Civic or Octavia?

ST7677 · 27th June 2006, 16:13

Which car to Buy... Honda Civic or Skoda Octavia 1.8T???

Ideally, I wanted to go for Skoda Laura, but due to budget constraints I have to choose between a Honda Civic or Skoda Octavia 1.8T

CIVIC
Advantages

New Launch - novelty feel
Different concept dashboard - will continue to be different for a while
Honda Reliability
excellent resale

Disadvantages

Typical japanese car feel - Light and Tiny
Not very stable at high speeds
Suspension not as good - like City it gets bouncy on rough patches
New Launch - may have initial hitches

Octavia
Advantages

Solid Built, long lasting feel
More powerful (150 bhp)
Extremely Stable and well planted
Very good suspension setup

Disadvantages

Dated model (originated in 1996)
Expensive spares - (may lead to higher insurance also)
Petrol models may depriciate faster*
Skoda *** is pathetic (no ideal about Honda ***)

Though my mileage is less, I am open to Diesel version also...

In case Octavia is chosen, is it better to go for TDI (diesel) over TPI (Petrol)?

Factors Important to me

Driving pleasure
Pride of ownership
Cost of ownership (5 yr)
Status

Usage around 10,000 km a year...

Please share your viewpoints!

jkdas · 27th June 2006, 16:20

Dont you think its too early for this !!! The Civic is not even out here and hence you will confuse others.

ST7677 · 27th June 2006, 16:45

Well if it is Civic, then I want to be amongst the first one...
Don;t want to get stuck in long wait lists...
Hence this post...

Rtech · 27th June 2006, 17:07

Quote:

Factors Important to me

* Driving pleasure
* Pride of ownership
* Cost of ownership (5 yr)
* Status

Looking at those factors, and without even waiting for the launch of the Civic, I can safely say that the Civic is the one for you. The Rider 1.8T has no real snob value at all. Plus, you really cannot beat the novelty of being the first to own the new Civic in your neighborhood.

Shan2nu · 27th June 2006, 19:57

Quote:

Typical japanese car feel - Light and Tiny
Not very stable at high speeds
Suspension not as good - like City it gets bouncy on rough patches

Where'd you get this info from? Have you test driven the Indian Civic?

Shan2nu

microhit · 27th June 2006, 20:33

Civic anyday. The problem is bad Dealers.

Outdated Skoda product is nothing more than exploitation of uninformed Indian customer.

theMAG · 27th June 2006, 22:00

Civic it is. New car vs old model. I think the answer shouts for itself from the rooftops

Mpower · 27th June 2006, 22:34

Well you have to compare the Civic and the Rider turbo petrol, in which case the Civic has more features. I need to do some research to lay them out.

Like Shan2nu said, you are still speculating on the Civic's bad points.

ST7677 · 28th June 2006, 09:33

No not speculating on Civic.
It is based on extensive research done on Civic (Thai version), which is what we are getting here. Moreover since these issues are there in CIVICs around the world and even the new honda City faces the same, so it would be a good assumption to start with.
The recent Civic VTEC I drove felt very light and bouncy on broken (typical indian) roads and I was not comfortable cornering on high speeds.

Whereas, I was extremely impressed by Skoda Octavia, which I feel is presently the best drivers car in D segment, but it is the 'don't care a damn' attitude of Tafe Dealership at Bangalore, which made me think on my decision on Octavia. And now with Civic launch, seems like I have an alternative.

But the Honda Civic reviews across are not very encouraging in terms of performance and handelling (not a driver's car). While the design is top notch.

It's so difficult to decide... please share more opinions...

amit · 28th June 2006, 09:57

I know you want to be among the first owners of the Civic but no one here or anywhere in India can tell you for sure how the Civic is going to be simply because it's not yet out in the market. So there really is nothing that anyone can do except wait till July 4th to check out the car.

Quote:

But the Honda Civic reviews across are not very encouraging in terms of performance and handelling (not a driver's car).

I am sure Honda is not trying to position the Civic as a sporty or drivers car in India. It's going to be more of entry luxury car and Honda knows 99% of Civic's here will be chauffer driven. If you are looking for a outright driver's car, then the Octavia Rs it is.

Quote:

Honda Reliability

You could also add Skoda reliablity to the pro's of the Octavia. Skoda has consistantly done really well in J.D.Power survey's in UK.

devarshi84 · 28th June 2006, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by microhit

Civic anyday. The problem is bad Dealers.

Outdated Skoda product is nothing more than exploitation of uninformed Indian customer.

Well NHC is not exactly even a value for money proposition.

And do compare the Torque figures too. Honda is nowhere even near.

I would reserve my judgement until the Honda civic is out. If its 132+ hp with Paddleshifters at 12 on-road, then go for the civic.

Otherwise Skoda TPI kills the cars all around even today.

ST7677 · 28th June 2006, 16:00

Another update: Honda Civic has a flat floor at rear. I.e it does not have the hump in the floor where middle (of 3) passenger sits...

The Auto version with paddle shift would cost around 13.8 lakhs On Road in Bangalore, in Delhi it might be a lakh lesser.

Shan2nu · 28th June 2006, 16:19

Quote:

Another update: Honda Civic has a flat floor at rear. I.e it does not have the hump in the floor where middle (of 3) passenger sits...

Would love to see the exhaust layout on that one.

Shan2nu

Laxminarayan · 28th June 2006, 16:31

Any day go for the Civic, Had been for my VTEC servicing just to get a brochure (specifications) of CIVIC, but couldn't get it. But nevertheless the car looks perfect.. I would say go for it...

amit · 28th June 2006, 22:01

Quote:

Outdated Skoda product is nothing more than exploitation of uninformed Indian customer.

Over-rated new Honda city is nothing more than exploitation of uninformed Indian customer.

Outdated Toyota Qualis was nothing more than exploitation of uninformed Indian customer.

Outdated Maruti Esteem is nothing more than exploitation of uninformed Indian customer.

Outdated Maruti Baleno is nothing more than exploitation of uninformed Indian customer.

Outdated Maruti 800 is nothing more than exploitation of uninformed Indian customer.

Quote:

Though my mileage is less, I am open to Diesel version also

In that case, it's as easy as walking into a skoda dealership! Unless you are open to the Hyundai Elantra Crdi.

27th June 2006, 16:13	#1
ST7677 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,054 Thanked: 73 Times	Civic or Octavia? Which car to Buy... Honda Civic or Skoda Octavia 1.8T??? Ideally, I wanted to go for Skoda Laura, but due to budget constraints I have to choose between a Honda Civic or Skoda Octavia 1.8T CIVIC Advantages New Launch - novelty feel Different concept dashboard - will continue to be different for a while Honda Reliability excellent resale Disadvantages Typical japanese car feel - Light and Tiny Not very stable at high speeds Suspension not as good - like City it gets bouncy on rough patches New Launch - may have initial hitches Octavia Advantages Solid Built, long lasting feel More powerful (150 bhp) Extremely Stable and well planted Very good suspension setup Disadvantages Dated model (originated in 1996) Expensive spares - (may lead to higher insurance also) Petrol models may depriciate faster* Skoda * is pathetic (no ideal about Honda *) Though my mileage is less, I am open to Diesel version also... In case Octavia is chosen, is it better to go for TDI (diesel) over TPI (Petrol)? Factors Important to me Driving pleasure Pride of ownership Cost of ownership (5 yr) Status Usage around 10,000 km a year... Please share your viewpoints!
	() Thanks

27th June 2006, 16:20	#2
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	Dont you think its too early for this !!! The Civic is not even out here and hence you will confuse others. Last edited by jkdas : 27th June 2006 at 16:24.
	() Thanks

27th June 2006, 16:45	#3
ST7677 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,054 Thanked: 73 Times	Well if it is Civic, then I want to be amongst the first one... Don;t want to get stuck in long wait lists... Hence this post...
	() Thanks

27th June 2006, 20:33	#6
microhit BANNED Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: BLR Posts: 32 Thanked: 0 Times	Civic anyday. The problem is bad Dealers. Outdated Skoda product is nothing more than exploitation of uninformed Indian customer.
	() Thanks

27th June 2006, 22:00	#7
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	Civic it is. New car vs old model. I think the answer shouts for itself from the rooftops
	() Thanks

27th June 2006, 22:34	#8
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Well you have to compare the Civic and the Rider turbo petrol, in which case the Civic has more features. I need to do some research to lay them out. Like Shan2nu said, you are still speculating on the Civic's bad points.
	() Thanks

28th June 2006, 09:33	#9
ST7677 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,054 Thanked: 73 Times	No not speculating on Civic. It is based on extensive research done on Civic (Thai version), which is what we are getting here. Moreover since these issues are there in CIVICs around the world and even the new honda City faces the same, so it would be a good assumption to start with. The recent Civic VTEC I drove felt very light and bouncy on broken (typical indian) roads and I was not comfortable cornering on high speeds. Whereas, I was extremely impressed by Skoda Octavia, which I feel is presently the best drivers car in D segment, but it is the 'don't care a damn' attitude of Tafe Dealership at Bangalore, which made me think on my decision on Octavia. And now with Civic launch, seems like I have an alternative. But the Honda Civic reviews across are not very encouraging in terms of performance and handelling (not a driver's car). While the design is top notch. It's so difficult to decide... please share more opinions...
	() Thanks

28th June 2006, 16:00	#12
ST7677 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,054 Thanked: 73 Times	Another update: Honda Civic has a flat floor at rear. I.e it does not have the hump in the floor where middle (of 3) passenger sits... The Auto version with paddle shift would cost around 13.8 lakhs On Road in Bangalore, in Delhi it might be a lakh lesser.
	() Thanks

28th June 2006, 16:31	#14
Laxminarayan BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 170 Thanked: 0 Times	Any day go for the Civic, Had been for my VTEC servicing just to get a brochure (specifications) of CIVIC, but couldn't get it. But nevertheless the car looks perfect.. I would say go for it...
	() Thanks