, is my car "moddable" in any way? Later down the road, it would be nice to upgrade the brakes, cause they feel much too soft... And maybe if I wil get some extra cash, it would be nice to throw something under the hood for extra power/acceleration? I am really completely clueless about these things, so can I get some advices please? Also how much can somethign like this cost?

I dont want to turn this into a fast and furious car. It's probably not even designed to be one. All I want is some extra kick that I can feel.

Necro-bump with no substantive content. Thread closed.

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[Pulsar]

No offense, but a Fit is so far away from a fast car that... well... no. Just no. With an aftermarket turbo, an exhaust, and a tune, you'll push out maybe 130 horsepower and 130 ft-lbs. Stock it's something like 90/80. For comparison, a stock Fiesta has 120 hp base, and 103 ft-lbs.

Anyway, the paddle shifters work and can be fun to play with, but really you don't gain much over a normal auto. In addition, they rotate with the steering wheel, so it can be a real nuisance to paddle shift through hard curves (like when you might want to drop from third or second to first coming out of a really tight turn).

 

[ibex333]

No offense, but a Fit is so far away from a fast car that... well... no. Just no.

None taken! I got this for the small size(easy to park in NY), cheap (not a huge tragedy if gets vandalized), and fuel efficiency(rising fuel costs). If I could somehow make it into a better car through mods it would be a nice bonus. But if not, no biggie.

What about the brakes though? Anything that I can do? I want the car to actually break, when I press on the pedal. The way it feels right now is the pedal feels soft so I have to apply quite a lot of pressure if I need to stop in a hurry. I cannot really describe the feeling, but it's as if there is some sort of padding under the whole braking process. I want the braking to be sharper, more responsive.

 

[theeedude]

It's an automatic Honda Fit. That's what it will always be. Love it or leave it.

 

[punjabiplaya]

The paddles just tell the transmission that you want it to change gears. Doesn't mean it will, just that you're asking it to do it.

As far as the **brakes**, the easiest solution is to get different pads. Check out a Fit or Honda forum. They'll have reviews of different aftermarket or even OEM pads that might give you the better "bite" you're looking for.

as far as later down the road mods: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXepvlCweS0

 

[Jumpem]

They simply change the gear one up or one down. Same idea as shifting in a manual, except no clutch.

 

[kornphlake]

I want the car to actually break, when I press on the pedal.

I have suspected for a long time that ricers weren't too intelligent but this confirms it, why would anyone wish for their car to break?

 

[Jumpem]

What about the brakes though? Anything that I can do? I want the car to actually break, when I press on the pedal. The way it feels right now is the pedal feels soft so I have to apply quite a lot of pressure if I need to stop in a hurry. I cannot really describe the feeling, but it's as if there is some sort of padding under the whole braking process. I want the braking to be sharper, more responsive.

Well for starters it doesn't even have disc brakes in the back. It still has drums.

 

[mmntech]

No offense, but a Fit is so far away from a fast car that... well... no. Just no. With an aftermarket turbo, an exhaust, and a tune, you'll push out maybe 130 horsepower and 130 ft-lbs. Stock it's something like 90/80. For comparison, a stock Fiesta has 120 hp base, and 103 ft-lbs.

Think that's lame? Try driving the Smart Fortwo with paddle shifters. Hilarity will ensue.

 

[Doppel]

Paddle shifters in your car are a waste of time, just a gimmick to sell to people who want to have fun but in practice I would be surprised if even 2% of people regularly use them. It's like this on most autos; nobody plays with these manual shifts because it is still an auto.

Don't ever mod your car, it's a terrible base to do it from and money down the drain. The Fit is a good car but don't forget its purpose (inexpensive utility). Don't try and make it something it's not.

 

[Jumpem]

Paddle shifters in your car are a waste of time, just a gimmick to sell to people who want to have fun but in practice I would be surprised if even 2% of people regularly use them. It's like this on most autos; nobody plays with these manual shifts because it is still an auto.

Don't ever mod your car, it's a terrible base to do it from and money down the drain. The Fit is a good car but don't forget its purpose (inexpensive utility). Don't try and make it something it's not.

I won't buy an auto without them anymore. I used them in my Fit, and now Outback, constantly for compression braking.

 

[punjabiplaya]

this thread is going to be fun

 

[IronWing]

I have a Fit and I use the paddles shifters daily. I use them to engine brake at red lights. Keeps the people following me on their toes.


I almost, just about never use "Sport" mode though.

 

[Viperoni]

Well for starters it doesn't even have disc brakes in the back. It still has drums.

And what difference would that make?

 

[Viperoni]

OP, if the brake pedal is really that soft, you may have crappy quality pads (or shoes) or moisture in your brake fluid, usualy shitty pads though. Your car is almost too new to worry about moisture in the brake fluid.

A good upgrade would be something like EBC Greenstuff brake pads, which probably go for around $70 for your car. These pads would help improve your brake pedal feel along with providing more friction to help slow your car down quicker. They'll also be more resistant to fading from (repeated) hard braking.

The next step would be better tires to help utilize that extra braking ability.
However if you're only looking to improve brake pedal feel and not decrease stopping distance, stainless steel braided brake lines would be your next upgrade.


FWIW I test drove a Fit Sport with paddle shifters and it shifted pretty darn quick for an econobox. I wasn't impressed with the braking either, but compared to my Echo it felt flatter in the corners.

 

[JulesMaximus]

My wife's Lexus IS has them and they are pretty much worthless. Can't imagine they're any better in the Honda. We have almost 80,000 miles on her car now and I've only used them a couple dozen times and really had no joy out of doing so. It's like a slightly less slushy slushbox but with no performance benefits whatsoever...might as well just leave it in D.

 

[yhelothar]

Yeah get a supercharged K20 swapped in there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXepvlCweS0

 

[Howard]

OP, if the brake pedal is really that soft, you may have crappy quality pads (or shoes) or moisture in your brake fluid, usualy shitty pads though. Your car is almost too new to worry about moisture in the brake fluid.

Moisture wouldn't be the cause... at least not when the brakes are cold. Either it's air, spongy lines, or excessive piston retraction (how do you fix that?)

 

[Doppel]

Yeah get a supercharged K20 swapped in there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXepvlCweS0

Do you think that guy had to overnight parts from Japan?

 

[JCH13]

No offense, but a Fit is so far away from a fast car that... well... no. Just no. With an aftermarket turbo, an exhaust, and a tune, you'll push out maybe 130 horsepower and 130 ft-lbs. Stock it's something like 90/80. For comparison, a stock Fiesta has 120 hp base, and 103 ft-lbs.

Anyway, the paddle shifters work and can be fun to play with, but really you don't gain much over a normal auto. In addition, they rotate with the steering wheel, so it can be a real nuisance to paddle shift through hard curves (like when you might want to drop from third or second to first coming out of a really tight turn).

2007 stock Fit is 109HP/105lb-ft of torque, FWIW.

Also, you should have been in the proper gear when entering the turn :awe:

(just pullin' your chain, don't worry)

The paddles just tell the transmission that you want it to change gears. Doesn't mean it will, just that you're asking it to do it.

Beg shifting FTL. I have driven several cars with it. They're a mostly useless novelty "just something else to do while you sip coffee, read the newspaper and do your makeup while driving to work" (quoted from a Chrysler dealer I talked to when affordable cars first started having this sort of thing).

I won't buy an auto without them anymore. I used them in my Fit, and now Outback, constantly for compression braking.

You know that you can down-shift automatics without fake paddle shifters, right? I've done this it in several automatics, particularly when descending long hills and mountain passes and towing large loads.

OP:

You could try flushing brake fluid to see if that helps the spongy feel, it doesn't take too long. You could also swap in stainless brake lines if you really wanted to. That may be overkill, but it'd be easier to do when the car is new, and what's wrong with a little overkill?

The Fit doesn't strike me as much of a tuner car, but you may gain a little bit by deleting one of the cats and/or upgrading the exhaust, and upgrading the intake (I know, I know, it's a little rice...). Those two would be pretty easy for you to do yourself. You could also look into slightly smaller diameter tires and lighter wheels, reducing unsprung and rotating mass will make the car peppier and sharpen suspension and steering response, especially when coupled with a slightly lowered suspension setup. Please avoid hella-flush setups, especially around NYC, you have been warned.

 

[DirthNader]

Do you think that guy had to overnight parts from Japan?

Never fails to make me smile.

 

[ShawnD1]

Think that's lame? Try driving the Smart Fortwo with paddle shifters. Hilarity will ensue.

The paddle shifters prevent the gears from randomly changing for no reason at all. My auto corolla without paddles jumps between gears 3 and 4 if you look at the wrong way. It makes driving very jerky and unresponsive.

 

[dbk]

The brake pads probably need to be replaced.. How many miles?

I have no mods on mine other than k&n filter and window visors..

check out fitfreak.net

p.s. I should've gotten the manual but I really wanted a white one and auto was the only one I could find in my area..

 

[KCfromNC]

I won't buy an auto without them anymore. I used them in my Fit, and now Outback, constantly for compression braking.

Brake pads are cheaper to replace than transmissions.

 

[ShawnD1]

Brake pads are cheaper to replace than transmissions.

truthiness
On a warranty claim when my corolla needed a replacement transmission, the form said transmission was $3700 and labor brought it up to $4200. Having that screw up outside of the warranty period certainly would suck.
Last time I put brakes on a vehicle was about 5 years ago. For a car like a Corolla, it's about $10-20 per wheel. So basically it's about 100x cheaper than a transmission.

Using the automatic transmission as a brake is one of those things you should only do when going down hill or when trying to slow down a very heavy load such as a camping trailer loaded with junk.