2005 A3 tdi vs 2008 Civic I-ctdi

-Mike-

-Mike-

-Mike-

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Hey all,

Quick question for you gents please : Which of the above two cars ( 2008 Civic I-ctdi or 2005 A3 TDI) would you pick if you had the choice of those two cars?

Mileage travelled per year is somewhere around 19k? I've suggested the civic as the engine is far less farm vehicle like, well I actually think it sounds pretty ok for a four pot diesel engine :o . I believe the only issue with the 2.2 is still the clutch if anything?

The a3 looks to be a car that hasn't changed much on the outside since the year 2000 or perhaps before? My neighbour has one and hers is registered on a W plate and looks similar to the 2005 one.

Thanks for any help :)
 
The engine is quiet in the accord, nothing of the sort in the civic though ( hardly intrusive compared to the competition mind)

What kind of money ate we talking here, £5k? The Audi has a better ride without daft s line suspension and a nicer onterior but I wouldn't trust the early iterations of its engine.

Civic needs a 2010+ clutch
 
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rodenal said:
The engine is quiet in the accord, nothing of the sort in the civic though ( hardly intrusive compared to the competition mind)

What kind of money ate we talking here, £5k? The Audi has a better ride without daft s line suspension and a nicer onterior but I wouldn't trust the early iterations of its engine.

Civic needs a 2010+ clutch
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A3 is £4500 with 77k on the clock, the civic is £5500 with 51k on the clock.
 
I'd be tempted to say A3 if you could get one a year or two newer for the same price as the civic. The Honda is the lesser reliability risk if it's got the new clutch though. If its a 5 door its better for stuff too due to the rear seats
 
rodenal said:
I'd be tempted to say A3 if you could get one a year or two newer for the same price as the civic. The Honda is the lesser reliability risk if it's got the new clutch though. If its a 5 door its better for stuff too due to the rear seats
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The clutch has been done according to paperwork with a 325 item in 2014. The flywheel is however original. I've got a lot of love for the magic seats that you mention (have petrol 1.8ex!).
 
I don't understand why you would change a 1.8 to a ctdi? There isn't enough of a mpg difference - mine averaged about 45....most people can manage that with the petrol
 
rodenal said:
I don't understand why you would change a 1.8 to a ctdi? There isn't enough of a mpg difference - mine averaged about 45....most people can manage that with the petrol
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Not my car I'm changing matey! I fancy a BMW or similar next!
 
Vertigo1 said:
If the A3 is the 2.0TDI 140PS then I'd steer clear of it unless it's already had the cylinder head replaced.
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I was just reading up on that. Something to do with porous heads? Minefield. I'll suggest the diesel civic, or failing that a petrol one... but I think the mileage is more into diesel car territory than petrol.
 
Yeah porous/cracked heads - massive issue with the earlier BKD engine (2.0TDI 140PS PD). Unless the car has already had the issue and the head replaced as a result it's just not worth the risk as there was never any official recall so, once out of warranty, you'll be footing the bill yourself. The 170PS engines and the later common rail units weren't affected.
 
A vote for the civic here, I know a few people that have modded theirs and they are cracking cars, considering you can get one on an 07 plate they still look modern (I had an FN2)
 
Civic for me. Never rated the A3, just depressiing "OK" car with a smart interior.
Really liked the CDTi I tried and I prefered the interior too (though it has less soft touch plastic).
 
Civic has woeful brakes from my experience.

I would prefer the A3 IMO cosmetically but the Civics engine as it's power delivery is unlike any other diesel I've driven.
 
panthro said:
A3. I had a Civic CDTI; never again.
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Why? and which one? 8th gen 2.2 or 7th 1.7?

thepharcyde said:
Civic has woeful brakes from my experience.

I would prefer the A3 IMO cosmetically but the Civics engine as it's power delivery is unlike any other diesel I've driven.
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The brakes are a tad naff on the civic yes, applies to both the petrol and the diesel I've found. I'm intrigued what you mean by the power delivery of the diesel engine though?

My personal opinion of it from my short ownership is that it lacks low down get up and go and has an even shorter useful rev range than the PD vw engines?
 
Milkybk said:
I have the 170 version, 2008 plate though. The interior is comfortable and it's easy to drive. I have the upgraded Bose system which is excellent. Mine is an S-line Quattro and can actually be quiet enjoyable to drive whilst very much limited by the fact it's a diesel obviously (well smaller engines diesel). I do notice road noise though at motorway speeds, but I believe this is due to mine being an S-line so it's slight lower, bigger alloys etc..

It's been an alright car but tbh I've got bored with it after a year and I'm looking to change to a BMW M135i. However I probably have different criteria to what I want from a car than you.
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I want a m135i too ;) Not going to happen for me so I'll be sticking to my 1.8 dust buster ;)
 
Mike19 said:
Why? and which one? 8th gen 2.2 or 7th 1.7?



The brakes are a tad naff on the civic yes, applies to both the petrol and the diesel I've found. I'm intrigued what you mean by the power delivery of the diesel engine though?

My personal opinion of it from my short ownership is that it lacks low down get up and go and has an even shorter useful rev range than the PD vw engines?
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Can't agree with that, other than the fact it sounds rough as its got good smooth delivery over quite a decent band. Its probably the best 4 cylinder diesel of its era in terms of delivery - still nothing compared to a 6 from even the late 90's mind
 
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Mike19 said:
Why? and which one? 8th gen 2.2 or 7th 1.7?
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Rattled loads, clutch wore out after 60k and Honda wanted £1400 to replace, the suspension was way too hard. I also had a very bad service from the dealer I bought it from so that soured the experience. The servicing costs were also insane considering it's a diesel hatchback.
 
panthro said:
Rattled loads, clutch wore out after 60k and Honda wanted £1400 to replace, the suspension was way too hard. I also had a very bad service from the dealer I bought it from so that soured the experience. The servicing costs were also insane considering it's a diesel hatchback.
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To be fair to them, the clutch is replaced up to 7 yrs / 125000 miles now as goodwill (due to the pressure plates not being up to the job!) I'll go with your dealer problems as I had plenty of my own, but the private purchase has been fine!
 
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