[Options] 3 or 5 doors? your opinions please.

[csmcqueen]

My daughter has grown up, and even if she wasn't... she can walk, I love the 3 door

[Unknownsoldier]

Originally Posted by cb550

My Type S (imo) actually rides better even though its suspension is a little firmer.Nothing wrong with either models,but for me it would be the 3 door every time.Only some test drives will decide for you

I agree try and take the little 'un out in the seat in the S for a test drive and see how she and the wife in the back fare, they can then tell you how they think the ride is, my rabbit prefers it in the front to the back cos he bounces around a bit (I know he prefers it cos he gets less grumpy after long trips if he's in the front ).

Tom

[Korkut Varol]

Originally Posted by allan40alt

Definitely get a 5 door. It will be far easier accessing the rear seats and you get the benefit of the 'magic' rear seats (I don't think you get them in the 3 door).

I addition, it is a real pain for people getting in/out of the back, especially for the front seat passenger who has to get out as well!

The width of the door is narrower on the 5 door making it easier to access both front and back if someone parks too close at the supermarket etc.

The style of the 5 door, with it's concealed rear handles, makes it look very much like a 3 door.

So, get the 5 door. All the looks of a 3 door, but with none of the disadvantages.

Thanks for saving me from typing the whole lot, that would be what I would advise in exactly the same words. Go for the 5-door and enjoy it!

[GHGH]

Well - isn't the 3-door chassis a bit stiffer than the 5-door? Making it a bit sportier?

Said that, I chose the 5-door.
Much more practical. For me.

[aslz78]

Ok, heres the pictures you wanted.

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by Unknownsoldier

Have you checked your insurance, as anyone in the forces is pretty much a no go. My mates in the marines are complaining that no one will even consider them for car insurance, and RAF is similar (lots of base time is the reason they give). So I'd go checking with them first before deciding on cars. Sorry to be a downer, but rather this than getting the car and finding your insurance is either astronomical or unnobtainable.

TBH, I would consider the 5 door, purely from the safety aspect, god forbid there is a crash, and your injured (or worse!), I personally would want to know my daughter (IF I had one ), was capable of being removed to safety via the rear doors quickly.

Tom

Hmmmm, well my ex who was on my insurance is a Marine and we never had a problem with him on the insurance and he has just bought himself a new convertible and got insurance no probs.....actually I know a few folk in the forces and have never heard of this even from the ones that are at sea for 6 months etc.

I can see what your saying about in a crash etc, but if the doors fail either front or back then your stuffed. I basically can't see the problem with a 3 door, like I said I bought one whilst expecting and thought that it would be better actually getting myself into the car (which there is pleanty room to do) and making sure they are strapped in which is better that having to reach round them etc which I would have to do with a 5 door. But then my Dad had an XR3i from when I was born until I was about 5 and they never really seemed to have an issue.

Its each to their own and i'm sure you will make the right choice, after all its you thats going to have to live with it not us

Also don't know how long you are planning on having it for, but when they get a little older they start to want to touch everything in site and I found having a partners toddler in the back of my Mini was great as there was no buttons, locks or handles for them to yank on maybe break or harm themselves by getting fingers trapped. I know there is door and window locks but I just felt safer knowing he was well strapped in with only his blanket for comfort.....and not being demolishion Dan in the back seat lol!

[pjr]

One thing to bear in mind is that the rear passenger space is the same size in both the 3 door & 5 door (give or take a few millimetres at the sides due to the different shape of the door panels/interior trim panels) Not like the previous gen Civic which was a completely different body shape.

The access isn't too bad at all, and if you use the passenger seat, the non memory issue when sliding the seat back isn't so much of a problem. I can reset my seat pretty quickly now, if I've let someone get in the back.

One other difference is that the 3 door cars don't have the fold-down armrest shown in the pics of the 5 door.

And, as TT mentioned the S does have semi-magic seats - they do fold up, but need secured with the seatbelts, as the locking mechanism which the 5 door has isn't present.

Proof that the Type S has Magic Seats....

You pays your money and takes your choice!!

[angie4m]

I don't think a small baby has use for an arm rest yet lol!

[allan40alt]

Originally Posted by Wyrd

I have a 2 yr old and getting him in and out of the the back on my Type R is really easy. As TTDegs has said you're just strapping the little un in from a different angle. With the front passenger seat slid right forward there's loads of room for you to stand in the car whilst you're strapping kids in.

Found and unexpected benefit of the amount of space the other day when it was throwing it down outside. Both me a my son just got into the car from the passenger side and then I shut the door whilst I strapped him in...hence keeping both of us (and the inside of the car) dry. Couldn't have done this as easily / quickly in a 5 door as you need the door open to work from the side.

There's pluses and minuses to both in my opinion.

...or you could both get in from the opposite rear passenger door and still be nice and dry.

[mike20]

5 door.
My last car was a Toyota Celica (3 door) which I bought when my kids were young, but they grow up amazingly quickly, as much as I liked the car, in the end I couldn't wait to get a 5 door.
Also normally the front doors are shorter on a 5 door car, so getting in and out is a lot easier, especially if you're in a narrow spot.

[Greedy]

Would recommend the 5 door.

You say your young'un will be 15 months so in a forward seat or soon to be. As well as that mentioned such as access in an accident etc then also remember that the rear window does not wind down and the windonw line is higher. With kids, car sickness is always to be considered . (yeah for leather seats) especially with Type S 'sporty driving' The idea of draging such an event out past the front seats! especailly if like me you take them out in the seat to prevent further drips or not being able to open the back window to give then some fresh air and that higher waste line restricting the view which can induce sickness (even I feel closed in in the back of a 3dr). Add to that the practicality of truely magic seats. And remember you will probably still have the car when she is 4-5 years old. Would a 3 dr still be practical then?

For me it would be a 5 dr. Good luck.

[Chris-B]

Originally Posted by Unknownsoldier

Have you checked your insurance, as anyone in the forces is pretty much a no go. My mates in the marines are complaining that no one will even consider them for car insurance, and RAF is similar (lots of base time is the reason they give). So I'd go checking with them first before deciding on cars. Sorry to be a downer, but rather this than getting the car and finding your insurance is either astronomical or unnobtainable.
Tom

I've been in the RAF for 8 years now and obtaining car insurance has never been an issue for me. Plus I also have colleagues with cars such as the Evo 7, Civic Type R, BMW X5 and even one with a Porche Cayenne, all never had problems with insurance.

My main enquiry was the practicality of the 5 doors over the style and image of the sportier Type S.

I've nearly made up my mind on the 5 door "Sport" spec (can you get the "image pack" with the 5 door), could any of you post up some pictures (other than the stock Honda ones) of your lovely looking 5 doors to prove how they CAN look sporty / stylish. either that or direct me to threads that contain your pictures.

Originally Posted by aslz78

Ok, heres the pictures you wanted.

Great pics, cheers.

Mainly going on the premise of having this car for years and years (otherwise I would not be spending so much money on a car) I think it will be more practical for me to go for the 5 door as my daughter is only going to get bigger and will be getting in and out of the car herself before I know it.

[Unknownsoldier]

Originally Posted by Chris-B

I've been in the RAF for 8 years now and obtaining car insurance has never been an issue for me. Plus I also have colleagues with cars such as the Evo 7, Civic Type R, BMW X5 and even one with a Porche Cayenne, all never had problems with insurance.

My main enquiry was the practicality of the 5 doors over the style and image of the sportier Type S.

I've nearly made up my mind on the 5 door "Sport" spec (can you get the "image pack" with the 5 door), could any of you post up some pictures (other than the stock Honda ones) of your lovely looking 5 doors to prove how they CAN look sporty / stylish. either that or direct me to threads that contain your pictures.

I can understand what your saying mate, just letting you know to avoid any complications.

The 5dr sounds good, to get it looking top-notch possibly go for colour coding the black trim with the image pack (or possibly changing to an 'S' bodykit, several people on here have done it successfully ).

Only thing with image pack is you can't have a towbar with it (don't know if you'd need one, but just giving you all the facts ). I'm personally not a fan of the standard body of the five door (I just prefer it to flare more ). But several people on here should be able to give you some good shots.

Per Ardua ad Astra,
Tom

[Wyrd]

Originally Posted by allan40alt

...or you could both get in from the opposite rear passenger door and still be nice and dry.

True...but it's often a big enough fight getting my little terror in from the passenger side of the car without trying to get him to get into the car and then move across to the other side of the car before being strapped in.

Our other car is a five door and I have tried this to my cost on a number of occasions! Normally ends up with him slipping through between the seats into the front and pressing hazard flashers / horn/ etc. etc. etc. you get the picture.

[Foggy69]

Originally Posted by Chris-B

My main enquiry was the practicality of the 5 doors over the style and image of the sportier Type S.

I've nearly made up my mind on the 5 door "Sport" spec (can you get the "image pack" with the 5 door), could any of you post up some pictures (other than the stock Honda ones) of your lovely looking 5 doors to prove how they CAN look sporty / stylish. either that or direct me to threads that contain your pictures.

Here is proof that a 5 door Civic can look sporty with the image pack fitted, and colour coded grey trim.

Albaster Silver with Image Pack

[allan40alt]

Originally Posted by Wyrd

True...but it's often a big enough fight getting my little terror in from the passenger side of the car without trying to get him to get into the car and then move across to the other side of the car before being strapped in.

Our other car is a five door and I have tried this to my cost on a number of occasions! Normally ends up with him slipping through between the seats into the front and pressing hazard flashers / horn/ etc. etc. etc. you get the picture.

...I can picture the fun now....

[Chris-B]

Originally Posted by Foggy69

Here is proof that a 5 door Civic can look sporty with the image pack fitted, and colour coded grey trim.

Albaster Silver with Image Pack

now that's a nice civic, kind of puts my mind at ease knowing that the 5 door can look really good.

[zio]

I think you should just try to get a proper test of both of then. From the type of use you describe, I don't think you'd have any issues with the 3-door. The front seats move forward quite a bit allowing a decent amount of access to the rear and the amount of room in the back is the same as the 5-door.

If you want me to take some photos of my Type S to help you, I'd happily oblige. Just tell me what you want pictures of.

[ghowarth]

Hi Chris and welcome to the forum!
I used to be in the RAF and never had any problem with any insurance, I have more problems with it now than when I was a serviceman.

I have a 5 door 1.8 ex and I love it.......would love a Type R but have 3 boys and the type R only has 4 seats! I have had mine for 18 months and never tire of driving it and have been very lucky with hardly any problems!

I also 'did' Akrotiri nearly 10 years ago now and loved that too....What trade group are you? do you still get your perks of the tax free car and if so are you buying it from there?

So many questions!!

[lippy]

5 doors everytime!!

I have just ordered a new EX 5 door after considering a type S. Easier access decided me - I have had standard roses upright behind the front seats and you can also get a bike in with the magic seats up. Also I am a grandma to be and will be able to have Mr Lippy, daughter, son in law and baby in car together, much more convenient!