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17,760 Posts
Well, here is my test drive experience today:
I went to the Honda dealership to find nothing there. When I went inside to get a brochure and I was told that they still didn't have any. They told me to wait for a salesman in the lobby, so I did. He came in and told me that he could do much better than a brochure and I followed him outside. Behind the building was an 06 honda civic sedan in blue that was just being pulled off a truck. :thumb:
We looked the car over for a while and then he told me that it needed to be inspected before it could be taken out on a test drive. When I got back, it was all cleaned up and ready for a test drive. He got the keys and we went on a drive.
The car was a 4dr 5speed sedan in blue.
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I was amazed at the way the car drove. Immediatly I noticed that the car has a very VERY light clutch. The clutch was lighter than the 7thgen models, and it engages very high - almost at the top on release. The throtle is different as well - compared to the 7thgen. It is much more responsive, which I'm sure has to do with the drive by wire. The car is MUCH more quiet as well. Honda put insulation all under the hood area to keep road/engine noise down - and it works. This car doesn't make much noise at all. Driving without the radio on was very peaceful. Steering was very good, and felt very connected. I hate how some cars don't give much feedback when driving, and this one feels good. Body roll isn't very strong, and it cornered well. I punched the gas a few times from a stop and it had pretty nice pickup. I took the car to redline in 1st and 2nd gears and almost into 3rd. I would equate it close to the 7thgen EX w/vtec. The model I drove was not the EX. So, it was an improvement in HP for sure.
Another nice feature was the telescoping wheel. The wheel would go up/down and forward-backward. Very nice for getting the perfect angle to drive at. The dash area is very easily read, and the mph speedo was pretty easy to get used to. I wasn't quite sure how I would like the speed so high up on the dash, but it works out pretty well. You don't have to look down very far from your line of sight to see how fast you're going. The dash area on the civic is HUGE. It seems like it just goes on forever. If you look at the pictures, take note of how long the front windshield is - and the angle it meets up at the hood. I'm guessing this design netted a higher MPG over the long run and cut down on the wind resistance and wind noise.
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Overall I think this car is a big winner. The radio (150 watts) sounded great, nice tone - base/trebble. Not a lot of distortion for a factory radio - big improvement over 7thgen sound for sure. MP3 cd player is stock as well, so you really can't complain there.
I know some other members have wondered about the positioning of the stick shift, and it felt great. The 5 speed felt very crisp and the positioning was great for myself. Overall the car had a increase in size, better radio, less road noise, better hp/tq, better steering wheel adjustments, responsive driving, and excellent fit/finish. All interrior pieces of the car looked very very tight, and never rattled a bit. The car felt very solid, and I'd have to give the trim a great rating. The only other car I felt had amazing fit/finish lately was the acura TSX. That car had great trim pieces/fitting - and that is built in japan.
If you're even thinking about getting another car - I'd test drive it against other cars you're interested in. I was honestly going in thinking it would be just like a 7thgen with a new body style. I walked away realizing that honda really built a brand new civic.
Large pictures and gallery images can be found at the link below. Images are also of 2 different cars. One is the blue 5 speed I drove. The other champagne colored - is the EX with navigation. The car just made it to the dealership when I returned from my test drive. They said they wouldn't have it ready to drive for a while, and it was already spoken for. They let me go into the garage while they were prepping it though to take some pictures for the site.
Thanks goes out to Ashland Honda - and my salesman Scott Elkins. If you're in the tri - state area - (ohio/west virginia/kentucky) ask for him. He treated me well and deserves the business. Thanks again.
Full gallery Images HERE
I went to the Honda dealership to find nothing there. When I went inside to get a brochure and I was told that they still didn't have any. They told me to wait for a salesman in the lobby, so I did. He came in and told me that he could do much better than a brochure and I followed him outside. Behind the building was an 06 honda civic sedan in blue that was just being pulled off a truck. :thumb:
We looked the car over for a while and then he told me that it needed to be inspected before it could be taken out on a test drive. When I got back, it was all cleaned up and ready for a test drive. He got the keys and we went on a drive.
The car was a 4dr 5speed sedan in blue.
I was amazed at the way the car drove. Immediatly I noticed that the car has a very VERY light clutch. The clutch was lighter than the 7thgen models, and it engages very high - almost at the top on release. The throtle is different as well - compared to the 7thgen. It is much more responsive, which I'm sure has to do with the drive by wire. The car is MUCH more quiet as well. Honda put insulation all under the hood area to keep road/engine noise down - and it works. This car doesn't make much noise at all. Driving without the radio on was very peaceful. Steering was very good, and felt very connected. I hate how some cars don't give much feedback when driving, and this one feels good. Body roll isn't very strong, and it cornered well. I punched the gas a few times from a stop and it had pretty nice pickup. I took the car to redline in 1st and 2nd gears and almost into 3rd. I would equate it close to the 7thgen EX w/vtec. The model I drove was not the EX. So, it was an improvement in HP for sure.
Another nice feature was the telescoping wheel. The wheel would go up/down and forward-backward. Very nice for getting the perfect angle to drive at. The dash area is very easily read, and the mph speedo was pretty easy to get used to. I wasn't quite sure how I would like the speed so high up on the dash, but it works out pretty well. You don't have to look down very far from your line of sight to see how fast you're going. The dash area on the civic is HUGE. It seems like it just goes on forever. If you look at the pictures, take note of how long the front windshield is - and the angle it meets up at the hood. I'm guessing this design netted a higher MPG over the long run and cut down on the wind resistance and wind noise.
Overall I think this car is a big winner. The radio (150 watts) sounded great, nice tone - base/trebble. Not a lot of distortion for a factory radio - big improvement over 7thgen sound for sure. MP3 cd player is stock as well, so you really can't complain there.
I know some other members have wondered about the positioning of the stick shift, and it felt great. The 5 speed felt very crisp and the positioning was great for myself. Overall the car had a increase in size, better radio, less road noise, better hp/tq, better steering wheel adjustments, responsive driving, and excellent fit/finish. All interrior pieces of the car looked very very tight, and never rattled a bit. The car felt very solid, and I'd have to give the trim a great rating. The only other car I felt had amazing fit/finish lately was the acura TSX. That car had great trim pieces/fitting - and that is built in japan.
If you're even thinking about getting another car - I'd test drive it against other cars you're interested in. I was honestly going in thinking it would be just like a 7thgen with a new body style. I walked away realizing that honda really built a brand new civic.
Large pictures and gallery images can be found at the link below. Images are also of 2 different cars. One is the blue 5 speed I drove. The other champagne colored - is the EX with navigation. The car just made it to the dealership when I returned from my test drive. They said they wouldn't have it ready to drive for a while, and it was already spoken for. They let me go into the garage while they were prepping it though to take some pictures for the site.
Thanks goes out to Ashland Honda - and my salesman Scott Elkins. If you're in the tri - state area - (ohio/west virginia/kentucky) ask for him. He treated me well and deserves the business. Thanks again.
Full gallery Images HERE
