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I've been offered mates rates on a 2014 1.8l auto Civic.
I don't know much about them, just assume they're reliable as it's a Honda.
Anyone know much about them? I'm coming from a 2019 diesel astra (manual) company car.
Any advice, things to check? What's the mpg like in the real world? Never going to match my current mpg but obviously it's a big part of running cost.
I have the manual version of that model, haven’t had anything go wrong so far apart from the fuel cap release going (which was actually a massive pita at the time). Seems well put together.
It is pretty sluggish low down in the revs though, something to bear in mind with an auto? Idk. Massive boot though and well insulated, smooth on motorways.
My dad bought a 1.8 auto tourer new, still has it with about 50k miles on now. No issues at all, it’s just been serviced and had things like brakes and tyres as needed.
Mid 30s mpg, maybe cracking 40s on a longer run.
A friend had a manual one, the auto is CVT isn't it? CVT takes a bit of getting used to, some people never warm to it. My impression was decent kit levels for the money, and it was reliable though I always thought the interior was cheaper end plastics screwed together well. Still, coming from an Astra...
I'd much prefer a "proper" auto with a torque converter but I'd have a CVT if the mate's rate was good enough.
I'm trying to find a definitive answer but I think the 2014 is a torque converter rather than CVT.
I have a manual petrol 1.8l Honda Civic and it’s been really good. I get 50mpg on long runs as long as the tyres are properly inflated and more like 45mpg with more mixed driving. Lots of boot space. The back seats fold up so you can transport two road/gravel bikes behind the front seats (with the front wheels off) and still have the whole boot free for other luggage. I haven’t tried it with an mtb. There’s no boot mounted bike rack that’ll fit so you either need bikes inside with the seats flipped up (as described) or on a roof rack.
I’m trying to find a definitive answer but I think the 2014 is a torque converter rather than CVT
ask your mate who offered the rate!
That's assuming people know the difference themselves. Seems for quite a few folks, if it doesn't have a clutch pedal it's an automatic. They don't care if it's dsg/dct CVT or fluid torque converter.
I think 9th gen is all torque converter in the UK at least, 10th gen (when they went to one world model rather then a different one for Europe) bought in CVT.
My old company ran a small fleet of 6 2013-2015 civics for 5 years.
I did 60,000 in the diesel one- no problems. One guy had the petrol one and he complained about the mpg compared to the diesel.
If it's mates rates to buy, would that offset the slightly higher mpg?
Other than that no-one has any complaints about the cars in the 5 years.
I had a loan of a "sport" one, not the type r, for a day. It didn't have lumbar support. That could easily be solved with a cushion.
If it’s mates rates to buy, would that offset the slightly higher mpg?
Imo, maintenance costs on modern cars are more important than MPG or VED.
That's why 8m looking at Honda for reliability and this particular car has been owned by my mate for 3 years and his father in law before that since new. 35k miles and only ever needed pads, oil and filters.
I'm not particularly after an automatic but don't mind it. Mileage seems to have dropped over the years to maybe 12k so not really hitting that switch over to diesel point. Can't afford an electric car so like the idea that petrol is a little bit greener than diesel. Plus our zafira had a dpf, erg and clutch/dual mass issues that I'm happy to avoid. Current astra has also needed an expensive forced regen. I appreciate petrol is still going to cost a bit more per mile but should give fewer headaches long term.
I had the i-shift (i-shit) version... the gearbox was a bit laggy... but apart from that it was a simple enough car... it went, stopped, worked.. Couldn't fault it much.
Honest John's real world mpg for the Honda is 35.6, I'd expect your Astra is a good 20mpg better than that and probably a good bit livelier too. And there's greener and greener - an 8 year old Honda petrol may be lower on particulates and NOx but it'll be a lot higher on greenhouse gas. Unless your 12k miles per year has an inordinate amount of short journeys or is predominantly done in built up area I'd be inclined to stick with the Astra if that's an option.
I get 30mpg from my '07 2 litre Type R - country lanes commute and not driving like a grandma.
Mid to high 30's should easily be doable in that.
And if parts costs are anything like the Mk8 then they're very reasonable.
Older Honda CVTs had problems but I can't remember the specifics.
Isn't an existing car greener than buying new?