Anybody taken a close look at the new Civic? Whadayathink?

Apparently it's all new this year. Looks kinda interesting.

I wonder how the Civic would compare to my 94 Accord LX. It looks
like it's almost as big, but I wonder about ride and road noise.

 

I visited the local Honda dealership and took a look at them but did not
test drive any of them. There is a new sports model of the Civic that
should be at the local dealerships very soon. That's the one that
everybody wants to buy.
I have a 99 Accord EX and it's running great so don't plan on buying any
new car for many years. You should visit the local dealership and pick up
a free
brochure. I had to ask for a brochure since they now keep them locked up.
I asked for the reason and was told that people were taking handfulls of
them instead of just one. They now make sure that each customer gets only
one copy.
Most customers don't get any copies since it's a hassle to ask for one.
Jason

 

I test drove a 2dr EX, 5 spd, along with an Accord. I loved it.
Currently, I drive a 2001 Integra, and the 2006 civic was quieter and
drove similar. I like the dash - with the digital speedometer and
analog tach. The steering wheel felt smaller than on the Accord, but
it felt better in my hands. I had settled on the Accord, only because
it is a bit nicer car, felt more solidly built, and I could get factory
leather. But I wrestled with that decision. The Accord is definately
a more boring car, and since I tend to go around the curves a bit fast,
the Civic just makes for more fun driving. Since I'm having a hard
time finding a manual transmission Accord, I'm looking at the Civic
again - along with an Acura TSX ($12k price difference).

 

See my review posted earlier here. I'd say wait for the Fit. The lack of
a Civic hatchback is annoying - hopefully the Fit will remedy that
situation. Other than that - not-bad interior but cramped-ass underhood
space. Honda has usually been ok as far as maintenance (at least the 90s
Civics were) but this one looks to be a bugger to work on with all that
crap tucked under the "shelf" made by the windshield.

-Andrew

 

Motor Trend looked at it and just picked it as the 2006 Car Of The Year
from 28 contenders. January 2006 edition, page 82, if your interested in
reading the article.

 

I LOVE MY NEW CIVIC!

 

I LOVE MY NEW CIVIC!!!

 

shouldnt be much to work on. does it still use a timing belt? other than
that, plugs and filters shouldnt be harder than normal.

 

Dubious honor. In the past, it's gone to the Dodge Omni and Renault
Alliance...

-Andrew

 

My concern is the electronic throttle body (throttle by wire). Electronic
throttle bodies are known for failing in other makes of cars and Honda is
new to the game. It looks damned near inaccessible without removing the
motor. Same goes for the power steering pump and possibly another
accessory driven by the serp belt. Speaking of which, changing that belt
might be a bear.

Yes, I know that for anything but "plugs 'n filters" the car should be
taken to an authorized dealer... However, if a dealer spends more time
fixing it, I'll be paying more to get it fixed. Plus, I want to be able
to do my own work and be damned what the company's lawyers^W liars say
about it. At least it doesn't have any of those butt-ugly plastic shields
over the engine area like some VWs and Audis have (those make the engine
look like a cheap lawnmower motor IMHO).

-Andrew

 

If I'm not mistaken, the power steering is electronic also. Honda really
isn't new to "electronic drive by wire". Several other Honda/Acura models
use --- Accord, Pilot, Odyssey, Civic, RL, TL, TSX, and MDX. Only the RSX
is currently without it since the model is due to be dropped. The belts are
supposed to be replaced at 100,000 miles.

If you want them to run greener and cleaner, less accessibility will be the
price.

BTW, www.honda.com does have a "coming soon" notice about the Fit. I doubt
that there will be better accessibility on it. With a 1500 cc engine and
lighter weight, the mileage and performance should be more than adequate.

 

Nope, power steering is hydraulic. There's a belt-driven pump and fluid
reservoir. Only the hybrid and Si get the electric power steering. BTW,
electric power steering isn't drive-by-wire - there's still a mechanical
connection between the road wheels and steering wheel. If anything, it'll
be easier to drive the car if the PS goes out since you won't need to be
pushing hydraulic fluid around.

Or x years, I suspect. Rubber dry rots, especially in hot climates or in
polluted urban air.

I'd gladly sacrifice an MPG or 3 for a car that can be fixed easily when
it needs to be. A throwaway product doesn't do anything good for the
environment since it costs quite a bit of energy to build a car in the
first place.

I'm keeping my 30mpg Volvo then - when that wears out (if ever ) I'll
get a 90s Civic, Subaru wagon, or a newer RWD Volvo (740 or 940).

-Andrew