I just brought home a new Honda Civic 2006 EX

[noahmijo]

I was seriously considering the hybrid, but the thing is I wanted a little pep too. I figured I can't be sacrificing the environment too much by wanting just a bit of pep given that I still get better gas mileage than your average car on the road and it's rated ULEV II (in other words way below normal emissions) The tag advertises 30 mpg city and 40 highway, and thus far that seems to be an accurate assessment.

I just took out for a little spin actually. Just got done getting gas and basically after driving a little over 180 miles it cost about $13 to fill it up (gas prices are around $2.40/gal here)

And I will confess I do sort of punch it sometimes when it's an open road and I'm not in a school zone.

The car itself is the Civic EX. I'll post some pics of me showing it off after the spoiler for it comes in and gets put on. I don't plan on decking it all out like the street racers do, but I have added a few little cool factor accessories here and there but nothing to really make me a cop magnet yet

Yup but that's what I did all weekend went north up to Phoenix to wheel and deal for it-they just happened to have exactly what I wanted color and everything sitting in the lot. I got a pretty damn good deal too (Note to car buyers out there now's the time to get some damn good interest rates as I think most of them especially the Japanese car companies are running good rates for the holidays)

Sorry to sound snobby for this but I just recalled a co-worker from my last job once telling me that I'm a typical democrat for checking out Honda "Jap Crap" instead of going for an American car like a Chevy or a Ford.

Given the fact that this piece of "Jap Crap" is except for the engine, made entirely in a factory in Ohio I'd have to say that my car is technically more American than any of the big three's foreign made toys not to mention it's far more reliable. (No offense American car owners-my first car was a Chevy Prism which technically is just a Toyota Corolla)

Which is why I say who's laughing now?

I've been a Honda person all my life for the most part, although this is my first "real" car purchase, I have ridden their motorcycles in the past and absolutely love them.

[Kahuna]

1. Congratulations!!

:woohoo:

[Delarage]

2. Good for you.

But the Accord Hybrid is actually quicker than the regular Accord (I forget why). And you should lighten up on the gas pedal--but at least you bought a relatively fuel-efficient, well-built car that will stay out of the junkyards longer than some crappy Ford or something. That will help the environment, too.

[noahmijo]

9. Hmm I dunno how that's possible....but the Civic EX is quicker than

the hybrid version at least by 30 hp.

I'm not really quite as gas pedal happy as I may have come off, to tell you the truth the only time so far I've gunned it a little bit was on a completely open freeway to break in the car (go fast go slow go fast go slow ect) and at times when I was driving behind dangerously slow people (we're talking people doing 25 on a 55 mph road I am not making this up Tucson drivers are dangerous assholes for the most part)

On a side note like I said I was very very close to getting the Hybrid, but overall I wanted the extra pep and plus I like the idea of knowing that if I ever have any engine issues I can take it anywhere instead of having to make appts with Honda exclusively, but at the same time I would highly recommend the Hybrid to anyone who doesn't mind paying the premium in time and convenience.

[Dude_CalmDown]

15 more horses and 9 % better torque is why the hybrid is quicker.

Plus, any torque made by the electric engine is instant rather than someplace in the rev range.

[Dude_CalmDown]

22. 15 more horses and 9 % better torque is why the hybrid is quicker.

Plus, any torque made by the electric engine is instant rather than someplace in the rev range.

[karlrschneider]

3. Don't apologize! I'm thinking of replacing my 1982 Civic with another

new or newer one...it's the best damn car I ever had, and I've had way over 100 cars. We also have 2 Toyotas, so they could accuse us of having "jap crap" too I suppose. Tuffshit I sez. :D

[noahmijo]

6. Lemme tell ya thing handles like a dream

Of course I am young and stupid, but right now the way I feel about this car I'll happily get a new civic in about 15 years and just keep that trend going.

[karlrschneider]

14. Naw, you may be young but you ain't stupid! *I* was stupid when I was

young, I drove Corvettes, Dodge Challengers, muscle cars like them toys...but in those days we'd pull into a gas station and buy a dollar's worth of 'ethyl' and cruise all evening. :D

(and the guy would put the gas in for us!)

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. Congrats! My BIL is a Honda guy. He'll buy nothing but a Honda.

Congratulations and enjoy your new ride!:hi:

[stop the bleeding]

5. congrats on the new ride, I just bought some jap crap as well

2006 Camry LE - yes I am a little less worried about the pep, but still an awesome car. Driving another Jap Crap Corolla with 180,000 miles and still purrs like a kitten.

Have fun and :toast:

[noahmijo]

11. Sweet bro congrats to you too!! Camrys are nice

Honestly the only reason I picked a Civic over a Camry was the brand really I love Honda been a whore for Honda for as far as I can remember, but my first car was a Prizm which I pretty much have given to my girlfriend and let's face it Prizms are Toyotas :)

That Camry should give you about two decades of fun and reliability.

:toast:

[autorank]

7. They make damn good cars in Ohio. I've been leasing/buying Honda's

for years. I always check out where my car was made and make sure it's from Ohio. Cool. You'll love it. It will last as long as you want it. Just change the oil and the timing belt at about 60K miles. I never keep them that long. I've had exactly one major mechanical problem in 8 hondas (1 each for me and my wife over the years)--the clutch went out (manual) on an Accord. It cost $400 to fix. Big deal. That's it, other than normal brake replacement, tires, etc.

Good for you.

[DesertRat]

8. Congrats!

I just bought a Mazda 6 and I'm loving it. Aren't new cars great?!:toast:

[Atman]

21. Mazda = Ford

It cracks me up, all this crowing about "jap crap" vs. American. They're virtually all the same now. Mazdas are Fords/Fords are Mazdas. Chevy and Toyota share a few models. Some Saabs are just GM's. Even Volvo's are in league with Ford, I think. While some nameplates are more reliable than others, it is silly to lump every "jap" car together and every "American" car together. There are so many crossover models, the maker is almost a meaningless designator. Kind of like saying "SUV's suck!" when EPA mileage figures show that Minivans, as a group, have worse mileage statistics, and are larger than half the SUV brands on the road today. But I guess we just have to be able to put convenient labels on things to make them easier to demonize.

[noahmijo]

25. Yea well my battlebot can kick your battlebot's ass any day of the week!!

And you can take THAT to the bank man!! :)



Kiko "The Wrencher" Kyamoto

[DesertRat]

32. There is no Ford like the Mazda 6 n/t

I love my new car. :-)

[Atman]

38. I'm glad you like your car, but -- it's a Lincoln Zephyr.

...sorry to burst your bubble. As I said, there simply are no "American" cars anymore...

"Like the 626 before it, Ford is using the Mazda6 "CD3" platform as the basis for a number of other vehicles, including the upcoming entry-level Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr, next-generation Lincoln Aviator, and a range of SUVs and minivans.

http://www.autohausaz.com/mazda-auto-parts/mazda-6-parts.html


"I didn't get a chance to sample a 4, but the 3.0 liter V6 was very smooth and civilized. Since Mazda is part of the Ford stable, the V6 comes from the Ford parts bin and is manufactured in America. In fact, the entire car is manufactured in Flat Rock, Michigan which is a stone's throw from Detroit.

http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/Mazda-6/

Also, you may be interested to know, the 6's predecessor, the 626, was a Ford Probe...

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/maz626mx6and.html

[yourout]

10. We just purchased a 2006 VW Jetta TDI.

Gets around 45 mpg. Burns diesel and even with the higher diesel prices its still alot cheaper to run than any gas car I have had. Myself and 3 other guys are starting to collect used cooking oil and make Biodiesel.

[jakefrep]

17. Very nice...

...I'm thinking about getting a Golf of Jetta diesel for my next vehicle. Diesels to me are infinitely more appealing than hybrids, mostly on account of better performance and fuel economy. I wish they were more widely used in American-market cars.

[yourout]

23. With lower sulfer diesel starting in 2006.....

I think diesels will start making a bit of a comeback. What is really a tragedy is that some US car makers already sell diesel powered cars in Europe but due to emission levels can not sell them in the US. Ford makes a diesel Focus that sells fairly well in Europe and now with the new diesel fuel they may be able to start selling them here.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Good for you

My Honda CR-V was just totaled last month. I loved that car. Best I had ever owned. I replaced it with this: http://www.scion.com/showroom/xa/gallery/

I like it so far. I REALLY like the gas mileage.

Let's hear it for Japanese cars. :woohoo:

[yourout]

15. GM, Ford, and Dodge just dont get it.

Or dont want to. Yes they have an image problem but it is there own fault. If they dont adapt they will soon be gone.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Did you hear Michael Moore's speech last week on CSPAN?

He asked if any of the GM execs had even bothered to drive a Honda around the block. LOL

My last GM vehicle starting falling apart at 20K miles. By 30K, the radio was gone. The electric windows started going at 40K. I had engine problems at 50K. And I had to buy new tires once a year - $400. The alarm never worked right. The 'check engine' light came on all the time and they never did figure out why. It was some kind of computer malfunction. By the time I finally gave up on it, it was at 100K and barely ran.

My Honda had almost 80K on it when it was totaled. It still looked and ran as well as it had the day I drove it off the lot.

I will never buy another GM product. They lost me.

[SunDrop23]

13. No need to apologize. American cars are inferior.

Our automakers have had several chances to get it right. It's not Japan's fault.

[jakefrep]

18. Bullshit

I haven't had any trouble with my Big 3-made cars. I don't think Honda or Toyota are any better.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. We have had several crappy GM cars

I got one sitting in my driveway right now if you are interested :eyes:

[spooky3]

28. Consumer Reports' testing evidence supports you.

If you define "American" as GM, Ford, Chrysler. As the OP indicated, many Toyotas and Hondas are made in the US (I own one).

[flvegan]

16. And the new Civic is a fine looking auto, to boot.

Congrats!!!

[Davros]

20. Good luck with your new car

I bought a 2005 Honda Element in March and is my first of many foreign cars. I used to drive a Plymouth Neon so this was a big step up for me, both quality and versatility.

[chookie]

30. another Element owner!

Aren't they the coolest car ever? I adore mine. Something so versatile that is so fun to drive.

[Madrone]

41. Another Element owner here -

however - I haven't had good luck with mine.

First EVER brand new car - and I had 2 replaced engines before hitting 3500 miles.

An anomaly, sure. But it's my first EVER brand new car. :cry:


That said - I love the Elements. I know of 2 other people that have purchased them as a result of checking mine out.

It's perfect for me since I haul the dog around everywhere - he thrashes cars. The E I just sweep out and wipe down - good as new!

[Abelman]

36. When I first saw an Element

I thought "That is an ugly car."

The inside, however, is amazing. So amazing I wouldn't mind having one.

[Dude_CalmDown]

24. Congrats.

I'm kind of a Honda nut too (in case you thought my avatar had something to do with Hardee's) so don't apologize to me. Everyone owes themselves a Honda. Just listening to my engine under normal driving will make my day better.

[catzies]

26. This lover of all things Honda (and a stockholder) approves.

Excellent. :thumbsup: May you have many happy years together.

[chookie]

29. Congratulations on the new baby

It costs $13 dollars to fill it up? What -- is Bill Clinton back in office or something?

I think you made a prudent decision, nothing you need to think twice about. I am familar with this car -- having recently been in the market myself -- and I know you must be absolutely delighted, and that the delight will last for years to come.

I bought my first Honda after being a Mazda maniac -- I got an Element and I LOVE it.

I wish you many safe, happy miles in your new car.

[meisje]

31. Nice job screwing American Workers

[noahmijo]

33. LMAO did you even read everything?

Typical you're no different than the ignorant rubes whom I slap in the face with this cold hard fact:

Hondas are more American than any of the Big Three.

The car I bought was made in OHIO.

Read it again: OHIO

The only part that was not made in America on that car is the engine.

Guess how many plants that employ the American worker Honda has closed down?


Now let's see how many GM and Ford have shut down.....hmmm I'd say The "American" automaker does far more to kill the American worker than I ever will

[moondust]

35. It is U.S. management that has screwed American workers.

American workers just need competent, sensible, well-intentioned, quality-minded, visionary management and engineering that care about more than short-term profits.

[leftofthedial]

34. I was a Honda guy for a long time

Then Saturn saw me coming. Starting in 1993, I bought 5 Saturns. Two of the last three were crap. I'm still driving the 93, but if I get a job (ha ha ha ha ha!), I'll be buying a new car, I hope soon, and a Honda sounds like a good place to start. Trouble is, I need to haul music equipment frequently. Most of it is pretty compact, but I do need to lug around an 88-key keyboard in a road case pretty often. It's nearly 6 feet long, so I need cargo room.

Not many models work for me.

[Samurai_Writer]

40. Get a VW Jett,a

The trunk space is HUGE, and the rear seats fold down as well. I have a 97 Jetta, and with 120,000 miles on it, it is STILL getting 35mpg highway/30 city, and runs great!

Here's my baby... my son is driving it now. I moved to Colorado and am driving my 2003 Toyota Tacoma pickup (which gets about 20-25mpg). I miss my Jetta!

[Abelman]

37. Awesome

I really want to get a Toyota Corolla, but don't think I can afford it. So I'll probably be getting a Hyundai Accent, which is a pretty tight little car from all the stuff I've found on it. Gas mileage is my main thing.

[ohio_liberal]

39. I bought my son a '94 Civic DX

I had a new motor installed, changed the air intake, new rims/tires. It gets around 38 mpg. It's really a sweet little car.