2003 Corolla 4D Sedan LE or 2002 Honda Civic 4D Sedan EX

[blindspot]

Guys, I need your input here. Their prices are pretty much the same ~$15K+. I couldn't make up my mind of which to get. Please ... I need some advice. Thanks

 

[nightowl]

I believe that the Corolla is more on the level of a Honda Civic than a Accord. With that being said, I would go with the Accord. It is a bigger overall car and if the price is the same, a better value.

 

[blindspot]

nightowl. Thanks for the input. I was actually referring to the Civic. So I just edited the title. Thanks again

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

You can get a decent 02 Accord for ~$15k...

*waits for Rossman*

 

[nightowl]

Now that you changed the 2 cars, I'll give another opinion (although a little biased). I am partial to the Civic (it is a new car right). I currently drive a 95 EX Coupe and it has been a great car for the past 1.5 yrs that I have had it. It has almost 130K miles and still runs great. I don't really know much about the Corollas but Honda is well known for their reliable cars so, I would say that it is hard to go wrong with the Civic. Also, since it is a year older the insurance and taxes will be lower on it.

 

[Pooteh]

the corolla. the new one is quite sweet now. if u had asked just a year ago the answer would have been the opposite since for quite some time the corolla looked like @ss but now its the civic that looks plain, go figure. toyota generally has a better quality fit/finish too. about equal reliability, so go corolla.

 

[Kelvrick]

I think the corolla has better interior quality. The civic has better gas mialage. I think both cars look like crap. I think the civic used to look good, but I think they made a bad move with the redesign. Not sure about 2002 model...

The corolla always looked like crap, but now I just think it looks weird. Have you considered a hyundai tiburion? About same price, 10 year warranty and a whole lot more fun to drive. The civic will probably get a better resale value, but then the corolla will have a year on it, so it might fetch you a better price in the end.

Yes, you can probably get a lower end accord for 15k.

<== monkey dance

 

[RossMAN]

If you were comparing 2002 vs 2002 then I'd say Honda.

Go for the Toyota Corolla, as NFS4 said it, it's like a mini-Lexus.

 

[Pooteh]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
If you were comparing 2002 vs 2002 then I'd say Honda.

Go for the Toyota Corolla, as NFS4 said it, it's like a mini-Lexus.

i know.. i know.. it makes the civic look like a granny car when put side by side so sad.

for years b4 that the corolla always sold to the granny market. (average age of buyer was quite a bit higher for corolla then civic) but now toyota is refreshing all their stuff

 

[Freejack2]

Depends on what kind of driver you are. If you are a normal driver who at best goes 5 over and doesn't really need much in the way of handling just get whatever, it doesn't really matter. If you tend to performance drive a bit get the car that handles the best. If you tend to keep a car 2-4 years imports hold their value better. Longer than that the difference is usually small enough to be rather moot. So once again get what you like.
You know me though, I always recommend a late model used domestic. Best bargain in cars today.

 

[Pooteh]

well even the lowliest civic can cruise at 85 easy many of my friends spend much time at 85 on the freeway and can hit 100+ if need be. so the arguement that a small cars engine isn't enough is probably obsolete. people don't get to 65 from a dead stop on the freeway u know so insane acceleration is overrated. squirting in and out of traffic is also probably dangerous so thats not exactly a selling point.

as for handling, i dunno what domestic you would be comparing em to. the new little cars have decent suspension systems. old domestics generally don't.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Freejack2
You know me though, I always recommend a late model used domestic. Best bargain in cars today.

Assuming it's reliable, safe and fuel efficient then that's correct.

 

[Thegonagle]

I assume you've actually driven both of them?

Then get whichever one you like better. Still torn? Which dealership do you think will treat you better in the service department?

Now I'm extremely partial to Honda, so that's what I would get, but that doesn't make me right and others wrong.

 

[Freejack2]

I don't know where you live but the true test of a car is the lower half of the Taconic. Somewhere north of 287 it straightens out but before that it's one of the twistier 55mph multilane roads you're going to find. Handling on this road really makes a difference. If the Corolla handles like the Camry (aka a boat) you're not going to have an easy time taking these turns. I know Civic's handle well but I don't know how Corollas do. If you can, ask for an extended test drive and take the car out to the twistiest road you can find. See what the car can comfortably handle before you feel like you're going to lose control.

One other thing. If when you panic stop, you don't pump the brakes. Get ABS!!!

As for domestic cars handling varies also. There are boats and there are cornering demons. I've heard Neons handle well, and I know with decent tires Saturn Sx2 series cars handle very well. No clue about other domestics. (Yes I've driven an SC2 on the lower half of the Taconic and it's quite exhilerating as it stuck to the curves like glue)

 

[CraigRT]

I would get the Corolla just because they are both good cars, and i am so entirely sick of seeing Hondas dominating the entire market... Toyota is just as good if not better. mind you, i don't like the looks of either of them. but I do believe Toyotas will run longer than a Honda from what I have seen with friends' cars.

 

[NFS4]

I'd go with the Toyota b/c of the interior and the strong 130HP engine. I like the styling of the Civic sedan better, but the Corolla LE doesn't look bad at all. The interior is no comparison -- the Toyota is MUCH better.

As for reliability, maintenance, resale value, and all that other stuff; their equals.

 

[luvya]

Civics interior isn't too bad either. Just last night I came to a red light stop. The car on the right lane is the new Civic, I can kinda see their dashboard illuminated. I was thinking to myself.. WOW! What a cool interior! Then I glanced back at my Accord.....bah..

 

[chiwawa626]

Please don't buy a brand new corolla dude!... Go for the civic, or better yet the accord if you can.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: chiwawa626
Please don't buy a brand new corolla dude!... Go for the civic, or better yet the accord if you can.

Any particular reason why? I mean, what makes the Corolla worse than the Civic in your opinion or what makes the Civic better? I mean, the rest of us are giving reasons to back up our statements...just saying "don't get this or that" isn't really much help IMHO.

 

[Cyberian]

I recently saw a Corolla "S".
It looked pretty nice. Is that a new model? Is it just trim differences, or a different engine, suspension, etc?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Cyberian
I recently saw a Corolla "S".
It looked pretty nice. Is that a new model? Is it just trim differences, or a different engine, suspension, etc?

The Corolla S has the hideous (IMHO) rocker panel extensions and spoilers front and back along with alloy wheels. It wouldn't look bad with just the wheels, but the rocker exts and the spoilers make it look very ricey.

 

[Pooteh]

i think it looks good. the extra paneling looks like it was designed for the car from the start.


Ricey is when the addons look like they were designed by some high school dropout and don't fit the general style of the rest of the car.


that being said, the styling is no longer conservative for the corolla. in other words, its a bit matrixy

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Pooteh
i think it looks good. the extra paneling looks like it was designed for the car from the start.

I have to STRONGLY disagree there It looks tacked on, especially the rocker panels!!!


Pic1
Pic2

TACKY TACKY TACKY!! It looks like they stuck them on there with double-sided tape or something...

 

[Pooteh]

i guess we'll have to agree to disagree. i think they match the general styling, in other words they mesh well.


and now i give you a spectacular example of the REAL horrors of rice

 

[brtspears2]

Civic , personal opinion, Corolla looks like a squashed Camry, and not quite an IS300. But I guess you can pretend.

Both are equally good, but when it comes down to "Hey, what are you driving?", you probally wanna say something thats gonna get you a complement. Corolla still has the label of being granny, due to its many years of granny status... while Civic is nice and strong with a nice import aftermarket, and overall good looks in previous years.

You do get ABS on the Civic EX standard, along with power windows and cruise control. Sunroof too.