Honda civic coupe 2008 a good beginners car ?

[buyer]

Hey there

Im in the market for an easy to drive car.
I'm looking for something very easy to drive as this is my first car. (just got my license)
I don't want any used car.. i want it brand new fresh out of the factory.

I like easy steeringwheels, something easy to turn at the red light. I live in a big city and i got lots and lots of red lights and tight corners.
So i need a powerful powersteering type of car, enough so i can use only 1 hand to turn the wheels. To be honest if i can only use 2 or 3 fingers to turn the steeringwheels thats even better.

Also the visibility needs to be very good. I must be able to see everything all around me. Dead spots could be a problem..see ? im a beginner driver.

Few people suggested me Volks GTI but i hate that car, the steering on volks is way to hard to turn around corners.

Do you beleive a Honda Civic coupe automatic 2008 is a good beginners car ?

If yes, im thinking about the full equiped version with sunroof. What other options should i put in ?

[I Vtec, do you?]

There are quite a few blind spots in the sedan imo, I'm guessing the coupe would only be worse.

Actually, I think 'quite a few' would be an overstatement. There are definitely a few, though, as with any car. The front pillars on the car are borderline ridiculous imo. If I'm going around a gradual curve, they completely blind me from people that might be crossing the street or something.

[Tiny]

You should go test drive one. It's probably the best guaranteed way to fully know how the car you want is gonna drive. I myself am thinking about a coupe, and I'm worried about blind spots (mainly cuz I'm short). Good luck with your search

[jpik2003]

I don't think its safe to be turning with only 2 fingers. If they slip, bye bye new car. But I'd say its a nice first car. Some people over at the g35 forums get those as their first cars, and end up crashing into trees.

[lowerlevel]

a 2008 honda civic lx auto would be a great first car.. very easy to drive, great gas mpg, and fun to boot.. good luck

i suggest before u buy, go online and work the dealers.. to get the best price..

[Solo Intent]

lol your a begining driver and you are worried about blind spots, but you want to turn the wheel with a couple fingures...lol, go test drive one and see if you like it, its the only true way to find out

[skacoreimplore]

Good first car IMO

[Special Ringpop]

Well, I think that the car is very safe, gets good fuel economy, and is well equipped.

The only thing that isn't very good about the car (especially the coupe) is that there is a very large blind spot on the windshield pillars in the front. I've not had any other sight or vision issues in the car other than that. You just have to be really careful when you're at a stop and people are in a cross walk.

I do think the Civic (not the Si) would be a good beginners car. In fact I believe Edmunds also said the same thing.

["Ridge"Racer]

fg2 blindspots friggen suck. dont get this car, on the 1-10 scale for prior experience you need to be at least a 9.3 to handle this beast, or be able to keep in sync with andretti on a track. get a fit.

[buyer]

Blind spot right up front ? really ? is that bad ?
Is there a screenshot (photo) somewhere on the forum showing those blind spots ?

I may not use use 1 hand to turn the wheels (i aint crazy), what i means is im looking for something so easy you can use 1 hand. Some cars powersteering are so stiff you almost need two people to turn the wheel. like the BMW or any sports cars. I hate those sport feel.
Is the 2008 civic like the BMWs or closer to a boat feel ?

I'm not very tall either but theres a woman i know and she seems to like her 2004 civic and she aint tall either.

I'm taking a week off in a month or so (can't test drive till then) so until then i m just looking on the net and list all the good begineers cars i can think off.

Tnx for the inputs everyone. Let me know if you got some screenshots showing those nasty dead spots on the 2008 civic (just got my license)

[homeboyv]

Originally Posted by "Ridge"Racer

fg2 blindspots friggen suck. dont get this car, on the 1-10 scale for prior experience you need to be at least a 9.3 to handle this beast, or be able to keep in sync with andretti on a track. get a fit.

[Special Ringpop]

If I get a chance, I'll take a picture of what the sight is like from the driver's seat of my Si coupe. I know it's not the R18 you'll be buying, but the pillars are the same in both of them.

It's not something I wouldn't buy the car over...not by a long shot, but it is one of those things that you need to acclimate yourself to. Just take a few more seconds when you're at a stop to make sure no one is in it.

And the R18 is a perfect beginners car. It's the Si that I wouldn't recommend. Hell, I know people with years and years of manual tranny experience that have a tough time on the Si sometimes!

[xdanimals]

Originally Posted by I Vtec, do you?

There are quite a few blind spots in the sedan imo, I'm guessing the coupe would only be worse.

Actually, I think 'quite a few' would be an overstatement. There are definitely a few, though, as with any car. The front pillars on the car are borderline ridiculous imo. If I'm going around a gradual curve, they completely blind me from people that might be crossing the street or something.

i've almost hit a couple of people since i couldnt see them HAHAHA good thing i was going slow lol

[radiocontrolhead]

Originally Posted by buyer

Hey there

Im in the market for an easy to drive car.
I'm looking for something very easy to drive as this is my first car. (just got my license)
I don't want any used car.. i want it brand new fresh out of the factory.

I like easy steeringwheels, something easy to turn at the red light. I live in a big city and i got lots and lots of red lights and tight corners.
So i need a powerful powersteering type of car, enough so i can use only 1 hand to turn the wheels. To be honest if i can only use 2 or 3 fingers to turn the steeringwheels thats even better.

Also the visibility needs to be very good. I must be able to see everything all around me. Dead spots could be a problem..see ? im a beginner driver.

Few people suggested me Volks GTI but i hate that car, the steering on volks is way to hard to turn around corners.

Do you beleive a Honda Civic coupe automatic 2008 is a good beginners car ?

If yes, im thinking about the full equiped version with sunroof. What other options should i put in ?

Just by the type of questions you're asking, I know any brand new car shouldn't be your first car.

[jokka]

remember... vtec causes more deaths than aids

[atruhondagrl]

Originally Posted by buyer

Hey there

Im in the market for an easy to drive car.
I'm looking for something very easy to drive as this is my first car. (just got my license)
I don't want any used car.. i want it brand new fresh out of the factory.

I like easy steeringwheels, something easy to turn at the red light. I live in a big city and i got lots and lots of red lights and tight corners.
So i need a powerful powersteering type of car, enough so i can use only 1 hand to turn the wheels. To be honest if i can only use 2 or 3 fingers to turn the steeringwheels thats even better.

Also the visibility needs to be very good. I must be able to see everything all around me. Dead spots could be a problem..see ? im a beginner driver.

Few people suggested me Volks GTI but i hate that car, the steering on volks is way to hard to turn around corners.

Do you beleive a Honda Civic coupe automatic 2008 is a good beginners car ?

If yes, im thinking about the full equiped version with sunroof. What other options should i put in ?

Sounds to me like you either need a Toyota or a GM. They have the loosest/easiest steering I've ever driven.

[buyer]

Originally Posted by radiocontrolhead

Just by the type of questions you're asking, I know any brand new car shouldn't be your first car.

There are several reasons i do not want used car.

1- i don't trust any repair shops (im a little panaroid about scams). i know nothing about mechanics thus most of the repairs will have to be done by pro if something break...

2- I did check for used cars and nothing match the color i want anyway, and i don't like 2001-2006 civic shape. They look too sedan. I do like the old hatchback Civic of the 90s, but they don't make them anymore.. kinda sad really.

3- A brand new Civic is cheap anyway. i can buy something more expensive like a Lexus but i need few years practice before doing so.

4- I have some experience on the road, i have a scooter and small motorcycle which i use everyday.

Money isn't an issue (to a certain point ofcourse).. I figure 20k should be ok.. Don't worry, i won't go bankrupt even if i crash... its a risk i can easily absorb.

All i need is to get the right starter car and im set. I'm beginner with little experience but i'm not a bad driver (i don't think so). To me a bad driver means someone with a bad attitude... they say accidents happen even if you have experience. Sometime theres nothing you can do about it.
I drive very slow and very cautious. Driving is in my blood, i see most dangers miles away.

[buyer]

Originally Posted by jokka

remember... vtec causes more deaths than aids

I read a little about it but i know nothing about mechanics..
vtec is something that boost your engine in a way i don't fully understand.

i don't do speeding. so i don't need vtec (unless its standard to all civic).

All i need is a nice looking little car, easy to drive, with a sunroof, easy to park, easy steeringwheel, reliable with a good resell value..
I plan to keep it 4 years.

[07LX]

The civics are nice, easy to drive, but the front pillars (A) are at such a angle that there is a blind spot there and I am 6'1". As for Vtec in the DX, LX and EX it is used for fuel economy (I own a 07 LX and I get 30+ mpg) where as in the SI it is performance (30- mpg).

As with steering the BMW's are easy, I love there steering.


IMO I say get a Toyota Corolla or even a Nissan Sentra.

[SoCal07Si]

I dont know about the coupe, but the blind spots in the sedan are f'd up.

cant see the turn signals of vehicles in the lanes next to you. (a-pillars)