Topic: Honda Civic

[silver]

I have pretty much decided on purchasing a 2008  civic. The LX and DX-G seem pretty much the same except for wheel size. What difference does 15" versus 16" wheels make. Am i missing something?

[mmret]

16" should handle better and look better (the 15" are steel right?)

Its a pretty marginal difference in handling. Aesthetics probably a bigger factor.

[Arctic_White]

Other most notable features that an LX has over a DX-G: cruise control, power windows, keyless entry, outside temperature display, variable intermittent wipers, and 60/40 split rear seats.

[dr_spock]

Factor in tire replacement costs if you plan to own it for a long time.  16" tends to cost a bit more than 15".   

[johngenx]

DX-G has 15" alloy wheels, LX has 16" wheels.

Both have cruise control.

LX adds..

Body coloured door handles
Body coloured heated mirrors
Outside Temp Gauge
Map Lights
Auto up/down for driver's power window (DX-G has PW, no auto)
Rear cupholders
DX-G has keyless, but no trunk release, LX adds trunk release
Variable intermittent wipers
60/40 folding rear seat

So, lots of stuff actually.  This is where the 09 Corolla really won out.  Our CE-"C" has all of the equipment of the LX Civic save for the 16" alloy wheels and variable wipers.  But, the DX-G is $23,238 including GST (AB with block heater, per dealer print out) and the LX is $24,813 with GST in AB, as per dealer print out.

The Corolla was $20,720 including GST, $2518 less than DX-G and $4093 less than the Civic LX.


I liked the Civic, the missus didn't, both of us found the seats uncomfortable, she hated the 2-layer dash.  Then the pricing took it right out.  $2500-4000 premium?  Nope.  Didn't see where the extra dough was going.  Oh, yah, I did.  To everyone financing.  Great, I get to pay for the cheaper payment of those financing?  No thanks.  Drop the MSRP...

[The Mighty Duck]

DX-G has 15" alloy wheels, LX has 16" wheels.

Both have cruise control.

LX adds..

Body coloured door handles
Body coloured heated mirrors
Outside Temp Gauge
Map Lights
Auto up/down for driver's power window (DX-G has PW, no auto)
Rear cupholders
DX-G has keyless, but no trunk release, LX adds trunk release
Variable intermittent wipers
60/40 folding rear seat

So, lots of stuff actually. 

How much is the LX over the DX-G.  Not one of those items comes close to an essential, and personally I can't see why anyone would pay the premium over the DX-G for this list.  Body coloured door handles?  Rear cupholders?  Those aren't features...

DX-G is great value.  IIRC, the EX adds a sunroof and other pluses.  But the only thing you gain going from DX-G to LX in my book is bigger wheels, and I'd rather spend the dough on aftermarket alloys for the summer and put the winters on the stock wheels.  Silly Honda...

I do agree, though, the Toyota lineup is very nicely priced.  I looked at a Yaris recently, and the pricing was excellent.  Matrix started very cheap, too...

[johngenx]

Everything on the LX list above the DX-G I could live without easily, EXCEPT for the folding rear seat.  Even though we have the Scoob wago-on, we could not own a compact sedan without a folding rear seat, and it MUST be split so that my munchkin can ride in the back with the skis.

[hoodlum]

DX-G is great value.  IIRC, the EX adds a sunroof and other pluses. 

You can also get an optional sunroof and rear disc brakes with the LX.  No need to go to the EX unless you want leather.

[silver]

The price difference was about $1000 - so probably not worth it.

[gosteelerz]

Is my imagination or are they putting the "Hybrid" wheels on regular Civics?

[The Mighty Duck]

Is my imagination or are they putting the "Hybrid" wheels on regular Civics?

Not your imagination!    They're putting the hybrid-style wheels on the DX-G.  I was on the Honda lot not long ago and thought, "hey, a hybrid...  nope.  Maybe this one...  nope."  And those wheels are ugly as sin.  If I were buying a new DX-G, I'd be sure to tell them I want the real alloys, or about $2000 off list because the wheels are so hideous...

[gosteelerz]

Is my imagination or are they putting the "Hybrid" wheels on regular Civics?

Not your imagination!    They're putting the hybrid-style wheels on the DX-G.  I was on the Honda lot not long ago and thought, "hey, a hybrid...  nope.  Maybe this one...  nope."  And those wheels are ugly as sin.  If I were buying a new DX-G, I'd be sure to tell them I want the real alloys, or about $2000 off list because the wheels are so hideous...

I got fooled too when a coworker showed up with a loaner Civic.  I asked him what it was like to drive a Hybrid, he told me it was just a normal Civic.  Since then,  I have noticed a lot these about.  I agree, I would rather have steelies with caps than those wheels.

[SkiBunny]

DX-G has 15" alloy wheels, LX has 16" wheels.

Both have cruise control.

LX adds..

Body coloured door handles
Body coloured heated mirrors
Outside Temp Gauge
Map Lights
Auto up/down for driver's power window (DX-G has PW, no auto)
Rear cupholders
DX-G has keyless, but no trunk release, LX adds trunk release
Variable intermittent wipers
60/40 folding rear seat

So, lots of stuff actually.  This is where the 09 Corolla really won out.  Our CE-"C" has all of the equipment of the LX Civic save for the 16" alloy wheels and variable wipers.  But, the DX-G is $23,238 including GST (AB with block heater, per dealer print out) and the LX is $24,813 with GST in AB, as per dealer print out.

The Corolla was $20,720 including GST, $2518 less than DX-G and $4093 less than the Civic LX.


I liked the Civic, the missus didn't, both of us found the seats uncomfortable, she hated the 2-layer dash.  Then the pricing took it right out.  $2500-4000 premium?  Nope.  Didn't see where the extra dough was going.  Oh, yah, I did.  To everyone financing.  Great, I get to pay for the cheaper payment of those financing?  No thanks.  Drop the MSRP...

Very informative post.  What about the difference of the fabrics and interior refinement?  (I've read posts on some boards stating that the 09 Corolla CE is poor in this regard.)

As for alloy wheels, I hate em.  After a few years they can corrode from road salt, then they begin to look shabby and they don't properly bond with tire beads so the tires slowly leak around the rims.  Gotta love reflating the tires in winter every few weeks, brrrr.

[vaff3]

I bought the LX over the DX-G for two reasons:  first, the DX-G wheels were u-g-l-y; second, the variable intermittent wipers, which my other car doesn't have.  Minor, petty, cosmetic? Yes.  But if I'm buying a car, I want to be able to enjoy it, not just endure it.

The Civic is a great car, so find the balance between what you want and what you can afford and go for it.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Local dealer has sign on a Civic 80 km/gallon 

[SkiBunny]

Local dealer has sign on a Civic 80 km/gallon 

That's close to 50 mpg.  That's about right for hwy mileage according to the Government of Canada's publication EnerGuide Fuel Consumption Guide.  Bear in mind that it's an imperial gallon, not a US gallon.

Back to my question, is the fabric in the Corlla CE and LE poor compared to the fabric in the Civic DX-G or LX ??  Is the civic much more "refined" inside?

[Ice]

Granted most of my time was spent looking at the S and XRS models but interior wise the Civic versus Corolla are similar.  The Corolla is more traditionally designed and looks more conservative.  The buttons are not quite as solid as the Honda button but then almost nobody does dashes as solid as Honda in my opinion.  The Civic is sleeker and the interior feels solid and it may be a bit nicer than the 09 Corolla but I wouldn't say its a huge difference.

Versus the old Corollas I have no idea.

[SkiBunny]

Thank you.  I see on the specs that the Corolla S and XRS have "sport fabric", which I guess is better than the fabric on the Corolla C and LE.

As for the more solid dash in the civic, I think what stands out more is whether one likes that weird 2-level dash.  On the road, I can read the digital speedometer of civics beside me.  I had a digital dash on a 300ZX over 20 years ago, which was a $500 option LOL, and the car magazines of the day dissed the Z's digital dash as gimmicky.  Purists preferred analog guages, but I got used to the digital dash fine.