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Honda Accord vs Honda Civic

macno0bmacno0b Member Posts: 22
edited July 2014 in Honda
I was set for a Civic LX for $17k OTD. Good lord, I had a look at the accord, test drove it and fell in love with it. I was quoted for $23k for the Accord 08 LX-P in Chicago, I know I can get the price lower. May be $21k $22k OTD? My question is, apart from the good look, is it really worth the 4 extra Ks for the Accord. The Civic just does not have the chick-magnet attribute. The Accord 08 is so classy, it may make up for my small..............wallet.

Anyone who recently purchased an Accord 08 LX-P or the Civic LX 08 in Chicago please let me know the OTD price and the dealer.

Thank you guys.
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Comments

  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Hi macno0b, welcome to CarSpace!

    I changed your title a little and fixed it so that this discussion will appear on both the Accord board and the Civic board rather than having two separate discussions. It's less confusing that way.

    For pricing information your best bets are the Accord Prices Paid and Buying Experience and the Civic Prices Paid and Buying Experience discussions. I see you've already found the Civic topic. You might want to use the Search This Discussion feature for Chicago to see what others have posted in each one.

    Good luck!
  • plethysmoplethysmo Member Posts: 42
    Get the Civic for commuting and other routine trips. Use a Porsche to troll for chicks.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    There's no Honda short of the S2000 that will ever be confused for a chick-magnet.

    I have an Accord, but if the Civic fits better in the budget (it obviously does), get it, unless it doesn't meet your needs somehow (not enough room or something). As gas prices continue their climb, your car will be worth more and more as time goes on.
  • gqllcgqllc Member Posts: 8
    I had a 2006 accord V6 LOADED...leather..sunroof..nav..you name it...absolutely NOT a chick magnet car!! I now have a 2008 Civic LX and it is FAR AND AWAY the much better deal out there right now. I averaged 23-26mpg on the accord and I am averaging 37 on the civic. I am 46 and I have to say practicality far outweighs the looks of the accord WHEN budget is concerned!
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    I have a 2006 Accord as well and would say the Civic is the better looking car.
  • bug4bug4 Member Posts: 370
    Does anyone have an opinion on whether or not the Accord is a better built, better designed car - or is it just bigger? In my personal opinion, the Civic is a MUCH better exterior design, but that's subjective. But, I've never been driven the redesigned Civics. I have an I4 08 Accord that I doubt I will own for very long - I just don't like it much. Also, starting this September, I'm going to start putting 2500 miles per month on my car. My 08 gets 26-28 mpg, and that just ain't good enough for a car that has such little useable power! With gas prices the way they are, I might take a good look at a manual tranny civic. Any thoughts?
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    The Civic and the Accord should be similar in build quality, while the Accord will have more thoughtful features than the Civic.

    If you feel the Accord has little usable power, the Civic is going to feel even less powerful. With a low-amount of peak torque, the Civic really has to be wound up to high-rpms to get moving quickly.

    Also, if you are doing more highway driving, the automatic Civic will offer you better highway mileage than the manual transmission version will.

    If you are trading down to a new Civic for fuel economy, make sure you aren't spending more in the trade than you would by keeping the larger, more comfortable Accord (a car that is naturally better suited to the highway).
  • bug4bug4 Member Posts: 370
    Thanks grad! Any opinion on the issue of ride quality. With a shorter wheel-based, the Civic would have a different ride.

    I assume the auto tranny gets better gas mileage because of different, higher revving, gear ratios in the manual? [Ultimately, slight differences in fuel economy won't get me to buy the automatic. I'll never buy an automatic transmission again - at least not one where you can't choose between the top gears. It's not a problem with the actual transmission, I just HATE not having that control when I'm driving on the highway. I will likely sell my Accord within a year just to get rid of the automatic transmission. I have never owned a car without MT and I thought I could live with a new Honda with AT. I can't!]
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Having just test-driven a 2008 Accord EX over the weekend, and my dad having a 2007 Civic, I can tell you that the Accord rides noticeably better, while also handling very nicely. The fact that the Civic really seems to feel "on-the-ground" is a big difference in the higher-up Accord, as well.
  • vietviet Member Posts: 847
    Accord V6 is super smooth, a bit more luxry than Civic. Both are excellent cars. It depends on your budget.
  • usairusair Member Posts: 23
    I am looking to lease a Honda. The payment would be same for Civic LX-S or a Accord LX. which one will be a better buy. I know Civic is better in gas by about 10 miles than the accord or maybe less.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    It won't be a 10 mpg difference. Maybe as much as 5, depending on mix of city and highway.

    Which one do you like driving better? Do you carry adults or big kids in the back seat very often? Do you like the idea of having electronic stability control on your car? Do you need to park in tight spaces very often? Will the fuel economy difference be a big deal for you?

    Those are the kinds of questions you should be asking yourself.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Also... which one do you find more appealing personally? Is fun to drive important? Ride comfort?
  • keitha3keitha3 Member Posts: 124
    I test drove the Civic recently while buying a Fit. The Fit was for another family member and I thought, hey, maybe I'll buy a Civic tonight as it too gets good mileage. So, I loaded my family into the car and, while I found the driving experience acceptable, it wasn't something that excited me. Still, if mileage and reliability were strong considerations, I felt the Civic would be a great candidate. Also, as I have my family to consider, I also listened when they said they weren't enthralled by the rear seats, especially if we were to take long trips.

    Now, the Accord V6, as was stated earlier, has a very smooth acceleration factor. I also found riding around in it much smoother and the seats more comfortable. My family responded very favorable to the rear seats as well.

    So, I sacrificed a lot more money on the initial purchase and much better gas mileage down the line for something my family and I feel will serve us better on a day to day basis.
  • bvdj84bvdj84 Member Posts: 1,724
    Well now with the EX-L Civic, it really makes for a nice car! I am still a bit apprehensive about the dash though. Its is questionable.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    I drove my dad's Civic for a week during everyday commuting. I have two Accords ('96, '06) both sedans, so getting in the rakish Civic was a very big change... I thought. I soon got used to it (a matter of a day's driving) and really enjoyed the change; the dash is very intuitive; the speedo being up top wasn't distracting and was very useful for monitoring speed while keeping eyes on the road, not the gauges.

    I was glad to get back to the torquey engines in the Accords, but the Civic was definitely a lot of fun, and a car I'd consider if it weren't for my 6'5" frame which causes my right leg to be up against that annoying parking brake handle when I let my leg rest and splay to the right.
  • diana_elainediana_elaine Member Posts: 26
  • diana_elainediana_elaine Member Posts: 26
    Hiya,

    I could really use some help form experienced Honda owners, since I've never had one, and am looking at 2 right now, from a local dealer.

    I need to decide this alone, am 58, and really need a dependable car! Here are my choices:

    2000 Honda Accord EX - 4 door sedan
    Mileage: 99549.00
    6 cyl. 3.0 - Automatic
    Asking price: $6995.00

    Alternator has to be replaced (that's being done today)

    On down the road at 135,000 miles, he suggested the water pump & cerpentine belt @ $500.00.

    Here it is: http://www.hondacity-cny.com/inventory/preownedcarsearch.jsp?ptitle=Search%20Inv- entory&listingperpage=25

    ---------------------------------------------------------

    2001 Honda Civic EX - 4 door sedan
    Mileage: 100,000
    4 cyl. 1.7 - Automatic
    Asking price: $6995.00

    It's been in an accident, according to dealer, no damage to frame, just bumper (which is being fixed today).

    Here's this one: http://www.hondacity-cny.com/inventory/preownedcarsearch.jsp?ptitle=Search%20Inv- entory&listingperpage=25

    ----------------------------------------------------

    He's telling me that the Civic with the 4 cyl. is a better buy .... since that's the engine that made Honda famous for being so durable, etc. Is that true?

    Says the 6 cyl. isn't as good ... gas wise of course, but also because it's not the original engine of Honda, etc.

    I don't like the idea of the Civic being in an accident, but how would I really know what damage was done?

    I have looked at the CARFAX for that car, and it looks like it was in TWO accidents, unless I'm reading it wrong. Here's the carmax for it:

    http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory/p/Report.cfx?partner=DSP_0&vin=2HGES26771H5- 21280

    -----------------------

    Also, if he's telling me the Accord has to have work done on the water pump and belt, should I tell him I want that done now?

    ---------------------------

    Here's the CARMAX for the Accord: http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory/p/Report.cfx?partner=DSP_0&vin=1HGCG165XYA0- 81484

    Sorry if things aren't in order here ... hope you can keep in all in perspective, when giving advice.

    Which of the two .. would you consider? How is the 6cyl. engine on the Accords? As dependable as the 4cyl.?

    How are the prices? Should I get him to come down? My bank has approved me for 6500, so I'd like to get a car down to that if I can.

    Thanks ever so much for any help you can give. :-)

    Diana
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    If you are just looking for reliability, you will probably be fine with either. I would certainly check on the other accident with the Civic though.

    Your needs should come into play a bit too. If you need a bigger car, then the Accord will be your best bet. I'm sure you have driven both so you can tell how the V6 can move the larger Accord around. The Civic is smaller so the I4 is enough. I doubt if you will see much difference in the reliability of the engines. In reality, both can have issues or last a long time. If the Civic did have some other damage from the first accident, a reliable engine may not matter.

    I don't know offhand if the Civic used a timing belt on it's engines in 01 but the Accord V6 does for sure... then and now. That may be what the dealer was talking about instead of the serpentine belt. One usually changes the water pump and timing belt at the same time. It's a pricey maintenance item but it's very costly if the timing belt breaks.

    If you don't need a bigger car, if the accidents were both minor, if you don't mind the maintenance of a black car (I think I noticed that was the Civic color), then the Civic may be the better choice. The I4 is indeed a great engine and should last a long time. If gas mileage is important, the Civic comes out on top too.

    There are many more folks around here that know price better than I do so maybe someone can be of more help. There is no harm in asking for less, however.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    There are three Accords in my driveway every night; a '96, an '02, and an '06 (all 4-cylinder automatic, 4-door), so I speak from some experience. :)

    If it were me, I'd go with the Civic, realistically, for around $5,000-$5,500since it has had a minor accident. V6 Accords had issues with their transmissions from '98-'04. That's not to say every one of them failed, but they were a noteable problem, where Civics didn't have such an issue. I'm an Accord guy, but I'd personally avoid a pre-owned V6 Accord from those years, simply because of the potential for transmission problems being higher than that of a Civic, or a 4-cylinder Accord.

    Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book are reputable websites to help you determine the rough value of a pre-owned car. It listed the Civic at approximately $5,600 from a private party, in good condition, with 100k miles, for my Birmingham, Alabama Zip Code.

    Take opinions here (even mine!) with a grain of salt, but I hope you find the site helpful! :shades:

    -TheGraduate
  • diana_elainediana_elaine Member Posts: 26
    Thanks for replying tallman: I'm not sure how to check the accident any further, unless I can check with the motor vehicle department?

    I really don't need a larger car .... it's just me and my son right now, and soon will be just me.
    I don't drive far .... to grocery store and back, to doctors, etc... so not a big deal for gas mileage.

    Actually, I've not driven either of them yet ... since the Civic was in the shop and the Accord was going tomorrow. When they're both done and ready, dealer will call me, so I can test drive. He actually tried to get me to put down a deposit today, saying folks who love Hondas, will do that ... sight unseen sometimes, to grab them up. Not sure about that, but I'd never do it, until I drove it, as I've never owned one before.

    How does one know if the accidents were minor? And what's the maintenance of a black car, as opposed to other colors? I've never had a black car.

    Also, the Civic had a sunroof I noticed. It looked pretty worn inside, and the Accord looked much cleaner and newer .. but I've found websites that talk of the 00's transmission problems, and they're were allot.

    Could you tell me what you think of this though ... just ran across it:

    http://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Civic/2001/transmission/index.shtml

    Thanks ever so much!
  • diana_elainediana_elaine Member Posts: 26
    Hi Graduate,

    So would you go in and test drive, if you liked it ... just offer him $5,500, and see what he says? And if he refuses ... what then? I hate bargaining ... I'd rather not, but I'd also like to get it as low as possible.

    I'm still really leery of the accident(s) on the Civic ... not just one, but two. I just wish I could find out how to tell what damage was incurred, if there was a way.

    Oh ... and you gave the 5,500 price for 'private' party, but this is a dealer ... price would be higher, no?

    And I came across these:

    http://www.aboutautomobile.com/Complaint/2001/Honda/Civic/Automatic+Transmission-

    http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/honda/civic/r12079/comments/page-4/

    http://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Civic/2001/transmission/transmission_failure.- shtml

    Thanks for all your insight.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    I don't think I realized this was a dealer price.

    If you hate bargaining, perhaps you can do it via E-Mail? I have haggled this way before and find that it is less awkward when you can choose your words carefully and edit them before you hit send, instead of saying something you shouldn't in a flustered phone call.

    I'm pressed for time, but tallman won't lead you astray!
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    Yeah, I won't lead you astray. How about a nice Chevy Vega? ;)

    A test drive is crucial and will help you decide. In the meantime, I sure wouldn't stop looking. I don't know if you really want to work with this dealer but I'm guessing you have more options out there. If you are in a hurry, you may not have time to do a lot of searching.

    Whatever you do on the price, don't let the salesman know that you hate haggling! It never hurts to make an offer, especially if you honestly tell him your budget. I don't think the Civic is worth more than 6500 though.

    I don't know that much about how carfax works. I'm not sure if you can get any further details out of them. I would at least ask the salesman to provide more info. I think that I remember both cars had just one owner. That kind of caution can sometimes lead to a lower price. Be skeptical.

    The disadvantage of a black car is that they are hard to keep clean and they show swirl marks easily. If you will take it through a car wash, you may not like how it looks after a couple of years. When they are new and shiny, they look great though.

    I may not recall the Accord correctly but I thought it was an EX model as well. That means that it has a sunroof too. Leather seats also, right?
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