Another newbie

Kremmen · 7th January 2007, 07:23

Morning

This is the year that I intend to change cars.

Currently tooling around in a Jan 2004 Lexus IS200 SE Auto. However, whilst it is a superb vehicle it will be approaching 4 years old at the end of this year and it needs to be replaced.

Having looked around I am leaning towards a Civic EX i-shift for a September delivery.

As a result I will be visiting here regularly to keep up to date.

allan40alt · 7th January 2007, 08:06

Hi Kremmen, and welcome. The i-Shift Civic is an excellent choice.

I've had 2 LS400 and an LS430. I miss the big Lekky

but not as much as I thought I would

when I decided to take early retirement. I looked at the IS200 but the Civic had the edge for ride and comfort, and so many nice features in the EX. I love it.

Kremmen · 7th January 2007, 08:49

Some might say that the new IS250 would be the logical next choice but I have had 2 of them as courtesy cars and.......................yuk.

1) Too big a footprint
2) Rattles (the Lexus Owners Club Forum is full of IS250 rattle issues)
3) Rearview mirror vibrates (again, well documented on the forum)
4) And the worst saved till last - foot operated handbrake that requires you to be a contortionist.

terry · 7th January 2007, 19:33

I guess the car was designed with USA in mind, where a foot operated handbrake is pretty common, then re-engineered from left hand drive to right hand drive so the position had to be compromised to minimise changes.
Unless you mean that you have a handbrake in between the seats and you have to use your foot to operate it.....in which case you would definately need to be a contortionist!

Kremmen · 8th January 2007, 07:13

Nope, the awkward handbrake is only on the auto models, manual ones get a proper handbrake that is therefore easy to operate at traffic lights etc.

I kept findinf that to operate the footbrake I was banging my left knee on the underside of the steering wheel, not good.

Kremmen · 9th January 2007, 10:34

Not looking too good at the moment.

Visited dealer who has offered me £2,350 less for my car than Glass's guide price at the moment.

This figure was to refect the likely drop in residuals between now and September. Funnily enough the salesman and manager both complimented me on the condition so that's not the issue.

According to Glass's a model one year older than mine is estimated currently at £1K more than offered so that doesn't wash.

I've given them another go

Maldax · 9th January 2007, 22:54

Hi Kremmen, You are going to the the EX i-Shift. Once you have had it a week you will never look back

Lexie · 9th January 2007, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maldax

Hi Kremmen, You are going to the the EX i-Shift. Once you have had it a week you will never look back

I got to test drive my model for 3 hours the other day and I wanted to steal it!! Was warned off i-Shifts but can't comment as I haven't actually driven one. They seem to have mixed reviews. However, I think that we can all safely say that if you've chosen a Civic, you're already ahead of the rest. Welcome Kremmen. Prepare to become a net geek!!

Kremmen · 10th January 2007, 07:10

Thanks for the replies again but my local dealer has given me an unacceptable quote so far.

£2.3K less for my car than what Glass's are currently listing.

Take into account the 6 month lead time for the i-shift and I reckon that still leaves me £1.5K adrift (max)

l-noel · 10th January 2007, 07:34

Hi Kremmen,

Hope you will get what you're looking for... I was so happy when my dealer accept to take back my old car at a descent price... I dont want to bother reselling my car on the private maket.

You have done a good chaoice with the I-Shift, my only regrets with mine 2.2 I-CDTI is that i cannot have this magic gearbox !

As others said to you, be prepared to spend more time here that you have planned before !

Have a nice day

Kremmen · 10th January 2007, 11:23

It's already addictive.

Just waiting for the dealer to give a recalculated price on a Jan 2004 Lexus IS200 SE Auto.

I think £8k was a tad low

Maldax · 10th January 2007, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexie

I got to test drive my model for 3 hours the other day and I wanted to steal it!! Was warned off i-Shifts but can't comment as I haven't actually driven one. They seem to have mixed reviews. However, I think that we can all safely say that if you've chosen a Civic, you're already ahead of the rest. Welcome Kremmen. Prepare to become a net geek!!

I think the only bad reviews are from people who have not had one long enough! I am surprised you were warned off! was that a dealer?

Lexie · 10th January 2007, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maldax

I think the only bad reviews are from people who have not had one long enough! I am surprised you were warned off! was that a dealer?

Yes it was a dealer but he is actually a very good friend of mine too. Very honest and wouldn't let me commit to buying one for 2 weeks, until he was sure that I could a) afford it b) had chosen the right one for me and c) that he was sure that I wasn't just making some rash purchase!! Then he threw in a few freebies, gave me a good price for my old car and gave me £500 off the new one!!

Thinking of adding an image pack to it tho, since I have seen Andy M's in the Gallery...

Kremmen · 10th January 2007, 13:01

From what I have learned the i-shifts are in great demand and that is where the current delay is (6 months).

If the dealer can persuade you to go manual then the turnaround is quicker and they get their dosh sooner.

Lexie · 10th January 2007, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kremmen

From what I have learned the i-shifts are in great demand and that is where the current delay is (6 months).

If the dealer can persuade you to go manual then the turnaround is quicker and they get their dosh sooner.

I wouldn't have minded waiting 6 months - no honestly!! lol - 2 is long enough!!

Maldax · 10th January 2007, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexie

Thinking of adding an image pack to it tho, since I have seen Andy M's in the Gallery...

It's a slow slippery slope

Then you will need to have 18" Storms to finish off the look

I was going for the Image Pack in the end went for Storms instead as the Image Pack would put me over budget

and the wife told me I was having a midlife crisis! (She could be right

)

allan40alt · 10th January 2007, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexie

I got to test drive my model for 3 hours the other day and I wanted to steal it!! Was warned off i-Shifts but can't comment as I haven't actually driven one. They seem to have mixed reviews. However, I think that we can all safely say that if you've chosen a Civic, you're already ahead of the rest. Welcome Kremmen. Prepare to become a net geek!!

One of the best cars I have ever driven. The i-Shift is excellent and versatile. Salesmen do not get long enough to drive them to appreciate the system.

Lexie · 10th January 2007, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maldax

It's a slow slippery slope

Then you will need to have 18" Storms to finish off the look

I was going for the Image Pack in the end went for Storms instead as the Image Pack would put me over budget

and the wife told me I was having a midlife crisis! (She could be right

)

I don't have a wife but my inner bank manager

has told me I can't really afford the image pack - at £1500 it's a bit steep. That's the trouble with this site. Loads of people have all sorts of added extras but I'll have to make do with mats and a wheel!!! I'll fit the blue interior lights myself instead of spending £200. And I'll get a Civifo sticker.

Maybe next time, in 2 years when I chop the car in for another Civic, I'll have a better car allowance and can get an upgraded model...

Kremmen · 10th January 2007, 16:17

Have reduced my initial changeover price by £1,800

= more than likely ordering tomorrow.

Seem to reckon Apr/May is likely ?

Maldax · 10th January 2007, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexie

I don't have a wife but my inner bank manager

has told me I can't really afford the image pack - at £1500 it's a bit steep. That's the trouble with this site. Loads of people have all sorts of added extras but I'll have to make do with mats and a wheel!!! I'll fit the blue interior lights myself instead of spending £200. And I'll get a Civifo sticker.

Maybe next time, in 2 years when I chop the car in for another Civic, I'll have a better car allowance and can get an upgraded model...

I'm stuck with mine for 3! Stuck!.... Like it's a bad thing

7th January 2007, 07:23	#1 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,840 Thanks: 13 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts iTrader: (0)	Another newbie Morning This is the year that I intend to change cars. Currently tooling around in a Jan 2004 Lexus IS200 SE Auto. However, whilst it is a superb vehicle it will be approaching 4 years old at the end of this year and it needs to be replaced. Having looked around I am leaning towards a Civic EX i-shift for a September delivery. As a result I will be visiting here regularly to keep up to date.

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This thread is about: Another newbie, it's in Introduce yourself at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Morning This is the year that I intend to change cars. Currently tooling around in a Jan 2004 Lexus IS200 SE Auto. However, whilst it ...

7th January 2007, 08:06	#2 (permalink)
allan40alt Supporter Civinfo guru Join Date: 6th August 2006 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire. Posts: 2,255 Thanks: 12 Thanked 33 Times in 31 Posts iTrader: (0)	Hi Kremmen, and welcome. The i-Shift Civic is an excellent choice. I've had 2 LS400 and an LS430. I miss the big Lekky but not as much as I thought I would when I decided to take early retirement. I looked at the IS200 but the Civic had the edge for ride and comfort, and so many nice features in the EX. I love it.

7th January 2007, 08:49	#3 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,840 Thanks: 13 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts iTrader: (0)	Some might say that the new IS250 would be the logical next choice but I have had 2 of them as courtesy cars and.......................yuk. 1) Too big a footprint 2) Rattles (the Lexus Owners Club Forum is full of IS250 rattle issues) 3) Rearview mirror vibrates (again, well documented on the forum) 4) And the worst saved till last - foot operated handbrake that requires you to be a contortionist.

7th January 2007, 19:33	#4 (permalink)
terry Supporter Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 24th September 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 333 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I guess the car was designed with USA in mind, where a foot operated handbrake is pretty common, then re-engineered from left hand drive to right hand drive so the position had to be compromised to minimise changes. Unless you mean that you have a handbrake in between the seats and you have to use your foot to operate it.....in which case you would definately need to be a contortionist!

8th January 2007, 07:13	#5 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,840 Thanks: 13 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts iTrader: (0)	Nope, the awkward handbrake is only on the auto models, manual ones get a proper handbrake that is therefore easy to operate at traffic lights etc. I kept findinf that to operate the footbrake I was banging my left knee on the underside of the steering wheel, not good.

9th January 2007, 10:34	#6 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,840 Thanks: 13 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts iTrader: (0)	Not looking too good at the moment. Visited dealer who has offered me £2,350 less for my car than Glass's guide price at the moment. This figure was to refect the likely drop in residuals between now and September. Funnily enough the salesman and manager both complimented me on the condition so that's not the issue. According to Glass's a model one year older than mine is estimated currently at £1K more than offered so that doesn't wash. I've given them another go

9th January 2007, 22:54	#7 (permalink)
Maldax Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 12th June 2006 Location: Reading, Berks Posts: 1,050 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Hi Kremmen, You are going to the the EX i-Shift. Once you have had it a week you will never look back

10th January 2007, 07:10	#9 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,840 Thanks: 13 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the replies again but my local dealer has given me an unacceptable quote so far. £2.3K less for my car than what Glass's are currently listing. Take into account the 6 month lead time for the i-shift and I reckon that still leaves me £1.5K adrift (max)

10th January 2007, 07:34	#10 (permalink)
l-noel Wine and cooking ! Rocketship door handle Join Date: 5th December 2006 Location: Roanne-France Posts: 1,316 Thanks: 4 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts iTrader: (0)	Hi Kremmen, Hope you will get what you're looking for... I was so happy when my dealer accept to take back my old car at a descent price... I dont want to bother reselling my car on the private maket. You have done a good chaoice with the I-Shift, my only regrets with mine 2.2 I-CDTI is that i cannot have this magic gearbox ! As others said to you, be prepared to spend more time here that you have planned before ! Have a nice day

10th January 2007, 11:23	#11 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,840 Thanks: 13 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts iTrader: (0)	It's already addictive. Just waiting for the dealer to give a recalculated price on a Jan 2004 Lexus IS200 SE Auto. I think £8k was a tad low

10th January 2007, 13:01	#14 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,840 Thanks: 13 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts iTrader: (0)	From what I have learned the i-shifts are in great demand and that is where the current delay is (6 months). If the dealer can persuade you to go manual then the turnaround is quicker and they get their dosh sooner.

10th January 2007, 16:17	#19 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,840 Thanks: 13 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts iTrader: (0)	Have reduced my initial changeover price by £1,800 = more than likely ordering tomorrow. Seem to reckon Apr/May is likely ?