astra or civic - thoughts?

avrc

avrc

avrc

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My partner is entitled to a motability car due to her condition however does not as yet need any kind of special adaptations to be made. We've had an astra estate and currently have a chevrolet cruze and any day now we'll be getting a letter telling us it's time to sort out a new car.

The astra estate was a 1.8 petrol 4 speed auto and was actually a very practical car and ok to drive, plenty of space for a wheelchair and shopping. The cruze has the same engine but with a horrible 6 speed auto that gives you the gear you wanted about 4 seconds after you wanted it and makes the car feel very sluggish especially when you start putting weight into it. Both had front seats that gave adequate support for her spine however she regularly complains that the cruze seats don't hold her well enough when we go around corners, islands etc

For those that don't know with the motability scheme we have to pay a sum of money up front and whilst it's not generally speaking a great deal we do have a budget for it so this dictates to a great extent as to what cars we can look at from a predetermined list. We've narrowed the choice down on paper to either a astra hatchback 2.0 cdti auto in elite spec or a Honda civic 1.8 petrol auto in S spec. We've yet to see and try them in person but gather both have a boot that will take a wheelchair.

The astra in elite spec is vauxhalls top spec with all the bells and whistles but we've never had a diesel car before and no idea what they're like to drive. The civic in S spec is on the other hand bottom spec but still has air con and electric windows and mirrors. We also like the space available with the back seats down as they fold flat from the looks of it. We have no idea how a 1.8 Honda engine compairs to the 1.8 vauxhall engines we've had or indeed their auto gearboxes. We've been caught out numerous times with the cruze 6 speed auto with a few near misses on islands when it's simply not given the low gear we were expecting.

Does anyone have any input that may help us? I know many people dislike astras but we're not fussed about image and our last astra experience was a positive one. Having said that the civic is more aesthetically pleasing.
 
I absolutely hate the way the new civic looks, they've ruined it inside and out...IMO.

I also think the new astra is a pretty good car, I'd have it over most of its equivalents including the focus.

That said, if practicality matters then the seats in the back of the civic are fantastic. You'd be amazed how much more useful that space is with the bases folded up, not sure how practical it will be for a wheelchair but I'm fairly certain it'll fit in the space. They will also fold flat for loading through the back - i'm not sure if the Astra's do or not tbh

Both will be perfectly good cars, especially seeing as they're new
 
The Civic has a much superior engine and gearbox, much more clever and practical inside too, and more quality car. Can't stand the looks myself but that is a subjective matter.
 
The civic tourer is well out of our price range unfortunately, the upfront payment is 5 1/2 times more than the normal civic.
 
Personally I am glad im not making this choice. Ive got a Mk 8 (previous gen) civic and it was no contest winner over an astra at the time.

The new civic imo is much better put together than the one I have, much less rattly and quieter inside. Also tech wise better than the new astra, as lemonade said the engine and gearbox are excellent but unfortunately it does look horrible from the outside. God knows what they were thinking with those rear lights. The astra on the other hand looks quite nice I think, but it wont be as good a car.

Depends what your interested in, for me Id buy neither I think, but only because the civic looks so god damn ugly now, otherwise wouldn't hesitate to get one.

Hawker
 
Don't hold your breath with the new Civic, it's still made in Swindon by monkeys, that plant should have been closed ages ago, they are not fit to build cars.
 
lemonade said:
Don't hold your breath with the new Civic, it's still made in Swindon by monkeys, that plant should have been closed ages ago, they are not fit to build cars.
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You could say pretty much the same thing about the Astra.
 
lemonade said:
Don't hold your breath with the new Civic, it's still made in Swindon by monkeys, that plant should have been closed ages ago, they are not fit to build cars.
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This is not really the issue with the car so much as the design from Honda, the whole thing just clips together, whether it was made here or in Germany it would rattle like a bugger because it wasn't designed not to.

Hawker
 
hawker1986 said:
This is not really the issue with the car so much as the design from Honda, the whole thing just clips together, whether it was made here or in Germany it would rattle like a bugger because it wasn't designed not to.

Hawker
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You're talking tripe, I've had one for the last 4 years and it's been a fantastic car. It's now 6 years old and I've yet to experience the "rattling like a bugger" as it was apparently designed to do?

It's a very well built car and still drives like new and we've done over 60k hard miles in it, now almost 90k on the clock.
 
To be fair they do tend to have trim issues. I've already fixed 2 vent rattles in the fn2 - my diesel seemed better, whilst a friends 3 door has a creaky dash so it's clearly a quality / consistency issue
 
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Chong Warrior said:
You're talking tripe, I've had one for the last 4 years and it's been a fantastic car. It's now 6 years old and I've yet to experience the "rattling like a bugger" as it was apparently designed to do?

It's a very well built car and still drives like new and we've done over 60k hard miles in it, now almost 90k on the clock.
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Lol in which case you got lucky, lots of issues over at civinfo with regards to rattly trim, very common. I've padded most of mine with insulating tape and that's helped, still rattles though. Mines now 5 years old and at 56k, I've had it from new. Love the car, mechanically rock solid and still fun to drive but the truth is it has some build quality issues.

Hawker
 
My fn2 rattled, creaked, bounced, washer jets broke, clutch was noisy, gear box was notchy. Nothing like the ek civics and most other stuff from the 90s

Still rather have the honda than the Vauxhall though
 
Just got back from the MOT station...

YAY!

112k on the odo and passed without a single advisory.

51.1mpg over 7k miles too.

Win
 
Mixed opinions then, I guess we'll have to test drive both and pod and poke them. I'm clearly in the minority as I think the civic looks nice!
 
danza said:
You could say pretty much the same thing about the Astra.
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You expect it on a Vauxhall, not a Honda.

This is not really the issue with the car so much as the design from Honda, the whole thing just clips together, whether it was made here or in Germany it would rattle like a bugger because it wasn't designed not to.

Hawker
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Absolutely nothing to do with the design, Honda's have used clips for trim parts like forever and never any issues in the past, their pre 2000's cars made in Swindon were of high quality, after that it leaves a lot to be desired for, it's not just rattly trims but other areas, typical British fit and finish, it's a joke and putting a stain on Honda's name, Honda should pull the plug on Swindon and HUK, it costs them more money to run it all for a half arsed job and they make no profit from it, I think there has been crisis meetings back in HQ recently.
 
I feel the above is a bit of an over reaction tbh.

Step into most late 90's, early 00's car from any of the mainstream manufacturers, then into one today.....almost without exception they're not put together as well, with what is ultimately cheaper materials (despite them looking nicer), more creaks and groans etc - though general mechanical reliability has increased.

The original focus, whilst the interior looks pretty horrific in terms of design (today) is held together better than the new one inside, the astra is a similar story. Look at an e46 or e39 then sit inside an F10 or F30 - the modern interior looks much nicer, but the materials are a bit flimsy, you'll find more "scratchy" bits etc. Sit in a mid 90's Merc then get in one today and tell me it's of the same quality

Honda have just done what everyone else has done - though the 8th gen was particularly bad for groans and moans it's not as if it's a poor product compared to its competition.

I don't believe it's anything to do with being put together here either - step into an FD2 then tell me it's built better after you try to locate the same silly noises from the central vents, or that seem to travel all the way from the doors up to the dash etc.
 
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