A Honda Civic or A Renault Megane?

Tomthepost

I am looking for some advice! I want to buy a new car and am wondering if people would recommend a Renault Megane or a Honda Civic.
Am looking for a 1.4 saloon. Around 2004, around 35,000 miles or less. One previous owner ideally and have a budget of around 9,000 euro.
Which is a better car and why?
If anyone knows of any good deals on either please knock me on a PM.

ZiabR

Tomthepost wrote: »

I am looking for some advice! I want to buy a new car and am wondering if people would recommend a Renault Megane or a Honda Civic.
Am looking for a 1.4 saloon. Around 2004, around 35,000 miles or less. One previous owner ideally and have a budget of around 9,000 euro.
Which is a better car and why?
If anyone knows of any good deals on either please knock me on a PM.

The Renault does not even come close to the Bullet Proof Jap Civic. Civic is a super car mate and it would be my choice but you will really find it hard to get one for 9000 euro and 2004.

Little Miss!

Tomthepost wrote: »

I am looking for some advice! I want to buy a new car and am wondering if people would recommend a Renault Megane or a Honda Civic.
Am looking for a 1.4 saloon. Around 2004, around 35,000 miles or less. One previous owner ideally and have a budget of around 9,000 euro.
Which is a better car and why?
If anyone knows of any good deals on either please knock me on a PM.

Hey,

I agree, honda's are way more reliable, i drive a civic and had one before this one too, great cars. I can honestly say they never let me down.

I also used to work for Renault so i'm very familiar with them and definitely wouldn't recommend buying one, a lot of trouble, ask any mechanic.

I wouldn't even consider buying a renault, and i strongly suggest you go for the honda, just my opinion

Tomthepost

logik wrote: »

The Renault does not even come close to the Bullet Proof Jap Civic. Civic is a super car mate and it would be my choice but you will really find it hard to get one for 9000 euro and 2004.

What would be a decent price would you say?

tw0nk

Hasnt the "bulletproof" reliability gone now since the new model? In the evening herald the other day they published the results of the best and worst car reliability scores and while honda came out on top overall, the new civic was the worst overall or at least near very bottom.

Beta Ray Bill

Honda Civic all the way

that car will go until the end of time! (like all Honda products!)

9k though... i dont think you'll find an 04 one at that price between 10 and 12 is what they are going for on carzone

although the way the markets is you might be able to get one for 9

my advice is when buying a car: if your offer doesn't disgust the seller then you've offered to much!

ZiabR

tw0nk wrote: »

Hasnt the "bulletproof" reliability gone now since the new model? In the evening herald the other day they published the results of the best and worst car reliability scores and while honda came out on top overall, the new civic was the worst overall or at least near very bottom.

That is not true and its the Evening Herald.

Honda are one of the most reliable cars on the road mate. The new Civic won car of its class when it was released. Anyway we are talking about the 01-06 model. For a 04 with the mileage you want, you are looking at about 10.5 - 11.5k euro.

I am driving Honda's for ages and i currently am driving a 04 Type R of their range and they are amazing cars.

Tbh nearly all Jap cars are the same.

Stephen

The current Civic had some teething problems alright when it was launched, and some of the early cars were right lemons but they seem to have ironed everything out and fixd anything that needed fixing with recalls. I have mine a year now and the only out-of-the-ordinary expense I have had with it so far is a puncture repair -- as you would expect with a new car.

Anyways, the OP is looking at the previous model which really does have a bulletproof reputation.

Biro

tw0nk wrote: »

Hasnt the "bulletproof" reliability gone now since the new model? In the evening herald the other day they published the results of the best and worst car reliability scores and while honda came out on top overall, the new civic was the worst overall or at least near very bottom.

I'd find that, like most other things in the herald, hard to believe. I know a few people with them and have yet to hear of a problem.

tw0nk

logik wrote: »

That is not true and its the Evening Herald.

Honda are one of the most reliable cars on the road mate. The new Civic won car of its class when it was released. Anyway we are talking about the 01-06 model. For a 04 with the mileage you want, you are looking at about 10.5 - 11.5k euro.

I am driving Honda's for ages and i currently am driving a 04 Type R of their range and they are amazing cars.

Tbh nearly all Jap cars are the same.

Excuse me Logik but it is true, the new model came last or if not last very near the bottom. I hate when people just comment on your post with a "thats not true" when I didnt just make it up or something, ok Il stop ranting now, sorry.

Source: http://www.herald.ie/national-news/japanese-cars-streets-ahead-for-reliability-1415108.html

Original source: http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/cars/reports/running_a_car/Which_car_reliability_survey_news_article_557_117187.jsp

GERMAN ROCKS

well its the renault for me anyway

JHMEG

tw0nk wrote: »

http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/cars/reports/running_a_car/Which_car_reliability_survey_news_article_557_117187.jsp

That is a year old, when the 07 model was new and having teething trouble.

OP is talking about the older model.

JHMEG

OP, what do you make of this?

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=3737

Guy:Incognito

JHMEG wrote: »

OP, what do you make of this?

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=3737

Shamelss plugging?.

Green Hornet

Stephen wrote: »

The current Civic had some teething problems alright when it was launched, and some of the early cars were right lemons but they seem to have ironed everything out and fixd anything that needed fixing with recalls. I have mine a year now and the only out-of-the-ordinary expense I have had with it so far is a puncture repair -- as you would expect with a new car.

Anyways, the OP is looking at the previous model which really does have a bulletproof reputation.

Thats true. The new model hatchback had a few issues like the fuel cap being difficult to open and a handbrake problem but all of those issues were fixed under recall and the issues were with 2006 models. In fairness, the issues were only minor irritations.

Whereas Renault on the other hand..............:eek::eek:

E92

No contest. The Honda, because it will be reliable. Honda reliability is something taken for granted really, something that can't be said about the Mégane, especially the type of Mégane you're looking at, which is particularly bad for durability.

Though I would strongly advise the OP to look at the current shape Astra and either variant of the Focus. The best cars out there in that size if you ask me.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

I would pick the Civic 100 times out of a 100!

-Chris-

Bear in mind as you look at this, that even if you need to go slightly above your budget to get the Honda, it'll get paid back many times when you try and sell it.

Whenever a Laguna or Megane drives into our garage, you'll see the salespeople hiding under their desks until it's gone....

The Civic will be cheaper from a whole-life costs perspective, more reliable, better image, more pleasant to own.

daveywavey08

The Megane is a terrible car and not even in the same league as the Civic. I wouldn't dream of taking one as a trade-in for love nor money.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

AudiChris wrote: »

Bear in mind as you look at this, that even if you need to go slightly above your budget to get the Honda, it'll get paid back many times when you try and sell it.

The Civic will be cheaper from a whole-life costs perspective, more reliable, better image, more pleasant to own.

Totally agree :cool:

LoopyBum

No contest... go get the Honda....

The only money you'll spend in relation to a Honda is...

General Service
Petrol
Tyres
Tax
Insurance
NCT

That's it. Mine's over 200k and doesn't use a drop of oil and can be left for weeks at the airport and will start first time. :D:D

No garage will refuse a clean Honda as a trade in...

Like Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers - One May Lead To Another.... lol

Tomthepost

Jesus thanks a million for all the input it is much appreciated. What ye make of automatics???

The Civic Hybrids look quite tasty

Guy:Incognito

LoopyBum wrote: »

No contest... go get the Honda....

The only money you'll spend in relation to a Honda is...

General Service
Petrol
Tyres
Tax
Insurance
NCT

That's it. Mine's over 200k and doesn't use a drop of oil and can be left for weeks at the airport and will start first time. :D:D

No garage will refuse a clean Honda as a trade in...

Like Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers - One May Lead To Another.... lol

None of my Renaults have cost me any more than the above list, which is why I keep buying them and have as have 3 members of my immediate family.

Only 2 cars that have ever let me down were Accords funnily enough (one was rebadged as a Rover ). They both died (to death:))

E92

Tomthepost wrote: »

Jesus thanks a million for all the input it is much appreciated. What ye make of automatics???

At that level stay away. They're pretty much sale proof at this end of the food chain, as well as being as advanced as the manual choke too. They often have only 4 gears, are much more expensive to run and nowhere near as fast if official figures are anything to go by. Big cars often have 5 or more often 6 or maybe even 7 gears, and the official figures show that they are hardly any slower or less economical either more often than not. So the technology on big cars is considerably more advanced than on small cars. Hence on big cars they are a must for good resale value.

As AudiChris noted, you'll have some fun trying to trade in a Mégane(or most Renaults). You'll get much more for a Civic when you want to trade it in.

You should really have a good look at the Focus and Astra(new shape) too.

Tomthepost

E92 wrote: »

At that level stay away. They're pretty much sale proof at this end of the food chain, as well as being as advanced as the manual choke too. They often have only 4 gears, are much more expensive to run and nowhere near as fast if official figures are anything to go by. Big cars often have 5 or more often 6 or maybe even 7 gears, and the official figures show that they are hardly any slower or less economical either more often than not. So the technology on big cars is considerably more advanced than on small cars. Hence on big cars they are a must for good resale value.

As AudiChris noted, you'll have some fun trying to trade in a Mégane(or most Renaults). You'll get much more for a Civic when you want to trade it in.

You should really have a good look at the Focus and Astra(new shape) too.

Not trading against anything only a 96 Opel Corsa which in fairness has never given me any bother:D
Which brings me to the Astra yes that don't look bad. A better option then the Civic? Dont really like the focus much for some reason

-Chris-

But you'll have to dispose of the Megane/Civic/Astra at some point, and it's at that stage that you may regret buying the Megane...

Biro

Stekelly wrote: »

None of my Renaults have cost me any more than the above list, which is why I keep buying them and have as have 3 members of my immediate family.

Only 2 cars that have ever let me down were Accords funnily enough (one was rebadged as a Rover ). They both died (to death:))

If you're talking about the Rover 600 then it was a Rover that let you down. Just because it had an Accord engine doesn't mean it was an Accord. Honda didn't actually assemble them. Audi, Seat, Skoda and VW all have different levels of reliability. Saying an Audi failed on me so Skoda's are crap is the same as saying a Rover failed on me so Honda's are crap. It's just not correct!

JHMEG

Tomthepost wrote: »

Jesus thanks a million for all the input it is much appreciated. What ye make of automatics???

The Civic Hybrids look quite tasty

In the context of the new Hybrid, the gearbox is a CVT. It's a gearless automatic. The older hybrid (the IMA) wasn't available with an automatic box of any description on this side of the planet.

The other models have conventional auto boxes. Not a great demand for them, so fsck all about.

Masada

I have to give my vote to the civic too, i bought mine brand new in 2004 and she hasnt even hicuped on me since, It got nearly 50k on it now. The only problem ive ever had with it actually was a rattle on the front left wheel which turned out to be caused by spurious break pads that wernt as good a fit as they should have been so it was back to honda and get proper ones on there.,:).,

Over the years ive had a lot of honda's too and anyone who knows what their talking about would point you towards them over almost all other cars for reliability and durability.,.

Henry Ford III

Civic wins this, with a degree of ease.

R.O.R

Out of those 2 the Civic wins hands down. But if it were me, I'd still be going for a Focus.

Guy:Incognito

Biro wrote: »

If you're talking about the Rover 600 then it was a Rover that let you down. Just because it had an Accord engine doesn't mean it was an Accord. Honda didn't actually assemble them. Audi, Seat, Skoda and VW all have different levels of reliability. Saying an Audi failed on me so Skoda's are crap is the same as saying a Rover failed on me so Honda's are crap. It's just not correct!

Everyithing in the car was Honda bar the Bonnet and bootlid. Every part was stamped honda and matched with the parts on my Accord (I had enough parts off both)

JHMEG

Stekelly wrote: »

Everyithing in the car was Honda bar the Bonnet and bootlid. Every part was stamped honda and matched with the parts on my Accord (I had enough parts off both)

It wasn't assembled by Honda, and that was the crucial difference.

Honda originally built a factory in the UK to "fix" the Civics that were being built for them by Rover.

Biro

Stekelly wrote: »

Everyithing in the car was Honda bar the Bonnet and bootlid. Every part was stamped honda and matched with the parts on my Accord (I had enough parts off both)

Unluckiest Honda buyer ever.

Green Hornet

Stekelly wrote: »

Everyithing in the car was Honda bar the Bonnet and bootlid. Every part was stamped honda and matched with the parts on my Accord (I had enough parts off both)

Looks like you are massively outnumbered recommending a Renault over a Honda. If it's your own experience then fair enough and fair dues for sticking up for your own belief but there seems to be an overwhelming number of people who recommend the Honda over the Renault.

Guy:Incognito

Green Hornet wrote: »

Looks like you are massively outnumbered recommending a Renault over a Honda. If it's your own experience then fair enough and fair dues for sticking up for your own belief but there seems to be an overwhelming number of people who recommend the Honda over the Renault.

I never recommended either , I merely shared my ownership experiences of both.

Personally I buy the cars I like regardless of the consensus regarding reliability and depreciation. At the end of the day the Megane suffers about 10% more faults than the Civic (82% compared to 92% ish in the above link iirc) yet appaerenltly every Megane is currently in a garage and a Civic has never seen one.

People are generally anti Renault(some are anti everythign that isnt Japanese) but the warranty facts are published and they are generally not a huge amount off the likes of Ford and some of the Vag cars, yet these are held up as the next best things to Japs while Renault are supposedly the worst cars ever made (funnily enough this is despite not comign bottom of polls or hard fact warranty issue tables). MEh each to their own.

Hopefully around 8 O'clock tomorow night I can start planning my trip to a Citroen garage to order a C6. If nothing else at least I can give the French bashers another outing

Stephen

C6 - now that's a French car I would be proud to drive Good luck with it!

JHMEG

Stekelly wrote: »

At the end of the day the Megane suffers about 10% more faults than the Civic (82% compared to 92% ish in the above link iirc)

There's quite a gulf between them arrording to warranty claims that have been made.

For example, no '01- Civic has never had a claim for engine, gearbox or cooling system.

DemonOfTheFall

I find the Megane pretty nice, but then again I have almost nothing to compare it to. Haven't had any reliability issues with it at all other than a small wire by the clutch coming lose and just needing to be put back in place. You'll probably get a hell of a lot more extras like aircon etc for much cheaper as well. That said, if I could afford a few grand more I'd probably prefer the Civic, but from what people are saying here the civic will cost you nearly twice as much!

S.I.R

hmmm



a hard one to call


the megane is a great car, good build quality ( surprisingly better then the honda.... )

but the honda would be more kiddie'ish.... more of a " look at me , i have no taste/sense so i bought one of these " but dont get me wrong... hondas are ok... but i wouldnt brag about owning one.... mainly when there people around.

LoopyBum

S.I.R wrote: »

the megane is a great car, good build quality ( surprisingly better then the honda.... )

OMG OMG OMG

Surprise it is!!! Yeah the Renaults are probably more comfortable, but you need comfort while waiting to be towed to your nearest garage... har de har...

Sorry, but really! My 2nd car was a Renault, so I'm not anti stinky french things and they are easy on the eye, lots of zany gadgets and very comfy, but like I said, Hondas are like Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers, 'One may lead to another...' - because they are a bloody good car!

dubman25

LoopyBum wrote: »

OMG OMG OMG

Surprise it is!!! Yeah the Renaults are probably more comfortable, but you need comfort while waiting to be towed to your nearest garage... har de har...

Sorry, but really! My 2nd car was a Renault, so I'm not anti stinky french things and they are easy on the eye, lots of zany gadgets and very comfy, but like I said, Hondas are like Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers, 'One may lead to another...' - because they are a bloody good car!

neither!!!

zero19

Another vote for the Civic from a Civic driver

LoopyBum

dubman25 wrote: »

neither!!!

.. which bit?

Masada

S.I.R wrote: »

hmmm



a hard one to call


the megane is a great car, good build quality ( surprisingly better then the honda.... )

but the honda would be more kiddie'ish.... more of a " look at me , i have no taste/sense so i bought one of these " but dont get me wrong... hondas are ok... but i wouldnt brag about owning one.... mainly when there people around.

great build quality my a*se! :eek:

I dont work in the motor trade anymore but when i was, id work on all sorts of cars and the megane wouldnt be anywhere near the top of my list for "quality"..,

Also, whe it comes to all those figures from warrentys etc, most cars dont break during the few warrenty years, wait till it has 5,6,7 years of use on it and see how well its holding up. ive seen 18 year old honda engines run like the day they were built, that from renault? i dont think so.,.

Id take the civic hands down but if your looking for other options maybe look into the corrola, astra etc.,

S.I.R

LoopyBum wrote: »

OMG OMG OMG

Surprise it is!!! Yeah the Renaults are probably more comfortable, but you need comfort while waiting to be towed to your nearest garage... har de har...

Sorry, but really! My 2nd car was a Renault, so I'm not anti stinky french things and they are easy on the eye, lots of zany gadgets and very comfy, but like I said, Hondas are like Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers, 'One may lead to another...' - because they are a bloody good car!

When fixing a honda, the majority of parts its a case of.... remove 1 bolt, you have 3 parts loose or will fall off...

as for meganes = apart from poor owners in general there a Great car, sure they mightent withstand the daily abuse hondas get for being too slow ( clutch kicking... akak " VTEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " ) but the megane is a nice ride, handles with a small bit of understeer but you can live with that...


you can park them anywhere and there not out of place. The kind of car that you can be proud of owning and not have your friends/parents wondering what movie you watch to imspire this purchase....


as for vtec: same can be said for Any car.... i personally know a mate who had a 1.5 dual carb SOHC shuttle which had near 400k km on it, tools in the booth never used.... until he actually drove it propperly ( 100+ miles per day ) which at that stage.... litterally everything fell off... i mean it, fitting a new exhaust, the bonnet fell off, fitting new front brakes, the drivers door fell off, when i finished its service, the eletrics decived to die.


then i have fond memorys of the eg6 civic which decided to just not work.... i mean we replaced everything, done everything in our power and it just killed itself...


then theres the ek9 which wouldnt allow brakes to work.... most likely trying to kill itself...


My frenchie storys :


megans only need new timing belts, track rod ends and the usual service at said intervals but apart from that like the clio i had, 250k miles on a engine without a re-build needed isnt an issue.... more then par for my sunny or other japs ive had...

Green Hornet

S.I.R wrote: »

When fixing a honda, the majority of parts its a case of.... remove 1 bolt, you have 3 parts loose or will fall off...

as for meganes = apart from poor owners in general there a Great car, sure they mightent withstand the daily abuse hondas get for being too slow ( clutch kicking... akak " VTEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " ) but the megane is a nice ride, handles with a small bit of understeer but you can live with that...


you can park them anywhere and there not out of place. The kind of car that you can be proud of owning and not have your friends/parents wondering what movie you watch to imspire this purchase....


as for vtec: same can be said for Any car.... i personally know a mate who had a 1.5 dual carb SOHC shuttle which had near 400k km on it, tools in the booth never used.... until he actually drove it propperly ( 100+ miles per day ) which at that stage.... litterally everything fell off... i mean it, fitting a new exhaust, the bonnet fell off, fitting new front brakes, the drivers door fell off, when i finished its service, the eletrics decived to die.


then i have fond memorys of the eg6 civic which decided to just not work.... i mean we replaced everything, done everything in our power and it just killed itself...


then theres the ek9 which wouldnt allow brakes to work.... most likely trying to kill itself...


My frenchie storys :


megans only need new timing belts, track rod ends and the usual service at said intervals but apart from that like the clio i had, 250k miles on a engine without a re-build needed isnt an issue.... more then par for my sunny or other japs ive had...

No offence but your post looks like a pile of junk.

In particular the bit about the Shuttle that "everything" fell off! Must have been a circus clowns car before your mate bought it.

dloob

Note : If I ever get a Civic do not let S.I.R touch it.

My parents are staunch Renault supporters. Well less so these days.
The 19s weren't too bad, I had a 5 that was pretty good too.
However they have had troubles with the last two which were Meganes.
The previous one had alternator and other electrical problems including the alternator falling out.
The current one has also had battery charging problems, headlights filling with water and the seal around the windscreen comming off.

Tenzor07

"S.i.r" Is a serial Honda/Japanese car hater, take ANYTHING he says about Honda's etc with a large bucket of salt!

Masada

S.I.R wrote: »

When fixing a honda, the majority of parts its a case of.... remove 1 bolt, you have 3 parts loose or will fall off...

as for meganes = apart from poor owners in general there a Great car, sure they mightent withstand the daily abuse hondas get for being too slow ( clutch kicking... akak " VTEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " ) but the megane is a nice ride, handles with a small bit of understeer but you can live with that...


you can park them anywhere and there not out of place. The kind of car that you can be proud of owning and not have your friends/parents wondering what movie you watch to imspire this purchase....


as for vtec: same can be said for Any car.... i personally know a mate who had a 1.5 dual carb SOHC shuttle which had near 400k km on it, tools in the booth never used.... until he actually drove it propperly ( 100+ miles per day ) which at that stage.... litterally everything fell off... i mean it, fitting a new exhaust, the bonnet fell off, fitting new front brakes, the drivers door fell off, when i finished its service, the eletrics decived to die.


then i have fond memorys of the eg6 civic which decided to just not work.... i mean we replaced everything, done everything in our power and it just killed itself...


then theres the ek9 which wouldnt allow brakes to work.... most likely trying to kill itself...


My frenchie storys :


megans only need new timing belts, track rod ends and the usual service at said intervals but apart from that like the clio i had, 250k miles on a engine without a re-build needed isnt an issue.... more then par for my sunny or other japs ive had...

Yeah i have to agree with the lads here, your post is complete cr*p to be honest, and is blatant anti "Honda'ism".
How exactly a door and bonnet fell off without you noticing any decay or damage before hand is beyond me and you say this car had nearly half a million miles on it, are you expecting it to go forever? its likely to be in or around the early 90s and to have that much milage on it, you dont concider that "driving it properly"?

and the EG and Ek, your pretty vague and dont say what exactly went wrong? are you sure the persistant problem wasnt caused by the person who was fiddling with it? Ive seen it all to often when people mess with things and then when they mess it up they'd bring it to me, only the problem is even more complicated since they had been fiddling with it.,.