Owner Review: The hybrid system failed so I decided to engine swap my car - My Honda Jazz/Fit "Hybrid" RS

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Basic information

2012 Honda Jazz Hybrid (CBU)  a.k.a Honda Jazz/Fit "Hybrid" RS 

Reason why I bought this car

Hybrid Tax Exemption 

Car selection process

• I had a budget of: RM100k
• Models that I have considered include: Toyota Vios, Toyota Prius C, Honda City 
• Reasons why I chose this car: Trim spec offered better than the rest

User experience

• I have already done 120,000 km.

Was powerful at first, very comfortable and especially quiet, drives extremely well, handles the corner better but a bit too much body roll. 

I swap out the hybrid for petrol due to the hybrid system failing. The feeling is completely different, it is very responsive and rev-happy, more noise than before but well worth it. Working through the 6speed manual transmission gears are so smooth (famous honda things). The car just goes and goes until speed cut. There is so much potential if you remove the speed limiter. It doesn't feel like struggling to go even when you're in gear 6, you just floor it and it picks up quite well, due to the short ratio of the gearbox. Gone were the days of keys. Keyless entry is the best feature ever. 

Pros & Cons

Pros

- Short ratio 6 MT
- Keyless entry
- Auto headlight
- Panoramic moon roof
- Single-zone auto climate control
- 6 airbags
- rear disc brakes
- great visibility
- huge transporting space (magic seats)
- CBU build quality
- cheap to maintain
- easy to handle 
- soft clutch

Cons

- loud & noisy due to exhaust
- high RPM at 110km/h
- slightly bumpy due to adjustable covers
- X bar in the way for ample transportation space
- hot in the afternoon due to moonroof
- extrator keep cracking, leads to bad fuel consumption
- expensive replacement parts

Above is all user-created problem😂

Originally from the car
- high rpm while cruising

 That's all I can think

Ratings

Total Score: 4
Performance: 5
Quality & Features: 5
Space: 5
Ride Comfort: 2
Fuel Economy: 3
Price & Cost: 3

Summary

It was great owning this car for the past 8 years before the hybrid system decided to fail on me due to lack of using it. Being a hybrid car you have to drive it often for it to be at the optimum level of performance. It is comfortable and quiet, smooth when cruising, not while accelerating at a traffic light. The sound quality was decent with the doors that are surprisingly quite. No wind noise! NVH is not as bad as a Myvi (given that it is the same category as a Myvi) and the ride comfort is soft enough to soak up all the bumps of the road in Malaysia. A really good daily commuter to go to work or study and come back. Great for roadtrip! The boot space and the magic seats! Works marvellously! 

After the hybrid failed, swapping to petrol is a better option because I rarely drive the car and since my inner driver is itching for a manual car, decided to swap to a manual JDM GE8 RS which is the FIT RS. The car feels so much lighter and alive after the swap, the acceleration is quicker than hybrid due to the manual gears compare to CVT, the short ratio makes it fun to just shift. Heel-and-toe is easy in this car, so does rev-matching. The hybrid system is so heavy that the way the car handles the corner is totally different. Very satisfied with the swap and is definitely a more driver car now even tho it is driven only at weekends.

Lastly, any interesting events?

My friend thought that it was a Myvi because it is yellow.. 😂

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