Accord vs Civic

Ok, so the cars I was looking at fell through, however I've found two more very promising options and I wanted some input.

1999 Honda Accord DX 113k miles $4495

2000 Honda Civic EX 120k miles $4288

The Civic has a few more options, like power windows and locks. But the Accord is a bit bigger which I'm thinking will be very helpful for a baby seat in the back. However the Civic does sneak out a few more MPG than the Accord. Can anyone help me?

The Accord a V6? Auto? If so, walk away..........

I can't comment on baby seat situation but I enjoyed driving my EK Civic more then the Accords I ever have.

Civic.

Manual windows are tough to live with in a four door, but if a baby seat is involved, the Accord is the only way to go.

I'm probably going to have to give up my WRX because I can't get the three year old into the car seat anymore.

No both cars are Manuals.

The Accord is the 2.3L I4.

The Civic is the 1.6L I4.

In reply to Drewsifer:

ah, good to go then.

I'd go with the Accord. Only a bit more money, fewer miles, more room.

I'd recommend an Accord as long as it's not an automatic transmission model. The 4 cylinder needs the manual to be lively, the V6 needs it to not fall apart.

Accord. You're going to want that room with baby seat (and other baby stuff) in the picture. Ever measured out how big one of those "travel system" strollers are?

Woody wrote: Manual windows are tough to live with in a for door, but if a baby seat is involved, the Accord is the only way to go. I'm probably going to have to give up my WRX because I can't get the three year old into the car seat anymore.

I didn't even notice that until you said something. I thought the Civic just had the sunroof and a "premium sound system". But the Accord doesn't have power locks or windows. And that could very much so be a PITA.

I've checked a few other forums (Honda-tech and the like) and more than a few people have said they had no issues getting a baby seat in the Civic. Well both are in the same area, so I'm taking the baby seat with me and seeing what's what tomorrow.

Take the stroller and compare trunk space, too!

I had a '96 Accord EX 5-speed bought new, first new car the Wife and I bought. Got it when she was pregnant and it was hers for the first 2 years. If it's the same generation I wouldn't hesitate to get another one, but I'd look for one with a few more creature comforts. It was a bit tight with the car seats, worse for the big rear-facing one, and they've only gotten bulkier since then. I can't imagine stuffing a rear-facing car seat into a Civic and putting an adult human into the seat in front of that, but I'm 6'2" and very claustrophobic. YMMV. And plus a zillion on taking the stroller - that's what ultimately prompted her to move up to the V70 wagon. Well, that and me totalling my car and needing something to drive...

EDIT - just checked and the '99 was the next generation. I had one for about 6 months and it was the definition of soulless appliance, right down there with a Camry. I'd rather have the earlier generation, but for a kid hauler the bigger newer generation car would have to be the smart choice.

roll up windows and manual locks are a feature! they don't break never

I found a few other promising choices I'm going to check out.

2005 Hyundai Elantra GLS. $4995 86,000miles Loaded Sort of right in between the Civic and Accord in terms of size. Still gets good MPG. My Father-in-law has one. Seemed ok to me.

2004 Kia Optima LX $4495 85,000 miles Also loaded Just a tad smaller than the Accord, but accord to the EPA (yeah I know) gets just a hair worse MPG. But it is younger and has fewer miles.

I have a 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis for sale on craigslist. This is the car you want!

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/2301818701.html

pete240z wrote: I have a 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis for sale on craigslist. This is the car you want! http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/2301818701.html

It most definitely is not. I have never understood the love of these cars. They are slow, handle badly and are generally boring as hell.

Drewsifer wrote: I found a few other promising choices I'm going to check out. 2005 Hyundai Elantra GLS. $4995 86,000miles Loaded Sort of right in between the Civic and Accord in terms of size. Still gets good MPG. My Father-in-law has one. Seemed ok to me. 2004 Kia Optima LX $4495 85,000 miles Also loaded Just a tad smaller than the Accord, but accord to the EPA (yeah I know) gets just a hair worse MPG. But it is younger and has fewer miles.

The Hondas will last forever. I am not convinced by my experiences with Hyundais of that time period.

93EXCivic wrote: It most definitely is not. I have never understood the love of these cars. They are slow, handle badly and are generally boring as hell.

One could say exactly the same thing about a stock 4 banger accord or civic.

I wouldnt say a panther handles badly, just differently. its perfectly capable and predictable even in mostly stock form. Its just one hell of a big boat compared to a honda.

In reply to failboat:

Except a stock civic will run circles around a stock panther.

93EXCivic,

I seriously could not care less about how these cars are to drive. That's a luxury I can't afford right now. If they are fun, great. But right now I need safe, reliable, and economic.

Pete240z, sorry, I need to trade the Miata in. So unless you're looking to do a one for one swap... Also I'm not looking to travel for this car.

I have a 2001 Accord, 2.3 auto, a 2.5 y.o. and a 3 month old. The car seats fill the whole of the back seat. Regardless if we're on a weekend visiting family or a week at the beach or grocery shopping, the rest of the trunk, floors, etc is filled with stuff. For us, the car is too small. Of course the fact that my wife and I are both over six feet tall (thankfully thin) might add to the cramped feeling. We get 25 mpg city (we all commute to daycare and work) and as much as 30 highway. The car is boring and soulless and actually, I really don't care for it, but it was $5K, as new, and had 70K miles on it when I bought it three years ago. We're at 119K no issues, still looks new, now smells like graham crackers and apple juice. I replaced the timing belt and gave it a major tuneup (made zero difference in performance/economy). It's a car for people that either aren't interested in cars, received it as a hand me down from their parents, or need to move their family and refuse to give in to a minivan. Having sold our GTP and bought the Accord, we fall into the last group - traded boost for two more doors. Just writing this has made me dread driving it to work tomorrow. Did I mention that it's silver metallic and has hubcaps?

Go for the Accord - you'll eventually be grateful for the extra space and at least it's not a Caravan.

I would agree that the Accord is the better of the options if you have children. It will be much easier to live with than the Civic.

Apis_Mellifera wrote: Go for the Accord - you'll eventually be grateful for the extra space and at least it's not a Caravan.

Speaking as a 2-time (and current) Caravan owner, I'm not too proud to say I love the damn things. Now that the kids are grown I still have it. It's the most massively useful bargain vehicle available in North America - I use it as a car, box truck, pickup, bus, and it is no more soulless than any of the appliance sedans. It gives me 20+ mpg and will haul a scout troops' worth of cookies and/or camping gear. With the potential exceptions of off-road capability and towing capacity (neither of which I need), it's far and away more useful and reliable than anything else I could own for the cost.

I'm going to give you a piece of advice that goes against conventional wisdom. Get a two door, not a 4 door. I have twin boys. When they were small, we had a '94 4 door Integra and an '89 Civic hatchback. You have to lift kids higher to get them over the side of the carseat than you do to put them in from the front of the carseat. You also have to hold them in an awkward way. I have a really bad back, and to put them in from the side also has more of a cantilever effect than from the front. I found it MUCH easier to put them in my Civic than the Integra. Just flip the front seat forward, Grab them under the armpits, step into the back and plop the kid down. It's even easier to strap them in from the front. Think about it.