Bangernomics - any way to upgrade while keeping cost down?

Seweryn

Hi Guys,

I currently drive a reasonably trouble free, economical car that is also nice to drive, doesn't cost much to tax, insure and maintain. All in all a pleasant low cost motoring - it is a Honda Civic 1.5, 3 door hatchback, 1997.

What makes it a very good bangernomics type car? It is cheap to buy, depreciation is marginal to non-existent, it is superb on fuel (49 mpg on average), does not break down, cost little to keep on the road (service, tax, insurance, etc.), uncomplicated and unlikely to give much trouble. It also is a good motorway cruiser due to the engine / gearbox set up (long gears, quiet motor). Well equipped with electrics, air conditioning, etc. and is factory original.

I sometimes ask myself if there is a better option out there. What am I missing? I would like an estate body on the occasional trip, but would like to keep the overall running cost at very same level. Am I asking for too much and is there anything out there that would give me more for the same (or very little more) money?

Below a breakdown of my annual motoring cost:

Fuel (23k km at 5.8l/100km at €1.6/l): €2,134
Annual depreciation: €100
Ownership tax: €464
Insurance: €300
NCT: €55
Service and repairs: €298

Total: €3,351,-


With the above requirements the only option I can see is a Diesel, as the Honda (I am guessing) would be impossible to beat in the fuel economy department by any other petrol engined car of similar or larger size. But I do not want anything complicated or potentially troublesome. Maybe an inexpensive LPG powered car would be a goer? Any suggestions are welcome.

padma

I've a 97 civic as well, very cheap to maintain and have been toying with the idea of upgrading in to the noughties, but you know it keeps passing the NCT, im still in a recession in my household and to change could end up being a risk for me.

Seweryn

padma wrote: »

I'm still in a recession in my household and to change could end up being a risk for me.

Same here so, and it seems the Civic will be very hard to beat as I see.
Have tried good few cars in the past, but the little Civic wins overall so far mainly due to cost, reliability and general usability (if there was a 1.5 Civic Estate available, I would probably be in a search for one).

bazz26

If the objective is to save money then keep your existing car until it dies or becomes uneconomical to repair it. You know it's condition, you know it's history.

Bangernomics can be very attractive and can be shroud but it can also be hit n miss, you could end up with someone else's problem.

JohnBoy26

Seweryn wrote: »

Same here so, and it seems the Civic will be very hard to beat as I see.
Have tried good few cars in the past, but the little Civic wins overall so far mainly due to cost, reliability and general usability (if there was a 1.5 Civic Estate available, I would probably be in a search for one).

There is an estate version of the Civic available. It's called a civic aerodeck and is based on the Uk built ( MA/MB chassis) 5dr hatchback. These are more popular in 1.6sohc vtec but a 1.5vtec economy model can be got as well.

To get one a trip to the Uk is probably necessary as they were never sold here afaik and very few have been imported.

As you say this era of Civic is one of the best bangernomics cars in term of reliability, durability and fuel economy where the 1.5 is concerned.

JohnBoy26

padma wrote: »

I've a 97 civic as well, very cheap to maintain and have been toying with the idea of upgrading in to the noughties, but you know it keeps passing the NCT, im still in a recession in my household and to change could end up being a risk for me.

Many cars made in the 00s are not as well made as those of the mid to late 90's Imo.

The 01-06 Civic for example was a pale shadow of the previous model Imo. It lacked the double wishbone suspension, wasn't as reliable and looked alot worse than the older model.

It's not only Honda, the same can be said for many other cars especially Japanese cars.

Seweryn

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

There is an estate version of the Civic available. It's called a civic aerodeck and is based on the Uk built ( MA/MB chassis) 5dr hatchback. These are more popular in 1.6sohc vtec but a 1.5vtec economy model can be got as well.

To get one a trip to the Uk is probably necessary as they were never sold here afaik and very few have been imported.

Thanks. I am aware of the 1.6 Aerodeck model, but I only came across two examples for sale in the last, say a year or so and viewed one. But it was in a bad enough state, so I ran out screaming, especially after a test drive with the previous owner behind the wheel :eek:.

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

To get one a trip to the Uk is probably necessary as they were never sold here afaik and very few have been imported.

As you say this era of Civic is one of the best bangernomics cars in term of reliability, durability and fuel economy where the 1.5 is concerned.

Thanks, I didn't know about the 1.5 Aerodeck model, will keep an eye on one, but going to UK is probably not an option due to the cost of the operation, but will have a look at their market to see what's there.

JohnBoy26

Seweryn wrote: »

Thanks. I am aware of the 1.6 Aerodeck model, but I only came across two examples for sale in the last, say a year or so and viewed one. But it was in a bad enough state, so I ran out screaming, especially after a test drive with the previous owner behind the wheel :eek:.


Thanks, I didn't know about the 1.5 Aerodeck model, will keep an eye on one, but going to UK is probably not an option due to the cost of the operation, but will have a look at their market to see what's there.

Yes 1.5 aerodecks do exist but they are hard to find. Unfortunately if you want a good example of an aerodeck you are going to have to go to the uk. I've only seen one good example here and that was a 1.6.

padma

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Many cars made in the 00s are not as well made as those of the mid to late 90's Imo.

The 01-06 Civic for example was a pale shadow of the previous model Imo. It lacked the double wishbone suspension, wasn't as reliable and looked alot worse than the older model.

It's not only Honda, the same can be said for many other cars especially Japanese cars.

That's why I'm holding on to the old reliable beast. Though when I get in to a newer car there are things mostly luxury items which I'd love to have on the old saloon civic. I keep an eye on the bangernomics thread all the time, but there only full of steamers in their beemers and jerks and their mercs and fags in their jags anything else jumping out at me are the string of volvos and Mazda 6's. But until the ability to throw down a couple of hundred notes comes along it will be quite a time before I can change.

NuckingFacker

I always, always drive/drove bangernomics cars, it's just always been my gig, however, I bought an 05 Mondeo (yeah ok, I know, it's nothing special to ye and it was well less than 2k with new nct) and nooow..I'm spoilt..it's a 2.0 petrol(don't want a diesel, own reasons), and has all the bells and whistles..and I feckin love it. I love it so much, I'm strongly considering buying a 14 reg one in January(I know, diesel only..) I'm usually in a 90's junker. The difference is unreal tbh.

I have fallen out of love with bangernomics. I have gone over to the dark side. Maybe lifes too short? I may have to shelve my inherent meanness for the sake of comfort.

JohnBoy26

NuckingFacker wrote: »

I always, always drive/drove bangernomics cars, it's just always been my gig, however, I bought an 05 Mondeo (yeah ok, I know, it's nothing special to ye and it was well less than 2k with new nct) and nooow..I'm spoilt..it's a 2.0 petrol(don't want a diesel, own reasons), and has all the bells and whistles..and I feckin love it. I love it so much, I'm strongly considering buying a 14 reg one in January(I know, diesel only..) I'm usually in a 90's junker. The difference is unreal tbh.

I have fallen out of love with bangernomics. I have gone over to the dark side. Maybe lifes too short? I may have to shelve my inherent meanness for the sake of comfort.

That's fair enough, a new car car can be nice too.

However while you have to worry about dpf, dmfs, injectors etc, Seweryn, Padma and myself will be happily still driving our Civics without a worry in the world knowing there is very little to go wrong with our awesome machines

Bigus

NuckingFacker wrote: »

I always, always drive/drove bangernomics cars, it's just always been my gig, however, I bought an 05 Mondeo (yeah ok, I know, it's nothing special to ye and it was well less than 2k with new nct) and nooow..I'm spoilt..it's a 2.0 petrol(don't want a diesel, own reasons), and has all the bells and whistles..and I feckin love it. I love it so much, I'm strongly considering buying a 14 reg one in January(I know, diesel only..) I'm usually in a 90's junker. The difference is unreal tbh.

I have fallen out of love with bangernomics. I have gone over to the dark side. Maybe lifes too short? I may have to shelve my inherent meanness for the sake of comfort.

Wait for the new model

NuckingFacker

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

That's fair enough, a new car car can be nice too.

However while you have to worry about dpf, dmfs, injectors etc, Seweryn, Padma and myself will be happily still driving our Civics without a worry in the world knowing there is very little to go wrong with our awesome machines

I know! Whisper it tho, and don't tell anyone I said it, but as I flew along in my 99' Avensis, I passed another avensis that had clipped a 04 megane...mother of the divine suffering crumple zones... I had a quick rethink and went...naaah, I'm a bit valuable to me to be doing that tbh... the avensis was bloomin destroyed....the Megane looked like it had had a fender bender... think on...

cabb8ge

I similar to Severyn, have old 1.6 petrol and am thinking of upgrade but spending many or few euro not tempting, if I want estate bangernomic there are options though. As mention by posters, not riskfree..

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/1999-vw-pssat-tdi-new-nct/5872303

I prefer nice Civic but Passat nice drive too, more space and feel stable.

Seweryn

cabb8ge wrote: »

I similar to Severyn, have old 1.6 petrol and am thinking of upgrade but spending many or few euro not tempting, if I want estate bangernomic there are options though. As mention by posters, not riskfree..

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/1999-vw-pssat-tdi-new-nct/5872303

I prefer nice Civic but Passat nice drive too, more space and feel stable.

Thanks. I am not sure, but as a low cost car the Civic (in my opinion, of course) still beats the VW. Passat is a more complicated car with a turbocharger, potential front suspension problems and a high pressure Diesel injection system. And then it is not exactly as cheap to tax, however it may gain the difference in lower fuel consumption.

Anyway, going the Passat direction, I believe that a well kept Audi 80 Estate Diesel (either TDI or the old school one) would be better, but it's the same problem as with Aerodecks - they are almost non existent.

Jesus.

NuckingFacker wrote: »

I always, always drive/drove bangernomics cars, it's just always been my gig, however, I bought an 05 Mondeo (yeah ok, I know, it's nothing special to ye and it was well less than 2k with new nct) and nooow..I'm spoilt..it's a 2.0 petrol(don't want a diesel, own reasons), and has all the bells and whistles..and I feckin love it. I love it so much, I'm strongly considering buying a 14 reg one in January(I know, diesel only..) I'm usually in a 90's junker. The difference is unreal tbh.

I have fallen out of love with bangernomics. I have gone over to the dark side. Maybe lifes too short? I may have to shelve my inherent meanness for the sake of comfort.

Traitor!!