Here I was - going to order a company Octy vRS LE to replace my ageing Honda Civic...

Last week, the turbo failed on the Civic...

Well I got it towed to Birmingham where our head office is and whilst there I picked up a Octy vRS TFSI in Race Blue!!

It was one of my colleagues cars who left on Friday, the seat was still warm

It was in a right state, stinking of roll-ups (and other materials), cat hair all over it, a years worth of McDonalds crumbs in it.

Plus when I looked it over on Sunday, I found there was no oil in it - it didn't even register on the dipstick! I put 1.3 litres of fully synthetic in it to sort that out. I then spent 4.5 hours cleaning it.. It took forever and that was was just a wash and hoover!

When I got to the wheels, I found the fronts on 1.6mm and the rears on 2.0mm - I've just come back from kwik-fit and they've put me on 4 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT's in 225/40R18 92Y flavour - look ok, they've got rim protection which is nice.

Excuse the stupid private plate, the original driver had delivered with that on it - he was in a band...strangley enough both drivers of this car before me have left work under a cloud.. perhaps it's more than just a number...

So here I am, Octy vRS driver - and earlier than I thought... now the question is, do I keep this for a year (it's due to go back next April) or get the Civic back in a week or so and order a new one at the end of April...

Lucky you - heated seats are a very worthwhile extra!

You don't actually mention how it drives. I would have thought - no contest, particularly since you've spent time cleaning it up and getting it sorted. Is there room for the empty crisp packets and cat hair in the Civic? My only issue would be the ciggy smells, but ultimately fixable I'd think.

Then, on top of that, if your predecessor's been driving it with no oil for a while, perhaps the whole thing might blow up ere long and you'd be into a brand new car from the lease company without having to wait a year.

The Octy has it!!

So this, if nothing else goes to proves that Honda's are the same as any other manufacturer where relaibilty of turbos is concerned!!

Steve

You don't actually mention how it drives. I would have thought - no contest, particularly since you've spent time cleaning it up and getting it sorted.

It really does drive beautifully, so composed, it's every bit as solid as my friends A4. I'm very very impressed.

So this, if nothing else goes to proves that Honda's are the same as any other manufacturer where relaibilty of turbos is concerned!!

Steve

Here's a little video of the noise of the turbo after it had failed...

YouTube - Civic Noise

It really does drive beautifully, so composed, it's every bit as solid as my friends A4. I'm very very impressed.

Here's a little video of the noise of the turbo after it had failed...

YouTube - Civic Noise

If you had an early Civic then no doubt you have been through the noisy rear suspension problems, the fuel filler flap that would not open, paint chafing bumpers rubbing against the main body and numerous recalls - plus no rear wiper and a can of gunk for tyre repair.

Are you sure that noise is not the rear suspension ? - Sorry but it is not one of Swindon's finest efforts.

Octavia vs Civic - no contest - Octavia every time.

If you had an early Civic then no doubt you have been through the noisy rear suspension problems, the fuel filler flap that would not open, paint chafing bumpers rubbing against the main body and numerous recalls - plus no rear wiper and a can of gunk for tyre repair.

Are you sure that noise is not the rear suspension ? - Sorry but it is not one of Swindon's finest efforts.

Octavia vs Civic - no contest - Octavia every time.

Yup, June 2006 vintage.. had all those... that damn filler cap....

Definately the turbo, it wasn't so much blue smoke that was coming out the exhaust, more like black spit!

Yup, June 2006 vintage.. had all those... that damn filler cap....

Definately the turbo, it wasn't so much blue smoke that was coming out the exhaust, more like black spit!

Yeah, I was only joking but that noisy rear suspension was very irritating - as was that fuel filler cap especially as you could not see if it had opened or not from the driver's seat. Think it took about 3 modifications to get it right, one of them being a piece of foam based on the principal that when it was folded and compressed on pulling the flap's release lever the foam was supposed decompress and force the flap open - Heath Robinson eat your heart out!

It was finally sorted out by using a stronger spring - they must have employed a nuclear physicist to have solved that one.

Used to love Hondas but the current Civic soon put an end to that.

Can never understand why the Civic scores so well in various surveys etc.. - perhaps we were unlucky?

It's interesting to read of your experiences of the civic. I had the impression it was a decent motor - was even looking at getting a 2.2 CDTi last year, glad i didn't by the sounds of things lol.

Must say, my friend's 08 plate civic type-r is an absolute beaut! Really like it!

Always nice to hear good reviews about the octy though!

It's interesting to read of your experiences of the civic. I had the impression it was a decent motor - was even looking at getting a 2.2 CDTi last year, glad i didn't by the sounds of things lol.

Must say, my friend's 08 plate civic type-r is an absolute beaut! Really like it!

Always nice to hear good reviews about the octy though!

I was considering the new(ish) Civic a long time back, but was put off by the seemingly dubious build quality and reliability.

I know all forums have enough threads to put you off just about any car, but I was still surprised by just how many problems people over on "civinfo" were having and the fact that they all seemed to be suffering the same issues.

Can never understand why the Civic scores so well in various surveys etc.. - perhaps we were unlucky?

Frankly, I don't think you were unlucky. See my other post!

I think the Civic scores well in (some) surveys because it's skewed by the results of the previous Civic, which was of course a different car.