Purchase a 2004 Civic EX?

I am comptemplating purchasing a 2004 Civic EX from Honda of Bellevue, WA.
Would like to have readers opinions about the following:

1. Has anyone had experience with Honda of Bellevue, WA? How are they to
deal with? Satisified or stay away?

2. What has been your experience with the 2004 model Civic EX. What known
problems am I likely to face?

I've been out of the Honda market for a long while, so I am trying to get up
to speed. Any help in making a decision is greatly appriciated.

Thanks much in advance.

 

Hmm, do you know that the Civic now has a MacPherson strut front
suspension?... and still has the dated SOHC engine? There were problems
with the early versions -- upgraded struts & springs -- with the new strut
suspension but AFAIK they have been corrected. OTOH if there's no
advantage there, IMO the Corolla looks like a better all-around car. If
you can live with a 3-door hatch, there's also the Scion tC... being sold
through Toyota dealerships. I have to take a look at it some time:
www.scionlife.com

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

I got a peak at the Scion tC in person this weekend. Very nice looking
and it only strengthened my resolve to figure out a way to put one in a
stable that's already full.

For anyone interested in checking it out, may I suggest www.edmunds.com
They have several pictures of the interior and exterior to examine,
along with an accessories list (extensive!) and comments & reviews from
a handful of new owners.

 

same platform and engine as the echo, but better looking, IMO.
supposedly theyve been using that engine in their cars since the tercel.

 

its a great value, and almost as fast as the lexus is300, supposedly.
maybe im getting old, but 2 door sports cars all look alike to me- the
rsx, tc, tiburon...

 

Ion... ( a natural progression both literally and phonetically!)

 

Huh? The engine in the tC is the same as the Camry and there is a factory
supercharger option, not that I'd personally want it. The chassis/platform
is said to be based on a model we don't get in the U.S., the Avensis. No
idea how that relates to Echo.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

the xA and xB are on the echo platform

 

The EX is DOHC

Anyway, if you have driven a 130 hp Corolla you know it is no where near
as fast as even the regular 115 hp (LX) engine. I have no idea why.
Plus, the Corolla is funky inside and out. I mean why is the S available
only with a black interior? Is this so everyone in Texas, Calif, &
Florida can lose weight?

IMHO the Civic is boring but way nicer to drive.

TC is okay if it was available as a 4 door. Some of us have kids

 

Actually, the Corolla IS faster than a Civic with the base engine. If
comparing Corolla to the 127hp VTEC engine, they're about the same. And I'm
not counting the high powered Corolla XRS model.

I don't know about in the U.S., but the S model in Canada is available in 6
different colours.

I'm a proud Honda owner, but even I feel that the current Corolla is a
better car than the current Civic.

 

No way, at least not in real world driving. In fact I was just about to
buy a Corolla until I test drove one, it is an unbelievable dog under 30
mph, despite the 130 hp rating (which must be at the very high end)

Six different colors all with a BLACK interior.

 

It probably is at the high end.

My bad. I missed where you said "interior".

Another pro of the Corolla over the Civic is that the Corolla's engine has a
timing chain, while the Civic's engine is belt-driven.

 

When did Toyota start using chains? In the past, they've used belts.

 

The Corolla has been chain-driven since (I think) some time during its
previous generation (1998-2002).

 

The Corolla has been chain-driven since (I think) some time during its

Yeah, since 1998.




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