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Comments
With regard to Honda quality compared to the competitors well, in general, from all I read (and I read everything automotive) Toyota seems to be on a slight decline as well, Hyundai keeps improving, and Mazda? well I believe they remain level.
Will be testing the Versa, Sentra, Elantra, Focus & Corolla when we get the kids their car later on this year so should be fun. Will be their choice ultimately...all I will be needed for is the test drives, the final test drive on the final choice and lastly, the negotiations. Will be an all cash deal with no trade...possible finance if the rates are ridiculously low though.
Wish we had a 3 car garage now...lol!
The Sandman
Some of the things I did like over and above the Corolla was the leather upholstery on the door handle, the Civic has regular cloth. Fog lights on the GLS Elantra, not on the LX or EX Civic.
The windshield was not near as large in the Elantra, not so prone to damage as the Civic. The price is about $2000 less for the Elantra. The Civic does seem to get marginably better gas mileage and the interior seems a little more refined.
Having said this though, my wife still insists upon a Civic. We have made an appointment to purchase a 2008 Honda EX tomorrow at Fisher Honda in Boulder, Colorado.
The only reservations I have about the Elantra are long term reliablity--after their 100,000 mile warranty expires. Are there many Hyundai's with well over 100,000 miles on them in reasonably good shape?
Hope everyone enjoys whatever car they purchase.
Brad :shades:
Does the Hyundai 5/60 cover bumper to bumper? As soon as I got my 08 Civic
I put bright blue slip on seat covers on it to protect the cheap fabric and add
some color to the mouse gray interior.I had an ealier generation CRV and at
40k miles the drivers seat was frayed and the steering wheel was worn badly
where it had been touched so cheap materials,yes!How does a Corolla interior hold up over the years?
I don't recall CR doing an assessment on "best in class" based on ability to achieve over 200k miles--can you please provide the link or issue reference for that?
What I did see is that CR ranks the Civic and Elantra in a dead heat in their ratings, and awarded the Elantra SE their Top Pick in this class, I expect mainly because it offers standard ESC while the Civic does not. I think both are very good cars for this class, and buyers can choose based on personal preferences, e.g. a desire for crisper handling and slightly better fuel economy vs. a smoother, quieter ride and more interior room at a lower price.
I've owned two Civics, and while they were great cars, the one I owned for 7.5 years (the other I only owned for 3 years) and drove for about 85k miles started rusting out well before the 7.5 years was up. So while the engine might well have lasted 200k+ miles, the body/chassis is another matter. I think just about any engine nowadays can last 200k+ miles with proper maintenance. The rest of the car? That's another story.
1. a few sets of tires.
2. new plugs and wires X 2 times
3. 2 or 3 sets of front rotors and pads (Hyundai branded rotors did not last on this car for some reason) and I finally bought Bendix brand which have lasted far longer.
4. 2 timing belts (required maintenance @ 60K mile intervals)
5. replaced the orignial alternator @ 145K miles and the original battery that was ruined by the alternator failure.
6. two rear wheel brake cylinders and rear brake shoes.
that's it. It still runs drives and feels as it did at 60K miles when we bought it and gets 31+ mpg..
The body has received some dings but the paintwork is still shiny with no rust.
The second hand story involves a 2003 Elantra used by a rural mail carrier who frequents the dealership for twice monthly oil/filter changes. The car has (as I understand) 540K miles with nothing other than accelerated routine maintenance. I have no reason to disbelieve it. So I wouldn't worry about Hyundai long term reliability. Oh I forgot the co-worker with a 2004 Elantra who drives 70 miles round trip and currently has 77K miles with 0..zero problems. I'm sure the country is full of high mileage Hyundai's same as Toyota, Honda etc.
The Sandman
Maybe we've been lucky or maybe rust isn't that big of an issue down south.
The Sandman
YOU CAN FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/
The local dealer in Newark, DE initially told me that the belts in the tires slipped and they were going to charge me over $300 to replace. They didn't mention that the control arms needed repair/replacement. This was after they were informed of the Service Bullentin regarding customers complaints.
The dealer had them in stock because another civic owner changed his appointment to have his car fixed with the same problem.
Honda knows about the problem because there are service bulletins on the upper control arm problem. The suspension defects ruined the tires causing cupping on the inside of the tires.
The dealer told me the tires were my problem so I called Honda Corp Honda Corp. admitted that they have a problem with the upper control arms but they refused to replace the tires. Honda knows that they have defective parts in the suspensions of many of their 2006-2007 Civics. They are not recalling the car but waiting until you have a problem to do the repair. The defective parts are causing flat spots and uneven wear on the tires which is a serious problem. I don't thing you would want to drive your family in a car in this condition. We all need to contact the NHTSA
about this safety issue. This is my first Honda and will be the last.
Is this because I have a suspension problem with the shocks, struts, etc? Or is it because the car is originally equipped with "performance tires" (Goodyear), instead of touring tires that makes for a softer ride?
The Sandman
They had to replace their tires at 30k, and are wearing out again. Any word on getting money back on the two sets of tires that have now been worn prematurely, from Honda? My parents are having no luck from their dealer in Daphne, AL.
Had the rear bearing TSB performed though, so all is good. Had the car washed this past weekend and the guy at work who's lusting after my car offered to buy it on the spot today. Not looking to sell right now, but told him to talk to me next year and just maybe.
The Sandman
Ginally got the recall notice for the Rear ABS Sensor the other day. luckily, I had it down 2 weeks ago eventhough they tried to say it was just a northern problem and not a southern one. I pressed the issue since Honda corporate said I needed to have it done and the dealer finally relented. They would not address the rear camber issue though. Said they needed to see the damaged tires which have been gone for a bit.
live and learn!
The Sandman
When I traded, the dealer I traded to said he had seen so many civics come in for trade he wouldn't take anymore as he had a hard time unloading them, even at auction.
My advice, if money wise you can afford to trade it, do it before you run into trouble after warranty is up.
I loved my 06 but it was in for repair/service due to problems so many times, it was just getting out of hand, luckily I traded before the mileage go to the point where these others problems you guys talk about popped up.
And Oh, I had tire problems very early on with my car, despite the many alignments and bulletins. My dealer refused to change them even with less than 5K on them.
Go figure.