Team-BHP - VVT-i vs. i-VTEC? driving pleasure v. Features?

Hello everyone, I've been under a great confusion for the past one month deciding our next car. Earlier, I was sold on the corolla but after TD'ing the civic, i love it! and its looks too! (hate the torque at lower end though). I was driving the ikon since the past 2 years (dad use to drive before me) and got the same peppy engine feeling from the civic.

Now, the muddiness here is that corolla has lotsssssss of features but civic is extremly low on them. Like altis GL is offering power lumbar seats, HID lamps, audio controls on steering and lots of cubby holes + lowest maintenance and higher FE. On the contrary, civic has none of these features but the best feature i liked is cruise control in 1.8V Manual. Higher maintenance + lower FE.

Honda in Punjab is considered as a very premium brand compared to toyota. In Punjab, you'll see very very less corollas as compared to civics. So, I'm preferring a Honda. Dad, on the other side likes the corolla.

The toyota dealer is offering free Insurance (around 25k) and the honda dealer is offering just 15k discount on insurance. Honda's insurance charges are more compared to toyota???? :eek: (25k v. 32k)

Now, help me to decide what to do? and how to get some more discount and goodies from the dealer?

MODS : Please don't delete the topiclol:

Hehe! Decide what you want.

Its actually quite a simple decision and no one can really help you. Your analysis of both the cars is acute and not much needs to be added. Even the low GC of the Civic is not a problem on the smooth roads in Punjab.

The insurance charges would be insurance company specific. Bajaj-Allianz offers one of the cheapest deals but the service is suspect.

An ECU remap would solve the low-end torque problem. See how much budget can be spared at the end of the purchase for all this.

The features are... well not as important as the driving feedback. But thats my opinion.

Test Drive a bit more... Confuse yourself a bit more and one day you'll get so pissed off with yourself that you'll go and buy one.

:p

Quote:

Originally Posted by thorpe (Post 1574531)

What is ECU remapping? it has to be done at A.S.S? or outside A.S.S?? Will it void warranty?

ECU remap involves reprogramming the injection and burning of fuel. Now it can be remapped as the original ECU or as a piggyback ECU. A piggyback ECU is cheaper and can be removed, so its warranty proof. Its hard to source and not everyone gets it right. It is also quite expensive (~40k).

It is not done by the service center and needs to be done by a specialist (doubt there is anyone in North India).

As you can see it is a tough proposition to undertake and requires some perseverance. The result is worth it though.

Search out the modding threads. More gyaan awaits you there. :)

1) Corolla Altis is a practical buy and Civic is a buy from heart ( upto some extent ). Civic seating position is too low which leads to a unique problem. The headlights even from two wheelers at low beam will hit you straight into eye. Altis reduces this problem. Next, GC. I am not aware of Punjab roads, but in most of the places in India GC will be an issue. Altis has a very practical advantage in case of GC.

2) I think both of them have very good motors, but overall Altis motor is better IMO. Its offers good performance through the revv band unlike Civic. Civic is weak in bottom end but good in top end. Altis motor also has good top end ( though not as good as civic, but its not very far behind ) and the motor also has good bottom end and mid range.

3) About A.S & S., IMO, Toyota is again better than Honda.

The new/upgraded Civic looks mean and is catchy while Altis looks very boring yet very practical within city.

@aaggoswami, GTO confirmed that the GC issue has now gone away after the latest update. Pls. check that thread. Please don't take offence, but we should keep ourselves updated.

Personally, if I were paying up close to 15lacs, I would want the best of the technology (engine) and features. While Altis sports retuned but old engine (Why is Toyota so conservative in India?), Civic sports the latest and arguably the greatest. Whereas with featurs, Honda skims as usual.

In the end, both are great buys and one will not regret the decision. Go with your heart, at least you know you got exactly what you wanted and expected to have.

Quote:

Higher maintenance

Check these figures for the Civic.

1st Free Service (1000kms) - Free. No oil change, wash and regular checkup.

2nd Free Service (5000Kms)- Free, 200RS charged for windscreen washer fluid, which I disagreed - a sonax 25ml stuff is available for 69.

3rd Free Service (10K Kms) - Oil and filter change - around 900Rs.

4th Paid Service (15K Kms) - Rs3800. Service costs - 810, Wheel alignment - 450, Wheel balancing 500, Balancing weights around 500 (I wonder why!!). Opted for a oil and filter change too - 750. Some consumables worth 300 and 12.36% taxes!!

5th Paid service (20K Km) Rs- 5050, Oil - 860,oil filter -130,air filter -825,wheel alignment -450,balancing - 500,20k service -1250

6th Paid service (25K Km) Rs- 1200

7th Paid service (30K Km) Rs- 2500, Service costs Rs1250 + Oil change Rs900 + Oil filter Rs350 ~ Rs2500.
Changed the wiper blades - Rs500 for the long (76622-SNA-A01) and Rs350 for the short one (76632-SNA-A01).

8th Paid service (35K Km) Rs- 900

So far going good, touch wood. Total 14400, remove the 2500 I paid at the A.S.S for wheel balancing and alignment - which now is done outside.

Total 11900 for 35k.

Now is that higher cost of maintenance?

My swift at 20K costed Rs18K to maintain. At this rate it would cost me another Rs20k for the next 20K kms, which makes it around Rs 40K for 40K kms.

That makes me infer maintaining a Civic is less than half the cost of maintaining a Swift. :thumbs up

Don't know about Altis figures - can some one share??

OMG! Civic has to be serviced every 5k kms!

My ikon gets serviced every 10k and prob'ly corolla 15k!

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaggoswami (Post 1575487)

1) The headlights even from two wheelers at low beam will hit you straight into eye.

3) About A.S & S., IMO, Toyota is again better than Honda.

1) Never thought about it! and this thing might be the decisive point!

3) I've experienced Ford A.S.S, what else could be worse than them (except skoda!)

Drive the cars, work out the price and think with both heart and head. Thats it! Let me repeat again, car purchase is very personal choice and opinions will be biased also. :)

Image & Great engine - Civic
Reliable work horse with a very good engine & tons of gizmo but boring for some - Altis

This is how i see them, if i get better Rs deal with Altis, ill pick it. Coz my experience with Honda is same as any other manufacturer and they always give me a fear of that flimsy, tinny feel.