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Is a Honda Civic Mk 9 a good choice?

Elephantears

Elephantears

Trunkated Aesthete
Somebody just drove into my Jazz and it's been declared a write off.

So I'm looking for an automatic compact car in the Civic/Focus/Golf/Leon mode.

I just drove a 2013 CIvic and felt that, whilst a hard ride, it fitted me like a good pair of shoes. So that's my first choice. But there was a funny whiny noise on acceleration which rang alarm bells.

The only negative I can see in a Civic, apart from the hard ride, is the rear visibility, due to the odd bar across the rear window.

But are there better options?

(I'm finding the 2019 Focus I have as an insurance hire-car a bit underwhelming, except for the iPhone link up thingy, which is great).
 
That funny whiny noise was likely their 2013 version of the CVT making itself heard.

EDIT: Nope, it seems the Civic CVT option came along in 2014 (at least over here in NA).
 
If you like it, get it. Honda are consistently near the top of quality and owner satisfaction surveys, and they don't make a car that's less than good. The most common criticism is that they are boring. Maybe they are. But boring is a good thing when it's cold, raining and you just want to get to work.
 
It’s a very good and extremely roomy car, I had a 2009 Civic for a number of years and a 2004 Type S Civic before that. Both great cars and very reliable. Sadly both written off in accidents that weren’t my fault.

The spoiler across the rear windscreen is PITA though.

I’ve done the reverse of what you’re doing and now drive a Jazz. Again very impressed.
 
Hi, depends on your age, if you had a jazz, i guess your the thick end of 50, sorry if that's not the case, :oops:, when i was looking for a new car, i fancied the ford fiesta, my god it was like i was sitting on the floor, will be the same for a focus, golf, i guess, so i got a Nissan juke, great car so much spec, and a joy to get in and out of, just saying, :rolleyes:

i think it was on top gear, when they tested the new Civic, it was worse than the older car it replaced, speed, handling and ride,
 
Craig B said:
That funny whiny noise was likely their 2013 version of the CVT making itself heard.

EDIT: Nope, it seems the Civic CVT option came along in 2014 (at least over here in NA).
Click to expand...

I wondered. It's not a noise I've ever heard from the CVT on my 2005 Jazz, but maybe it's what the 2013 automatic sounds like. A bit weird, to my ears.
 
graystoke4 said:
Hi, depends on your age, if you had a jazz, i guess your the thick end of 50, sorry if that's not the case, :oops:, when i was looking for a new car, i fancied the ford fiesta, my good it was like i was sitting on the floor, will be the same for a focus, golf, i guess, so i got a Nissan juke, great car so much spec, and a joy to get in and out of, just saying, :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

53, but I've had it since my absurdly early 40s. Juke sounds interesting, in spite of the bulbous looks. However it looks like it's hard to find an auto, and hard to find anything shy of £9.5k, which is pushing the budget a bit far.
 
why do you want an Auto,
Yes my juke has actually gone up in price, I've had it 3 years , if i sell it now i would get back more than i paid for it,
WOW just had a look for Nissan juke, the used car prices are still going up,
 
Elephantears said:
I just drove a 2013 CIvic and felt that, whilst a hard ride, it fitted me like a good pair of shoes. So that's my first choice. But there was a funny whiny noise on acceleration which rang alarm bells.
Click to expand...

Honda are best in the industry at ergonomics, their cars are good at feeling instantly familiar if you've coming from another car, with next to no learning curve.

How about another Jazz?
 
We have a Mk9 automatic 2014 Civic 1.8 EX and while an auto box wouldn't be my choice in a small engined car it actually works very well. I drive it using the paddles whereas my partner just sticks it in auto. The car has a heap of extras that all work really well and like all Hondas it is reliable although with 70K on the clock it's not exactly well used so it should be reliable. No whine on drive but ours is a proper auto not a CVT. The best extra it has is the heated seats... never realised how much I would enjoy having a nice warm **** in winter :D
 
graystoke4 said:
why do you want an Auto,
Click to expand...

This Focus I have on loan is manual - it's the first manual I've driven in over a decade. I've got used to the Honda CVT, which is very good (when it's working properly). Manual just feels like twentieth century tech to me, particularly for London driving. But I'm surprised at the Focus gearbox - it seems no better than the crappy Escort I had in the early 90s.
 
Yank said:
Honda are best in the industry at ergonomics, their cars are good at feeling instantly familiar if you've coming from another car, with next to no learning curve.

How about another Jazz?
Click to expand...

Too small for ease on motorways. I've always wanted something a bit bigger, though not much. I agree about the ergonomics, and the Civic felt just right in this respect. Except for that weird rear window thing.
 
stevec67 said:
Btw is salvage and independent repair an option, or is it completely buggered?
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The Jazz will be written off but I may well buy it off the salvage company. It just needs a new driver side wing and the wheel alignment straightening. However there are other things that need attention; the CVT needs oiling and the aircon needs a new condenser, which would cost a fortune. So I'll just be calculating if it's worth buying it back to sell it. It's done good time though, and that miraculous boot managed a pair of ESL63s just nicely.
 
I've got a Honda Civic 1.8 i-vtec. It came after a Focus 1.8 Zetec that sometimes couldn't decide whether or not to a) let me in b) let me start it.
The Honda lets me in, starts, goes and is rather better built than the Focus. Engine and gearbox are better too although the Ford had better steering and handling. The only gripes I have is the position of the speedo and rear visibility. I made sure I got the better spec with a reversing camera. Ultimately it's dependable transport.
 
Excuse me, my first car was an escort, come to think of it, so was my second and third, its' great looking back with those pink shaded glasses on ,
 
graystoke4 said:
Excuse me, my first car was an escort, come to think of it, so was my second and third, its' great looking back with those pink shaded glasses on ,
Click to expand...

Ah, I'm not sure if you're saying I've got a rose tinted of that old Escort, or 'oi, you're insulting my car!'. I certainly don't hold any romantic illusions about it. All I can say in its praise is that it was red, it somehow managed to get me from Leeds to Brighton a good few times, and it once carried 9 people.
 
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