debating getting a new honda

Hello all, we currently have a highlander for our "family car", V6 and
AWD, which means about 18.5 mpg for us (UGGH)......well, gas prices
have us reconsidering its legitimacy. We are thinking about getting
either a new Civic EX, Accord LX, SE or EX 4 cyl, or new Camry LE or SE
4 cylinder. (I don't like the Corolla)

Specifically, will the civic be suitable for use as a primary "family"
car. We have one child (no more planned, trust me!). I know it is a
"step down" from the highlander, but we really like the looks of the
civic, and we LOVE the MPG it gets! Could 2 normal sized adults fit in
the back of the new civic with a small child seat in the middle? This
is an occasional situation for us, but rarely. This would be one of
the reasons I may reconsider and get an Accord or Camry 4 cyl instead.

Also, are there any major issues with the new civic with it being a
redesign and all? Thanks for any and all comments.

 

At this point, I would get a 4-cylinder Accord. Lots of room, more than
adequate power, and great fuel economy for its size and class. Since Camry
is all new for 2007, I would never buy a car in its first year of production
regardless of the manufacturer. The current Accord came out for 2003.

 

As the owner of a new 06 Accord I4, I think you would be better off with
the Accord vs the Civic. I think you would be pressed to fit a child seat
and two adults in the back of a Civic. The I4 Accord has plenty of power
and gets decent gas mileage on regular -- 28 - 33 has been my experience so
far. The I4 Accord has a chain cam drive rather than a belt which will cut
your long-term maintenance costs.

 

We were able to get an Accord SE for the same price as a Civic EX. The
Civics were going for full MSRP, the Accord SEs were priced below Invoice.
No sunroof on the Accord SE, but alot more space and comfort with a not bad
34 mpg highway rating.

 

I have a 2006 Civic -- and love it -- but agree that fitting two
adults and a child seat in the back would be difficult. Very rarely
have I had someone riding in the back seat, and then only for short
trips. It's not a _bad_ fit for normal sized people, but there's not
much room left over.

--Nan

 

The above might be the dealbreaker.

I suggest test driving several models of the Accord and
Civic, noting the invoice prices. I think the difference in
comfort will be obvious.

 

Actually, the current Civic is also chain-driven.

The Accord V6 still uses a belt I believe.

 

The new Civic is nice, but if the ability to put three in the back with
some comfort is an issue, move up to the Accord.

Also, the new Civic is in shorter supply than the Accord, so the price
difference might be smaller than otherwise expected.

Of all you mentioned, the Accord is the best bet because it is now a
proven design (made since 2003) and gives you a lot of space, safety and
comfort for your dollar.

The 4 cylinder version is plenty powerful enough as long as charging
over mountain ranges with a full vehicle at 80 MPH isn't your thing.
For normal use the 4 has plenty of power. The 4 also gets better fuel
economy than the V-6 and has a timing chain instead of a belt, which
means lower maintenance costs down the road.

If, however, capacity for 4 people is enough then the new Civic is a
hard car to beat.

Any of the vehicles you are considering will probably serve you well.

John

 

My brother got a new Civic about 2 months ago. My wife has a 2003
Accord. My brother likes the Civic, and so do I, but the Accord is
better(and not just because it's roomier). It's easy to get a good
price on Accords(at least in my area) but my brother had to do some
intensive shopping around to get a reasonable price on the Civic.

Ken

 

Hey my 4EX goes up the Sepulveda Pass at 80MPH with the air on, though
I do have to convince it to downshift to fourth, but that's with just
me, not five and luggage (and it is pretty nearly sea level).

Of course, more often it goes up the pass at 8MPH due to traffic, but
that's another story!

Civic will save you two or three grand at purchase, maybe another
hundred a year on insurance, and with another three MPG on a good day,
maybe a grand a year on gas, if you're doing lots of miles. And the
Civic sheet metal is prettier than the Accord, that new Accord rear
end is pretty blech (I just finally got used to the curvy taillights
on the old model!) I think the current Civic is larger than my old
1987 Accord, but the new Accords do have a pretty roomy back seat.
The new Accord is actually a bit larger than I really like to drive
around in, but if you're coming down from a Highlander, I suppose you
don't have that issue! Civic will be OK on power, but uphill with a
full load you will have to rev it, while the Accord, with larger
displacement, can still lug its way along, just not in overdrive.

I'd say let the available colors decide, but they seem to come in
about the same ones, and an unattractive palette it is.

The good news is, you can't go wrong with this stuff.

J.

 

Yes. It does.

 

so do both the 4 cyl accord and the civic have timing chains now?

how about the 4 cyl camry? (maybe the wrong forum to ask this? )

 

As far as Camry goes, the 4-banger is chain-driven but I think the V6 still
uses a belt.

 

I agree with you on Honda's limited and uninspired color palette. For
the Accord I like dark red metallic (only available on V-6 I think) and
the dark blue the best.

John