Building a Cheap Honda Fit: Crazy Transformation

Speed Academy is a website and YouTube channel based on making things go fast and enjoying cars. Peter Tarach and Dave Pratte are the forces behind Speed Academy.

The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.

A transcript, cleaned up by AI and edited by a human staffer, is below.

[Image: Speed Academy/YouTube Thumbnail]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by    subscribing to our newsletter.

Transcript:

Welcome back, everybody, to our Honda Fit build. In the last episode, we handled all the mechanical work, and in this episode, we’re starting with one of the best shifters on the market for the Honda Fit.

After removing the intake and battery with ease, I thought it would be smooth sailing, but I quickly remembered that cotter pins and rust don’t mix. It turned into a full-on wrestling match to get them out. After a few failed attempts, I realized that using pliers was the best method, and I finally got both pins extracted. Heat helped a lot.

With that rust nightmare behind me, sanity was restored. The center console and shifter removal turned out to be the easiest part of the day. But, of course, the shifter cables put up a fight. After plenty of hammering, swearing, and prying, I removed them from the bracket, which would be reused for the install. I also had to carefully cut and reuse the rubber grommet for the hybrid racing cables.

Thankfully, the installation itself was much more rewarding, especially with a shifter of this quality. The hybrid racing shifter cable and shifter box went in smoothly, paired with a 130R shift knob that has a nice, durable feel and provides incredibly crisp shifts.

Next up was the steering wheel. The stock wheel wasn’t my favorite—common on eighth-gen Civics, it has a “blobby, alien-like” look. There are far better aftermarket options, and remember: always unplug your battery before removing the airbag. Once the airbag was off, I realized the short hub I had chosen was too short for proper placement, so I swapped it for a long hub and installed a quick-release system from Garage 16, which solved the fitment issue perfectly.

One of the upgrades I was most excited about were the JDM Honda Fit (or Honda Jazz in Japan) headlights. They’re more aggressive in fitment, though not a direct bolt-on, so some modifications were needed. Unfortunately, I realized I had purchased the wrong model, as the fender profile didn’t match. The correct headlights won’t arrive until late November, so I sourced suitable USDM headlights from carpart.com as a temporary solution. Polishing them brought them close to new condition, despite slight lens fading.

The center grille got a refresh with SEM trim black paint, bringing it back to an OEM-like finish. The front lip from RS Splitters, made of HDPE, fit perfectly and added subtle aggression to the bumper without being over the top.

Next, the wheel and tire debate: we chose 16-inch Advent RGD2 wheels (16x8, +38 offset) in Hyper Black, paired with Continental Extreme Contact Sport O2 tires. This setup provides excellent grip and balance for street driving, with a slight camber adjustment using SPC camber bolts. Optional Advan Racing center caps completed the look.

We continued the black-and-white theme with a roof and spoiler wrap by Mike at Design Shop React in Toronto, which added perfect contrast. The K2 coilovers, combined with these visual upgrades, made the Fit feel sporty, like a mini race car. Surprisingly, the spoon-style mirrors provided good visibility despite their size, complementing the aesthetic.

Driving impressions: the car feels tight and responsive, with K2 coilovers, a sway bar, and upgraded brakes making it corner confidently. The hybrid racing shifter is precise and reminiscent of an S2000 or K-series shifter. The exhaust and intake upgrades add sound and a slight power increase. Overall, it’s a car you can really enjoy without excessive speed risk—fun, sporty, and balanced.

Other highlights include the Pro Series O8 Plus brakes with excellent initial bite, fully restored paint with Simonized Platinum products, and a thorough ceramic coating for protection and hydrophobic performance.

In summary, the GE8 Honda Fit build combines style, performance, and functionality: black-and-white theme, JDM-inspired headlights, a proper shifter, responsive suspension, and aesthetic enhancements like RS Splitters and Pure Form Motorsports spoilers. The car looks great, drives sporty, and remains fun, highlighting the value of simple but effective modifications.

That wraps up our Honda Fit build. Let us know your thoughts in the comments—did we go far enough, or is there more you’d like to see?