Went to the Honda dealership today

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 03/12/2016 at 19:45 • Filed to: None

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After lunch today at Torchy’s Tacos, our family headed to the Honda dealership to kick some tires. We’re in the market to replace my 2001 Golf, and we test drove a 2016 HR-V, a 2013 Civic EX-L, and a 2016 Civic LX.

I didn’t know the HR-V existed (it’s new this year, apparently), and it’s essentially a smaller version of the CRV. I actually liked this vehicle in EX or EX-L trim. It was roomy and comfortable, but not too big. For grins, and since I really want a manual, we test drove the 6-speed manual HR-V LX. Overall driving impression: Meh. The clutch was easy, with a rather short, easy throw, but it was nothing special. (Is it truly mechanical, or fly-by-wire?) I never felt like I was gaining anything by having the manual, that I could ever work it hard to get more performance out of the vehicle. I felt like I was simply doing the work for the automatic. It drove well enough, and had reasonably good acceleration. But overall, it was a total snooze. I told the salesman, “There is absolutely nothing about this vehicle that excites me.” It also felt very plastic-y inside.

Next, we drove the 2013 Civic EX-L. This one had an automatic, but not a CVT. It also had leather, sunroof, the works. The engine is a 140hp 4-cyl, and while it was no race car, it was perky enough. But what really turned me on was the driving experience. It was relatively stiff, responsive, and the steering wasn’t over-powered. It really felt like a driver’s car. What I didn’t get to test drive was an Si. They had a black 2013 Si that was awaiting detailing, so we couldn’t drive it. I can’t imagine what 200 hp would feel like in a car that small. Hands down, this was the best car we looked at or drove today.

Lastly, we drove the 2016 Civic LX. I can’t say I hated it, but there was absolutely nothing exciting about it. It was big and heavy and hard to see out of, and the center console restricted my right leg. The CVT, while I’m sure I would get used to it, was a very strange experience. At higher revs it provided decent power, but there wasn’t much off the line. It felt like a car that really wanted to go in a straight line—put it on the freeway, set the cruise at 70, and sit back. The 2013, on the other hand, felt like a car that wanted to be tossed around. I took one corner in the 2016 at a bit of speed, and you could almost hear the car groaning in protest. It’s heavier and longer than the 2013, and it shows.

We had a great salesman, too. He was extremely knowledgeable, was interested in what we had to say, and I had a great time talking cars with him. He knew we were interested in the 2013, and I think that as we were driving away he was moving it to a secluded spot on the lot. I think we owe VW a shot, and we’ll head there tomorrow (if they’re open). But I really liked that Civic.

I haven’t shopped for a car in years, and what really struck me the most about our visit today is how so many people these days want a car that is comfortable, reliable, and one that entertains them. But they don’t want to drive . They want to sit comfortably and get somewhere. I want to go somewhere. I’ve never driven a true sports car. I’ve grown up with base level VWs, but even those could be tossed around, were stiff enough to take a turn at speed (with a little tire squeal, of course). And even if the 2.slow engine in my Golf is just that—slow—I can work the clutch and feel like I’m getting the most out of it. Maybe I should wait until that 2013 Si becomes available. It’s black, and boy, is it pretty.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 19:54

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That Si has the best shifter I've ever used. Seriously. An Si sedan is a fine family car.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 19:57

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2013 LX Civic sedan owner here

I dumped it about 17 months into the lease because I needed more power. I guess around town it was fine. But passing and merging was questionable

ttyymmnn > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 03/12/2016 at 19:59

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What did you get instead?

ttyymmnn > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/12/2016 at 19:59

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I have a 13-year-old son. Do I want him driving a 200hp car in three years?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 20:06

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I certainly wouldn’t have wanted ME driving such a car, but I was, likely we were, a far cry from your son. What you want for the boy is something like an ‘05 Corolla.

Under_Score > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 20:07

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I just sat in an HR-V today. Headroom in the backseat is subpar, but since your kids are younger (and I don’t know if they’ll grow up to be 6'4"), this shouldn’t be an issue. Also, the rear door handles are cool.

interstate366, now In The Industry > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 20:11

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I’ve only recently started to warm up to the 9th gen Si, and *only* in black. My 2001 Prelude makes about the same power and is about the same size, and it’s a blast to drive.

TheHondaBro > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 20:15

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My dad put me in a 240hp car :)

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 03/12/2016 at 20:17

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He might just get the Golf. As it stands now, we’re going to hold on to it. It needs some work, but it will still be running in three years.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 20:21

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My sister got an HRV last year around easter and after driving it a bit I really liked it. It was nice for a sub compact crossover

ttyymmnn > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 03/12/2016 at 20:24

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I didn’t dislike it, it just didn’t excite me. It was very utilitarian, but as I said, I want to drive . I get more excited driving my ‘03 Odyssey.

fhrblig > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 20:33

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That settles it, you need a manual Mitsubishi Mirage. In plasma purple. Because he can’t get into too much trouble driving it if he’s afraid of being seen in it.

ttyymmnn > fhrblig 03/12/2016 at 20:34

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I like the way you think.

boxrocket > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 20:35

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The HR-V is a tall Fit, much like the CX-3 is a tall Mazda2, CX-5 is a talker Mazda3, Escape is a taller Focus, etc.

The only thing I’ve found appealing about the HR-V are the Fit’s Magic Seats. My wife and I looked at and test drive many cars last year when we were shopping, and the two most favorable wound up being the CX-3 & CX-5. The CX-3 was a bit too small and had a bit much NVH for as much highway driving as we do, but was lots of fun to drive, like a 4-door Miata. We greatly enjoyed the CX-5, and bought a 2016 Grand Touring with almost all the options. The only things we’ve found to quibble at are the lack of cargo hooks in the back, no power litigate like the Escape, and a bit more NVH than we’d like but nothing that turning the music up a notch or two doesn't offset.

ttyymmnn > boxrocket 03/12/2016 at 20:43

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NVH?

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 20:52

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Noise Vibration Harshness

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 20:56

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Oh yeah I get that. It’s not something I would buy for myself but it was a pretty nice commuter car

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 20:59

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When I bought my mazda 3 in 2009, I first drove a 2007 civic. I liked everything about it except how it drove. Then I drove the 2006 mazda 3 and it wasn’t quite as roomy but it instantly squealed the tires and put a smile on my face. I couldn’t give Carmax my money fast enough for that car.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 21:12

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My 08 C30

Yes, I traded in a brand new Civic for a 7 year old Volvo with 40k miles

ttyymmnn > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 03/12/2016 at 21:13

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Nothing wrong with buying a car with miles on it. The Civic had 30k.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 03/12/2016 at 21:14

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2001 Civic owner here. I’m glad to hear that not much has changed in 12 years. :P

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 21:48

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You said you’ve never driven a true sports car. Are you gonna go try one then? Try out a BRZ or RX-8 or whatever? Or are you worried you wouldn’t be able to go back to fwd sedans? I know you have to be mindful of family needs, and such a purchase may not be in the cards, but you’d make your son ecstatic just taking him on the test drives.

Also, drove by Torchy’s today and saw they had the patio tables out. Ended up making a stir fry for the family, but it reminded me that it’s getting time for another trip to the little devil’s.

pjhusa > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 22:07

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I’d pick the HR-V, but the 2016 Civic comes in close second.

boxrocket > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 22:13

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Not much noise insulation, 19" wheels with low-profile tires so - for better or for worse - one can feel every bump and hole in the road. The CX-5 is no luxury vehicle, and it shows, but it’s not a fault. If we’d wanted that experience, we’d have bought a MKC, Evoque, or Discovery Sport.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 23:03

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This pretty much summarizes why the new Civic makes me sad, and why I like the Fit so much. I’d say check out the new Fit if you get chance. Even with an auto(with paddle shift) my Wife’s 2010 Fit is pretty fun. But the new on is a bit more powerful, and but lighter, and a bit smaller.

Chasaboo > ttyymmnn 03/12/2016 at 23:10

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You’re thinking in the wrong direction. The HR-V is a larger Fit. I have a new Fit and it’s amazing.

ttyymmnn > Chasaboo 03/12/2016 at 23:18

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We sat in the Fit. I liked it. It was reminiscent of my Golf in size. But this will by my wife’s DD, and she liked the feel of the Civic.

ttyymmnn > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 03/12/2016 at 23:20

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We sat in the Fit in a couple of trims. Generally, I liked it. I also preferred all the lower trims with the knobs instead of touch screens. I don’t believe touch screens have any place in a car. One of the things I particularly liked about the 2013 Civic was the placement of the info screen near the speedo. You don’t have to look into the cockpit to see it.

ttyymmnn > pjhusa 03/12/2016 at 23:22

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I didn’t like the 2016 Civic at all. I thought it was too big, and I didn’t fit in it well. Then again, I didn’t fit in the CR-V either. That’s why we have so many choices!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 01:39

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Hold onto it independent of the car shopping?

Leon711 > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 03:46

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Make him save up and buy his own car, I had to, I appreciated it more but ultimately bought a terrible car but it taught me how to prepare for the worst, how to wrench and how to control a car.

It cost £300 (which right now is $424.50) and had 55hp, unassisted steering and brakes (literally no brake booster) but was took me 8000 miles in that first year of driving before I replaced it with a later model with a zippy 100hp 1.4l.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 08:36

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I had an SUV that hit 60 in the high 6's, I am still alive... Somehow. I guess my point is, we are going to punish whatever our parents give us at 16, no matter how slow or fast.

pjhusa > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 10:07

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Ah, we might actually be getting the 2016 Civic though, so bias hehe :)

But I genuinely do like the HR-V.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 10:09

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Keep the VW to use as his primary vehicle. Let it be known that the Civic is yours. He will want to drive it. If he begs, use it as a reward. “Straight A’s this quarter? You get to drive the Civic to school for a week.” Or whatever... I'm not a parent so I'm just thinking out loud.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 03/13/2016 at 10:19

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Corolla XRS was available in 05. 170hp 2ZZ in a 2700 pound package made it interesting.

ttyymmnn > Leon711 03/13/2016 at 10:19

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He will eventually buy his own car, but starting out, he’ll drive the family car. When I went away to graduate school, I got an ‘88 Fox wagon. My dad paid for it, and I paid him back—with interest.

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 03/13/2016 at 10:21

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We’re not looking at it as a trade in. It’s got some problems, though. Biggest is that I think the heater core is leaking. That’s going to be an expensive repair. And the front end needs to be rebuilt. But it’s needed that for years.

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove 03/13/2016 at 10:22

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Not gonna try a real sports car this go around. Maybe in a few years when the kids all move out and we won’t need a van any more.

Leon711 > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 10:48

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As long as you set him up as a VW fan you’ll be fine. Mine was an ‘88 Polo, I loved it.

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 11:15

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I hear ya. Well, if you find yourself up here with time on your hands, let me know, and I'll give you the keys to my RX-8 for an hour or two.

ttyymmnn > Leon711 03/13/2016 at 11:16

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I’ve been VW all my life, and it would be weird not to have one in the driveway. I started driving in an ‘82 Rabbit, then went to the ‘88 Fox (put 175k on that), then the ‘01 Golf I still have.

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove 03/13/2016 at 11:17

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Sounds like fun!

Leon711 > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 11:23

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I’ve had the two Polos I’ve already posted, the ‘88 and the ‘00, a 3 year affair with an MX-5 and now back in the fold with my ‘05

ttyymmnn > Leon711 03/13/2016 at 11:49

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The Honda dealer had a GTI on the lot. It was blue, and it was all I could do to keep walking past it.

Leon711 > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 11:54

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The dealer I bought mine from had a red Civic Type R alongside it.

They were similarly priced and it looked good, but I really wanted the torque of the GTI and I just liked it more.

ttyymmnn > Leon711 03/13/2016 at 11:58

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With three kids, we’ve got to have 4 doors.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/13/2016 at 12:04

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I was thinking base model with A/C

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 12:07

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Who needs a heater in Texas? (I know, it gets down to 40° sometimes...) The front end is DIY-able. Maybe.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 12:08

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I was too, but I'm partial nowadays to my old Toyotas. I haven't been excited by a VW model in a very long time. Have you visited a Subaru dealership?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 12:10

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I can only speculate about this, but as little as you enjoy repairing your current Golf, your mechanic would love you if you owned a GTI. Everything would be more expensive.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 12:18

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A 4-door GTI is also a fine family car. Ask Tom.

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 03/13/2016 at 12:29

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No Subaru, at least not yet.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 14:26

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2013 Subaru WRX, base model. Manual transmission and just listen to that Boxer engine. All the time.

Gated Manual > ttyymmnn 03/13/2016 at 16:02

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Swing by a Mazda dealer and check out the Mazda 3. I like it with the bigger wheels:

+ awesome interior for the class: