2007 Accord EX-L four

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sjwaste

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2000
8,757
12
81
Same money, used vs new? New every time. The reason to buy used is to save money, but since you're looking to spend the same amount either way, go for the new car. Resist the urge to buy used to "get more car for your money" especially if you plan to drive it for a while. If you're the only owner of the car, you can be certain its maintained properly. Used, you might've inherited someone else's headaches.
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
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Originally posted by: Kroze
why don't you want the i30?

V6 isnt good on gas at all, we prefer a small car because my mom and sister can drive a small car too then
Dealer offered 1300 for it :S apparently thats midrange black book for it

I test drove Corolla XRS too (step up from S) it was amazing. Corolla S is definitely the car for us.
Can't wait to sellllll
 

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
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Originally posted by: BassBomb
Originally posted by: Kroze
why don't you want the i30?

V6 isnt good on gas at all, we prefer a small car because my mom and sister can drive a small car too then
Dealer offered 1300 for it :S apparently thats midrange black book for it

I test drove Corolla XRS too (step up from S) it was amazing. Corolla S is definitely the car for us.
Can't wait to sellllll

IIRC the XRS has a more powerful engine. S is just some additional body moldings (at least here in the US)

the XRS used to have the same 1.8L found in the celica GTS and the lotus elise i think. the new XRS has less power but more torque.
 

Sureshot324

Diamond Member
Feb 4, 2003
3,370
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The CSX only has 15hp more than a Civic, much worse gas mileage, and is considerably more expensive. It really doesn't have any key features that you can't get as an option in a Civic, so it's really just a Civic for Badge whores IMO. The previous version (the Acura EL) was even worse since it was nearly identical to the Civic (it even had the Civic engine), but had an Acura badge and cost way more.

Pic
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
81
Yea I know the XRS has the 2.4L but I wasn't really pushing it so it would feel more like the S might.

S has 1.8L ~130HP
XRS has 2.4L ~160HP

My old Civic is something like 110
 

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
4,025
0
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Originally posted by: BassBomb
Yea I know the XRS has the 2.4L but I wasn't really pushing it so it would feel more like the S might.

S has 1.8L ~130HP
XRS has 2.4L ~160HP

My old Civic is something like 110

that doesn't really get you to feel what the S will feel like. it's like saying i drove i drove an M3 and short-shifted so i can see how the 335i feels like. besides, the low end should feel differently, too.

why couldn't you test drive the Corolla S while you were at the dealership?
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
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they didn't have a S since they only really sell CE's or XRS

I could have drove the CE to get an idea of the engine though..

Either way it will be better than my Civic
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
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We just sold our I30 for 6800 yesterday :). I still can't believe the dealer offered us 1300 for it.

Anyways, now we are beginning our look for the car

2006 civic lx ~17000+tax
2006 CSX ~19000+tax
2009 corolla s 20000+tax and frieght

We saw a CSX for 15,500 and we are probably going to check it out on Saturday, the pictures seem good. If it indeed is in good condition 15,500 would be a great deal considering our Civic is likely to sell for about 9000
 

Xyclone

Lifer
Aug 24, 2004
10,312
0
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Originally posted by: Funyuns101
very interesting, obviously this car isn't offered in the US, but it looks like a fancy Acura-ized Civic withe RSX engine. Although I wish they would as I'd pick something like this over the Civic SI.

Personally, the Civic and Corolla drive pretty differently. Looks aside, this should be a pretty big factor in your (or your dad's decision).

Also, you must really dislike the small Camry look if you list this twice:
"- Hideous exterior"

I thought the CSX = 8th gen Civic Si with luxury options?
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
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Originally posted by: Xyclone
Originally posted by: Funyuns101
very interesting, obviously this car isn't offered in the US, but it looks like a fancy Acura-ized Civic withe RSX engine. Although I wish they would as I'd pick something like this over the Civic SI.

Personally, the Civic and Corolla drive pretty differently. Looks aside, this should be a pretty big factor in your (or your dad's decision).

Also, you must really dislike the small Camry look if you list this twice:
"- Hideous exterior"

I thought the CSX = 8th gen Civic Si with luxury options?

Not SI

CSX is the same as JDM Civic... or upgraded North American Civic EX-L

CSX Type S is like the Civic SI Sedan
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
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K it turns out the CSX had salvage on the title, so we didn't even bother to give it a look.

CSX is basically out now as we look towards new cars only.

Corolla we are not going for the S anymore and decided on LE as it has more "luxury" features at the cost of losing the bodykit and nice seats.

We are going to go check out the Civic LX (brand new) again and see how it compares. Some of the parts in the Corolla felt a little cheap (door panels and dash material) so we want to see how the Civic compares.

Corolla LE is about 19500
this car felt smaller (rear) than our 2002 Civic which also put me off. The materials bugged me the most.


Civic LX is about 22100, off the top of my head it has some features that put it ahead of the corolla
16" wheels
5 spd Auto
140hp Engine
slighlty less fuel economy,
slightly bigger car than Corolla
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
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Well we saw both cars

I am shooting heavily for the Civic, but if my dad decides to get that we are going to wait a few months to see the 09 refresh and buy that
 

Chunkee

Lifer
Jul 28, 2002
10,391
1
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Originally posted by: BassBomb
Well we saw both cars

I am shooting heavily for the Civic, but if my dad decides to get that we are going to wait a few months to see the 09 refresh and buy that

it will be same car.
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
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Originally posted by: Chunkee
Originally posted by: BassBomb
Well we saw both cars

I am shooting heavily for the Civic, but if my dad decides to get that we are going to wait a few months to see the 09 refresh and buy that

it will be same car.

Got anything to back that up? It obviously will not be a full redesign but small minor changes..

The former product cycles for the Honda Civic have been refreshes in 3 years and new product after 5-6 years.

2001's were refreshed (lights + interior) in 2004 and redesigned in 2006.

I am guessing they will change the wheels add small features and there are rumours of LED tail lights being added (I'm doubting that)
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
126
Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
I'll be the n00b who recommends the Ford Focus SES over the Corolla S

Ditto. Great MPG, reliable Mazda motor (timing chain instead of belt), light compared to the competition, and best-in-class handling (still based on the MK1/1.5 rally-inspired chassis). It's full of win, and I was a huge skeptic.

Of course, this class has many winners. The Civic and Corolla are outstanding vehicles overall, and the Mazda3 2.0i is also a very good vehicle.

The value of the Focus is hard to beat though, feature for feature, the 140hp 35mpg Focus can be had for thousands less than the competition.
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
81
No American cars, the only two we are considering at the moment are Corolla LE vs Civic LX (possibly Civic EX since we might be able to buy from the states for even cheaper)
 

thecoolnessrune

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2005
9,673
583
126
Originally posted by: Arkaign
Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
I'll be the n00b who recommends the Ford Focus SES over the Corolla S

Ditto. Great MPG, reliable Mazda motor (timing chain instead of belt), light compared to the competition, and best-in-class handling (still based on the MK1/1.5 rally-inspired chassis). It's full of win, and I was a huge skeptic.

Of course, this class has many winners. The Civic and Corolla are outstanding vehicles overall, and the Mazda3 2.0i is also a very good vehicle.

The value of the Focus is hard to beat though, feature for feature, the 140hp 35mpg Focus can be had for thousands less than the competition.

Seriously, I test drove one and it made me literally drool to have one. And it was cheap as hell too. Could have gotten 4000 off MSRP. But being a college student, I just don't have the funds for a new car right now :p
 

thecoolnessrune

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2005
9,673
583
126
Originally posted by: BassBomb
No American cars, the only two we are considering at the moment are Corolla LE vs Civic LX (possibly Civic EX since we might be able to buy from the states for even cheaper)

I keep hearing this alot now. Which is a shame considering the same people who say this are the ones that say that bad quality, unions, SUV's, etc. etc. put the BIG 3 in the hole they're in today. Ok, so it did. But they changed. But does that matter? NO, of course not. Japanese is cool, and you're not cool if you own American.
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
126
Originally posted by: BassBomb
No American cars, the only two we are considering at the moment are Corolla LE vs Civic LX (possibly Civic EX since we might be able to buy from the states for even cheaper)

The Focus is only marginally 'American'. The design is Ford UK, with european-specced chassis, brakes, handling, etc. The current refresh (new for '08) US Focus is still based on the light, fun, 2500-2600lb MK1/1.5, whereas most of the competition tips the scales between 2700-3000lbs. The motors are 100% Mazda Duratec. You owe it to yourself to look beyond the badge :)
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
81
Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
Originally posted by: BassBomb
No American cars, the only two we are considering at the moment are Corolla LE vs Civic LX (possibly Civic EX since we might be able to buy from the states for even cheaper)

I keep hearing this alot now. Which is a shame considering the same people who say this are the ones that say that bad quality, unions, SUV's, etc. etc. put the BIG 3 in the hole they're in today. Ok, so it did. But they changed. But does that matter? NO, of course not. Japanese is cool, and you're not cool if you own American.

I don't want this thread to turn into a USA VS JPN flamewar.

We have always bought Japanese cars since my parents immigrated here over 25 years ago. Reliability is the tops for us and we have never had any maintenance problems with any of our cars, we intend to keep it that way.
I agree American cars are making strides to correct their old ways, but we still will not swing that way.

Mazda is not exactly on the high end of Japanese cars (a reason why we have not thought about a Mazda3).
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
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Well, these days you have to look model/engine specific to know the full story on reliability. But any way you look at it, the Civic/Corolla are winners. Do test a Focus some time though, I think you'll be shocked at how good they are (particularly when you compare how shoddy the Escort was in comparison a decade ago).
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
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Originally posted by: Arkaign
Well, these days you have to look model/engine specific to know the full story on reliability. But any way you look at it, the Civic/Corolla are winners. Do test a Focus some time though, I think you'll be shocked at how good they are (particularly when you compare how shoddy the Escort was in comparison a decade ago).

I don't blanket assume all JPN cars are perfect of course. But where JPN cars have a few cars that are not doing well, oppositely is where USA cars have a few that are doing really well (like the Fusion, Focus, Impala).