Options 3 or 5 doors? your opinions please.

[Chris-B]

I'm currently living in Cyprus with the RAF, I come home in November this year and I'm more or less decided on buying the new civic.

Only problem I'm having though, is deciding on how many doors I need. That's why I'm starting this thread.

Here's my situation: I'm married and have a daughter who will be 15 months old when I come to buy the car, a clean license held for over 7 years, 3 years NCB and will probably use the car every day to travel to work and one weekend per month motorway travelling to visit the family (distance will vary depending on where I get posted but there's no RAF Bases within at least 150 miles of the family)

Here's my question: I would personally prefer to get the 3 door Type S, however, based on the above information, what would you suggest? Is there a big enough difference between the two variants to swing me towards the 5 door over the 3?

One reason I ask is because I used to own a 51 plate Fiat Punto Sporting, and even though it was a 3 door I found the rear passenger area surprisingly roomy and very easily accessible, with tonnes of very usable space in the boot. When I had a lift of a friend in his 5 door punto I was surprised how small the whole thing felt compared to my own car.

Is this the same with the new civic, or will I need 5 doors if I have a small child?

[aslz78]

I've got a 5 door and im really happy with it. Buy saying that the back doors do get used a reasonable amount. If your not going to be using them a great deal then i would go for a Type S though, because it looks nicer.

I can take some photos of the side doors and back seats if you want to see how much space there is. (Although nobody's ever said they felt cramped)

[Chris-B]

That would be great if you could post some pictures, cheers. I myself am not going to be spending a great amount of time in the back seats, it will mostly be my little one in her car seat (ISO-Fix is a wonderful thing).

Yes I agree, the Type S does look so much better, and I've got my heart set on one but if there's anything to sway me otherwise I've very open minded.

[aslz78]

Ok, well i'll take a couple of photos tomorrow.

Futur french Civic rider
Thats the closest pictures i could find, seem to be quite rare to get pictures of the back seats.

Bear in mind aswell that the 3 doors dont have any memory if you slide the seat forward to get into the back though!

[angie4m]

I bought my Type R when I was expecting but that was for performance (coming from a Cooper S hence needed a bigger car) as I would of happily had a 5 door, but I really love the look of the 3 doors and when it came down to it I don't know if I could have brought myself to having a 5 door. There is loads of room in the back for getting in and out especially trying to get a child out of a seat in the back..........I'm sure you'll make the best choice in the end but when you do come to ordering it ask to try out a 3 and a 5 door and see what suits your needs best

[Chris-B]

Originally Posted by aslz78

Bear in mind aswell that the 3 doors dont have any memory if you slide the seat forward to get into the back though!

Yeah, I heard about that, but we generally put the car seat on the left hand side of the car. A few reasons really, 1) so the driver can see her in the mirror and 2) kerb side when driving the right way down the street, hence easier to load/unload the little one. That means that it will mostly be the passenger's seat that will be doing most of the moving forward and backwards.

[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.

[Coldwarkid]

You can have leather with a five door but not with a three door.

This is how I made my choice.

[defrece]

yep go for the 5 door!! i like the looks of the type-s but 5 door is loads more practicle! take them both for a test drive but i dont think you will find much (if any) difference in handling, speed etc.. so it does just come down to looks v practicality!!
(in my opinion)

[angie4m]

Plus leather is much, much easier to keep clean than cloth if you take this option! I had leather in the last car and trying to keep fabric clean is such a nightmare compared to vacume and wipe clean leather, especially with Kids!

[TTDegs]

bizzarely, I'm going to buck the trend here, and say 3

Given that your daughter is so young, it will be a good few years before she is going to be getting in and out by herself.

With that in mind - to put her in her seat in a 5 door, you are lifting her in from the side, and then having to reach over and around her for the straps.

With the 3 door, you put her in almost from the front, making it (I believe) much easier
Plus you don't have to worry about her playing with the window controls in the back

Really though, your best bet is to turn up at dealer with childseat and child, and give it a go

[TTDegs]

PS

Type S has semi-magic seats.
They do fold up, but have to be held in place with the seat belt, rather than the clever catch mechanism

[copland]

Been there done that, luckily where you are the weathers much better but trying to get kids out of car seats and straps whilst moving seats and being stood in the rain is not something i was prepared to do again. 5 door every time so much easier just ensure the child safety locks are on.

[cylon2007]

As you have kid/s get the 5 door. They look like a 3 door (as long as you aren't too close) but are far more pratical. Access to the back with rear doors ismuch better and you get the 'magic seat' which are ace.

[tpeachma]

5 door is certainly best for kids. couldn't have a Civic without them and will be best resale by far..

[Orschild]

For me a 3-d was never an option since I have 2 boys (1 and 4 yrs old). Even though the skirts of the Type S/R look really nice, but to compensate for that I went for the Image Pack instead.

I am fairly sure that I will not regret that. But as many already said, you should borrow a child and show up at the dealer to try. Best thing would be if you can borrow it for a whole day. Do some shopping and so...

[Chris-B]

Cheers guys, I'll take another look at the 5 door, just to see if it grows on me. I'd have to go for a really sporty 5 door though, just to compensate for not getting the Type S.

[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

[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.

[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