Civic, hands down. The Civic is much higher maintenance than the Corolla and has more road noise, but it has better handling and better interior quality.
Question for Any '09 Corolla or Civic Owners
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What exactly is much higher maintenance ?
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
What exactly is much higher maintenance ?
Hondas need periodic valve adjustments, and the Civics have a nasty habit of eating through control arm bushings - I think Honda fixed this issue in the 8th gen FA/FG series. But there's no timing chain in the newer Civics - one less headache to worry about.
What exactly is much higher maintenance ?
Hondas need periodic valve adjustments, and the Civics have a nasty habit of eating through control arm bushings - I think Honda fixed this issue in the 8th gen FA/FG series. But there's no timing chain in the newer Civics - one less headache to worry about.
Originally Posted By: nthach
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
What exactly is much higher maintenance ?
Hondas need periodic valve adjustments, and the Civics have a nasty habit of eating through control arm bushings - I think Honda fixed this issue in the 8th gen FA/FG series. But there's no timing chain in the newer Civics - one less headache to worry about.
Yup.
I was referring to the periodic valve adjustments. Also, the Civic requires ATF changes whereas the Toyota's transmission is filled-for-life.
But I'd much rather have a 5-speed auto than a 4-speed auto, so the Honda still wins for me.
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
What exactly is much higher maintenance ?
Hondas need periodic valve adjustments, and the Civics have a nasty habit of eating through control arm bushings - I think Honda fixed this issue in the 8th gen FA/FG series. But there's no timing chain in the newer Civics - one less headache to worry about.
Yup.
I was referring to the periodic valve adjustments. Also, the Civic requires ATF changes whereas the Toyota's transmission is filled-for-life.
But I'd much rather have a 5-speed auto than a 4-speed auto, so the Honda still wins for me.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Toyota's transmission is filled-for-life.
Filled for life is a marketing gimmick for people who don't know better. Come on, Wan!
I'm biased so I can't comment on one vs the other, but I will say that my girlfriends 08 Civic LX has been trouble free for the first 15k miles. Was purchased Feb 08. The only issue that came up was the rear door outer trim piece was loose, replaced under warranty.
Toyota's transmission is filled-for-life.
Filled for life is a marketing gimmick for people who don't know better. Come on, Wan!
I'm biased so I can't comment on one vs the other, but I will say that my girlfriends 08 Civic LX has been trouble free for the first 15k miles. Was purchased Feb 08. The only issue that came up was the rear door outer trim piece was loose, replaced under warranty.
I love how my Yaris is spec'd to have the auto tranny checked every 15k miles... Yet the fluid is so-called "life fluid". If it truly is "for life", then what's the point of checking besides the basic fluid level (which should never change)?
Originally Posted By: firemachine69
I ;ove how my Yaris is spec'd to have the auto tranny checked every 15k miles... Yet the fluid is so-called "life fluid". If it truly is "for life", then what's the point of checking besides the basic fluid level (which should never change)?
Check for contamination from coolant or signs of transmission failure.
I ;ove how my Yaris is spec'd to have the auto tranny checked every 15k miles... Yet the fluid is so-called "life fluid". If it truly is "for life", then what's the point of checking besides the basic fluid level (which should never change)?
Check for contamination from coolant or signs of transmission failure.
...Which, would require... Flushing out the fluid!
I'm old school. I like to see the tranny fluid changed every 30k, less during severe service.
Originally Posted By: AcuraTech
I'm old school. I like to see the tranny fluid changed every 30k, less during severe service.
You probably change your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles, too.
Come'on, Mr. Technician. Times have changed. Perhaps 60k is the new 30k for transmissions. But wait, you service Hondas. At 60k, you might need to rebuild the transmission as part of preventive maintenance!
I'm old school. I like to see the tranny fluid changed every 30k, less during severe service.
You probably change your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles, too.
Come'on, Mr. Technician. Times have changed. Perhaps 60k is the new 30k for transmissions. But wait, you service Hondas. At 60k, you might need to rebuild the transmission as part of preventive maintenance!
Originally Posted By: AcuraTech
I'm old school. I like to see the tranny fluid changed every 30k, less during severe service.
I'm like you, I see "fill for life" and I read that as "filled for the life of the warranty".
I change my transmission fluid every 30-50K in my automatic, and every 20-30K in my standard, if not less.
I'm old school. I like to see the tranny fluid changed every 30k, less during severe service.
I'm like you, I see "fill for life" and I read that as "filled for the life of the warranty".
I change my transmission fluid every 30-50K in my automatic, and every 20-30K in my standard, if not less.
Edmunds on line has a great review on the Civic, Corolla and Mazda3 comparison using readers from around the country. Both men and women(6 total IIRC) tested all three vehicles, reviewed them and gave them all a final rating. It's a great read, check it out!
How hard would it be to 'tap' a hole for a drain plug in the Corolla / Yaris trans ?
It shouldn't be that difficult.
It shouldn't be that difficult.
Yaris already has a drain-plug on the transmission. Again, interesting because the fluid is supposedly good "for life".
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: nthach
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
What exactly is much higher maintenance ?
Hondas need periodic valve adjustments, and the Civics have a nasty habit of eating through control arm bushings - I think Honda fixed this issue in the 8th gen FA/FG series. But there's no timing chain in the newer Civics - one less headache to worry about.
Yup.
I was referring to the periodic valve adjustments. Also, the Civic requires ATF changes whereas the Toyota's transmission is filled-for-life.
But I'd much rather have a 5-speed auto than a 4-speed auto, so the Honda still wins for me.
Ummm...
At work the other day ago we sold a black '08 Camry SE and the factory fill ATF WS was disgusting. I believe the car had 24K on it.
Originally Posted By: nthach
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
What exactly is much higher maintenance ?
Hondas need periodic valve adjustments, and the Civics have a nasty habit of eating through control arm bushings - I think Honda fixed this issue in the 8th gen FA/FG series. But there's no timing chain in the newer Civics - one less headache to worry about.
Yup.
I was referring to the periodic valve adjustments. Also, the Civic requires ATF changes whereas the Toyota's transmission is filled-for-life.
But I'd much rather have a 5-speed auto than a 4-speed auto, so the Honda still wins for me.
Ummm...
At work the other day ago we sold a black '08 Camry SE and the factory fill ATF WS was disgusting. I believe the car had 24K on it.
Originally Posted By: nthach
At work the other day ago we sold a black '08 Camry SE and the factory fill ATF WS was disgusting. I believe the car had 24K on it.
Color and odor of the fluid does not always indicate its condition.
At work the other day ago we sold a black '08 Camry SE and the factory fill ATF WS was disgusting. I believe the car had 24K on it.
Color and odor of the fluid does not always indicate its condition.
Have you or your wife taken a look at the new Malibu. The four cylinder with the six speed automatic gets 22 City - 33 Highway.
The Civic gets 25 City and 36 Highway. The Corolla 27 City and 35 Highway.
Take a good look at the new Malibu it is one very nice car.
The Civic gets 25 City and 36 Highway. The Corolla 27 City and 35 Highway.
Take a good look at the new Malibu it is one very nice car.
Thanks everyone for the replies & my apologies for abandoning the thread...been a busy few weeks for me.
My wife had a change of plans and she ended up not getting anything. Her plan was to buy something new for herself and then pass on her '04 Corolla to her daughter in college. We found a cheaper option when I checked with a guy in Louisville where I bought my '98 Civic a couple of years ago. He was liquidating his inventory and had a '04 Nissan Sentra with 93K miles that he was unloading for $4k. Made the two hour trip to take a look at it and it did need some tires, brakes and other minor things which amounted to an additional $1k at Firestone. So that's now the kid's car and for the $5K with repairs, it's a pretty good deal, considering the loan value was $6700. So it should get her through college and beyond. So now we're owners of the "Big 3", Japanese style!
My wife had a change of plans and she ended up not getting anything. Her plan was to buy something new for herself and then pass on her '04 Corolla to her daughter in college. We found a cheaper option when I checked with a guy in Louisville where I bought my '98 Civic a couple of years ago. He was liquidating his inventory and had a '04 Nissan Sentra with 93K miles that he was unloading for $4k. Made the two hour trip to take a look at it and it did need some tires, brakes and other minor things which amounted to an additional $1k at Firestone. So that's now the kid's car and for the $5K with repairs, it's a pretty good deal, considering the loan value was $6700. So it should get her through college and beyond. So now we're owners of the "Big 3", Japanese style!
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Does that year Sentra have trouble with the head gasket ?
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