How much driving do you do?

Occhi, about average, I'd guess. 12,000 miles a year-ish.

Rough meaning tight? Like a sports car. What kind of car is it?

A rough ride on purpose like a sporty car? Or a rough ride because the suspension is shot?

A brand new Honda Fit. The ride's probably rough because it's a small car.

Well, I peg those as "commuter cars", not really up to the level of a primary vehicle that I would use for intercity travel.

Ah...those little hatchbacks tend to have a "go-kart" like feel to them, which I like. Seems like people in Europe and Asia like to "feel" the road more than Americans do, and the Fit is pretty new here.

I haven't driven a Fit, but I drive new Civics all the time from the short-term car rental service and I really like them. I owned a 2000 Civic for a while and it was great, but this new one is way nicer. Especially the interior--the fit and finish of the interior just blows away any other economy car I've been in. Looks like the Fit has a different layout, but I bet the quality is similar.

Anyway, I wouldn't let the rough ride put you off. The reviews for the Fit are very good and you'll get used to the ride--perhaps even appreciate it. Of course, buying a new car never makes economic sense, but you didn't ask that question.

I'm completely not qualified to answer your question, seeing as I love tight rides, and had a hard time finding a car bigger than my Miata that didn't feel like floating.

I'll say you get used to a rougher suspension (unless you have kids with drinks), but I'd pick up a Fit Zipcar, and go through my commute in it once. There's a stretch on the 405 that has periodic bumps exactly resonating with my Miata's suspension. Driving there I'd be literally be jumping up and down. On my new car there's a similar stretch on the 5 that makes even bigger jumps. If I had to drive through either for my daily commute, it wouldn't be nice.

I just bought a Fit last month and love the way that it rides. The steering and handling are pretty amazing, I love throwing it around turns. It's the funnest car I've had since my '76 Celica but them I do like cars that let you feel the road.

My mom has a Fit that she is quite fond of. Thumbs up from the silver-hair set.

If the ride feel is an issue with a particular model try to determine if you have a choice in wheel size. Often the base model comes with smaller diameter wheels and the up-range variety comes with larger wheels because it's fashionable. Larger diameter wheels ride more harshly because there's proprtionally less tire sidewall, and the sidewalls must be stiffer to hold up the car.

Ok - I checked the Honda website. base Fit has 15" wheels, the Fit Sport has 16". Make sure you try the base model; even if you are buying a Sport, you may be able to negotiate the downgrade from the dealer (do point out that the dealer gets the profitable side of that deal) or arrange a private swap on Craigslist. If you felt adventurous, I expect there are aftermarket choices in 14", too.

I drove a borrowed Fit on a long roadtrip. I wouldn't let the ride put you off - it's a fantastic car for reliability and fuel efficiency and the styling's not bad (I've been researching in this category too). I like Triode's idea of a fix and never would have thought of that. I think part of that ride is just the car category, though. I've been driving everything from Aveos to Fits to Hyundai Accents, and nothing in this combination of price + MPG is what you'd call a smooth ride. I agree about feeling the road, though. My worst drive was in a Dodge Caliber the salesman wanted to shove down my throat: land yacht city, very dissociated.

My mom also really likes her Fit.

I keep talking up the Nissan Versa hatchback. The mister and I bought one last year. It's in the same class as the Fit, but we liked the Versa more.

As for your actual question - my Jeep Wrangler was a rough ride, but it was a Jeep Wrangler. It was traded in for the Versa. I miss it. *sniff*