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

[Selly]

having a son (5year old)its so much easier with a five door than a three door. i love the 3 door but went with practicality and anyway from a distance the 5 door looks like a 3 door but with less hassel with getting in the back seats and far more easier for the front passenger having to get in and out everytime you wana get someone in or out of the back. to cut a long story short, GET 5 DOOR. im glad i did.
selly

[Chris-B]

Originally Posted by zio

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.

yes please, there are pictures of the 5 door rear seats already on this thread, could you take some pictures of the doors open with the drivers/passengers seat both forwards and in the upright position. that would be great.

Originally Posted by ghowarth

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!!

TG4 (3 and 11 have now merged)

yes, we still get the perks of a tax paid car

no i'm not getting it out here.

It works out cheaper to get a 1 or 2 year old car back in the UK than it does to get a Tax paid car here then get it shipped to the UK, plus even though it would be a UK spec vehicle, it is still calssed by the DVLA as an "Imported Vehicle" so no-one will go near it when I come to sell.

not really worth getting a tax free car unless you plan on spending over £20k to be honest.

[Courant]

No one seems to have mentioned the suspension differences between the 3 & 5-door, the type-s getting stiffer springs & revised dampers, lower rideheight, stiffer anti-roll bars. Looks aside (I don't think there's much difference here!) and practicality too (I guess you'll have to go and try with a child seat), the 3-door drives better than the 5-door. There's a little less body roll and the whole car sits down a little better when the roads get twisty. The 5-door felt slightly unstable (no, unstable is the wrong word, what i mean is the dynamic response in the cabin is more pronounced) when pushed; the type-s is much more confidence inspiring and settled. It's also possibly a slightly harder ride, but this is a negligible difference. Drive both, before making a decision, you'll only feel the difference if you drive a little harder down the b-roads and, if you do feel the difference, you might prefer the type-s.

Courant

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by Courant

No one seems to have mentioned the suspension differences between the 3 & 5-door, the type-s getting stiffer springs & revised dampers, lower rideheight, stiffer anti-roll bars. Looks aside (I don't think there's much difference here!) and practicality too (I guess you'll have to go and try with a child seat), the 3-door drives better than the 5-door. There's a little less body roll and the whole car sits down a little better when the roads get twisty. The 5-door felt slightly unstable (no, unstable is the wrong word, what i mean is the dynamic response in the cabin is more pronounced) when pushed; the type-s is much more confidence inspiring and settled. It's also possibly a slightly harder ride, but this is a negligible difference. Drive both, before making a decision, you'll only feel the difference if you drive a little harder down the b-roads and, if you do feel the difference, you might prefer the type-s.

Courant

I think it has been mentioned on these actually

Originally Posted by cb550

I've previously owned an ES diesel-now got the diesel Type S.No doubt in my mind;the type S is an aprecciably different animal-the handling just inspires confidence and always seems to have some in reserve.The ES at speed, I would have to back off a little,say on a winding B road.

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

Originally Posted by Unknownsoldier

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

[Courant]

OK, missed those in my lunch-break speed read

Glad to hear cb500's opinion matches mine and I'm not just imagining things!

Courant

[Chris-B]

I think in this case, practicality would possible take precedence over ride quality.

In any case, I'm not planning on driving hard (don't get this confused with driving fast or speeding) with my daughter in the back.

Like I said at the start of the thread, I'll be using it mostly for to and from work, family shopping down the supermarket and the odd journey down the motorway.

If I can achieve sporty stylish looks along with getting the above done without hassle, then I guess the 5 door sport is what i'm looking for.

[Courant]

In which case, I'd definitely say 5-door, you also get the magic seats then which fold up in the back.

Courant

[Chris-B]

just a little bump to request some interior pictures of your lovely spaceships, preferably from the point of view through the rear doors or into the back from the front with the seats forward. I'm almost convincing my wife to let me get the Type S, it all really depends on the pictures now (no pressure). We can't go and visit the dealers simply because we're still in Cyprus and they don't do the same models here. They're all JDM Civics, the only Euro Civics you can get here are very low spec 5 door models (they don't call them the SE, Sport, ES and EX) and the EuroType-R.

[lippy]

Piccie of rear of 5 door with standard roses in back! Sorry not good quality - taken on phone last summer... Give you an idea on the height.

[ozzy]

I was in the Marines and got a nice discount with my Subaru insurance. It was always parked on base, so maybe the extra security was an added bonus

Still doesn't compare to the discount I get adding my wee old mum onto the policy

If you're young and have a girlfriend/boyfriend then a 3-dr. If you have kids or take passengers a lot, then 5-dr.

The novelty of looks will wear off pretty quickly if you need to constantly struggle with little ones in the back.

Stef

[Chris-B]

Well I think I've made my decision...

I'm going for the Diesel Type S, something happened this week that swung the deal for me

[robbo51]

Originally Posted by lippy

Piccie of rear of 5 door with standard roses in back! Sorry not good quality - taken on phone last summer... Give you an idea on the height.

The 3 door seat does this..apparantly..though less effective due to access

[zio]

Er... sorry I didn't get those pics uploaded. I was off sick the week before last and have been really, really busy with work ever since. I've taken some snaps and can upload them tonight though if still wanted?

[tigerfish66]

My 5 cents worth, I have a 5 door, i made the choice over a type S, reason being is that once or twice a week i have to visit my elderly parents to take them out for a meal or a family visit, 5 doors makes entry to the car a lot easier for older people, i have no kids so i cant comment further on that aspect.

[Robbieee]

Originally Posted by Chris-B

Well I think I've made my decision...

I'm going for the Diesel Type S, something happened this week that swung the deal for me

What happened that swung the deal?

[Chris-B]

Originally Posted by zio

Er... sorry I didn't get those pics uploaded. I was off sick the week before last and have been really, really busy with work ever since. I've taken some snaps and can upload them tonight though if still wanted?

yes please, i'd love some pics of the Type S, could you post some of the boot open with something in it for the sake of perspective, also some of the doors open with the front seats forward so I can see how much room there is to manouvre in.

Originally Posted by Robbieee

What happened that swung the deal?

Well, I still live in Cyprus and we come home in November for good. We've had loads of visits over the 3 years and I wanted our last summer out here all alone and peaceful. Wife agreed and that was that.

However, her mum got all upset the other day and more or less begged to come and visit us one last time. I stuck to my guns, until my missus said "lets make a deal, what do you want?" I told her that if her mum came out then I and I alone would have the ultimate choice of our car when we come back, so there we have it. I wanted the Type S in the first place, and only considered the 5 door for her sake.

[Unknownsoldier]

Well played my man

Tom

[NEEMSTAR]

Originally Posted by Chris-B

"lets make a deal, what do you want?" .

should have gone to town with that offer !!
good luck with the new car - you will love it

[FAL]

Slightly concerned to see a couple of posts suggesting a 5 door car is safer in the event of an accident compared to a 3 door. Just as with traditional 2 door vs 4 door cars, a 3 door body shell is fundamentally stronger/a more sound structure.

[robbo51]

Good choice..
Welcome to the 'Type S club'..