Honda Civic for new car?

[vskid3]

Make a list of the common issues for the CVT version and take it with you for the test drive. It seems like most of the Insight's issues give a good amount of warning before needing fixed/something bad happening, so it should be good for quite some time if it doesn't have any symptoms.

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by vskid3

Make a list of the common issues for the CVT version and take it with you for the test drive. It seems like most of the Insight's issues give a good amount of warning before needing fixed/something bad happening, so it should be good for quite some time if it doesn't have any symptoms.

Yea... I have been talking to a wise old man here on the forums (You know who you are) and have been talked out of getting it. I found a Toyota Echo with only 114k for 4.5k I think I'm going to pull the trigger on that. I got the money today so, I'm just going to think about it for another day or 2 and make a decision. It's either that or that honda civic that I wanted in the first place, I just know I will get 40+ with the Echo and will probably never see 40 in the Civic.

[UltArc]

What's right for you is right for you- I just know for myself, I have to go to the most extreme or not do it at all lol.

[PaleMelanesian]

Don't sell the Civic short. 40+ is as easy as keeping a gentle foot. You can push it higher, but 40 is there with almost no effort. Like I said before, I've done 43 with cruise control at 65, with passengers. Alone and with a smart foot you can go well above that.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Don't sell the Civic short. 40+ is as easy as keeping a gentle foot. You can push it higher, but 40 is there with almost no effort. Like I said before, I've done 43 with cruise control at 65, with passengers. Alone and with a smart foot you can go well above that.

And Pale did that without any mods, beyond a trickle charger and 60psi tire pressure. With a few more mods, low key, effective, and cheap, you'll get even more at freeway cruise.

[user removed]

The question is do you want a 10 year old car or a 20 year old car? When Toyota brought the Echo in 2000 they were basic simple cars, available without power steering, even without AC. An Echo is #2 in the gasoline cars garage, and others are waiting for better weather.

2001-2005 Echo or Civic?
No timing belt
Simple beam rear axle
I like the instrument layout completely out of the line of sight of the steering wheel
100k mile plugs
Better ignition system

It would seem to me that those who enjoy, and are physically capable of working on cars should consider the Civic HX or VX from earlier years, CRX HFs but those are rare as hens teeth.

For those who consider a car an appliance and want it to be trouble free, get the Echo. They are hard to find for a decent price, but there is a reason for that they are just about the perfect "appliance". I actually enjoyed driving mine.

regards
Mech

[UltArc]

Toyota Echo MPG Reports | Fuelly

Honda Civic MPG Reports | Fuelly

Honda Insight MPG Reports | Fuelly

Compare Side-by-Side
2005, Most FE models.

Compare Side-by-Side
2001, Most FE models.

Of course driving a vehicle different ways makes a difference- which is why I included the EPA figures. Since the testing is the same, it levels them out. I'm voting for Insight.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

The question is do you want a 10 year old car or a 20 year old car?

To be fair, she's looking at a '99 Civic, and Echo's go back to '01. So it's "do you want a 13 year old car or a 15 year old car?"

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

2001-2005 Echo or Civic?
No timing belt
Simple beam rear axle
I like the instrument layout completely out of the line of sight of the steering wheel
100k mile plugs
Better ignition system

It would seem to me that those who enjoy, and are physically capable of working on cars should consider the Civic HX or VX from earlier years, CRX HFs but those are rare as hens teeth.

For those who consider a car an appliance and want it to be trouble free, get the Echo. They are hard to find for a decent price, but there is a reason for that they are just about the perfect "appliance". I actually enjoyed driving mine.

regards
Mech

Many of those points are somewhat subjective (I dislike beam axles, and prefer the Civics gauges), I think the one that carries the most weight is the timing belt, which will certainly add maintenance costs over the Echo.

The OP seems to know her way around a car and I thought I read in previous posts that she works on her own car, so I suspect she doesn't fall into the "appliance" category. But again, it is ultimately her choice to find a car that suits her. I don't think she would go wrong with either the Civic or the Echo.

[UltArc]

I definitely don't think she will go wrong with ANY of the models we are talking about, I just hope she gets a good one of whatever she gets. Every model will make a few lemons, or turn into one after some abuse- be it five years or fifteen.

[Baltothewolf]

I'm a guy guys xD. I can understand why you would think I'm a girl with the way I talk tehee. Anyway, I found a 98 corolla with 67k miles for 3.5k, do you guys think I could crank 40 mpg out of a 98 corolla? The Civic is a bust he sold it for 5.5k to someone today, and the insight is a bust as well, guy sold that today as well.

(Guy already said he would come down to 3500): Corolla for sale

Other contenders:99 Corolla with 106k miles. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv...451404159.html

01 with 93k miles: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv...454138227.html

99 with 113k: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst...454487664.html

Oh also, I forgot to mention, while I can work on cars, it wasn't until I did a simple oil change on the '91 Mustang did I realize just how bad my back is. When I changed the oil, I was completely paralyzed by pain for like 3 hours afterwards, and I didn't even use any force to do anything! I just undid the bolt, took the oil filter off and put everything back together. Nothing to physical but i guess the bending over into the engine compartment is what did it.