Honda Civic 1.4i any good? Buying car today!

salami1212 · 3 Feb 2008 at 12:36

Well, the choices for me are a: Honda Civic 1.4i (??)
Renault Clio 1.4 MK1 (unreliable?)
Ford Fiesta Ghia/Zetec 1.4 (none on autotrader)

How good is the Honda? Apparently there very expensive.. Out of those 3 cars, which one would be best? Im gonna be buying my car today soo would really like some opinions pleasee

Gaijin · 3 Feb 2008 at 13:35

Out of those three, biase aside, I would have the Civic. Its reliable and the 1.4i engine is surprisingly good and good on fuel. Interior is typical jap, functional and not for tarts.

Insurance might be more than the other cars you have specified though.

Malt_Vinegar · 3 Feb 2008 at 13:38

Was in one of the new 1.4 civics the other day. Looked and seemed to go alright. No idea on the others, but i would probably look at those first if i was in for a car like this.

Richdog · 3 Feb 2008 at 13:40

Wouldn't it have been sensible to do the research a bit sooner than the actual day you're buying the car?

355F1512TR · 3 Feb 2008 at 13:41

It always amazes me how many people spend huge amounts of money on cars without first doing a decent amount of research about what they're actually getting :eek:

salami1212 · 3 Feb 2008 at 13:43

ive done loads of research.. im just getting more opinions, and autotrader has got so many cars which are good, bu way to far away

realscot · 3 Feb 2008 at 13:58

just look at the choices he put up.. there's no way he's talking about a new civic 1.4i when a mk1 clio is in the same list.
I'm guessing it's an EG or EK he's looking at, they are ok yeah, but deffo more for insurance if thats an issue, yet it will last longer than the other two put together.

Oh just thought i'd add, my friend bought one of the first EK's 1.4i as a work car, and that was over a year ago and all he has done is service it and mot it and it sailed though.. cars got aroung 80k on it. So it will be reliable, just be prepared to pay honda prices when something does go wrong.
eg... rear wheel bearing on my sisters corsa £30 ish... my civic £180.. but then i have discs.. but still!!

jamief · 3 Feb 2008 at 14:33

355F1512TR said:
It always amazes me how many people spend huge amounts of money on cars without first doing a decent amount of research about what they're actually getting

1) He hasn't mentioned any money, and I'd presume that it certainly isn't "huge amounts", considering a Mk.1 Clio is one of the options

2) By asking here, he IS RESEARCHING his options

It amazes me how many people post on here criticizing others, when in fact they have NO idea what they are talking about

paradigm · 3 Feb 2008 at 14:41

Going out with the attitude of "i'm buying a car today" is wrong anyway, regardless of if he has done his research or not.

It puts pressure on you subconciously to buy something, and as such you neglect niggling issues as "you need a car today".

It amazes me how people criticise people citicising other people, when they haven't thought the full scenario through. :rolleyes:

Gaijin · 3 Feb 2008 at 15:30

realscot said:
eg... rear wheel bearing on my sisters corsa £30 ish... my civic £180.. but then i have discs.. but still!!

Thats because the wheel bearing on our car is in fact a wheel bearing, hub and ABS ring all in one.

You got stuffed for £180. The part is £110 from unipart and takes no longer than an hour worth of labour to fit, even by my crap standards. And if you paid £180 just for the hub unit then well.................................

salami1212 · 3 Feb 2008 at 15:33

well, these last few posts were certainly helpful...

paradigm · 3 Feb 2008 at 15:35

salami1212 said:
well, these last few posts were certainly helpful...

Sorry but my post was perfectly helpful advice, don't go looking for a car with the mentalitly "I'm buying TODAY, no IFs or BUTs".

If you don't want to take the advice, fine, but don't **** it off.

salami1212 · 3 Feb 2008 at 15:37

paradigm said:
Sorry but my post was perfectly helpful advice, don't go looking for a car with the mentalitly "I'm buying TODAY, no IFs or BUTs".

If you don't want to take the advice, fine, but don't **** it off.

it wasnt just directed at you.. Anywayss, how do you think this would do:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...el=CLIO&min_pr=&max_pr=1000&max_mileage=80000

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...el=CLIO&min_pr=&max_pr=1000&max_mileage=80000

Cheers

mjt · 3 Feb 2008 at 16:03

that white one has suspiciously low mileage?

jamief · 3 Feb 2008 at 16:04

mjt said:
that white one has suspiciously low mileage?

3400 a year is perfectly doable if the previous owner was retired or something.

Gaijin · 3 Feb 2008 at 16:05

paradigm said:
Sorry but my post was perfectly helpful advice,

As was mine, paying £180 for a rear MB6 bearing means you got mugged.

As there is a 1.4i MB shape Civic, and the OP hasn't specifically said which one he is thinking of buying, this "advice" isn't necessarily unhelpful to the OP. Especially as he might want an MB6 VTI in the future

paradigm said:

If you don't want to take the advice, fine, but don't **** it off.

Click to expand...

Amen brother.

salami1212 · 3 Feb 2008 at 16:26

what year is the white one seeing as its R reg?

West · 3 Feb 2008 at 16:28

salami1212 said:
what year is the white one seeing as its R reg?

1st Aug 97 to 31 July 98

Mr.Bon · 3 Feb 2008 at 16:45

I had a 1.4i Civic. No problems, sailed through an MOT.
Got average 300+ miles from full tank.
Insurance was not cheap though.

Check the rear underside of the arch for rust...

realscot · 3 Feb 2008 at 18:36

Gaijin said:
Thats because the wheel bearing on our car is in fact a wheel bearing, hub and ABS ring all in one.

You got stuffed for £180. The part is £110 from unipart and takes no longer than an hour worth of labour to fit, even by my crap standards. And if you paid £180 just for the hub unit then well.................................

Ahh i never paid for it, got it done under warrenty but was told that was how much it would have been.. was a genuine honda one so maybe thats where the extra price comes from.