Hey guys, before anyone haves a paddy about the title this is not about vrs am bestest/fastest. Was just wondering if any of you guys or gals experienced and compared the two (well more of the civic 1.8 but you get my drift). I'll soon be testing out both so I'll try put some feedback into here, but would like insight in it beforehand just to see what other people think of it.

Thanks for reading.

If you're talking about the 1.8 petrol, I've been in one with work, as a hire car. Sport spec. Found it a bit gutless and didn't appear to have the alleged 140 horses either. The 6spd 'box on a car of this type/engine seemed unnecessary too.

I liked the cabin, interior design, general build quality and it felt solid, but didn't like the rear visibility at all.

The CDTi diesel supposed to be a cracking unit but it would take a lot for me to buy one, with that rear visibility issue.

HTH?

Steve

Couple of 'reviews' in the 'Auto Tests' forums - both are for the 2.2 Civic, though

1st - has a Fabia vRS

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/auto-tests/audi-bmw-honda-vw/74035/

2nd - has an Octavia

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/auto-tests/honda-civic-2-2-icdti-sport/64181/

Ahh, thats great, keep'em coming. Wardy, what do you mean the 6th gear is a little useless? you mean its because its a honda and its always on rather high/er revv's anyway? (and i presume your comparing it to the vRS). Im not that much suprised about the comment RE: lack of engine improvement as the cosmedics have had a major refit (spent all their pennies on that instead of engine refinement/improvement).

1.8s civics are great fun as hire cars -

EDIT: coming from lowered powered petrol cars, they're pretty quick compared to their competitors. Takes a little time to wind it up but the 9 seconds 0-60 can be replicated. Those 40 horses are worth the 2 secs less over my 1.6 mazda and it needs revs to go places.

Obviously drives very differently to a tdi. Not driven a vrs but I've taken a pd105 passat over the same roads and that was far far easier to drive in a relaxed fashion. If that's one of the appeals for you of the vrs then a 1.8 civic probably won't be enjoyable.

I thought the engine was quite new??? Old civic didn't have a 1.8 did it? and the economy out of this one is really good - 38 - 44 mpg. Likes to rev but I've never got comfortable with the gearbox, not sure on the need for a 6-spd but I suppose it helps for motorway economy.

Seem ok to drive, pretty normal, comfortable not to noisy at higher speeds. I usually drive 250 miles in a day or 2 with it and ticks all necessary boxes. How it drives properly is probably not something I qualified to comment on.

as for the styling, ugly, ugly, ugly - I really don't like it. the exterior I could put up with but I don't like the interior - steering wheel, fiddly bits, claustrophobic, blind spots, dodgy rear window. But that's all opinion. As a car its pretty good.

Overall: civics + revs + fell roads = smiles

No, not really in direct comparision to the vRS. I realise it's not a turbo, and not a diesel, so it was driven accordingly. Really why you'd need a 6th gear on a n/a 1.8 petrol engine! Just seems its there because it's the 'in thing' - you just seem to get a narrower power band, but without an urge really because it's n/a. You do end up having to wring its neck, and constantly stirring the 'box, and then the economy ends up as being pretty poor.

Not really having a go at it because it's not a Skoda/diesel/whatever - people will know I've had a fairly wide array of cars, and that includes a couple of Hondas. Just that it seems to be to be flawed in application, hence my comment about the CDTi models probably being MUCH better.

Does this help any - trying to be as objective as possible

Steve

Having driven / been a passenger in a few as hire cars, I concur with most of the above! The only thing I don't think's been mentioned is the fact that the Civic's very much designed with the driver in mind - that's to say the passenger environment is pretty lousy IMO. Skoda interiors have been criticised in the past for their blandness, but it's nothing compared to what the front seat passenger in a Civic has to look at:

And the depth of the C-pillar makes it extremely claustrophobic in the back. Don't get me wrong, there's loads of space - it's just that your head is next to a pillar rather than a window, which doesn't make for a terribly pleasant journey as your view out is restricted...

I only sit in the driver's seat so I don't care

Skoda interiors have been criticised in the past for their blandness, but it's nothing compared to what the front seat passenger in a Civic has to look at:

What would you rather look at?! Personally, if I'm a passenger, I'll be looking out the windows :P

Chris

What would you rather look at?! Personally, if I'm a passenger, I'll be looking out the windows :P

Chris

Maybe some pictures, or a slideshow of scantily clad young ladies? :P

I agree, it seems a fine interior to me, a passenger normally just watches the world go by?

hi raced new civic 2.2 tdi with my furby it pulled away from me could,nt catch it. but did,nt leave me neither. hope to see him aftre next week, things ill be differant then, 130 bhp+

hi raced new civic 2.2 tdi with my furby it pulled away from me could,nt catch it. but did,nt leave me neither. hope to see him aftre next week, things ill be differant then, 130 bhp+

Getting ready for Prauge then?

hi len cant wait should be a good trip,the other half looking forward to our fist trip

hi raced new civic 2.2 tdi with my furby it pulled away from me could,nt catch it. but did,nt leave me neither. hope to see him aftre next week, things ill be differant then, 130 bhp+

My workmate owns a new shape 54plate 2.2tdi accord and my vrs see's it off evertime.

We always race slip road to next slip road (1 mile)

Yeah I went in an Accord 1.8 and it didn't feel like it had 140 horses. Mind you they are heavy.....

Also, you couldn't feel it come on cam. Shame as I thought that was the purpose of a Vtec.

The new Civic Sporting looks nice though.....I am a fan of that. The new CTR goes along the same lines and that looks lovely.

hi len cant wait should be a good trip,the other half looking forward to our fist trip

different forum mate;)

sorry:D

different forum mate;)

sorry:D

For anyone whos interested it'll take alot of pocket money to make the civic 1.8 to move more than 140 horses, so as civic forums say keep it std is the wise choice for that car... thats a shame......