Buying a car-final recommendations

JDD10

Hi all,

Posted here last week.

I am looking for a new car, last week I was between a polo and Honda civichatchback (2007).

Went for a test drive today in polo and it’s definitely not the car for me.


So now I am between the Honda civic hatchback (2007) 1.3 petrol and a 05 1.4 petrol golf.

I saw the golf today, there is a severe dent on the bottom on the driver’s side near the back, and this may be a factor in it passing NCT in future? I could get it fixed, but that's going to add a couple of hundred more onto budget.

I am getting a better deal from the dealer with the Honda, a better trade in price and warranty.

I am worried about manoeuvring the Honda civic, as I am moving up from a very, very small car and I live in a town, so parking etc. is important. Plus, the Honda is quite stylish, could be a target for vandals? The place where I am renting can be touch and go at times!

The trade in for the golf is not as good and that severe dent will have tobe fixed at some stage.

However, I found the golf so easy to manoeuvre today and I know that it won’t bemuch of an adjustment for me. Parking will be no problem and driving it up narrow streets in town etc.

Any further advice or thoughts on this?

MuppetCheck

Both are low on power but the civic will be more reliable, fuel efficient, better specked and is two years newer. I wouldn't be worried about vandals and you will get used to a car quickly. Maybe haggle parking sensors on the deal?

If you do decide on the Golf make sure the dealer fixes the dent.

JohnBoy26

Out of that choice the Civic is much the better car.

Those 1.4 Golfs are awful.

colm_mcm

Get the civic and parking sensors

Noccy_Mondy

If you're thinking of getting parking sensors, as previously stated, get them put on the car before you get it. That's what I done, cost I think €300 extra.

Old diesel

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Both are low on power but the civic will be more reliable, fuel efficient, better specked and is two years newer. I wouldn't be worried about vandals and you will get used to a car quickly. Maybe haggle parking sensors on the deal?

If you do decide on the Golf make sure the dealer fixes the dent.

Thing is though that model Civic wasn't up to normal standards for Honda reliability - I realise though that's a bit like comparing Robbie Keane to Ronaldo - both are good - one is just quite a bit better.

But no seriously they did have a few issues with that model.

Also every review/roadtest ive read on that model suggests the ride tends to be quite poor.

If OP is happier driving a more compact car - it may be worth trying things like Fiestas, Suzuki Swifts and the like and see how they get on.

Nissan Note looks a bit too much like an MPV (if the Ops looking at Golfs and Civics) - but may be something that suits the OP - I wonder did the 1.4 engine wherever it came from have the same timing chain issues as the Almera (the Almera being a 1.5 - so a different engine).

Renault Clios worth a look too - they tend not to be anything like as bad as some other bigger Renaults like the Laguna II.

All imo obviously

CiniO

Old diesel wrote: »

Thing is though that model Civic wasn't up to normal standards for Honda reliability - I realise though that's a bit like comparing Robbie Keane to Ronaldo - both are good - one is just quite a bit better.

But no seriously they did have a few issues with that model.

Any examples?

Also every review/roadtest ive read on that model suggests the ride tends to be quite poor.

As an everyday 8th generation Civic user, I can assure you that driving this car is a real pleasure.
Only issue is visiblity, which I mentioned to OP in other thread.
Beside, there's really hardly anything bad to be said about 8th gen Civic.

colm_mcm

As another 8th gen civic owner I'd have to wade in and say that I've had absolutely no problems in the year I've had mine. I've done 30,000kms in that year.
As for the ride, its not crashy or anything, just a little unforgiving on the worst surfaces. My last car (jaguar) was nowhere near as good on a long journey.

Old diesel

Apologies lads can't think of the exact issues off the top of my head - but had heard of issues with them - handbrakes and other bits like paintwork and some mechanical type issues.

Nothing to be fair that's a don't buy one of those at all at all type issues - just not up to normal Honda reliability

Not saying they are bad cars - just not as good as Hondas normally are in terms of reliability.

Problem is - being into cars I read up a lot on them - and you hear so many things about different models - so sometimes you remember that you were reading of certain models not being great - but youd forget the exact issues.

Ride quality is a subjective thing - what some people are happy with others aren't - but the general vibe tends to be that this model Civic tends to ride firmly.

colm_mcm

One issue some have is rust forming where the top of the windscreen meets the roof, this is down to a trim scraping the paint over time.
Not an issue for ones with the glass roof.

JohnBoy26

That model Civic is fine when it comes to reliability. Early examples may have had a few teething issues but they were soon sorted.

Honestly the reliability argument with these is literally null and void as they are very good in that regard.

Old diesel

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

That model Civic is fine when it comes to reliability. Early examples may have had a few teething issues but they were soon sorted.

Honestly the reliability argument with these is literally null and void as they are very good in that regard.

No worries - they are better then I thought which is always a pleasant surprise .

Think I may have to swallow epic amounts of humble pie.

I was wrong - and have no problem in conceding that.

JohnBoy26

Old diesel wrote: »

No worries - they are better then I thought which is always a pleasant surprise .

Think I may have to swallow epic amounts of humble pie.

I was wrong - and have no problem in conceding that.

Fair play to you old diesel:) You were kind of right in a way though. Early examples weren't great but Honda had most issues sorted quickly. By 2007 most problems should of been ironed out.

testicle

Please don't write in black font!!