YACT: 4 choices, all compact 4 doors, choices inside. which would you choose

[MikeMike]

NEW Civic LX
w/ side curtain airbags
no abs (big negative)
Magnesium Metallic
~15800 after negotiations.

New Civic LX
w/ side curtain airbages
no abs (big negative)
manual
Magnesium Metallic
~15300 after neg.
Insurance is $200 a year more than a vehicle with ABS

Used Civic LX
~8000 miles
2005
Certified pre-owned...
additional 12 month basic warranty.
and the powertrain warranty is extended to 7 years, 72K miles. (nice)
Eternal Blue Pearl
~15800

Chevy Cobalt LS
abs w/ traction control (nice compared to the civic, cuz abs = better)
MP3 cd radio
Leather wrapped steering wheel w/ radio controls
Pioneer speaker system
Manual
Arrival Blue
~14100 after GMS and Rebates

drove the honda last night, drove both stick and auto, (drove stick once before in my life) it was a NICE smooth tranny, my dad drove it first just to make sure it was nice, he enjoyed it a lot for a tranny. nice ride, enough headroom, and about the same amount of leg space as the cobalt (2 6'3 guys one in front drivers side, one in rear drivers side) actually has feeling in the steering.

Cobalt: very nice ride, good feel, i like the looks of it a bit more than the civic. electronic steering isnt that fun (NUMB AS FVCK), but very good ride overall, enough space, and good feel to the plastic and what not. have yet to drive a manual however (have yet to actually see one in manual)

overall i like both cars, but i think the ABS might kill the civic, as well as insurance, although i still have to find that out.

i think i prefer the cobalt overall it was a VERY smooth ride, and very competitive to the civic, maybe a lil more accel but i never punched the civic since we had a salesman in there with us.

MIKE

 

[MikeMike]

well, abs drops insurance $200 a year, may not seem like much, but it is and well they are safer than non abs.

MIKE

 

[mwtgg]

Third one?

 

[cavemanmoron]

Chevy Cobalt LS
abs w/ traction control (nice compared to the civic, cuz abs = better)
MP3 cd radio
Leather wrapped steering wheel w/ radio controls
Pioneer speaker system
Manual
Arrival Blue
~14100 after GMS and Rebates

 

[MustangSVT]

why is a used LX cost same as brand new LX?

if it does, why bother ?

 

[EatSpam]

Go with the Cobalt. Cheaper insurance. People like to rice up and race Civics, hence higher insurance rates.

Otherwise, they're both fairly standard small commuter cars, both will get good gas mileage and be reliable.

 

[MustangSVT]

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Go with the Cobalt. Cheaper insurance. People like to rice up and race Civics, hence higher insurance rates.

Otherwise, they're both fairly standard small commuter cars, both will get good gas mileage and be reliable.

how can you say cobalt is reliable?

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: MustangSVT

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Go with the Cobalt. Cheaper insurance. People like to rice up and race Civics, hence higher insurance rates.

Otherwise, they're both fairly standard small commuter cars, both will get good gas mileage and be reliable.

how can you say cobalt is reliable?

Well, the simple fact that it is an American car doesn't automatically relegate it to the junk pile, either

(yes, I know what you meant - it is, quite literally, a brand-new car)

EDIT: and for the OP, given only those three choices, I'd go with the AT, mostly because I'm no good at driving a stick.

Nate

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: MustangSVT

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Go with the Cobalt. Cheaper insurance. People like to rice up and race Civics, hence higher insurance rates.

Otherwise, they're both fairly standard small commuter cars, both will get good gas mileage and be reliable.

how can you say cobalt is reliable?

Well, the simple fact that it is an American car doesn't automatically relegate it to the junk pile, either

(yes, I know what you meant - it is, quite literally, a brand-new car)

EDIT: and for the OP, given only those three choices, I'd go with the AT, mostly because I'm no good at driving a stick.

Nate

cobalt can be had with an AT id prefer a manual, but i dont remember the gms price of the AT so i didnt list it.

MIKE

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: MustangSVT

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Go with the Cobalt. Cheaper insurance. People like to rice up and race Civics, hence higher insurance rates.

Otherwise, they're both fairly standard small commuter cars, both will get good gas mileage and be reliable.

how can you say cobalt is reliable?

Its a Saturn Ion with different body panels. It has an Ecotec I4 2.2L engine which has been in the Cavalier, Sunfire, and Ion for the past few years. The car is based on GM's international Delta car platform which has been used in Europe for even longer.

My wife has a Saturn Ion 2 QC... its been a very reliable car.

 

[Fenixgoon]

cobalt is definitely looking like the best buy, here

 

[aswedc]

I recently finished shopping for a compact, drove every one under 15k (9 total I think?) but the Corolla (my dad has a 02). I didn't find the Civic or Cobalt very competitive at all compared to the alternatives. That said, I would prefer the Cobalt.

 

[MikeMike]

have not yet driven a corolla or anything else, driven the ion, the cobalt, and a civic, and accord.

pricing out the Mazda 3 puts that car uptop in terms of initial cost when you add a/c, abs, and what i have on the cobalt.

MIKE

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: MustangSVT

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Go with the Cobalt. Cheaper insurance. People like to rice up and race Civics, hence higher insurance rates.

Otherwise, they're both fairly standard small commuter cars, both will get good gas mileage and be reliable.

how can you say cobalt is reliable?

Its a Saturn Ion with different body panels. It has an Ecotec I4 2.2L engine which has been in the Cavalier, Sunfire, and Ion for the past few years. The car is based on GM's international Delta car platform which has been used in Europe for even longer.

My wife has a Saturn Ion 2 QC... its been a very reliable car.

Yep the eco-tec motor is solid. I would not worry about the cobalt not being reliable. Very good car and also very cheap for what you get.

 

[MustangSVT]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: MustangSVT

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Go with the Cobalt. Cheaper insurance. People like to rice up and race Civics, hence higher insurance rates.

Otherwise, they're both fairly standard small commuter cars, both will get good gas mileage and be reliable.

how can you say cobalt is reliable?

Its a Saturn Ion with different body panels. It has an Ecotec I4 2.2L engine which has been in the Cavalier, Sunfire, and Ion for the past few years. The car is based on GM's international Delta car platform which has been used in Europe for even longer.

My wife has a Saturn Ion 2 QC... its been a very reliable car.

Yep the eco-tec motor is solid. I would not worry about the cobalt not being reliable. Very good car and also very cheap for what you get.

interesting. perhaps I should go test drive one. friend asked me to find a car for her and she's looking for econo box. my original choices were civic, corolla, scion .. but maybe cobalt

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: MustangSVT

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: MustangSVT

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Go with the Cobalt. Cheaper insurance. People like to rice up and race Civics, hence higher insurance rates.

Otherwise, they're both fairly standard small commuter cars, both will get good gas mileage and be reliable.

how can you say cobalt is reliable?

Its a Saturn Ion with different body panels. It has an Ecotec I4 2.2L engine which has been in the Cavalier, Sunfire, and Ion for the past few years. The car is based on GM's international Delta car platform which has been used in Europe for even longer.

My wife has a Saturn Ion 2 QC... its been a very reliable car.

Yep the eco-tec motor is solid. I would not worry about the cobalt not being reliable. Very good car and also very cheap for what you get.

interesting. perhaps I should go test drive one. friend asked me to find a car for her and she's looking for econo box. my original choices were civic, corolla, scion .. but maybe cobalt

the ecotec has been able to put out >2K hp. but thats after extensive mods, and like a 3 time run limit.

MIKE

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: MustangSVT

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: MustangSVT

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Go with the Cobalt. Cheaper insurance. People like to rice up and race Civics, hence higher insurance rates.

Otherwise, they're both fairly standard small commuter cars, both will get good gas mileage and be reliable.

how can you say cobalt is reliable?

Its a Saturn Ion with different body panels. It has an Ecotec I4 2.2L engine which has been in the Cavalier, Sunfire, and Ion for the past few years. The car is based on GM's international Delta car platform which has been used in Europe for even longer.

My wife has a Saturn Ion 2 QC... its been a very reliable car.

Yep the eco-tec motor is solid. I would not worry about the cobalt not being reliable. Very good car and also very cheap for what you get.

interesting. perhaps I should go test drive one. friend asked me to find a car for her and she's looking for econo box. my original choices were civic, corolla, scion .. but maybe cobalt

My first choice would probably be a corolla; I know first hand how good they are. My old gf has had one for ever, never really taken care of it (not abused it, but she has no clue about "regular maintanance"; not even oil changes until the repair shop clued her in ), but the thing has never complained, as far as I know. Got a million miles on it, too.

Nate

 

[CraigRT]

prb go with the Cobalt.
although I would not buy any of those if I had more choices..

 

[aswedc]

I wouldn't worry about the engine anyway, especially with the long power train warranties these days (although Chevy's is only five years). There's plenty else that can go wrong with the car if it's not up to par... (not that anyone knows if the Cobalt is or not)

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
prb go with the Cobalt.
although I would not buy any of those if I had more choices..

right around 16K or less.

thats your job, find others, must have AC, can be manual, 4 door, large enough to fit 2 6'3 ppl in it, with one behind the other, height wise to fit 6'3 person. cd player, mp3 if you can fit it, no spoiler wheels, no hubs, there ya go. thats about what im looking for, Mazda3 is to expensive when filling out that.

MIKE

 

[aswedc]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1

Originally posted by: CraigRT
prb go with the Cobalt.
although I would not buy any of those if I had more choices..

right around 16K or less.

thats your job, find others, must have AC, can be manual, 4 door, large enough to fit 2 6'3 ppl in it, with one behind the other, height wise to fit 6'3 person. cd player, mp3 if you can fit it, no spoiler wheels, no hubs, there ya go. thats about what im looking for, Mazda3 is to expensive when filling out that.

MIKE

http://www.edmunds.com/new/pricerange/u...tid=edmunds.n.typeindex.content.num1.0.*

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: aswedc

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1

Originally posted by: CraigRT
prb go with the Cobalt.
although I would not buy any of those if I had more choices..

right around 16K or less.

thats your job, find others, must have AC, can be manual, 4 door, large enough to fit 2 6'3 ppl in it, with one behind the other, height wise to fit 6'3 person. cd player, mp3 if you can fit it, no spoiler wheels, no hubs, there ya go. thats about what im looking for, Mazda3 is to expensive when filling out that.

MIKE

http://www.edmunds.com/new/pricerange/u...tid=edmunds.n.typeindex.content.num1.0.*

thanks captain obvious, i needed a 5th edmunds tab open

MIKE

 

[andylawcc]

two words: resale value. you save on one end and lose a lot on the other. I wonder where the 15 votes on the Cobalt comes from? Mr. Rick Wagooner?

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
two words: resale value. you save on one end and lose a lot on the other. I wonder where the 15 votes on the Cobalt comes from? Mr. Rick Wagooner?

6 years down the road though you need to look. this thing isnt gunna be kept for a short period of time, nor will it have low mileage, a 400 mile trip is guarenteed to be done 6 times a year, and then driving around college, and then to chicago, and michigan and back. (from clev)

MIKE

 

[Plasdom]

you can get a new civic EX on amazon cars for ~$15200