What car has shocked you the most?

"McChiken116 - Patrick H." (mcchiken116)
01/21/2016 at 23:29 • Filed to: Ask, Honda

This is a 2012 honda fit. It has a tiny 1.5 liter inline 4 making 117 HP and 106 pound feet of toque. And I just had a blast in it. How did Honda make this car that good?

Looking at the figures, and almost everything about the non-sport Automatic, and you will be looking at an economy hatchback. Not something that can make me giggle more than almost anything else I have ever driven. The Honda Fit shocked me, and now I get why there is such a community around them. All I was imagining was how good a manual Sport car must be.

So what’s shocked you all lately? I can imagine with the amount of stuff we drive on here that there are going to be some fun answers.

DISCUSSION (29)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/21/2016 at 23:32

Not a new car, but when I drove a Mazda MPV 4x4 I fell in love with it. Completely different from something I’d normally drive, but I think it would make a great college car.

TheHondaBro > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/21/2016 at 23:34

The third gen Fit is also pretty nice to drive, even though it has a CVT.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/21/2016 at 23:50

On paper, a 270k mile Tacoma 4-cylinder shouldn’t be fun. Holy shit, it’s hilarious. It’s not precise, it has tons of body roll, and not a lot of grip, but I can think of another beloved car that can be described like that stock. They are a ton of fun to toss around a back road. Also, I drove an Aveo. Everyone is wrong about the Aveo. No, I’m not saying it’s good, I’m saying it's worse than anyone has ever described it.

Vicente Esteve > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 00:17

Last gen. Rav-4 V6. That thing has serious pace.

area man > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 00:18

The Fit is Go!

Kyru Galaga > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 00:22

A 4.6l V8 F150. A full size truck that on paper only makes 231 hp and 291 tq. A full size truck that in real life is even shittier than it is on paper. The 2006 altima 2.5 I used to have makes this thing seem slower than the dad who insists on only buying a toyota camry for his next car becuase “safety”. But holy dick is that truck fun to just fuck around in. Body roll? Oh yes please. Throttle response? Absolutely atrocious. Does that detract from the fun though of a truck with rear open diffs that wants to fishtail worse than a mustang on ice? Hell. No. This thing wants to do something other than just be like every other full size truck in my state that’s lifted and have 37's on ‘em and have the stock headlights replaced with the cheapest HID’s they could find on ebay. I expected this thing be like being stuck in a relationship at 16 with a bible-thumper boyfriend who insists that “There be no sexual advances until we are married Naomi”, and breaks up with you when you get your nose pierced. Instead its more akin to finding that one barista at Starbucks who fits in perfectly with the hip vibe of the place and the the people he works with, but then when you see him leave work he fishtails out of the parking lot in this silly truck blaring “Bulletproof”. I’ve only witnessed this once and I am sad I never got to really talk to the guy. Anyways, if you’re ever in the market for a full size single cab truck, and come across this F150 with a small displacement 4.6L V8, just know that while it might be slow, if you push the truck in all the right ways, it will wow the fuck out of you.

Bytemite > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
01/22/2016 at 00:26

Why is the Aveo so bad!?

Bytemite > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 00:27

Curious, what cars have you been driving?

Amoore100 > Vicente Esteve
01/22/2016 at 00:35

One of the only CUV’s I’d consider buying aside from perhaps a Volvo XC model.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Bytemite
01/22/2016 at 00:36

There is no feel whatsoever, the manual feels like it needs time to decide after you shift, there is no power(coming from someone who dailies something that takes over 15 seconds to get to 60), and the interior is absolutely awful.

911e46z06 > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 00:40

I was very excited when Budget told me my rental was a Mini. Sure, it was base, but Minis are fun and spunky, right? Wrong. I was shocked at how shitty it was. I was so upset that I entered it in a drift event. I got last place.

Shift24 > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 00:47

One of the more shocking cars for me was my buddies 01 Cadillac deville. Surprisingly quick and agile for its size, close to 30 mpg, and fit and finish was decent fit early 00's GM. Only problem is the weak head bolts for the Northstars.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 00:57

Former Fit owner here. They are fun because someone at Honda decided to take the time to sort out the steering and engine response on such a crappy little car. More fun than you’d expect given the other junk in the segment, but overall it wasn’t that great.

Speaking of which, the car that has surprised me the most recently was another cheap little car - the Elantra. I like the styling and had heard that Hyundai had really improved things and actually made them decent to drive. But then I actually drove one and it was absolutely horrible.

Even more surprising, though, was how undamaged it it was when Apple maps screwed up and took me through 4 miles of this. So I guess overall it was OK.

Kinja'd!!!

Stapleface > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/22/2016 at 06:34

You: Siri, what is a Baja race?

Siri: Let me map one out for you

pip bip - choose Corrour > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 06:46

Sister in law’s newish Camry Hybrid , far better than her previous Camry Hybrid.

Vicente Esteve > Amoore100
01/22/2016 at 07:37

It’s pretty quirky with its rear side hinged door and layered interior. I enjoyed my time with it and would love to take one off-road.

V6 is mandatory.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 07:51

A 2009 Malibu 2.4 LTZ. Now wait, before you start laughing, let me explain.

The steering is oddly not shit. Like its good. There’s actual hints of weight and feedback , on an electric rack from 2009. The 2.4, while a little buzzy, does a great job of moving the car. I think the cars only good for an 8-second 0-60, but it feels quicker than that. And to top it all off, the chassis is surprisingly agile. The good looks and nice interior are just icing on the cake tbh.

Jayhawk Jake > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 08:43

The STS prepped Miata I’ve driven a few times

Am I surprised that a Miata drives well? No, not at all. But the way this one is set up, holy crap. I don’t think a go kart even reacts to inputs as quickly as this thing.

Nonster > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
01/22/2016 at 09:08

I second the Aveo review. It is simply the most miserable little shitbox I’ve ever driven.

Master Cylinder > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 09:10

Hell yeah the Fit is fun. My dad used to have a ‘12 Fit with a manual and that thing was like driving a go-kart.

TTercel > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 10:48

2002 Jetta TDI. You are able to floor it everywhere, shift through gears and not break any speed limits. More fun than my Legacy where I’m breaking the law in a couple seconds.

uofime-2 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
01/22/2016 at 11:46

Come on, stop the hate!

So the car has a fat flywheel, shifts aren’t that slow, and you don’t even need to use 1st. Just run the hampster wheel motor up to redline, its fine.

Yeah the interior is the epitome of no frills, the suspension is floaty, and the brakes are mediocre, but it does have a hand brake and thats what counts!

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 13:04

My base AF 2012 base model Chevy Sonic. It has lots of side wall flex with 15" wheels. It has tiny disks up front and drum brakes in the rear I’m pretty sure it has brakes when I press it. It steering numb as a dead thumb. Its 5spd is like dragging a pencil though soft ice cream, I think it went into 2nd. Its build quality makes toy’r’us look like a rolls royce. There I so much to hate, but so fun to drive.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > Vicente Esteve
01/22/2016 at 13:21

This. Muscle CUVs should be a thing, and this would be their progenitor.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 13:23

The sad part is that all Hondas used to be like the Fit, but now it’s the exception.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Bytemite
01/22/2016 at 15:53

458, New Miata, New Mustang, my 944, kia sorento....

Bytemite > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
01/22/2016 at 16:05

Okay I can understand the latter ones but the Miata and a 458 Italia? Come on, get real.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Bytemite
01/22/2016 at 17:04

Xtreme Xperiences: A Real Experience

How I learned to stop worrying and love the Miata: A quick drive

I’m not saying the fit is better than those two, but it made me giggle about the same.

Vicente Esteve > The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!)
01/23/2016 at 00:21

RSQ3 is proof they are great.