Buying A New Car Advice Needed

[hrag71]

two cars same make different model

A) Honda Civic 1.4i DSI 37000miles £4500

nice tidy car excellent miles for age, but entry level car, small engine, basic model.

B) Honda civic 1.8i Vtec SE 73000miles £4000

Nicy tidy car, fairly good miles for age, bigger engine, more spec, alloys etc

Would you choose low milage over spec/enngine, bit worried that the 1.4 engine wont be big enough ( used to driving a 2.2 turbo diesel )

Thoughts greatly appreciated

[Purple_Popple]

What age are these cars ?
Personally I would go for low mileage over spec. - however dependent on age of vehicle.
But as you already have reservations on the 1.4 size, you've answered your own question.

[hrag71]

Both 2008, 37000miles on a 2008 car is very good, the 1.8 has a full honda service history......decisions decisions!

[Purple_Popple]

You're brooding over the 1.8 still, so seems you are more swayed to this one.

[Hymie]

The 1.4i engine generates only 82 BHP, in comparison to 138 BHP for the 1.8i engine. But you will need to consider the difference of £50 in annual road tax, plus very likely a bigger differential in insurance premium.

At 138 BHP, the Civic is likely to have a similar power to weight ratio as your 2.2 turbo diesel (unless it was a similarly sized vehicle).

So all things being equal, go for the 1.8i unless the extra £50 per year plus the insurance differential is too much to bear.

[MantaRay]

I'd go for car A, being much lower mileage.

[Hopkirk]

If neither have really grabbed you, perhaps look for car C

[ToraToraTora]

depends what your priorities are but b) is the better deal and the better car but if you are into economy then a) but having said that it's is £500 more anyway. Out of those I would buy b) the mileage is still pretty low and the honda vtec is a rock solid engine. Assuming it has service history etc.

[hrag71]

Testing the 1.4 tomorrow so I will see how much ummph it has if any!

Did a price comparison on insurance (fully comp) 1.4 £180 1.8 £187 so a £7 difference a year the tax is more on the 1.8 £180 instead of £130 so the 1.8 will cost me £57 a year more! so nothing much to worry about there.

I think what i really wanted to know was forgetting price and engine size what would people choose either lower milage or higher higher spec ?

think i could cope with a smaller engine as 90% of the time i will be urban driving..

Or i could continue to cycle to and from work #thighslikechrishoy :)

[ToraToraTora]

in this case the mileage is largely irrelevant 73k is low by modern car srandards anyway,as long as the car has been serviced when it should go for B)

[MantaRay]

Don't get too swayed by performance figures, power output, etc. Drive the 1.4 and see how it feels for you and your needs.

[stefos]

Whichever you choose you can't go far wrong with a Honda

[Hymie]

Just to put a slight downer on Stefos’s comment, although Honda’s do have a deserved reputation for reliability, my bosses old Civic suffered from a mystery battery discharge problem.
Every once in a while (first thing in the morning) he would find the battery completely flat. The AA man advised that this undiagnosed issue was common (although intermittent) on Civics.

[MantaRay]

Don't forget to check whether either cars come with a spare wheel, if this is important to you.

[TonyV]

Make a list of want's and see which one ticks most

[Graham-W]

If you go for the 1.8i (and I would) make sure it's had a cambelt and pulleys changed. If it hasn't or if there is any doubt, negociate it into the deal.

[MantaRay]

So how did you get on with the 1.4 test drive?