How the Honda measures up in Europe (Civic orientated)

[macmonkey84]

If anybody has lived in Germany, or Europe for the most part, they can confirm much of what I have to say. I've lived in Germany for five months almost two years ago, and now I'm back to visit family.

Honda is not as popular in Germany as in the States. I asked my soon-to-be wife why that is. I mean, the Japanese cars tend to be economical, small and very reliable, so you'd think that Germans would be all over Japanese car market. The answer was, that they just generally buy European. Plus, I guess it costs more to ship cars over Asia than just across the Pacific. That's just my guess. Even without the Dollar becoming weaker against the Euro, Hondas are still more expensive, though I can't point out any numbers. The neat part is that the new body design for the Type-R is actually become pretty popular (as the non-Type R). Plus, in Germany, you get the feeling that it's almost homogeneous car-wise. Imagine that 70% of the cars you saw in the US were Ford, Chrysler, Dodge. Now think of seeing those three name brands over and over with a different brand every 6 or 9 counts. It gets a little boring in my opinion.

What I like about Germany is that the Civic line up fits in well specification-wise - 1.8 L is something very common place, though the Si with its 2.0 L engine is actually considered a higher displacement, because the majority of cars have displacements below 2.0 l. The good news is that even the Si gets almost the same amount of "Verbrauch", or mileage. In the city, the average German car will burn around 5-8 L/100 km (33-47 mpg); the Si burns, using the same system of measurement, a little over 9 L/100 km (26 mpg), and around 7 L/100 km on the highway. Remember the Insight? That little guy got the equivalent of 3 L/100 km!

The Si has the advantage of horsepower and torque, because even 2.0 L cars, such as the Audi A3 ($25,000) won't pull anything near the 146 kW (197 hp) that the Si has, thanks to the VTEC. Basically, the Si rules the road, unless you were willing to invest in a 3.0 L Audi, that would run you about 35,000 Euros ($47,500) or more. Even with the Si's lower than average torque, it still has much higher out-put than any car here under the equivalent of 45,000 dollars. I've spent some time researching the average out-put of a lot of Volkswagens, Mercedes and BMW, weighing that against price, and I draw the same conclusion every time: The Si is a great bargain on not two, but three continents. I've driven two cars here, one with a 1.4 L and a 1.6 L, and they were both slow as molasses. I missed hearing the VTEC kick in. Most German made cars are like American; low-revving, except for the expensive cars from Audi and Volkswagen, which also do red line at 8k. Also, anybody who drives a Mercedes here not only drives like an asshole, they are the biggest assholes you'll ever met, especially on the Autobahn.

I know that in some parts of California, and correct me if I'm wrong or way off, gas is around $3.50/Gallon, but in New Mexico (where I'm from), it's around $3.15. But let's be realistic: Europe in general is more expensive. How much more expensive? We all know the Civic holds 50 L of premium (91 Octane), but you don't always put 50 L in, unless you push your car to the gas station the last 10 meters. Let's say you fill her up with 40 L, leaving in a little in, plus the reserve. Gas here is 1.30 € per liter for 91 Octane, and there are more expensive options at some places, such as 95 octane. Anyway, filling up with 1.30 € would cost 52 € per tank! Oh wait, the current exchange rate would make that 72 dollars per fill up! Yeah, I'll take the 37 dollars I would currently pay in the States, because right now Germans pay the equivalent of $6.67 per gallon.

My car isn't here in Germany, but I have been on the Autobahn on several occasions. The roads there are smooth as a baby's bottom, and because the Si can be put in the metric, like I do, it would blend in seamlessly. Also, a guy living in the next building to us parks his 03-05 Si, which is a Type-R here, in the front all the time. If anybody here has ever taken a 06-07 Si onto the Autobahn, they need to report!

[Snake-eyes]

why buy a honda when you can buy a BMW mercedes or even VW GTI gasp on the cheap?
they dont pay import taxes on those wonderfull cars and they arent as fascinated with imports as americans are..simple answer

[Snake-eyes]

oh ya for the record.. The civic Type R although it doesnt sell as well as a VW outperformed it in every way and the new type R is amazing...
to clarify my post...
Those german cars listed above cost to them as american cars cost to us...hard to compete