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Buying A New Car Advice Needed in The AnswerBank: Motoring
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Buying A New Car Advice Needed

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hrag71 | 19:55 Sat 07th Feb 2015 | Motoring
16 Answers
two cars same make different model

A) Honda Civic 1.4i DSI 37000miles £4500

nice tidy car excellent miles for age, but entry level car, small engine, basic model.

B) Honda civic 1.8i Vtec SE 73000miles £4000

Nicy tidy car, fairly good miles for age, bigger engine, more spec, alloys etc

Would you choose low milage over spec/enngine, bit worried that the 1.4 engine wont be big enough ( used to driving a 2.2 turbo diesel )

Thoughts greatly appreciated
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What age are these cars ?
Personally I would go for low mileage over spec. - however dependent on age of vehicle.
But as you already have reservations on the 1.4 size, you've answered your own question.
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Both 2008, 37000miles on a 2008 car is very good, the 1.8 has a full honda service history......decisions decisions!
You're brooding over the 1.8 still, so seems you are more swayed to this one.
The 1.4i engine generates only 82 BHP, in comparison to 138 BHP for the 1.8i engine. But you will need to consider the difference of £50 in annual road tax, plus very likely a bigger differential in insurance premium.

At 138 BHP, the Civic is likely to have a similar power to weight ratio as your 2.2 turbo diesel (unless it was a similarly sized vehicle).

So all things being equal, go for the 1.8i unless the extra £50 per year plus the insurance differential is too much to bear.
I'd go for car A, being much lower mileage.
If neither have really grabbed you, perhaps look for car C
depends what your priorities are but b) is the better deal and the better car but if you are into economy then a) but having said that it's is £500 more anyway. Out of those I would buy b) the mileage is still pretty low and the honda vtec is a rock solid engine. Assuming it has service history etc.
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Testing the 1.4 tomorrow so I will see how much ummph it has if any!

Did a price comparison on insurance (fully comp) 1.4 £180 1.8 £187 so a £7 difference a year the tax is more on the 1.8 £180 instead of £130 so the 1.8 will cost me £57 a year more! so nothing much to worry about there.

I think what i really wanted to know was forgetting price and engine size what would people choose either lower milage or higher higher spec ?

think i could cope with a smaller engine as 90% of the time i will be urban driving..

Or i could continue to cycle to and from work #thighslikechrishoy :)
in this case the mileage is largely irrelevant 73k is low by modern car srandards anyway,as long as the car has been serviced when it should go for B)
Don't get too swayed by performance figures, power output, etc. Drive the 1.4 and see how it feels for you and your needs.
Whichever you choose you can't go far wrong with a Honda
Just to put a slight downer on Stefos’s comment, although Honda’s do have a deserved reputation for reliability, my bosses old Civic suffered from a mystery battery discharge problem.
Every once in a while (first thing in the morning) he would find the battery completely flat. The AA man advised that this undiagnosed issue was common (although intermittent) on Civics.
Don't forget to check whether either cars come with a spare wheel, if this is important to you.
Make a list of want's and see which one ticks most
If you go for the 1.8i (and I would) make sure it's had a cambelt and pulleys changed. If it hasn't or if there is any doubt, negociate it into the deal.
So how did you get on with the 1.4 test drive?

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