Used car help | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

Mon 6 Jun 2016 11:16

Used car help - user111

Hi, looking for some suggestions on used cars. At the moment I have a 05 civic 1.6,which is ok to drive,but on a motorway it's really revvy.At average motorway speeds in 5th gear it can sit at almost 4k rpm all the time(it redlines at 6.5krpm i think) and this makes long journeys not pleasant.I am lucky if I get 40mpg out of it.So now I am looking for another car.Something petrol, jazz-golf size and which is good on fuel,reliable and that will be better on a motorway than current car.My budget is 4k and I do about 10k miles per year with most of the miles on motorway and country roads.It needs to cheap on insurance ideally below insurance group 20.Any suggestions ?

Thanks

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Mon 6 Jun 2016 11:20

Used car help - RobJP

For £4k, I seriously doubt you will find anything of that sort of size that will do much better economy, and be as well built and reliable.

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Mon 6 Jun 2016 11:32

Used car help - Falkirk Bairn

>>For £4k, I seriously doubt you will find anything of that sort of size that will do much >>better economy,

Echo that @ £4K you could be buying something newer but with "issues".

The "Bread Bin" Civics 2001-2006 were pretty ugly & pretty tough.

If 40mpg is not good enough slow down to 60mph on the motorway and get 15% better mpg.

I have a D-i-L who complains about her to work mpg - 20 miles of motorway with 2 town miles at each end - she runs along at an indicated 75ish........leave 5 mins earlier and arrive home 5 mins later and drive at 60!

She gets an indicated 46-48mpg, I can get an indicated 54/56 on a similar 20 mile empty motorway trip in her car.. My advice fell on deaf ears

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Mon 6 Jun 2016 11:32

Used car help - Stumblebum

I had exactly the same car as you which I kept until it was written off at 120K (trouble free miles).

I remember cruising at 4K rpm, and yes it is noisy - I think the cabin design means it is noisier than many though the interior space was excellent.

I replaced it with a £3K Honda Accord (60K miles) which was nicer on the motorway but still needed a further £1K for tyres, brakes, minor electrical repairs etc.

The risk is that at this price point, even the good cars will have some big bills on the way, which is why the previous owner has let them go.

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Mon 6 Jun 2016 11:45

Used car help - Avant

Hondas are meant to rev, and although I appreciate that it's noisy at 70 mph, it isn't doing the engoine any harm.

Possibly your best bet is to keep it for another year or so and save up for a higher budget which could get you a newish car with a 6-speed gearbox, which is what I think you're after.

A Golf 1.4 TSI, or its cheaper cousins the Octavia and Leon with the same engine, could be one to aim for - or a Toyota Auris or Nissan Note, or even a newer Civic. I'm not sure when they first put a 6-speed box into any of these (the Japanese were a bit slower than the Europeans to follow this trend), but no doubt you can find out using our car-by-car reviews on this site and going to 'specification'.

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Mon 6 Jun 2016 12:36

Used car help - gordonbennet

Same car but 2.0S version.

Looked after they are about as bulletproof as you will find anywhere.

Oddly enough i was thinking the other day where have al the smilar year Corollas gone, you seldom see one now yet stacks of Civics about.

Auris might be worth looking at if you want a change from Honda but keep the durable theme going.

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Mon 6 Jun 2016 19:27

Used car help - user111

Thank you for all your advice! I would keep the car but since I owned the "bread bin shaped" civic it has had some problems.Recently it had quite a bad oil leak on the camcover gasket and on the front main crankshaft seal so had that replaced.I am a little parnoid that it will start leaking again because the engine has 100k on it and things must be getting worn.Am thinking the logical thing to do is to get rid of it before it starts to leak again,but I guess it is a gamble.

I looked at the 1.4l,1.6l Auris,but from what I have read it seems people have complained about it being geared too low and it being revvy at motorway speeds.I did think about an accord,but the insurance is a bit steep for me.I did think about something like an i20 or i30,but there is very few about at that price range near me.

So even with a budget of 4k it is still a real gamble then even on good used cars trade and private,at what price bracket does the odds swing in your favour ?

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Mon 6 Jun 2016 19:50

Used car help - Cyd

,at what price bracket does the odds swing in your favour ?

Nowt to do with price and everything to do with condition.

How about a Fabia or even an Astra?

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