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honda civic v skoda fabia v peugot 207 v vw polo

  • 11-10-2006 6:13pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7


    Confused??? Yes, i certainly am!! I've been driving a 1litre VWpolo, 97 and am doing 70 miles a day on it so the poor devil is really beginning to feel the pain and so is my wallet. Most persistent problem seems to be wheel related, varying from bearings to tracking and high wear. So I'm OFFICIALLY on the look out for something a bit sturdier + coming up in years - 01 / 02 maybe. Drove a fabia on hoiday and that was a good drive, local garage has a nice civic, highly recommended + said to be very reliable car but is he being biased? Would love some independent feed back. Of my wishlist what's to be avoided and what do you recommend???
    Thanks all.


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    13105544635.jpg

    2005 WhatCar? reliability survey. Based on warranty claims, not owner's perception.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    It always amazes me how VW manage to break more often and are more costly to fix than skoda. Do you get "vw tax" added to your bill when you go to the garage?

    Also never thought Land rover were so far down the list. They are one of those marques that always "seem" reliable.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    Stekelly wrote:
    Also never thought Land rover were so far down the list. They are one of those marques that always "seem" reliable.
    Same could be said for BMW and Audi.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    JHMEG wrote:
    Same could be said for BMW and Audi.


    True. Was surprised BMW were down so far. Didnt see audi down the bottom till you said it. Just assumed they were up the top and I hadnt seen the name.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,364 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    grip wrote:
    Confused??? Yes, i certainly am!! I've been driving a 1litre VWpolo, 97 and am doing 70 miles a day on it so the poor devil is really beginning to feel the pain and so is my wallet. Most persistent problem seems to be wheel related, varying from bearings to tracking and high wear. So I'm OFFICIALLY on the look out for something a bit sturdier + coming up in years - 01 / 02 maybe. Drove a fabia on hoiday and that was a good drive, local garage has a nice civic, highly recommended + said to be very reliable car but is he being biased? Would love some independent feed back. Of my wishlist what's to be avoided and what do you recommend???
    Thanks all.

    A 01 Civic is about the same size as a Golf so will cost alot more than a 01/02 Polo/Fabia. The Civic is a good car and reliability is generally bomb proof. The downside is that they are very popular with boyracers so their reputation is bad with insurance companies. If your looking at Civics also take a look at the Focus and Corolla of the same year as good alternatives. These are also very good cars and will do 70 miles a day no bother.

    The Fabia and Polo are smaller but are basically the same car underneath. Polos like most VWs tend to be overpriced and underspeced in Ireland and in my opinion don't represent value for money. The Fabia would be better equipped and cheaper to buy than the Polo. The Fabia also feels very roomie on the inside.

    If your looking at Polos then go for the 2002 onwards model with the twin front headlights. This is the new model, pre 2002 Polos are basically the same car as what you have at the moment so there would be no advantage. Also look at the Seat Ibiza which is based on the Polo/Fabia platform too. If going for a Polo/Fabia or Ibiza and doing 70 miles a day I would avoid the 1.2 litre model as this engine only has 55bhp. Not very good for overtaking or motorway driving. The 1.4 litre would be much better.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    bazz26 wrote:
    A 01 Civic is about the same size as a Golf so will cost alot more than a 01/02 Polo/Fabia. The Civic is a good car and reliability is generally bomb proof. The downside is that they are very popular with boyracers so their reputation is bad with insurance companies.

    Re the 01 Civic. The cost and reliability bits are true, the rest is not.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,364 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    JHMEG wrote:
    Re the 01 Civic. The cost and reliability bits are true, the rest is not.

    Well my father has a 2003 Civic 3 door hatchback, basic 1.4 and the amount of questions he was asked by insurance companies when he was shopping around was unreal. "What model is it sir? A basic 1.4 S he says. "Does it have any letters like SRi or VTi or VTEC?" Just a 1.4 S he replies. He got these questions from a lot of insurance companies. Also his premium was slightly higher than an equivilant 2003 1.4 Corolla hatch.

    So in his experience with insurance companies they do have a tarnished reputation.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    The questions are normal, like asking "is that the 1.6, the 2 litre or the 2 litre turbo?".

    You say slightly higher than the Corolla, and that's all it would be: Slightly. The Corolla is probably one of the cheapest cars in its class to insure, if not the cheapest.


  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,861 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Civic's are beloved of boy racers. Like it or not. Bad rep. because of this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,364 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    JHMEG wrote:
    The questions are normal, like asking "is that the 1.6, the 2 litre or the 2 litre turbo?".

    You say slightly higher than the Corolla, and that's all it would be: Slightly. The Corolla is probably one of the cheapest cars in its class to insure, if not the cheapest.

    Well I'm not going to get into a long debate on this because it is going off topic.

    Don't get me wrong I'm not knocking the Civic its a grand car, probably one of the best in it's class but from my own father's experience alarm bells sound with insurance companies when you mention Honda Civic. Insurance companies tend to regard them as being very easy and popular to modify so add extra to the premiums on them compared to a similar 1.4 Corolla, Focus or Astra.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    Civic's are beloved of boy racers. Like it or not. Bad rep. because of this.
    Proof in the pudding. Let the OP get a quote on a Civic.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,722 ✭✭✭maidhc


    The Honda Civics of the past few years are very very dull looking cars. But they were replaced by a very very ugly one recently (except for the 4dr, which is nice!)

    Of the choices listed I'd go for one though.

    What about a Corolla?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,136 ✭✭✭Moanin


    grip wrote:
    Confused??? Yes, i certainly am!! I've been driving a 1litre VWpolo, 97 and am doing 70 miles a day on it so the poor devil is really beginning to feel the pain and so is my wallet. Most persistent problem seems to be wheel related, varying from bearings to tracking and high wear. So I'm OFFICIALLY on the look out for something a bit sturdier + coming up in years - 01 / 02 maybe. Drove a fabia on hoiday and that was a good drive, local garage has a nice civic, highly recommended + said to be very reliable car but is he being biased? Would love some independent feed back. Of my wishlist what's to be avoided and what do you recommend???
    Thanks all.


    Doing 70 miles a day I think you would warrant a diesel?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 97 ✭✭want2play


    grip wrote:
    Confused??? Yes, i certainly am!! I've been driving a 1litre VWpolo, 97 and am doing 70 miles a day on it so the poor devil is really beginning to feel the pain and so is my wallet. Most persistent problem seems to be wheel related, varying from bearings to tracking and high wear. So I'm OFFICIALLY on the look out for something a bit sturdier + coming up in years - 01 / 02 maybe. Drove a fabia on hoiday and that was a good drive, local garage has a nice civic, highly recommended + said to be very reliable car but is he being biased? Would love some independent feed back. Of my wishlist what's to be avoided and what do you recommend???
    Thanks all.

    You should be capable of picking the car you want from what the car gives.

    Skoda Fabia - Budget car, well built.

    Honda Civic - As said earlier, has a rep. for boy racers and higher to insure because of high thieft risk

    VW Polo - Overpriced like most VW's, not as much toys as the Fabia for the same money.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 97 ✭✭want2play


    .......and Id buy a Pug 206 over a 207


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7 grip


    Thanks to all for all responses. Just to settle it, rang the insurance company:
    For an 01 Fabia worth 7000 i'd be paying 212euro extra to see me to my renewal next august (that's with the 'L' plate boyf named on the policy - 'L' plate driver that is...better not insult him!)
    For an 01 Civic worth 9000 that's +247 so it seems that my insurance company aren't screwing me for a boyracers car but maybe that's coz i'm a girl, wonder what a guy would be quoted on the same 2 examples???? Anyway, the threat of theft mentioned by one of you has made the hairs on me neck stand up as i've only street parking and there is a boyracer gang in this usually quite harmless town but then again they keep to themselves and am i just being judgemental?
    Thanks for all the suggestions though, have definately veered away from VW now.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,522 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    Boyracers will be disappointed with the 1.4

    The Civic has a terrible interior by the way. It's all very well screwed together, bit the switchgear is probably older than you are, and the general texture of the plastics is way off the mark, with "hard and shiny" being the order of the day.

    That said, I'd have a Civic before a Focus, or Astra, but despite their complete lack of power, I'd seriously consider a 1.4 Golf, just for the refinement and comfort. I'd also be thinking of a Corolla. for reliability (I think everyone will agree the Civic and Corolla would be ahead in that area)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,544 ✭✭✭✭Supercell


    grip wrote:
    Thanks to all for all responses. Just to settle it, rang the insurance company:
    For an 01 Fabia worth 7000 i'd be paying 212euro extra to see me to my renewal next august (that's with the 'L' plate boyf named on the policy - 'L' plate driver that is...better not insult him!)

    There are different Fabia models with different insurance ranges.

    For example the 1.4L 8V 68BHP will be much cheaper to insure than its 16V equivalent, as an L driver i'd definately ask for a quote on the 8V version - cheap, nice to drive and easy to sell once you pass your test (if you are loooking for something bigger like myself!).

    Have a weather station?, why not join the Ireland Weather Network - http://irelandweather.eu/



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,522 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    Longfield wrote:
    For example the 1.4L 8V 68BHP will be much cheaper to insure than its 16V equivalent,

    How true is this? when I bought a Punto Sporting a few years ago, it cost the same to insure a 1.2 8 valve ELX as it did to insure the 16v Sporting. Insurance companies usually go on the engine size, rather than the bhp.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,544 ✭✭✭✭Supercell


    colm_mcm wrote:
    Boyracers will be disappointed with the 1.4

    The Civic has a terrible interior by the way. It's all very well screwed together, bit the switchgear is probably older than you are, and the general texture of the plastics is way off the mark, with "hard and shiny" being the order of the day.

    That said, I'd have a Civic before a Focus, or Astra, but despite their complete lack of power, I'd seriously consider a 1.4 Golf, just for the refinement and comfort. I'd also be thinking of a Corolla. for reliability (I think everyone will agree the Civic and Corolla would be ahead in that area)

    OP, the Leon might be worth considering too, very nice cars and are golf's under the hood.
    I looked at a almost mint 2000 Leon Stella for 5K and turned it down in April, it was a beauty to drive but hey I didnt know any better, would bite the sellers hand off now!, nice cars and if you are patient you can get a bargain .

    Have a weather station?, why not join the Ireland Weather Network - http://irelandweather.eu/



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,544 ✭✭✭✭Supercell


    colm_mcm wrote:
    How true is this? when I bought a Punto Sporting a few years ago, it cost the same to insure a 1.2 8 valve ELX as it did to insure the 16v Sporting. Insurance companies usually go on the engine size, rather than the bhp.

    I asked before I was buying as I was looking at two Fabia's one 16V and the other 8V, the insurance people in Quinn were very careful to clarify wheter it was the 8V or 16V version, and quoted about 200 more iirc for the 16v which put me over budget at the time.

    Have a weather station?, why not join the Ireland Weather Network - http://irelandweather.eu/



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,364 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    colm_mcm wrote:
    Boyracers will be disappointed with the 1.4

    The Civic has a terrible interior by the way. It's all very well screwed together, bit the switchgear is probably older than you are, and the general texture of the plastics is way off the mark, with "hard and shiny" being the order of the day.

    That said, I'd have a Civic before a Focus, or Astra, but despite their complete lack of power, I'd seriously consider a 1.4 Golf, just for the refinement and comfort. I'd also be thinking of a Corolla. for reliability (I think everyone will agree the Civic and Corolla would be ahead in that area)

    To be honest there is not alot of difference between the interior of a 2001 Civic, Corolla or Focus. They are all plasticy inside except for the Golf. The one thing about the Civic though is that bar the basic model the hatchback has air conditioning.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,220 ✭✭✭✭Lex Luthor


    I think the OP's mileage is borderline on whether they should consider a diesel or not but cars with these size engines they are looking at will be economical anyway

    The era of Civic they are considering ('01), I don't think these particular Civics were popular at all with boy racers.

    of the lot, I would go for the Corolla, but only in the current model and not the previous bug eyed one. Civic 2nd, Focus 3rd.

    Take a look also at the Octavia....there were 1.4 models around in '01. You might find a good one.

    Don't expect to break any land speed records though


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭gyppo


    Might get a flaming for this, but here goes:

    What about a Fiesta TDci ??
    http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=511509

    Tidy cars, well put together, and economical. Having said that, I have only driven the petrol version.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    want2play wrote:
    Honda Civic - higher to insure because of high thieft risk

    What????? An '01 Civic is more likely to be stolen than the others mentioned? Time for a reality check: Scumbags aren't interested in moderate 1.4 and 1.6 litre Civics that are equipped with "SuperLocks" and rolling code immobilisers! They'll sooner rob the 94 Civic down the road that has no factory security at all.

    Things have moved on...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    colm_mcm wrote:
    The Civic has a terrible interior by the way.
    ...
    I'd seriously consider a 1.4 Golf, just for the refinement and comfort.

    One of the motoring mags pointed out once that Honda put more effort into the mechanics and general engineering of the car. Hence the interior isn't as nice to feel as the Golf's, but the Golf can't touch the Civic for reliability.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,956 ✭✭✭layke


    bazz26 wrote:
    A 01 Civic is about the same size as a Golf so will cost alot more than a 01/02 Polo/Fabia. The Civic is a good car and reliability is generally bomb proof. The downside is that they are very popular with boyracers so their reputation is bad with insurance companies.

    Not the 01-05 model, no boy racer would be caught dead in it.
    Longfield wrote:
    There are different Fabia models with different insurance ranges.

    For example the 1.4L 8V 68BHP will be much cheaper to insure than its 16V equivalent, as an L driver i'd definately ask for a quote on the 8V version - cheap, nice to drive and easy to sell once you pass your test (if you are loooking for something bigger like myself!).

    68bhp though? I wouldn't like to see it tackle a hill.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,522 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    Fabias are horrible looking anyway, you'd be better off in an Ibiza


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,651 ✭✭✭Captain Slow IRL


    fiesta tdci is a good pick - but they have to be serviced regularly, fuel filter being the most important item to be replaced when necessary.

    i work in a honda garage, and the civics give no trouble whatsoever (or any other honda's) if you could, go north and get a 1.7ctdi (diesel) civic - it's an isuzu engine but these are bomb-proof. if you were going for petrol, stick with the 1.4; 1.6 vtecs are thirsty

    stay away from opel, vw, audi and any french or italian cars - they will break your heart


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,364 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    layke wrote:
    Not the 01-05 model, no boy racer would be caught dead in it.

    Well from my old man's experience of ownership of a 2003 Civic 1.4 hatchback his premium is slightly higher (about €150 more) than say a 1.4 Corolla of the same vintage. Both cars having around the same bhp, the same size, similar specification and value.

    Unfortunately a bad image or reputation is alot quicker to gain than it is to loose.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,722 ✭✭✭maidhc


    land9 wrote:
    fiesta tdci is a good pick - but they have to be serviced regularly, fuel filter being the most important item to be replaced when necessary.

    i work in a honda garage, and the civics give no trouble whatsoever (or any other honda's) if you could, go north and get a 1.7ctdi (diesel) civic - it's an isuzu engine but these are bomb-proof. if you were going for petrol, stick with the 1.4; 1.6 vtecs are thirsty

    stay away from opel, vw, audi and any french or italian cars - they will break your heart

    The fuel filter is absolutely vital in any modern diesel. The smallest bit of water or dirt can mean a 3k repair bill!

    Is the 1.7cdti not the same as the one found in Opels?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,906 ✭✭✭jayok


    land9 wrote:
    if you were going for petrol, stick with the 1.4; 1.6 vtecs are thirsty

    Errr the D16Z1, which would be the 1.6 in the 01-06 Civics wouldn't exactly be thirsty. When I had one, I could get 52MPG on a long run at 80kph. Around town I would get about 40mpg. If I was the OP I'd get a 1.6 over the 1.4 and even the diesel (for sheer running costs) - service every 12k, sparks every 36k.

    Now the older B16 engines - where's the petrol pump?


  • Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 41,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    layke wrote:
    Not the 01-05 model, no boy racer would be caught dead in it.
    http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/motoring//2006/1011/1160340203495.html


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    bazz26 wrote:
    Well from my old man's experience of ownership of a 2003 Civic 1.4 hatchback his premium is slightly higher (about €150 more) than say a 1.4 Corolla of the same vintage. Both cars having around the same bhp, the same size, similar specification and value.

    Unfortunately a bad image or reputation is alot quicker to gain than it is to loose.

    My wife's '03 4-door Civic saloon is cheaper to insure than her old '01 Almera, by about €30.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,651 ✭✭✭Captain Slow IRL


    maidhc wrote:
    The fuel filter is absolutely vital in any modern diesel. The smallest bit of water or dirt can mean a 3k repair bill!

    Is the 1.7cdti not the same as the one found in Opels?


    yeah, that's made by isuzu as well! it's the only engine that doesn't give bother with opels


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    land9 wrote:
    yeah, that's made by isuzu as well! it's the only engine that doesn't give bother with opels

    AFAIK, Opel/GM stopped using the Isuzu 1.7 diesel in about 1994, and switched to their own in-house engine.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7 grip


    cheers all, going for the Honda - immaculate car all round. Safe driving!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,522 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    there are still some old model civics unregistered. bargains to be had!


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