So after a very pleasant experience at a honda garage recently, i went back in today armed with the Uber-Wagen with the view to pricing up at a new Civic 2.2 diesel.

Spotted a nice one on the lot, 55 plate with 6K on the clock.

Further investigations revealed it to be a Sport Model, with rear parking sensors, 18" gun metal alloys and metallic paint.

Priced it up online just now, listed with options as 18,665.

ON the lot at a shade over 16K.

Offered 5K for mine. Not bad.

Drive-wise - wowsers.

Echo Dr Z's earlier review that you think it's not going very fast because it is quiet, but then you see the glowing numbers saying 80mph and think "how did i get here??!!?".

Power delivery is really smooth compared to my VAG-pig iron lump, which does create the illusion of being slower. Being so damned quiet adds to that.

In terms of acceleration - well, I haven't got any recorded times for mine since the engine tweaks, but a similar car on here posted some slightly sub 8sec times to 60mph - on paper the Civic is only half a second off, and it feels quite rapid when you put it all together. Clutch is light, quick to take up. Low gearing is responsive, though i did feel that higher gear stuff did relax things to the point you might need to shift down to get it to move (but then, that's understandable).

ONly thing i found a bit weird was the noise at low speed/revs - there was almost like an electric whine from it - I'd heard one before but now driving it i wonder - would that have been the power steering at low revs? Is it an electric system? Not that it matters. Just very strange.

Turn in and body control are more direct, immediate. Soaks up bumps much better than the std Passat set-up and absolutely humilates the Koni sports stuff I'm riding on at the moment, which suprised me. Must be a size thing and lack of overhangs on the civic.

I didn't find the spilt spoiler in the rear view that distracting. Actually, I didn't notice it at all till the salesmen pointed it out - then I became conscious of it, but it still didn't bother me - I reasoned that as long as I can see the car, it doesn't matter too much to me i can't see who's driving it.

All in all, a nice car. Dash board is of couse the talking point of the civic, and it's actually very pleasant to use and look at i found. The one thing that did grate was that the dash illumination level switch is slightly obscured by the steering wheel and the indicator/wiper controls are very obscured by the wheel and difficult to work out because of it - I spent a merry five minuted trying to work out how to turn the wipers off that I'd turned on in a fit of excitement over the red starter button (which in intself is strange because you turn the key, everything lights up and then.............nothing.......till you press the button.......).

Will i buy one though?

Financially can't afford to change just yet, but..

1) Audi have never phoned me back to arrange a test drive I've requested 4 times.

2) I can't buy a BMW - they're ugly these days, and expensive too really.

3) the Skoda dealership near me has lost the only salesman i trust there and the aftersales went horribly downhill after a personnel change.

4) Mazda6 seemed to lack poke (2.0 TD as well)

So, 2007......the year I buy a Japanese car and kiss goodbye to the VAG group.....must be seven year itch.

I'm half wishing I'd gone for the civic now.

i'm wishing i'd bought it this afternoon having had to sit for an hour in the Passat. hell, the seats are seriously uncomfortable.

reckon we could get a discount on a group buy, me and thee?

You know I was just thinking today, I am going to go back to Japanese cars 'cos the Furby is just such high maintenance. Just lately it seems that almost every week I need to buy something for it. If it's not wing repeaters its the "A" pillar to "C" pillar seals I've now done the nearside twice and the offside three times it doesn't matter how I wash the car they still fall off, it has become a little wearing. I still love the car but but these little foibles pi$$ me off.

So now that Honda make a decent diesel I think I may be heading in the direction of their showroom come trade in time.

i test drove the sport back in october. now the type s is out. it has the 2.2 derv lump and with the right rims will be a cracker!

Whats the maintinence like on the civic?

10k is killing me on the furby

They are still nasty to look at though.

Of course looks are subjective, but I just can't get to grips with them.

Next doors daughter has one, I will have to blag a test drive...

Had a look at one of these....space good but the rear has very small windows so you feel hemmed in.

Ok...that's ok if you drive on your own but as a family car that's no good.

I also felt the doors were a bit light in feel...close with a nice thunk but they didn't convey a feeling of solidity.

Whats the maintinence like on the civic?

10k is killing me on the furby

12.5k

Speedo is also obstructed by the steering wheel, so if you are thinking of getting one make sure you check out your driving position too.

Just didn't like it myself and also the roof line seemed to allow me to crack my head every time i got in and out

They are still nasty to look at though.

Of course looks are subjective, but I just can't get to grips with them.

Next doors daughter has one, I will have to blag a test drive...

It's the only car other than the Maserati Quattroporte where I thought "Ugh" when I first saw it, but haven't grown to like the look of (thinking in particular about the Mk1 Focus and the latest 7-series...)

So it's just like a Maserati for less cash!?!?

Bonus - where's the chequebook???

*now confused by own argument :confused:*

I have just taken delivery of the 1.8 vtec sport and i LOVE IT!!!!

I test drove the derv but my company car budget wouldn't stretch to the derv sport!

I love the styling, the handling is great, the seats are comfortable, the driving position is good, the visability is a little obscured but its not that bad.

And most of alll the thing i love above all else is................ it has TWIN TRIANGULAR exhausts!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOOW!!!!!!

but if you look inside you can see the little round pipe in the middle!!!! doh!!!

Had mine now for just over a month.

Got the 2.2 cdti ES so have panoramic roof and 17" Epsilon alloys on it. Looks the nuts in my opinion.

Absoulutely loving the car. Not bothered by wiper arm being slightly obscured as they are automomatic.

The car is fantastic to drive. Especially long distance. Drove from Bedford to Leeds the over day with some cruise control action and when I got out I didnt even feel like I had been on a long journey. Seats are very comfortable (lots better then the dodgy audi a3's I had)

I was slightly annoyed at not being able to see some of the info on the rev counter, until I adjusted my seat properly and now its perfect.

The rear view doesnt bother me like I thought it would. Infact you find that driving at night that the cars behind you sit with their lights exactly where the bar is which means I no longer get dazzled by looking in the mirror.

I am getting used to the size of the car now. It feels large when in it but you get out and it seems quite compact. I have on occasion thought I have parked close to something only to get out and be a good 3 foot away.

All in all I prefer it to the fabia VRS I had and it's miles ahead of the Audi A3 I had.

I am very impressed with the engine. It's very smooth and quick. Also it's certainly quiet compared to the Vag diesels I have been used too.

The majority of the fleet where I work have gone over to 2.2 Civic EXs from family saloons like Avensis' and Passats.

Yes the Civic has all the bells and whistles, and the sat nav in the EX is quite good, but I don't think they are anything too special.

Was out in one for 200 miles as a passenger yesterday and the dash looks nasty from the passenger seat. The plastics look cheap and the whole thing looks disjointed. However in the drivers seat it looks a lot better - which is what counts I spose.

The one thing that does it for me is the styling. I don't care if it is quick and frugal - it is just plain ugly :lol:

I won't be joing my fellow reprobates in the Civic queue that's for sure. (And the reason I joined this forum)