YACT: 2006 Civic, Mazda 3, Altima, or Corolla?

[Ronin]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
I test drove the Civic and pretty much have my heart set on it now, but I was hoping some people here could give me some decent feedback.

Basically all I need is a reliable commuter car. Even the Echo might cut it.

Suggestions?

The dealer wants $400CDN on a loaded '06 EX Civic here in Canada on a $0 down 60 month lease. Is that an ok price?

Are you kidding? You're going to pay 24k Canadian for 60 months, and still not own the car? That's ~21k USD (for the conversion impaired) for the 5 years. What's the residual?

He's slamming you up, down, and sideways. If you want to talk about cars and financing, PM me (I actually sold Hondas for a year and a half, once upon a time).

 

[clickynext]

So what's the term you ended up getting on it? Lease or finance?

 

[KeepItRed]

Honda Civic FTW!

 

[JoPh]

mzda 3s is better

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: SickBeast
I got the Civic. 🙂

600-700kms on a highway tank.

400-500kms on a city tank.

I'm getting the iPod hookup.

So far I'm very impressed with the car. It has "dual personalites". If you keep in in the low revs it's a wimpy economy car. If you rev it over 4k, it's very sporty. It has awesome power on the highway onces you hit 100km/h (60mph).

It feels very refined, and looks and drives like a much more expensive car.

The Mazda 3 was nice, but it's more expensive and I don't like the front end. Yes, looks played a large roll for me. Plus the Civic has a *very* good name, and Mazda is known as the worst of the Japanese manufacturers (people always tell me Toyota>Honda>Nissan>Mazda, luxury brands aside of course).

The 3 stomps all over the Civic in just about every wy except fuel economy. Everything from performance (save for the Si) to interior design/quality to ride/handling to features.

The 3s is still the sedan/hatch to beat in this segment.

2005 Economy Sedan Comparison Test (First Place)
2006 Economy Sedan Comparison Test: Honda Civic vs. Mazda 3 (First Place)

2004 Editor's Most Wanted
2005 Consumer's Most Wanted
2006 Editor's Most Wanted

The Civic won car of the year from Motor Trend.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Ronin

Originally posted by: SickBeast
I test drove the Civic and pretty much have my heart set on it now, but I was hoping some people here could give me some decent feedback.

Basically all I need is a reliable commuter car. Even the Echo might cut it.

Suggestions?

The dealer wants $400CDN on a loaded '06 EX Civic here in Canada on a $0 down 60 month lease. Is that an ok price?

Are you kidding? You're going to pay 24k Canadian for 60 months, and still not own the car? That's ~21k USD (for the conversion impaired) for the 5 years. What's the residual?

He's slamming you up, down, and sideways. If you want to talk about cars and financing, PM me (I actually sold Hondas for a year and a half, once upon a time).

Any lower and the car would have been below cost.

The interest rates are set by Honda. The dealer only makes about $1500 off the car at the very most.

I called 4 dealerships, and sat down with 2 of them.

 

[Ronin]

A few different things:

1. The interest rates are set by Honda if you finance through them. There are plenty of other finance companies. That, and Leases don't go by interest rates. They go by money factors.
2. Do the math. It wouldn't be under invoice (that, and you NEVER do a 60 month lease). If it was a 60 month purchase, maybe, but not a lease.
3. They saw you coming a mile away, bud. If you want to argue with someone that did this for a living, so be it. Go buy your Civic for that and when you're still upside down after that 60 month lease, let me say I told you so.
4. The only thing I don't recall seeing is if you're trading in another car, and if so, if you owe, and if so, how much upside down (inequity) are they telling you that you are?

 

[mrchan]

I dont know if anyone else mentioned this, but, you're going to LEASE a CIVIC?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: Ronin

Originally posted by: SickBeast
I test drove the Civic and pretty much have my heart set on it now, but I was hoping some people here could give me some decent feedback.

Basically all I need is a reliable commuter car. Even the Echo might cut it.

Suggestions?

The dealer wants $400CDN on a loaded '06 EX Civic here in Canada on a $0 down 60 month lease. Is that an ok price?

Are you kidding? You're going to pay 24k Canadian for 60 months, and still not own the car? That's ~21k USD (for the conversion impaired) for the 5 years. What's the residual?

He's slamming you up, down, and sideways. If you want to talk about cars and financing, PM me (I actually sold Hondas for a year and a half, once upon a time).

Any lower and the car would have been below cost.

The interest rates are set by Honda. The dealer only makes about $1500 off the car at the very most.

I called 4 dealerships, and sat down with 2 of them.

Cost != invoice..

 

[mrchan]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: Ronin

Originally posted by: SickBeast
I test drove the Civic and pretty much have my heart set on it now, but I was hoping some people here could give me some decent feedback.

Basically all I need is a reliable commuter car. Even the Echo might cut it.

Suggestions?

The dealer wants $400CDN on a loaded '06 EX Civic here in Canada on a $0 down 60 month lease. Is that an ok price?

Are you kidding? You're going to pay 24k Canadian for 60 months, and still not own the car? That's ~21k USD (for the conversion impaired) for the 5 years. What's the residual?

He's slamming you up, down, and sideways. If you want to talk about cars and financing, PM me (I actually sold Hondas for a year and a half, once upon a time).

Any lower and the car would have been below cost.

The interest rates are set by Honda. The dealer only makes about $1500 off the car at the very most.

I called 4 dealerships, and sat down with 2 of them.

The dealership will NEVER tell you how much they are making on the car.

If they told you $1500, I shudder to think about how much they are actually making.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer
new civic for sure....that thing looks real nice

Until you see the spastic interior. Sheesh, someone was smoking crack when they designed that thing:

Civic - weired out
Mazda 3s GT - classy

Looks kinda cluttered to me. I don't mind the Civic dash too much

 

[Ronin]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
Cost != invoice..

Correct. Cost is generally:

Invoice +
Holdback +
Destination +
any other dealership crap that's not shown on the sticker (destination obviously is).

Holdback varies by dealership, and is generally a fixed percentage.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: SickBeast
I got the Civic. 🙂

600-700kms on a highway tank.

400-500kms on a city tank.

I'm getting the iPod hookup.

So far I'm very impressed with the car. It has "dual personalites". If you keep in in the low revs it's a wimpy economy car. If you rev it over 4k, it's very sporty. It has awesome power on the highway onces you hit 100km/h (60mph).

It feels very refined, and looks and drives like a much more expensive car.

The Mazda 3 was nice, but it's more expensive and I don't like the front end. Yes, looks played a large roll for me. Plus the Civic has a *very* good name, and Mazda is known as the worst of the Japanese manufacturers (people always tell me Toyota>Honda>Nissan>Mazda, luxury brands aside of course).

The 3 stomps all over the Civic in just about every wy except fuel economy. Everything from performance (save for the Si) to interior design/quality to ride/handling to features.

The 3s is still the sedan/hatch to beat in this segment.

2005 Economy Sedan Comparison Test (First Place)
2006 Economy Sedan Comparison Test: Honda Civic vs. Mazda 3 (First Place)

2004 Editor's Most Wanted
2005 Consumer's Most Wanted
2006 Editor's Most Wanted

The Civic won car of the year from Motor Trend.

The Ford Thunderbird POS won a few years ago...

It's all about who gives out the most $$$

 

[amdhunter]

I love my 2006 Civic, but it has already been vandalized and hit 2x by idiots who I hope will die in a fire.

Go Honda.

 

[Azndude51]

I love Honda and all (my family has 3), but I would go for the Mazda 3. If you want something cool, sporty, and fast get the Mazda3. If you looking for bland and safe, go for the Civic. My sister has a 04 Mazda 3 S and my mom has a 01 Civic, though I've driven my friend's 06 civic before.

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: igowerf

Originally posted by: NFS4
Civic - weired out

Whoa. Weird place to put the parking brake.

It's actually really annoying where they put it. It digs into my knee as im driving. 😵

 

[chickadee]

Looks: Mazda 3
Reliability: Civic

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Azndude51
I love Honda and all (my family has 3), but I would go for the Mazda 3. If you want something cool, sporty, and fast get the Mazda3. If you looking for bland and safe, go for the Civic. My sister has a 04 Mazda 3 S and my mom has a 01 Civic, though I've driven my friend's 06 civic before.

Actually the dealer just "sport tuned" my suspension and I swear my car handles just as well, if not better than the Mazda 3.

I went in complaining that the engine wasn't running quite right. They actually had to format the computer in it and give it a new OS. :Q

Since I was so upset they tuned up the suspension, and the thing drives like a more serious car now.

I will also be the only Canadian with a direct iPod link as my dealer is getting me one from Buffalo. The parts guy told me that the US Civics are "2 years ahead of the Canadian ones". I'm not sure about that, but the iPod hookup is impossible to obtain here, just a heads up.

I'm looking forward to tuning this car. I think that if I spend the $1,000 that I saved compared to the Mazda 3 on tuning I will be able to dust one. An exhaust and a filter are first on my list, followed by a request for the dealer to re-program my computer with more agressive gear differentials.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: SickBeast
I got the Civic. 🙂

600-700kms on a highway tank.

400-500kms on a city tank.

I'm getting the iPod hookup.

So far I'm very impressed with the car. It has "dual personalites". If you keep in in the low revs it's a wimpy economy car. If you rev it over 4k, it's very sporty. It has awesome power on the highway onces you hit 100km/h (60mph).

It feels very refined, and looks and drives like a much more expensive car.

The Mazda 3 was nice, but it's more expensive and I don't like the front end. Yes, looks played a large roll for me. Plus the Civic has a *very* good name, and Mazda is known as the worst of the Japanese manufacturers (people always tell me Toyota>Honda>Nissan>Mazda, luxury brands aside of course).

The 3 stomps all over the Civic in just about every wy except fuel economy. Everything from performance (save for the Si) to interior design/quality to ride/handling to features.

The 3s is still the sedan/hatch to beat in this segment.

2005 Economy Sedan Comparison Test (First Place)
2006 Economy Sedan Comparison Test: Honda Civic vs. Mazda 3 (First Place)

2004 Editor's Most Wanted
2005 Consumer's Most Wanted
2006 Editor's Most Wanted

The Civic won car of the year from Motor Trend.

The Ford Thunderbird POS won a few years ago...

It's all about who gives out the most $$$

Only 2 of your 6 reviews are for 2006. Compared to the old Civic, the Mazda 3 is by far the better car. Compared to the '06 Civic, I think it loses.

From a strictly technological standpoint, the Civic is bar-none the better car. The crash-test ratings are also re-assuring. My friend totalled her car over the weekend and she almost lost her leg. If she had my side airbags she would have been well-cushioned for sure.

To each their own. From the looks of it, the Mazda 3 supporters are more vocal, probably because the Civic supporters are more confident in knowing that it's the overall better car.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Only 2 of your 6 reviews are for 2006. Compared to the old Civic, the Mazda 3 is by far the better car. Compared to the '06 Civic, I think it loses.

From a strictly technological standpoint, the Civic is bar-none the better car. The crash-test ratings are also re-assuring. My friend totalled her car over the weekend and she almost lost her leg. If she had my side airbags she would have been well-cushioned for sure.

To each their own. From the looks of it, the Mazda 3 supporters are more vocal, probably because the Civic supporters are more confident in knowing that it's the overall better car.

Safety isn't too much of a concern. The 3 built off the same platform as the S40 and mine came standard with dual front, side and head curtain airbag (front and rear).

Then there are also the little things that I couldn't get on the Civic (which was the only other car I looked at before I bought my '06 3s GT) like leather, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, HID Xenons, 17" wheels, etc.

But like you said, it all comes down to preference:

Civic if you want frugality, meh looks and A-B transportation
3s if you want something with a pulse and excellent performance/handling

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Only 2 of your 6 reviews are for 2006. Compared to the old Civic, the Mazda 3 is by far the better car. Compared to the '06 Civic, I think it loses.

From a strictly technological standpoint, the Civic is bar-none the better car. The crash-test ratings are also re-assuring. My friend totalled her car over the weekend and she almost lost her leg. If she had my side airbags she would have been well-cushioned for sure.

To each their own. From the looks of it, the Mazda 3 supporters are more vocal, probably because the Civic supporters are more confident in knowing that it's the overall better car.

Safety isn't too much of a concern. The 3 built off the same platform as the S40 and mine came standard with dual front, side and head curtain airbag (front and rear).

Then there are also the little things that I couldn't get on the Civic (which was the only other car I looked at before I bought my '06 3s GT) like leather, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, HID Xenons, 17" wheels, etc.

But like you said, it all comes down to preference:

Civic if you want frugality, meh looks and A-B transportation
3s if you want something with a pulse and excellent performance/handling

If you lived in Toronto, I wouldn't mind a quick "car swap". I think you'd really be impressed with what they did to my suspension.

You should also keep in mind that the model many reviewers tested had drum brakes, not the disc brakes of my EX. According to one of your reviews, it came down to "brakes, suspension, and steering." This was comparing an '04 Civic and an '04 Mazda 3. I'm confindent that my tuned '06 has improved enough in these areas to trump the 3.

I'm not saying the 3 is bad. 🙂

Just FYI, carpoint.com, Consumer Reports, and Motor Trend all pick the Civic. 2006 reviews, of course. You can't compare 115hp with 140hp. That's like comparing an Athlon FX to a Venice A64 or something. 😉