Part ex Should I partex?

[generationgav]

I know that you're not really going to be able to answer me exactly, but want all of your thoughts, good and bad.

My original car (1.4 SE) was an ex-demo when the Civic first came out, I've had no END of problems with the car! So I've been looking at trading it in. Almost just to see how much I can get for it, by FAR my best offered deal is a 1.8 Type-S GT, I-shift, 9 months old with 3,000 miles on the clock.

Now after all of the problems I've had I'm not overly secure about getting another Civic but also it's the best deal I've had for the nicest car, most other cars I've fancied I struggle to fit in (I'm 6ft 4) and the Civic is by far the comfiest I've tried! (and the Jazz, worryingly)
So has anybody had any experience of owning an older and newer civic and what are peoples thoughts?
Also what do people think about owning an IShift if they've never come close to touching an automatic, I'm a touch worried but would it be easy to use for somebody who likes a clutch?

Need to decide what to do tomorrow really!! Meep.

[allan40alt]

Well my 1.8 EX i-Shift is coming up to 2 years old and hasn't given me any problems, apart from recently having the battery replaced.

I've had the various mods done, each of them was not really giving me a problem, but I figured they must be necessary otherwise they wouldn't recommend having them done.

Newer cars will already have had these done from the start.

Would I have another? Definitely. It's one of the most versatile and economical cars on the road today.

[pcr]

Sorry to say this Gav, but why do you think the deal is so good on the Type-S, maybe somebody's had problems with it, like you with yours.

Have you tried the Auris, that would be my choice at the moment ?. You couldn't pay me to have another Civic.

[HappyMan]

This may help you with the I-shift topic:

i Shift change - new software

and

i-Shift? - Read this.......

Happy Reading

[generationgav]

Cheers for all your comments.

To be honest, the price of the car isn't an amazing deal, it's what they'll part-ex mine for which is and he offered me that on any car. None of the other (non Honda) dealers will give me anywhere near the same for my car.

[allan40alt]

I think many non-Honda dealers simply phone their local Honda dealer to get a price. They then knock off a percentage so they make a profit and, of course, the Honda dealer wants to make his profit as well; leaving you the loser.

If you are happy with the new car and the package then why not give it a go? It's not like you're buying new with the huge depreciation involved.

PS: Why not ask the salesman to pull up the service records for you and let you know what work (if any) has been done on the new car.

[cb550]

Originally Posted by generationgav

I know that you're not really going to be able to answer me exactly, but want all of your thoughts, good and bad.

My original car (1.4 SE) was an ex-demo when the Civic first came out, I've had no END of problems with the car! So I've been looking at trading it in. Almost just to see how much I can get for it, by FAR my best offered deal is a 1.8 Type-S GT, I-shift, 9 months old with 3,000 miles on the clock.

Now after all of the problems I've had I'm not overly secure about getting another Civic but also it's the best deal I've had for the nicest car, most other cars I've fancied I struggle to fit in (I'm 6ft 4) and the Civic is by far the comfiest I've tried! (and the Jazz, worryingly)
So has anybody had any experience of owning an older and newer civic and what are peoples thoughts?
Also what do people think about owning an IShift if they've never come close to touching an automatic, I'm a touch worried but would it be easy to use for somebody who likes a clutch?

Need to decide what to do tomorrow really!! Meep.

Do you actually want an I shift? I'm on my second civic(both diesels)The first creaked a bit from the glass roof,and the Type S I have really,is a cracker-more refined than the previous ES 5 door.I would have another a third time and it would be a 3 door Type S diesel or poss. Type R

[Willie]

Hi generationgav,
I had an 06 1.8 SE which, although I liked, had loads of problems. I part exchanged it for a new 07 1.8 SE and haven't regreted the change.

[ahar]

I try not to buy cars from new due to the depreciation. Currently have a second hand 1.8 EX and pretty happy with it.

I've always thought that a nearly new car is less likely to have issues as the first owner will have got them mostly sorted. If you get one with some warranty remaining then you're also covered for anything that pops up in the near future

[Willie]

Originally Posted by ahar

I try not to buy cars from new due to the depreciation. Currently have a second hand 1.8 EX and pretty happy with it.

I've always thought that a nearly new car is less likely to have issues as the first owner will have got them mostly sorted. If you get one with some warranty remaining then you're also covered for anything that pops up in the near future

That could well have been the case with the 06 I part exchanged. Perhaps I got all the problems fixed, however I do know that, with all the recalls and other dealer visits with the car, (15 in total) that a lot of work was done. I don't think that was a good thing, with so many things taken apart and rebuilt, broken clips, missing screws, resprays etc.

[ants073]

I have an '06 SE ishift, ex demo, When I bought the car I was told due to the weight of the car the 1.8 has as good as (if not slightly better) fuel economy than the 1.4. As long as the ishift software upgrade has been done I'll have another.

Did your problems on your 1.4 SE get sorted under warrenty?

[FergusTheDog]

You could not pay me enough to have a Toyota - ANY Toyota.....

Everyone drives a statistical sample of one. You can't generalise that the Auris is better than the Civic or indeed any car is better than any other based on one of each. All you can say is that you prefer the Auris to the Civic.

Good luck, in my experience (statistical sample of one) Toyotas are nasty, overpriced and unreliable pieces of tin and the dealers are penny-pinching and unhelpful.

[generationgav]

Originally Posted by ants073

I have an '06 SE ishift, ex demo, When I bought the car I was told due to the weight of the car the 1.8 has as good as (if not slightly better) fuel economy than the 1.4. As long as the ishift software upgrade has been done I'll have another.

Did your problems on your 1.4 SE get sorted under warrenty?

From what I've seen on here, the 1.8 has about identical real world fuel economy to the 1.4. On paper it's slightly less, but I work it out to be 30miles per tank, I'm not going to fuss about that!!

Originally Posted by allan40alt

I think many non-Honda dealers simply phone their local Honda dealer to get a price.
PS: Why not ask the salesman to pull up the service records for you and let you know what work (if any) has been done on the new car.

Ah, that might be a point! To be honest I thought it's because Honda could just get rid of the car easier. I have to say that I could still get another car, but I just don't like any as much, I LOVE driving and owning a Civic when it's working well, but it's been so unreliable that at points it's almost jepordised my job (a bit drastic, but when you have to cancel an important meeting because you're on the hard shoulder it doesn't look good)

Originally Posted by cb550

Do you actually want an I shift? I'm on my second civic(both diesels)The first creaked a bit from the glass roof,and the Type S I have really,is a cracker-more refined than the previous ES 5 door.I would have another a third time and it would be a 3 door Type S diesel or poss. Type R

I'm really not sure, I've alway kind of wanted flappy padal gearbox, but not sure if it's more for gimmick reason. I know the downsides of it such as the lack of control/accellaration which I'm not too fussed about, my only worry is not having a clutch and just how I'm going to feel using it as I've never driven anything but a manual!
I'd love the Diesel but the finances just don't work for it. Same with most other cars I like (I'd still prefer a fully loaded Alfa Romeo 147 - but the budget just doesn't stretch)

Most of my issues have been fixed under warranty, there's one which I've paid ALOT for (clutch burnt out) which is another reason to get an Ishift and there's one which is ongoing (fuel cut out switch going) which Honda can't find.

[allan40alt]

I love the i-Shift. Best of both Worlds as you can change gear with the stick or paddles or just leave it in auto. You can change between driving styles whilst on the move as well. Great fun.

[generationgav]

Originally Posted by allan40alt

I love the i-Shift. Best of both Worlds as you can change gear with the stick or paddles or just leave it in auto. You can change between driving styles whilst on the move as well. Great fun.

Did you drive an auto or a manual before the i-Shift? I'm more worried about not having a clutch for tight manuvering, going to feel silly poss just asking how to get it going on the test drive.

Got a list of demands for the dealer anyway!!

[allan40alt]

Immediately prior to my Civic I had a manual Mini Cooper S Works, but all my cars prior to that were automatics.

The i-Shift has the same clutch as the manual, it's just that the computer operates it for you and changes gear etc (very clever box of tricks!).

You can still 'creep' to manoeuvre in tight spots, just release the brake slightly and you move.

My previous autos were the standard type of operation, but this one is much more fun.

[generationgav]

Quite like the i-Shift and the 1.8, however still not completely convinced about the harder ride of the Type-S and unfortunately the dealer couldn't get me quotes for some items I wanted to look at, including matts! Not sure how much to push for a discount on these though. Not keen on paying £85 for matts and a stupid amount for bluetooth but we'll see come Monday, currently nothing signed too anyway.

[allan40alt]

Gg, this Jabra SP5050 is a very good, basic, handsfree unit.

I got one each for the women in my life (Wife, Daughter and Daughter-In-Law).

All of them say it works brilliantly. None of them though are using it for business.

You can see some details here:

Amazon.co.uk: JABRA SP5050 - Bluetooth hands-free speakerphone: Electronics & Photo

...and there's more details here on the Jabra site:

Jabra SP5050 - Bluetooth speakerphone for your car and confernce calling

[rmh999]

Originally Posted by generationgav

I'm really not sure, I've alway kind of wanted flappy padal gearbox, but not sure if it's more for gimmick reason. I know the downsides of it such as the lack of control/accellaration which I'm not too fussed about, my only worry is not having a clutch and just how I'm going to feel using it as I've never driven anything but a manual!

Most of my issues have been fixed under warranty, there's one which I've paid ALOT for (clutch burnt out) which is another reason to get an Ishift and there's one which is ongoing (fuel cut out switch going) which Honda can't find.

Firstly have you tried getting a dealer to do you an extended test drive in an ishift ?

Secondly its an automated clutch system so would not remove the possiblilty of the clutch issue - and in my experience (2 days) it was OK but nothing like the expensive paddle shifts - it was OK for relaxed driving but very woolly when pushed

[generationgav]

Originally Posted by rmh999

Firstly have you tried getting a dealer to do you an extended test drive in an ishift ?

Secondly its an automated clutch system so would not remove the possiblilty of the clutch issue - and in my experience (2 days) it was OK but nothing like the expensive paddle shifts - it was OK for relaxed driving but very woolly when pushed

Nope, I know it's not going to remove the possibility of a clutch issue, but it will remove a possibility of my driving being the issue and would be interesting to see how my driving style works with it.
To be honest, I'm not going to push it to it's limit, I've only got a 1.4 now and not the kind to really be hammering it anyway.