I'll be in the market for a car soon and narrowed my choices to:

xa
Civic sedan EX (used to own 98 coupe)
Echo

The xA has come out in front right now, but if comparing it to a civic what would be the pros and cons of each? (pick-up and go; real world mpg; finish etc....)

I was looking at the echo but after adding in all the stuff the xA has it costs more and probably has less mpg than a base model (which no one carries anyway)

Thanks,

Dom

 

I recently traded my 97 Honda Civic DX hatchback for a 05 Xa. The Honda was a great car it only required basic maintenance and gas that’s all. However, I found the Honda devoid of any personality. It was a means of getting to point A to point B it was nice to drive but not fun to drive. That the point that separate these two cars. When I was car shopping the Honda was not on my list. To me the Honda design team is on vacation. Like I said before it’s a good car in a plain paper bag.

The Scion is a blast to drive. It feels more powerful than the Civic due to the close ratio gearbox. It handles better than the Civic. It gets the same if not better gas mileage. It has unique styling and personality something that the Civic does not have. Yes, it’s physically smaller but when you sit in it it’s roomier than the Honda. Also it’s cheaper to boot and was rated one of the best cars in terms of total cost of ownership. Give it a chance if you drive I think you will love it. And for God’s sake don’t buy the Echo, no one else is!

 

haha~ I seriously thought that this would be one of those "tC vs. every other car" thread Glad to see that people who like the xA aren't prone to measuring the size of their di... I mean how fast their cars are

Putting that aside...

Get the xA. The new Civic EX is about 4-5k more in price (the DX is more in the price range). The Echo, while cheap, tack on all the accessories that are standard in the xA it will come out to be slightly higher.

All three are great commuter cars in their own respects, but the xA edges out most of it's competition by providing a solid score in all categories.

The best thing to do is to test drive all the cars and keep a little notebook to jot things down as you notice it. For most people, buying a new car is a long term committment. It's best to start it right at the beginning then to curse yourself down the road. :D

 

you've come to a place where the scion enthused gather to ask if scions are good cars. i just want to point out the bias present.

 

I dont have an xA, but i test drove one when i was buying a car back in november and decided to go tC because of the power and cruise control. Ive also driven a 2003 civic. I would go xA definitely. For that price, you cant beat it. And I think its a great looking stylish little car. The civic is very boring and plain and cost a lot more. Toyota and Honda both have equal reputation for reliability.

Oh, and cross the echo off your list. its ugly, and its more expensive when similarly equipped.

go xA! Let us know what you decide.

 

If you want low cost and high MPG, the Civic HX is going to be your best choice.

I agree about scratching the Echo off your list. Most of them are stripped and you don't even save anything over a Scion. The xa/b are such good values they make the Echo obsolete.

The Civic is a fine car, possibly a bit more refined than the xA/B. The engine is a bit larger (1.7) liters. Acceleration is going to be roughly the same, but the Civic will be more relaxed at highway speeds and is generally quieter.

The Civic has the superior suspension, the one big downside of the xA/B is they are saddled with a prehistoric and obsolete torsion beam rear axle, which is technically semi-independant. The Civic will always track better on the highway and handle turns with greater accuracy no matter what you do to the suspension on the xA/B.

Tough call. I can see the xB over the Civic for all the standard options and room the B has, but xA vs. Civic is much harder.

If you can afford it, I suggest seeking out one of the Civic Si hatchbacks. They are unpopular for some reason, but really excellent cars. Alcantra lined Recaro-like seats, rally style shifter on the dash. Excellent handling and 160 hp and not a porker like the tC.

 

xb their great

 

i went through the same dilemna...didnt know which way to go...but the color i wanted ( University of Kentucky Blue ) was available in the xA known to all as Indigo Ink...and the standard pwr accesories,along with an MP3 CD player sold me.

 

civic sedan, new, owned 5 years,
tacoma, new, owned, 5 years
xA, new, owned one month
still got the taco
xA better mpg, that's why I bought it but still got TRD springs and some 17's
basically, do you need a lot of room? hatch vs. trunk? my civic began to oxidize

 

Sorry, he wasn't asking xA or xB... xB wasn't on his list...

Another future Scion owner likes the xA over the xB... deal with it...

 

Another future Scion owner likes the xA over the xB... deal with it...



lol

 

Here's the deal:

Even IF the Civic were better than the xA (which I believe it is NOT):
I avoid Honda for one reason, and one reason only-- theft. Honda's SUCK for theft. Odds are, someone will either break into your car, steal your stuff, or steal your car all together. It is VERY easy to steal a Honda. And say you are REALLY lucky, and don't get hit, you'll probably be missing a badge or two as well, and not in the clean, shaved way, but in the two holes in the trunk, ghetto way. 9/10 Honda owners I know have had at least SOMETHING happen to their cars.

This reason, in my opinion, is the most important reason to avoid Honda. And for those who quote Toyota theft rates as high, well, they are completely stupid. High theft rates are for 88-91 Corolla/Camry's. Newer Toyota's have few thefts, in respect to the almighty Civic, and the entire Honda/Acura line.
There are definitely many more reasons why an xA would be a smarter choice, but again, just think about how many Honda's you see with missing badges, stereos, or windows.

 

I've driven my friends 05 Civic Value Package before.

It's a decent looking car with a nice interior, but the drive is quite bland. Everything about the car is quite boring. The shifting is boring, the suspension is boring..everything.

Go test drive both. If you have any passion for automobiles, you'll understand what I mean.

 

This also indicates something very interesting. Looking at a news article on MSN, Acuras and Hondas clutter the list of cars stolen most in 2003. Integras from 1994 to 1999 take up 6 of the top ten spots. The 2000 Civic takes up #10. Toyotas are further down the list, with the 1991 Camry at #16.

Typically, cars are stolen for their parts. The high number of Honda thefts would indicated that high numbers of Hondas made in the common years of cars stolen need parts. In other words, a lot of repairs must be happening on 94-99 Integras and on '94, '99, and '00 Civics. The fact that the only Toyotas on the list for 2003 are from the late '80s and early '90s would suggest that Toyotas were generally on the roads for over a decade before running into mechanical problems.

 

i love this comment considering the tC beats the new SI pretty bad from any speed or a stop.

also, the tC is only 130lbs. heavier then a new SI.

all this for 3-5k more then a tC.

perhaps this is the reason they're unpopular?

 

OWNED!

 

the Si is EXTREMELY overpriced, and they are also stolen often. . . for their motors. For the same kind of money, why not get a true performance compact, the Neon SRT-4. The Civic Si is still in econocar territory. Econocar vs econocar, the entire Scion line holds a better value, dollar for dollar.

 

Civic =

Echo =

xA =

 

To add to what everyone is saying, if you're still considering a Toy. Echo, they're being discontined after this year.

My pick, xA for you!

 

The reason they are unpopular is because Americans prefer conservatively styled coupes like the tC over hatchbacks and because Honda priced them too high.

Based on the MSRPs alone, the tC is a much better value for sure....but..

Si's sell for thousands under sticker price, usually around the price of a tC actually. I know several people who've bought them for under $17k. Ask around and you'll see.

I just prefer the Civic's more accurate shifting and I feel its suspension is better tuned. The handling is noticeably better than tC, especially at the limit.

The tC is faster though, I agree completely. The extra torque the tC has is really noticeable. I'd be willing to trade the torque for a car that I think is more well sorted out though, especially when its a car with a bigger aftermarket for real performance parts than any Toyota will ever have. Another plus for me is that the Si is unique looking and rare, two things you will never be able to say about the tC.

It depends on your priorities. The tC is a good highway cruiser and nice and comfortable, the Si is a bit more tenacious and serious in a driver-oriented sort of way.