Build Quality

[montymole1]

I have a question, How does the build quality compare to say a Golf gti ?

I have owned 2 of the last civic type r's and was always happyish....but moving to ze germans seemed to be a step up with the general feel of the car....

Eg, you windows are halfway down and the road is bumpy...old civic window rattled...golf does not...!

golf has thicker body pannels...old civic seemed abit thinner...

The only reason i ask is i am waiting for my new type r...and was wondering if there is a big improvement ?

[Bungle]

I don't have the R, but the build quality seems fine on my 1.8 5 door and is of usual Honda standards. Most reviews make a big point about the fit and finish of the Civic.
How does it compare to VWs? No idea, I have never spent more than a few minutes in one (thanfully. They are incredibly dull) so have no basis for comparison.

[FWH]

General opinion is that the new Civic is a step down in build quality from previous generations of Civic.

[montymole1]

A step down....? that's quite a suprise !

[medicsource]

Originally Posted by FWH

General opinion is that the new Civic is a step down in build quality from previous generations of Civic.

But one giant leap forward in the aesthetic department!!!

[FWH]

Originally Posted by medicsource

But one giant leap forward in the aesthetic department!!!

Oh yes!

I ordered a Civic despite having read of some of the quality issues on this forum because:

1) Most other new cars are no better.
People have problems with some cars from Volvo, Merecedes, VW, BMW etc etc

2) This is the best looking, coolest, best driving car for this kind of money / in this size.

I wanted a "small" car with decent mpg but wouldnt be caught dead in a Golf, Corolla or Focus or something. For me the alternatives were Merc A-class or BMW 1-series, but the Civic is just better value for money.

And we get this great forum!

[montymole1]

oooowww well i denfinatley agree that it's the best for price and size no problems there...just supprised...

The golf is a little boring in it's looks I agree but does drive well and built well... but is more espensive... I guess thats why it WAS number one hatch for a while...and i guess thats why I am now changeing to the current number 1 ...CTR

[mouse123]

i used to own a skoda octavia Rs and i have to say the build was better on that than my honda , however i have to say in hondas defence the engines are bullet proof, i have owned honda bikes and have happily revved the t**s off em and they have not put a foot wrong

[rtypeblack]

Build quality on the ctr is not great. Had mine 2 months and 1200 miles and the passenger door card has come off and the interior rear quarter panel has also fallen off! Dealer is sorting under warranty

[malett]

I dont have the CTR either, but having come from a Renault and 4 Skoda's, I am not overly impressed with the Civic (1.8 EX 5Door) so far. Seems to have quite a few rattles from all over the cabin .

[FergusTheDog]

The build quality is fine, much better than my previous Volvo and better than the Golf I was also considering. There are some "perceived quality" issues, the dash plastics don't scream "high quality" and the doors could be sound-deadened to go "clunk" but this is a very well screwed together car. Go back to a late 90s Audi or early 90s MB (which were very over engineered) and maybe not so good but in terms of today's cars better than most I'd say.

[FWH]

Originally Posted by FergusTheDog

The build quality is fine, much better than my previous Volvo and better than the Golf I was also considering. There are some "perceived quality" issues, the dash plastics don't scream "high quality" and the doors could be sound-deadened to go "clunk" but this is a very well screwed together car.

Yes, important note. There is a differance between "actual quality" (reliability) and "perceived quality" (premium feeling).
I would say that the exterior at least lacks in "perceived quality" for me, like the front door handles (though they look nice from a visual perspective the feeling is not too good).
Regarding "actual quality" the only "breakdowns" of any magnitude at all are flat batteries in some cases (see poll on the subject). Other than that it is mostly noisy this and noisy that kind of problems. Not like you need a tow to the garage once a month.

Originally Posted by FergusTheDog

Go back to a late 90s Audi or early 90s MB (which were very over engineered) and maybe not so good but in terms of today's cars better than most I'd say.

How true! I have a ´92 MB E-class with leather and stuff. They just don´t make them like that any more. 15 years old and still solid as a rock. Straight six power and as close to zero mpg as you can get!
And beautifully over-engineered, from the time when accountant were just about accepted in Stuttgart, rather than in management.

[thespacecowboy]

Well I have a golf at the moment, (mk 4). Most people on the golf forums say the mkiv and mkv quality is nowhere near as good as mkiii, and VW play on the "perceived" quality by reducing it and still charging a premium.

Don't pick up my CTR until Sep 1st, so will have to see what the quality is like

My mkiv golf has been very reliable with only minor issues (bought it at 60k miles, now on 110k).

[3rd Honda]

Compared to previous Hondas, this Civic build is much poorer. Poor paint, poor trim fit, poor rattles, electronic 'bugs', poor radios. poor handsfree implementation .... etc.

Whether VW, Audi, BMW etc are as bad ......... I've no idea, but all have various complaints, and various praises detailed on sites such as What Car

[THX1138]

The most obvious quality issue is the rear suspension and tailgate. Other then that the quality is the same as on previous Civic's I've had. Type-R's ride is rough so you hear some extra noise, besides the RPM's. Just turn up the radio a bit more and you'll do fine.

But it's still not up to the level of japanese built Honda's. If you even sit down in an S2000 you really do see the difference. But the S2000 is off course not your average car anyway.

[titan1981]

The quality is very poor. I have problems in the gearbox, the dealer change the 2nd/3rd synchronize but the problems are still there. I have a lots plastics doing noise and until broken. Also the architecture of the suspension is very simple just in order to be cheap but not refined.

For me the best part is the engine, is amazing. But a car is much more than an engine.

The Honda Accord is definetly much better in quality terms, I think because is made in Japan.

It's perhaps my last honda. If I bought an Honda again, it would be made in Japan.

[samuel090180]

Originally Posted by FWH

General opinion is that the new Civic is a step down in build quality from previous generations of Civic.

that because it is made in britain...

[PTR]

General opinion is that the new Civic is a step down in build quality from previous generations of Civic.

For me the best part is the engine, is amazing. But a car is much more than an engine.

The Honda Accord is definetly much better in quality terms, I think because is made in Japan.

It's perhaps my last honda. If I bought an Honda again, it would be made in Japan.

It's very sad but I can confirm and 100% agree with the comments! :S

[czechplastik]

I think this is a general trend as manufacturers seek to cut costs and save money, ultimately it filters down to the customers. If you want the highest quality materials you have to pay for it.

The plastics around the footwells and doors on the Civic looks really cheap. I regret not choosing leather as the seats now look a bit tired, but at the same time I'm reasonably confident that nothing will fall off during my ownership.

Spent today driving a huge Landrover defender, it was the most solid thing I've ever been in.

[montymole1]

hmmm sound like my golf mkv gti is going to be missed in the quality dept, but not in the engine dept.... well at least i know what i am letting myself in 4...