Hey chaps,
Since 08/2008 we own a 1.4 i-DSi Civic hatch. The looks were futuristic and never seen on any other vehicule. The handling was really good and sporty. I can only think of 2 downsides on this car. It's poor paint quality and the cheap and squeeky plastics used in the interior.
In January 2012 I started working at another place. I'm now a .NET Consultant, with being a consultant mostly comes the benefit of a company car. I started with a car that was available on the parking lot, which was a Peugeot 308 SW. I can be short on that one... The only positive thing this heap of metal had, was space. Excitement, comfort and road handling were simply not present.
Luckily the Peugeot was at the end of it's contract this year in march. So I got to choose a new car. Normally we'd had to choose between VW-group (Golf, Octavia, A3) or BMW (1-series). All of those cars could not turn me on in any way (apart from the 1-series, but it's small for a household with 2 kiddo's). After a lot of lobbying I was able to convince my boss to let my Honda dealer make an offer for a Honda Civic Tourer, which was not even being produced at that moment.
After my boss noticed this car was really complete, sat nav, aircon, low mpg, a lot of space, ... for it's price, he would let me order it. It's the 1.6 i-DTEC Sport (don't know what abbreviation you guys use for this version)
I didn't have to wait very long for the delivery. 5 or 6 week between placing the order and delivery of the car. Last friday I got the phone call my car was ready for pick up. It was the very first time I saw the Tourer in real life.
I must say that it looks 100 times better in real life than on pictures. The standard rims are nicely finished, the curved lines are refined and the Twilight Blue Metallic paint is a cracking colour. The rear end looks better than the hatch's bum imo.
The interior feels firm and quality materials have been used. The driver seat position is perfect, dails, menu's and SD navigition is fast and intuitive. The sound quality from the speakers is good. Magics seat are really handy and the boot is simply massive. I've checked the Octavia break, Focus Clipper and they don't even touch the Civic's toe nails
.
For passengers in the rear there is enough space, but I think it's a bit narrower compared to my 8th gen hatch (I could be mistaking though). It just feels like it.
Now enough about the exterior and interior esthetics. As I've driven the previous gen of Civic, I'd like to start with a little comparison between the 8th gen hatch and the 9th gen Tourer. The ride in the 9th is a lot smoother, where the 8th was bone hard and extremely responsive the 9th gen feels much more civilized. Personally I prefer the 8th handling, but I can imagine 98% of the population would prefer the 9th's handling.
The engine in my Tourer is the 1.6 i-DTEC. This engine has enough torque it could move a house if you ask me. Due to it's reduced friction, it's really responsive and is eager to move the car the way you like it.
I have not driven it too sporty yet, I'd first like to run in the brakes, engine and clutch, so didn't make any high revs or haven't taken corners at the edge of slipping out of them, but I feel this is a genuine Honda and it will stick to the road like superglue on your fingers. Where as the 8th gen was a rather nervous car to drive with, this Tourer has the ability to explode and show it's tail lights to a lot of others, but more important he can cruise at a steady pace in a way you can relax.
When I've covered some more kilometers I hope to post some mpg statistics and some more chit chat on the Tourer's handling.
I really hope this Tourer can break some legs on the fleet market. Honda is rather abscent there, but this car cannot be ignored by fleet manager imho.
Pictures can be found here: http://www.civinfo.com/forum/gallery-9g/115827-twilight-blue-tourer.html
Since 08/2008 we own a 1.4 i-DSi Civic hatch. The looks were futuristic and never seen on any other vehicule. The handling was really good and sporty. I can only think of 2 downsides on this car. It's poor paint quality and the cheap and squeeky plastics used in the interior.
In January 2012 I started working at another place. I'm now a .NET Consultant, with being a consultant mostly comes the benefit of a company car. I started with a car that was available on the parking lot, which was a Peugeot 308 SW. I can be short on that one... The only positive thing this heap of metal had, was space. Excitement, comfort and road handling were simply not present.
Luckily the Peugeot was at the end of it's contract this year in march. So I got to choose a new car. Normally we'd had to choose between VW-group (Golf, Octavia, A3) or BMW (1-series). All of those cars could not turn me on in any way (apart from the 1-series, but it's small for a household with 2 kiddo's). After a lot of lobbying I was able to convince my boss to let my Honda dealer make an offer for a Honda Civic Tourer, which was not even being produced at that moment.
After my boss noticed this car was really complete, sat nav, aircon, low mpg, a lot of space, ... for it's price, he would let me order it. It's the 1.6 i-DTEC Sport (don't know what abbreviation you guys use for this version)
I didn't have to wait very long for the delivery. 5 or 6 week between placing the order and delivery of the car. Last friday I got the phone call my car was ready for pick up. It was the very first time I saw the Tourer in real life.
I must say that it looks 100 times better in real life than on pictures. The standard rims are nicely finished, the curved lines are refined and the Twilight Blue Metallic paint is a cracking colour. The rear end looks better than the hatch's bum imo.
The interior feels firm and quality materials have been used. The driver seat position is perfect, dails, menu's and SD navigition is fast and intuitive. The sound quality from the speakers is good. Magics seat are really handy and the boot is simply massive. I've checked the Octavia break, Focus Clipper and they don't even touch the Civic's toe nails
.For passengers in the rear there is enough space, but I think it's a bit narrower compared to my 8th gen hatch (I could be mistaking though). It just feels like it.
Now enough about the exterior and interior esthetics. As I've driven the previous gen of Civic, I'd like to start with a little comparison between the 8th gen hatch and the 9th gen Tourer. The ride in the 9th is a lot smoother, where the 8th was bone hard and extremely responsive the 9th gen feels much more civilized. Personally I prefer the 8th handling, but I can imagine 98% of the population would prefer the 9th's handling.
The engine in my Tourer is the 1.6 i-DTEC. This engine has enough torque it could move a house if you ask me. Due to it's reduced friction, it's really responsive and is eager to move the car the way you like it.
I have not driven it too sporty yet, I'd first like to run in the brakes, engine and clutch, so didn't make any high revs or haven't taken corners at the edge of slipping out of them, but I feel this is a genuine Honda and it will stick to the road like superglue on your fingers. Where as the 8th gen was a rather nervous car to drive with, this Tourer has the ability to explode and show it's tail lights to a lot of others, but more important he can cruise at a steady pace in a way you can relax.
When I've covered some more kilometers I hope to post some mpg statistics and some more chit chat on the Tourer's handling.
I really hope this Tourer can break some legs on the fleet market. Honda is rather abscent there, but this car cannot be ignored by fleet manager imho.
Pictures can be found here: http://www.civinfo.com/forum/gallery-9g/115827-twilight-blue-tourer.html
