Another beauty on the Dutch road

RonaldV · 28th December 2006, 16:22

Hi all,

finally I’ve got some time to properly introduce myself. This year(2006) my company car, a Focus (previous model) TDCI reached 200000km. So I had to pick a new one. Since 2000 I drove a 90ps Focus and a 115ps Focus. In between, I had for a temporary car an grey Opel Astra station with no horsepower at all.

Anyway, after driven approximately 380000 km with a Focus with lots of pleasure, I first went to the Ford dealer. But, for how long I looked, I could not like the car. The new edge design, which was such a revolution when the first focus came, is replaced with a forty in a dozen design. The dash however, looked more mature, and the handling of the car was even better as the Focus 1. Maybe, with 18” wheels and the MS Design kit …….
Then I went to Seat for the Leon, a great car to look at. The problem is, it’s only great from the outside. When in the drivers seat, you have to look at a boring empty dash, even in the Sport-Up which is not exactly the cheapest model. I did not make a test drive, refusing to watch the dashJ
Then the new Civic. Remembering great years at the backseat when my father drove Civics in the late eighties and the early nineties. Not the cheapest cars, but always a superb handling and no problems at all.
Finally, they put a nice diesel engine in the Civic, instead of the one they bought from Opel. Unfortunately Honda went away from the double wishbone suspension. The result is understeer. They compensated the understeer with 225 tires, but still, the handling is not as neutral as my Focus was. The shocks were a real disappointment. Driving a fast 90 degree corner, the nose went up and down a few times. I drove three Civics, and the all had the same problem although the petrol car nodded a bit less. I also missed some well thought details from my Focus as well. The central locking, one click for opening they drivers door, two times for unlocking all doors and a separate button for the boot. The new Focus even has more useful gadgets as, closing all windows and folding mirrors by remote control. So if I made a sensible decision I now was driving my third Focus. But I just could not resist the looks from the new Civic. The outside and the inside, everything looks great. For the finishing touch I mounted the Storm wheels. Far too expensive, but such beauties. After waiting for about 8 months, I now drive a black Civic Sport with 18” Storm wheels and xenon since October. Luckily I had to wait because now I’ve got the 2007 model which has slightly better shocks.
I did not regret my decision once, even though the quality of the car is a bit disapointing. When I look at my car, I forgive it everything and just want to drive again.
Some of the problems I can solve now thanks to this great site, keep up the good work!!

Best wishes for 2007,

Ronald

sco77harris · 28th December 2006, 21:11

i like

Don Leone · 28th December 2006, 23:32

Good choice and welcome to the forum.

czechplastik · 30th December 2006, 10:16

Hey Ronald, welcome, car looks sharp!

hondaatje · 30th December 2006, 12:06

welcome to the forum!!

Fedorov · 30th December 2006, 17:00

Welcome Ronald, I was close to going for a Focus but like you didn't like the new shape even though some of the features are better, the Civic is just so much more fun to look at and drive.

Meino · 3rd January 2007, 13:53

Not just another beauty on the dutch roads, but a NHB beauty

Velocity · 5th January 2007, 08:34

Hello and welcome, a great choice.

28th December 2006, 16:22	#1 (permalink)
RonaldV Valve Cap Join Date: 5th December 2006 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Another beauty on the Dutch road Hi all, finally I’ve got some time to properly introduce myself. This year(2006) my company car, a Focus (previous model) TDCI reached 200000km. So I had to pick a new one. Since 2000 I drove a 90ps Focus and a 115ps Focus. In between, I had for a temporary car an grey Opel Astra station with no horsepower at all. Anyway, after driven approximately 380000 km with a Focus with lots of pleasure, I first went to the Ford dealer. But, for how long I looked, I could not like the car. The new edge design, which was such a revolution when the first focus came, is replaced with a forty in a dozen design. The dash however, looked more mature, and the handling of the car was even better as the Focus 1. Maybe, with 18” wheels and the MS Design kit ……. Then I went to Seat for the Leon, a great car to look at. The problem is, it’s only great from the outside. When in the drivers seat, you have to look at a boring empty dash, even in the Sport-Up which is not exactly the cheapest model. I did not make a test drive, refusing to watch the dashJ Then the new Civic. Remembering great years at the backseat when my father drove Civics in the late eighties and the early nineties. Not the cheapest cars, but always a superb handling and no problems at all. Finally, they put a nice diesel engine in the Civic, instead of the one they bought from Opel. Unfortunately Honda went away from the double wishbone suspension. The result is understeer. They compensated the understeer with 225 tires, but still, the handling is not as neutral as my Focus was. The shocks were a real disappointment. Driving a fast 90 degree corner, the nose went up and down a few times. I drove three Civics, and the all had the same problem although the petrol car nodded a bit less. I also missed some well thought details from my Focus as well. The central locking, one click for opening they drivers door, two times for unlocking all doors and a separate button for the boot. The new Focus even has more useful gadgets as, closing all windows and folding mirrors by remote control. So if I made a sensible decision I now was driving my third Focus. But I just could not resist the looks from the new Civic. The outside and the inside, everything looks great. For the finishing touch I mounted the Storm wheels. Far too expensive, but such beauties. After waiting for about 8 months, I now drive a black Civic Sport with 18” Storm wheels and xenon since October. Luckily I had to wait because now I’ve got the 2007 model which has slightly better shocks. I did not regret my decision once, even though the quality of the car is a bit disapointing. When I look at my car, I forgive it everything and just want to drive again. Some of the problems I can solve now thanks to this great site, keep up the good work!! Best wishes for 2007, Ronald Last edited by RonaldV; 28th December 2006 at 16:35. Reason: adding a picture

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This thread is about: Another beauty on the Dutch road, it's in Introduce yourself at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Hi all, finally I’ve got some time to properly introduce myself. This year(2006) my company car, a Focus (previous model) TDCI reached 200000km. So I ...

28th December 2006, 21:11	#2 (permalink)
sco77harris Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 5th June 2006 Location: stanmore london Posts: 978 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	i like

28th December 2006, 23:32	#3 (permalink)
Don Leone Valve Cap Join Date: 23rd November 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Good choice and welcome to the forum.

30th December 2006, 10:16	#4 (permalink)
czechplastik King of the rodeo Civinfo guru Join Date: 24th October 2006 Location: Belfast Posts: 4,671 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Hey Ronald, welcome, car looks sharp!

30th December 2006, 12:06	#5 (permalink)
hondaatje Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 30th November 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 272 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	welcome to the forum!!

30th December 2006, 17:00	#6 (permalink)
Fedorov Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 15th April 2006 Posts: 783 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Welcome Ronald, I was close to going for a Focus but like you didn't like the new shape even though some of the features are better, the Civic is just so much more fun to look at and drive.

3rd January 2007, 13:53	#7 (permalink)
Meino Supporter Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 18th October 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 474 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Not just another beauty on the dutch roads, but a NHB beauty

5th January 2007, 08:34	#8 (permalink)
Velocity Supporter Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 21st August 2006 Location: Rotherham Posts: 343 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Hello and welcome, a great choice.