Opinions on cars?

[AFireInside]

Hey everyone,

I posted about a motorcycle last week, but my car died on me, and I've decided to forget the motorcycle for now and look for a new vehicle.

I've driven a bunch of vehicles and I'm trying to narrow it down. I've decided on the Saturn astra 2 door, or the 2 door honda civic coupe.

Now here are the details. Payments end up being very close. With the saturn I have to put less money down to get a low payment as they give tons of rebates etc. So payments are the same but I put more down on the honda (not much but about $1000 more). Astra comes loaded with pretty much everything, plus $600 graduate rebate, and a $500 gas card. Honda comes with just a/c and a few other minor things and a $500 dollar graduate rebate..

Anyone have any opinions on either of these cars?? I should point out that the Astra isn't a typical saturn. Its actually an Opel Astra which is one of the best selling cars in Europe. The 2-door comes with sport suspension etc.

Any ideas? I honestly like both cars, but everyone keeps telling me the civic will have a higher resale value...

[REDVAN]

I'd go for the Saturn, just because I'd like something different. But I haven't driven either of those cars.

I would also say go with what you like best, because you won't be happy if you don't. Sleep on the decision as long as you can. When I bought my car, I was test driving for weeks, and then I stopped test driving. 2 weeks later, I thought about it, and decided which car I wanted. It seems like the car chose me. Just let it happen.

[Dion]

Go to a car rental agency and rent both cars on seperate weekends. Drive em in and outside the city to get a good feel for each car. It's what i do when trying to choose a new vehicle. IMO you need a weekend verses a test drive to really decide which vehicle you like best.

[Da_Chief]

some other options for you to consider
-subaru wrx
-mitsu lancer
-if ya want something really nice the Evo
-mazda 6

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

some other options for you to consider
-subaru wrx
-mitsu lancer
-if ya want something really nice the Evo
-mazda 6

I'd probably add the Mazda 3 to that list as well... its in more or less the same class as the civic, but Mazda 3 are 4 doors instead of 2.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

I'd probably add the Mazda 3 to that list as well... its in more or less the same class as the civic, but Mazda 3 are 4 doors instead of 2.

I think half of Calgary owns either a Mazda3 or a Civic.

[OilersBaby]

I would say the Honda has a higher resale value just based on my observations. Around here, everyone seems to want honda's. Although the other car is reliable and has good gas mileage, everyone seems to quickly associate Hondas with reliability, good gas mileage, and the fact that it lasts a long time. Good cars. and the coupe is sportier looking then the sedan.

I recently sold my 2007 Honda Civic EX by posting an ad online and had sooo many people put an offer on it, it was crazy. I even got 500 more than i was asking for!

I sold it only because I thought the MINI Cooper's were cuter and so I got one (k my dumb reason for getting a car was cuteness but i like the Cooper S).

But the Honda was definately a great car!

[AFireInside]

Yeah to be honest I really like both cars and will drive both again. Just having trouble deciding. I know Saturn has revamped its lineup so its resale may pick up but I'm unsure. I was in the market for a hatchback initially but I do like the civic as well...

As for the mazda's and the subaru's while I like both vehicles I prefer the civic and the astra to both of these cars. I haven't actually driven a subaru yet, but the gas mileage does not impress me.. I drove a mazda 3 yesterday and thought it was a nice car but when put in the same range as the Astra and the Civic I prefer both over the mazda.

Mitsubishi has brutal financing though I enjoyed driving the Lancer..

I really can't decide they both have pro's. Though I think if I knew the saturn would be an ok resale I'd probably choose it because it has way more options and I have to put down less money. Honda is 3.9% financing, and the saturn is 0%... Shopping for a vehicle drives me crazy!!

[Nuje]

It really depends what you need. I bought a Mazda 3 a year ago. The hatchback factor has now become huge for me. Resale is another thing to consider, as the Honda's will definitely be a good bit higher. As far as being a good car, my parents 07 Civic Sedan is problem free so far, real good on gas, enough power to pass, and for an automatic (I HATE driving automatic for the most part, unless the car is really fast) the gearbox does what I want it to as much as I can expect it to.
The Astra is an Opel (Vauxhall in Britain). I haven`t driven one, but I think it`s a great looking car. Also, I`ve heard nothing but good reviews on them (Top Gear says ``I`d buy this car if it weren`t for the badge` simply because Vauxhall`s are looked upon by that community as awful) Do test drive them, and the rent idea is brilliant. Load them up with cargo too.

[me_dennis]

have you considered a VW rabbit?
it's about the same price as a civic, but it comes fully loaded with power everything, a/c, and you can even get heated seats and side view mirrors.. the heated seats are awesome in the wintertime!

i have a 5door VW rabbit and my sister has a 2door civic lx-g.. she paid like 500 dollars less than what i paid for my rabbit (~$23000) and i've got a lot more standard options than she does.. my dad likes my rabbit better because he says that the ride is quieter and smoother than the civic.. plus the VW interior is a lot nicer than the civic..

another bonus is the rabbit has more power than the civic.. as for gas mileage, the rabbit is a 2.5L 5 cylinder engine, so the mileage isn't as great as a civic, but i still get 550kms per 50L tank, so it's not a gas guzzler by any means..

anyways, just thought i'd give my input.. good luck on the car shopping!

[Winsor_Pilates]

I'd go Civic for sure. The new ones look really nice, and personally I think the Astra is really ugly. It looks like a soccer mom car to me.

Also, considering gas milage, reliability, resale and maintenance costs the civic as always is a hard car to beat.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by me_dennis

have you considered a VW rabbit?

No offense, as Rabbits are great cars for the most part, but we got shafted with an absolutely terrible engine in that 5 cyliner. It's worse on gas than the GTI! The performance version of a car should never get better fuel economy in my opinion.

I really really like the Astras. They are built in Europe and shipped over here, so you don't have to worry about crappy UAW manufacturing. The engines in those are absolutely rock solid, and were co-developed with Lotus.

The Honda isn't a bad choice at all, but the styling really isn't for me on the latest generation. I'm sure you get more for your money with the Saturn too. Saturn service is actually really good as well. When I had a chev I'd take it to the Saturn dealer when possible (A cobalt SS/SC was very similar to an Ion redline) and get it serviced there. They actually wash your car and act like they care about you which is more than any other GM/Nissan/Ford/Audi dealer that I've dealt with.

Hatch backs are really really useful for cargo, so I'd give a big +1 to the Astra for that.

[burn_this_city]

Get the Saturn. The newer Honda's look terrible..

[The Yen Man]

Since you said you like both, if I were you I'd go with the Saturn just because of the 0% financing. Also, for 0% I'd put as little down as possible, and put the rest of the downpayment in a bank account, and make monthly payments from that account every month.

I have a Civic, and even though I have the SI model, the fuel consumption is still not bad. I'd imagine the fuel consumption for the normal one to be way better. The handling is rock solid and it was pretty good for its price. I've never driven a Saturn before, but just personal preference, I don't imagine myself ever buying a Saturn, even if it is based off a Euro car.

Oh, and personal opinion, but I don't think I'd ever ever buy a VW. My dad had a Jetta, and nothing but problems when he owned it. I know at least 3 other people who have had bad experiences with it. VW is one of those cars where people either love it or hate it. I guess I'm in the latter.

[You Need a Thneed]

The Astra looks much better then a civic, plus you won't have have the same car as 40% of the population.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

If you consider yourself a risk taker go with the Saturn if you are more conservative go with the Civic...

[Ford Prefect]

I like Fred Eaglesmith's advice on cars ... why have one $10,000 car when you can have ten $1,000 cars.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I don't imagine myself ever buying a Saturn, even if it is based off a Euro car.

I've never really understood this. If it's a good car, why not? Because you don't like the little picture they put in the middle of the grill and hatch? If it had a little blue and white propeller symbol it would be suitable to pick your friends up in?

[Dynamic]

I'm gonna vouch for the Honda. I got the previous generation, an 05, and I got it for one reason. I didn't want to have to worry about anything breaking down. So far over three years driving almost 200kms 5 days a week for 3 years and it still runs like the day I bought it. Only glitches I had was the backlight for the defrost and the gas release cable busted.

[DementedReality]

why buy though? lease is almost always your best option.

i dont know about any of you, but why turn 20k into 15? You can lease the same 20k care for 10k. People seem to think having equity in a car is good? Screw that, let the bank own it, your money is better used elsewhere.