Urgent advice! Civic versus Focus

///Rage · 7 Nov 2011 at 16:05

Hi, car for the wife.

Offered 2 cars. Need to make a decision today!

1) Ford Focus Zetec 59reg, 21000 miles, FSH. 1 year Ford warranty. £6300

2) Honda Civic 08 reg, 15000 miles,FSH, 1 year Honda warranty. £7500

well?

[TW]Fox · 7 Nov 2011 at 16:15

Offered? Someone phone you up out of the blue or something? Focus seems like the better deal.

Mucky_Pup · 7 Nov 2011 at 16:16

Engine types/sizes?

///Rage · 7 Nov 2011 at 16:29

Focus petrol 1.6 Zetec automatic

Honda petrol 1.8 Vtec i-shift

Focus is a private sale. Honda is from a Honda dealer

[TW]Fox · 7 Nov 2011 at 16:32

So by offered you mean you found them for sale.

Why these two specifically and why so urgent?

///Rage · 7 Nov 2011 at 16:42

[TW]Fox;20504891 said:
So by offered you mean you found them for sale.

Why these two specifically and why so urgent?

Found for sale but final negotiated price.

Urgent as I need a car asap and Honda dealer wants to know.

[TW]Fox · 7 Nov 2011 at 17:06

So you've negotiated to buy on two cars when you are not sure you actually want them? This seems an odd way to buy a car.

Why those two in particular? Does it have to be an auto as low capacity autos are pretty awful.

///Rage · 7 Nov 2011 at 17:12

[TW]Fox;20505202 said:
So you've negotiated to buy on two cars when you are not sure you actually want them? This seems an odd way to buy a car.

Why those two in particular? Does it have to be an auto as low capacity autos are pretty awful.

Has to be auto (wife only drives auto, Ill use the car only occasionally).

The focus seems like a more sensible decision but the Honda felt a bit peppier/faster on the test drive.

Maccy · 7 Nov 2011 at 17:44

Whichever one you both preferred in terms of driving, interior and build quality but to name a few factors.
I'd probably go for the Honda if I were in your position.

realscot · 7 Nov 2011 at 17:46

If you intend to keep the car more than 3 years i'd go for the honda, they just age better, and generally hold their value better

///Rage · 7 Nov 2011 at 18:03

Yeah im veering towards the honda. I plan to keep the car for 5-6 years.

Focus 100hp 111tq 37mpg

Civic 140hp 128tq 45mpg

If the manufacturer figures are true then the civic will make some of that initial expense back....

Alex*TLR · 7 Nov 2011 at 18:19

If it's I-shift then DO NOT BUY IT. Everyone buys it thinking it's an auto gearbox. It isn't. It can be used in auto mode but it will be the worst feeling auto ever. It is designed to be used in the tiptronic mode.

If your prepared to do that then I'd go for the Honda everytime!

///Rage · 7 Nov 2011 at 18:33

Alex*TLR said:
If it's I-shift then DO NOT BUY IT. Everyone buys it thinking it's an auto gearbox. It isn't. It can be used in auto mode but it will be the worst feeling auto ever. It is designed to be used in the tiptronic mode.

If your prepared to do that then I'd go for the Honda everytime!

Oh really?! Please elaborate...

Ill be using it in manual mode but my wife will use auto. Why so aweful?

wesley · 7 Nov 2011 at 18:35

i'd stay away from focus 1.6 auto. my friend had one and it was rubbish, probably worst auto car i've been in.

out of those two, i'd pick civic. but for me, i wouldnt pick any of them.

[TW]Fox · 7 Nov 2011 at 18:39

///Rage said:
Oh really?! Please elaborate...

Ill be using it in manual mode but my wife will use auto. Why so aweful?

Well it isn't an automatic gearbox. It's a semi auto with a robotic clutch. This means that it isn't going to be as smooth in shifting when in auto mode as it doesn't have a torque convertor like a conventional automatic.

Thats if it is I-SHIFT. Isn't an 08 a bit old for I-Shift?

Jokester · 7 Nov 2011 at 18:49

I-Shift was always an option on the current style Civic from what I can remember.

Jono8 · 7 Nov 2011 at 20:32

seems like a pretty good price on the honda from a honda main dealer.

Alex*TLR · 7 Nov 2011 at 20:46

I-shift was available I think from release on the current model Civic, pretty sure you can also have it on atleast the latest gen of Jazz, possibly pre-facelift n all.

It's very lurchy in the way it works, as fox says it's not a true auto box. Yeah it'll work fine in auto all day, but if you are used to a nice auto then it'll feel like turd. Sadly most Honda dealers sell it as an auto and then get lots of complaints about it.

Take it for a test drive and try and "confuse" it. As in boot it then let off etc and see how you get on with it.

Alex*TLR · 7 Nov 2011 at 20:46

Forgot to say though, why does it have to be an I-shift? Theres gotta be lots of civics around in your budget? Does it have to be auto?

Luke · 7 Nov 2011 at 20:48

You plan to keep the car 5-6 years yet are making a very snap decision.
This can only go well...