Welcome back! For today’s matchup we have two cars from Sacramento, both small hatchbacks, both manuals, and both north of 200,000 miles. But you wouldn’t know it to look at either of them. Remember when cars used to look old and worn-out at half that mileage? Times have changed.
You weren’t very impressed with yesterday’s rustbuckets, that’s for sure. I gotta say, though, I still don’t think the rust on those two is all that bad. I mean, they still have rocker panels. The doors go all the way down to the bottoms of their sills. The wheel arches are still round – at least, more or less. Those are pristine compared to some cars I’ve owned.
And yeah, I knew the Corolla was going to win. And yeah, I will admit that it is the better choice here. I just have an irrational dislike of them, partly because they are so damn common and never seem to die, and partly because the last Corolla I owned was purchased specifically to commute back and forth to a job I hated. Not the car’s fault, I know, but it doesn’t make me have warm fuzzy feelings towards them.
It might sound strange, especially coming from an automotive Luddite like me, but I feel like we’re in sort of an automotive golden age right now, and have been for a couple of decades. Want to drive a new car? They’re better-built and more reliable in general than they have ever been, and they have performance and efficiency we only dreamed about back in the 1980s and 90s. Prefer something older? You’re in luck; the internet makes it easier to find parts to keep an old car going, and any problem you may need to fix is well-documented, even if you have to dig through fifteen-year-old forum posts to find the solution.
As far as the cheap car market goes, there are more good viable choices than ever. Sure, a lot of people default to twenty-year-old Toyotas, but you don’t have to. You can drop a few grand cash on almost anything, with a few exceptions, and not have too many nasty surprises. Today we’re going to look at two fun little hatchbacks that have already paid their dues and then some, but are both ready to give a new owner lots more. Here they are.
2009 Honda Fit – $3,900
Engine/drivetrain: 1.5-liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Sacramento, CA
Odometer reading: 215,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Once upon a time, Honda’s Civic hatchback was damn near the perfect small car. It had a tiny, rev-happy engine, a slick-shifting manual gearbox, and a small, light frame that made it a wonderful dance partner on twisty roads, and that’s not something you can say about every cheap econobox. But then, the Civic grew, and moved upmarket, and lost the hatchback along with its joie de vivre. Fortunately, it had a spiritual successor – the smaller Jazz hatchback, known here as the Fit.
The Fit arrived here with a 1.5 liter four under the hood, equipped with Honda’s VTEC variable valve timing system. It’s a small engine, producing enough power to move the Fit at a respectable clip and not use much fuel doing it. To make an engine like that really work, you pretty much have to back it with a manual gearbox. Automatics just suck all the life out of a small engine, and while these days they’re supposedly “more efficient,” they’re so utterly joyless that no one cares. Fortunately, this Fit has a five-speed manual. It’s for sale at a dealership, so you’re on your own as far as condition goes. But it’s a stickshift Honda; you can’t go far wrong.
It’s a base model, so don’t expect much in the way of creature comforts, but “base model” is relative. I think back to a Civic I once test drove. It had vinyl seats, rubber floors, a four-speed transmission, and only a driver’s side mirror – without a remote adjuster. With power windows, air conditioning, and a CD player, this thing is practically a Bentley by comparison. It’s in good condition, and it looks like they cleaned it up nicely.
The paint is nice and shiny; whoever put all those miles on this car took good care of it. The only thing that gives me pause is some missing fasteners around the front bumper and grille – look at the photo of the engine compartment to see what I mean. The front of this car has been taken apart, and I’d like to know why before I was willing to sign off on it.
2017 Chevrolet Sonic RS – $4,000
Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 1.4-liter dual overhead cam inline 4, six-speed manual, FWD
Location: Rancho Cordova, CA
Odometer reading: 201,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The Chevy Sonic came from a long line of tiny little captive imports, starting with the Suzuki-built Sprint, and stretching through the Geo years up to the somewhat disastrous Daewoo-built Aveo. In fact, the Sonic is technically the second generation of the Aveo, but I think GM changed the name due to the Aveo’s lackluster reputation.
Instead of a dreary economy car, Chevy marketed the Sonic as a sporty little number, available with a turbocharged version of GM’s Ecotec engine, displacing 1.4 liters. It has a six-speed manual, big sticky tires, and pretty damn good handling. To prove its point, Chevy staged a whole series of stunts for a TV ad, including a version of the famous “Astro Spiral Jump,” making it one of only three cars to successfully perform that stunt, alongside the AMC Javelin and Hornet. We don’t get any information about this one’s condition either; the ad says “by owner,” but I suspect it’s one of those dealers claiming to be a private owner.
It’s the fancy Premier model, with leather seats, power everything, and a touch-screen infotainment system, fancy stuff for a little hatchback. It looks really good for 200,000 miles; hopefully it all still works all right. As always, buyer beware, and push all the buttons and turn all the knobs before signing anything.
It’s got nice shiny red paint and nice black alloy wheels. I’m usually not crazy about black wheels, but here I think they work. The Sonic got a facelift in 2017, with a new front end to make it look more like Chevy’s other cars. There are hints of Camaro and Impala in there, but honestly, I liked the pre-facelift front end better with its round headlights and purposeful expression.
Twenty years ago, an economy car with 200,000 miles on its odometer would have been seen as well past its prime, no matter who made it. But these both look like they’ve got plenty of life left, and they both should be fun to drive. Either way, you’ll have to do your own inspection to make sure everything is ship-shape. Which one is worthy of your scrutiny?
(Image credits: sellers)
I had the 1.4T in a Cruze. I needed no additional details to go Fit. I like the look of the little Chavy so much better, but man I hate that engine!
My wife had a Sonic with the same 1.4T, and that is why I voted Fit. You keep fixing the thing, and it keeps finding new and novel ways to leak coolant.
Coolant, oil, mine even managed to break the windshield washer fluid bottle. It liked to mark its territory that’s for sure.
I have a ’16 Fit, and my daughter’s second car was a ’15 Fit. She now drives a 2019 model.
It’s a well designed car that cuts like a skateboard on a two-lane, and hauls like a pickup @ Home Depot.
I have a set of Blizzaks on it right now, and it churns thru the white like a hungry grizzly on a hot lunch. Snowstorms really don’t matter.
I also have a set of Thule roof racks and Alumatec wheels. In Milano Red it looks pretty sharp. I came up with muscle cars, sports cars, and lots of fast Kawasakis. At this point I’m happy with a well-balanced car.
Besides, If I want excitement I always have my ’17 Camry. !!
Honda truly bent the laws of physics on the cargo capacity of the Fit. There is no other way to explain how much crap you can stuff inside.
yeah it’s amazing if you consider the wheelbase is less than 99″. I have a CUV with 5″ more WB that can’t fit as much as a Fit.
The only thing I can think of is the engine bay is smaller than most vehicles, but you won’t need to open that hood very often, so….
This is hard. I had a 2009 Fit Sport automatic. Well, my significant other did. Great little car. When it was in the shop for the airbag recall, we had a Sonic hatch for a rental. The 1.8/automatic. Nowhere near as lively or efficient. The interior space utilization was awful in comparison.
I also had the 1.4T/6 speed manual drivetrain in my old Cruze. Quite enjoyed that, especially with the Trifecta tune I put on it. It made 250k miles in my ownership. Sold it because I bought a new car and didn’t have the space for a third car.
I went Sonic because I want faster over more versatile. Yes, it’ll cost me more in the end. Guarantee it’ll need a turbo if it hasn’t been replaced already. And a water pump. And the oil cooler to be resealed at that mileage. But, all that can be done at the same time. May as well change the gear oil in the transmission to Amsoil Synchromesh while the undertray is off. Call me delusional after having one car with that drivetrain at those miles and saying I’ll have another, please, sir. Speed!
This Sonic is pretty nice, definitely better-equipped than the average Sonic for sale, of which there are a lot.
But every Honda Fit owner I’ve met has praised the car profusely; they love it, and nobody ever loved a Sonic.
Honda for sure, but this is a pretty cool Sonic- for a Sonic.
The Fit wins by default
If it were my money I’d probably go fit, but if I could get the Sonic for a little less I’d probably go for that. Newer, more tech etc would win out. Tough call but pending some dealing with the seller I’d probably go Sonic.
Former long-time Sonic owner here. I owned my 2013 Sonic LT 1.4T 6MT from May 2015 w/30k miles to December 2023 w/100k miles. The engine is well built and reliable internally, but is plagued with small issues from all the other parts bolted to it.
Common problems include:
– intake manifold and/or valve cover (integrated PCV valve failure)
– EVAP purge solenoid failure (may be caused by “topping off” when fueling – don’t do that!)
– turbocharger cracked manifold (integrated with exhaust manifold) cause low boost and oil consumption
– coolant outlet leaking
– coolant reservoir leaking
– thermostat housing leaking
– water pump leaking
Basically the turbo system is made of paper and coolant system is made of Swiss cheese. But what finally got me to sell it was the clutch slave cylinder failure. I already had the car paid off, so I got the clutch and master/slave cylinders replaced at a local shop and the sold it immediately to recoup the cost.
I basically gave the car away but I was tired of never knowing when the next stupid coolant part failure would pop up. The seasonal temperature changes seemed to have an affect so maybe it won’t be a problem in a more temperate climate (I’m in Michigan.)
Anyway that’s my story. Best of luck to whoever gets that Sonic. Maybe they fixed some of these issues on the later models. I still think they’re neat. Much happier with my 2020 Corolla Hatchback XSE 6MT. ????
Can’t go wrong here, but I have an irrational love of those Sonics. The hedgehog gets my vote!
I was going to vote Fit but looking at the Sonic, esp with the turbo 6speed I changed my mind.
Can’t go wrong with either really
Tough call. But knowing Honda engineering, it “Fits” better.
My grandparents bought a new Sonic with auto transmission. The car was trouble from the beginning and finally conked out at 40,000 miles.
Now my dad is considering a Spark as a road trip vehicle and I’m thinking about turning him to the Fit instead.
Turn him to something with a 3800, would make a much better highway steed.
Can confirm. The Fit is a great vehicle for commuting around town (and fun on windy mountain roads) – it drives like a go cart. Its one weakness is cruising at highway speeds. It’s a bit loud and buzzy, and the short wheelbase doesn’t always interact well to spacing of the expansion joints in the concrete.
Maybe they fixed some of the noise issues with later models – I’m pretty sure I read they increased the glass thickness on some of the windows (the triangles ahead of the doors) in the model year after mine, so maybe the newer ones are better about that.
That said, a bigger car just does better at high speed cruising.
I’m glad you said this. I’ll try to point him to something larger. Even if there’s a difference in MPG, he’s going to hate being in a small car for hours at a time anyway, especially if it’s noisy.
honestly a newer compact or midsize 4 cyl sedan will get about the same mileage than a Honda Fit. The tall roofline cuts into the MPGs, you’ll be lucky if you get mid 30s on that.
So I’ll say your dad might not even get a mileage penalty in a larger vehicle.
Also, agreed about not wanting to drive a small car for several hours at a time. The NVH, acceleration and comfort are compromised big time
Oh, how I wish they made a 2000s era wagon with the 3800.
He is well aware of the 3800 and what it came in, but I think he can’t shake the idea of owning a road trip vehicle that old. He has the tools and space, but age is catching up to his ability to fix his beater cars.
I actually like a Spark but as a road trip vehicle? Oof, no.
The man really should know better. He used to have good taste in cars. Living on a fixed income has made him penny wise but pound foolish.
The thing is at highway speeds tiny cars with tiny engines often do worse than a Camry/Accord/3800. My Mazda2, while a delight, never did better than 30 mpg highway while being decidedly uncomfortable for those trips too.
DING DING DING this is the answer. A tiny four that gets wound out for hours on end is not efficient.
That will be a good way to convince him. Thank you.
Because Honda, the sonic is a fun car but still.
Both are good as they are, for cost per performance mods, the Sonic will run away from the fit for pennies on the dollar. Compared to junkyard parts to start a K-swap you can have a fully modded Sonic and with a starting price of 4K I wouldn’t feel bad about “ruining” it.
The Fit is a classic momentum car, and really only needs tires and a modicum of suspension work to be surprisingly competitive.
I’ve owned a tuned Sonic, and currently own a “Classic Momentum Car” Lx, I’m not a good enough driver to not get lapped several times per session in my momentum Lx. For me, my driving skill (or lack thereof) and available time to enjoy it; the Sonic wins.
I don’t begrudge anyone who dislikes momentum cars. But looking at the Fit on the surface and on paper, you don’t really expect to get any actual fun/performance out of it, so every little bit that you do get is that much more rewarding.
I get that, and I do like the Fit, actually cross-shopped them back when I bought my Sonic. The Fit is a great car, but I don’t get to “momentum” during daily commutes, and the Sonic was surprisingly fun to drive by comparison.
I rented a Sonic a few years ago and really loved it, so I totally understand. I will say that, yeah, it did get a little old having to always be flooring my 6MT Fit when it was my daily, but now that it’s a weekend toy that’s become part of the fun for me.
That Sonic makes me feel all warm & fuzzy, but I just have more faith in the Honda at the 200k mile mark.
Now if these had 100k on them, I’d probably try the Sonic.
The Fit is low key peak car.
I knew what I was voting for when I clicked the link. I just needed to validate that it wasn’t rat infested, or ravaged by a “bear” that got locked inside.
The Honda Fit is an amazingly versatile interior, drives better than you think it should, feels far sportier than it is, and is generally a blast. It’s a small car that punches well above it’s dowdy looks.
Similar miles , similar price. The Honda seems to be the more gently used given that it’s taken twice as long to accrue roughly the same miles as the Sonic, but a lot depends on how those miles were spent, too. The Sonic will have less age-related wear and tear in things like bushings and paint. Most things being equal, I’d usually gravitate to the younger car, but the Honda has a better reputation than the Chevy and that has to factor in. The larger motor, 6-speed and amenities in the Chevy are nice; however, I think I’m going Honda. I like simplicity, and reliability and think, maybe, the extended time to build up 200k miles indicates an easier life.
I was thinking along the same lines… 200K miles in ~8 years is a lot, but to me, that indicates a lot of those miles would’ve been on the freeway, which usually is easier on the mechanicals.
I rented a Sonic (automatic, almost certainly NA) of that era for a week in Baltimore, and driving down to DC to visit the awesome Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, it was quite comfortable.
I’m a Honda guy. I own or have owned four and they’ve all been great. So… I’m really torn. But I think given this choice and take a walk on the wilder side. Sonic, by a nose. (And I laughed when someone called it the hedgehog!)
I wondered about the Sonic miles, too. I put over 375k mostly highway miles on my Saab in its first 15 years and they were easy on the car. The last 15 years added another 150k, mostly local. So the Sonic could definitely be “younger” than its age, as you say.
525K on a Saab, or really any car, is impressive. As is owning the same car for 30 years!
I drove a used 1986 Saab 9000 Turbo for a couple of years, really enjoyed it but sold it before something expensive happened. I replaced it with a 2001 Jetta TDI which I absolutely loved but it really needed a 6th gear when I moved to Texas. Sold it and bought a V6 Accord. It’s excellent. But now I’m back in Washington and would love to have that Jetta again. And perhaps this is a case of nostalgia. The Honda is super competent, but the Jetta was a stick and had more character.
I’ll never see another like that Saab. If it hadn’t been for some coastal floods thst eventually caused the frame to rot out, I’d like to think it’d still be rolling. That motor was tight. Never drove a Jetta, but I did run an Eos for a few months. I’m guessing it’s similar if a bit looser in the cowl. I liked it. Was always afraid the roof mechanism was going to fail halfway extended. No rational reason for the fear, it never did hang up, but it was always in the back of my mind. Washington state? Love that place. When I die I want to go to the San Juan Islands.
Go to the San Juans while you’re still alive! Whidbey Island, Bainbridge Island, pretty much anywhere on the waters of Puget Sound are beautiful and fun. Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula is also very cool.
Growing up in CA, I thought Seattle was the NW corner of the continent. Moving there in 1994, I quickly learned there is a lot more to the Pacific Northwest than Seattle. It’s more than 100 miles to the border with BC, which has its own charms. Vancouver changed pretty radically while they prepared to host the Olympics in 2010. But Victoria, on Vancouver Island, is like going to GB. You can get there from Anacortes in WA or go from Vancouver city. Either way, it will be a beautiful ferry ride.
Driving up to Whistler, BC through Vancouver city is one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever done, but unless you want to ski, it should be done in the summer.
I used to fly with my son, in a Cessna 150, from Renton to Friday Harbor and walk maybe half a mile into town and have a burger. Those are great memories.
Thanks for the travel input! In my Air Force days I was fortunate to make a few trips into the SeaTac area and see some of places you mentioned, but never for long enough to get a real feel for them. Many years later I did manage a short visit to Friday Harbor and I was smitten. Got to fly over the San Juans and Gulf Islands. So beautiful; those Pacific currents and the rain shadow from the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island really provide a great year round climate. Friday Harbor is one of the saved cities in the weather app on my phone and when I really want to make myself miserable, I check out the conditions there. Really would like to relocate to the area when I can manage it and have to check out the Olympic Peninsula and Whidby, too. I’ve lived in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and Southwest: time for the Northwest. Thanks again.
I had to go with the Fit. Everyone I knew, esp. a lot of friends kids’ first car, had one for a while and loved it. They got treated rough and still got the job done. They were more fun than they had a right to be and had a lot of room to haul stuff. I still don’t get why Honda stopped selling them here.
The Sonic is ok. I rented one a few times and they were all right. I’m not crazy about the wheels on this one and somebody likes Armor All a lot. At same price and miles, Honda almost every time.
“I still don’t get why Honda stopped selling them here.”
The Civic sold better, was more profitable, got more power, better EPA combined mileage and re-introduced a hatchback body style a few years ago. Yes it’s also more expensive but sales spoke for themselves and keeping the Fit would’ve affected Honda with the revised corporate CAFE targets for this decade.
I had a Sonic with the 1.4 as a rental and I loved it. I could easily daily drive that car. The 1.4 turbo does not carry a great reputation though. I wonder how many PCV/valve covers it’s already eaten.
I changed the turbo on one of those and it was a real pain to work on. The housing is integral with the exhaust manifold and the casting cracks, can’t make boost, and starts throwing codes. I’d wager this one is either ready for its second turbo replacement or already had it.
Let me tell you, there is no car greater than the mighty Honda Fit. There’s a reason so many of these will die an honorable death in the backwoods of Northern New England. We Yankees are in love with these things. Just the smallest, most indestructible battle tanks on Earth. We’ve done nothing but treat ours like trash, and outside of one CV axle, it’s been fine. Like, we’ve got it stuck in a bog, more than once. Used a large stick and a rock to get it out of newly formed wash-out. Thing has been a better farm truck then the Cummins 12v. It’s so light and just has enough power to get you out of most things and keeps you out of trouble. And it fits anywhere. From the big city of Portland, Maine to the side-by-side/ATV trail I use to get to our friend’s house. I’m sure the Sonic is fine automobile, but the Back Forty Ferrari is the rizz or whatever the kids say.
A good set of tires for the season and it’s either a summer canyon cruiser, or a winter tank. And still one of the best daily drivers, urban commuters, and small makeshift whatever-hauling van.
So true! We had a 2009 Fit. Automatic, sadly. That little car took us everywhere. Loved chucking it around.
+1 the Fit goes anywhere, does anything..
first few paragraphs here are a sort of love letter to mine,
https://dkretzmann.blogspot.com/2021/08/holy-cross-wilderness.html
That Honda will still be bashing shopping carts in the grocery store parking lot and busting through snow drifts long after that Sonic has been crushed, melted down, and turned into something for sale at Harbor Freight.
That said, checking FB Marketplace now for a manual Sonic for a commuter/beater.
Yep, I was leaning towards the Sonic for all of the modern features but then I asked myself which one of these cars is more likely to still be on the road in 5 years.
I picked the Fit for no reason other than I’ve already had a Sonic. It was… fine, but I don’t think I’d buy another one, if I had another option.
I went Sonic after initially thinking no way that wins over the Fit. For only $100 more you’re getting a MUCH nicer cabin and creature comforts plus a whole additional gear. It might bite me but I figured at 200,000 miles if something was terribly wrong with it, it would be fixed by now.
Same. I came in here ready to vote for the Fit but for almost the exact same price I think the Sonic would be a better, faster starting point for an autoX car.
The Sonic is decent. They get a bad reputation more than they need, but that is because the first years had pains.
Honda simply here offers better value for money.
For the entry fee the Sonic offers way better value than the Fit: 8 years newer, better fuel economy, more power, a 6 spd, way more features including power heated seats, Apple Carplay, also way more airbags, lane departure warning and stability control. Someone could say it isn’t lacking in features compared to a new car.
Long term and by the time you’re done with it, the Fit will most certainly win, though.
Yes, because Chevrolet is not known for being good at small cars….
I don’t hate the Sonic, but as an enthusiast, you have to have a screw loose to pick one over a Fit.