Honda Civic v Holden Astra

Lacg21 on 03/06/2018 - 18:11
Last edited 03/06/2018 - 18:26 by 1 other user

Hey folks,

Whenever I have a problem deciding to make a purchase I always come here to Ozbargain - you folks are great support!

Basically I need to buy a small car for work - I prefer a sedan because I like space. The car I am looking for is for driving from the city to country and to drive around.

Me: I am 34 male so I like cars and I like good looking cars but I don't like to drive anything too flashy

So my search has come down to these 2 cars for different reasons:

Holden Astra LS+ sedan (current promotion 2017 demo model $19,990)

  • 5 year warranty
  • under 20k can get an instant tax write-off
  • has all the bells and whistles (besides AEB)

Honda Civic VTi-L (can bargain to $28,000 - $29,000)

  • 7 year warranty
  • awesome engine
  • looks great (at least looks better than the Cruze)
  • little safety bells and whistles and no AEB

I am disappointed with the Civic because the big boys in corporate thought they would be cheeky by not incorporating safety features of Honda Sensing in base models like lane keep, lane departure warning etc which are in the Astra.

However, my biggest concern is that Holden is a dud and a waste of time (apparently the Korean plant that makes them is closing down or something) and the car doesn't look so great as compared to the Civic but the under $20k is very tempting for the tax write off.

Also I find the Hyundai i30 and Mazda 3 wayyy to common.

What do you folks think, go for the Civic or Astra??

Folks, your thoughts would be greatly appreciated, especially from those who are owners…

Automotive Car Holden Honda

Comments

  • nicread on 03/06/2018 - 18:30

    Is there any reason other than "too common" to dismiss the Mazda 3, which I think is a very good product suited to your needs?

    • acg21 on 03/06/2018 - 18:47

      Because my brother has the car (2015 model or something), haven’t really looked into it….

      Also I think the car is going to be updated early 2019

  • DarkOz on 03/06/2018 - 18:54
    +1

    Check out the all new Toyota Corolla due this August. The problem is it could be a bit pricey and 3 years warranty.

    I personally want the new Corolla but I can't wait until August so I might have to settle for a Mazda 3. Yeah I know there is an all new model due in 2019 but that's why the current model is a few $k cheaper now.

    • acg21 on 03/06/2018 - 20:12

      In my research into cars, I looked into the 2019 model corolla and it has got awesome reviews so far. They are saying it is a game-changer.

      Do you think u can get the mazda 3 under $20k?

      • DarkOz on 03/06/2018 - 20:50

        The 2019 Corolla is a game changer because they only have 2 models and the base model is also loaded with safety features. The problem is they will come with a price.

        For Mazda 3 to be under 20K you are looking at the Neo Sport. Manual can definitely be done with 10% discount. Auto is a close call as it's $2k more.

  • poohduck on 03/06/2018 - 19:45
    +1

    I avoid computer aided anything in a vehicle, other than fuel mapping, which is awesome. I would buy a new car with wind up windows if I could; much less to go wrong, less weight, can work the windows if you drive off a pier etc, go forever. I do like electronic mirrors though - they're useful, esp when parallel parking etc. Disregarding all that, the honda is the better car of course. Bang for buck the suzuki swift (still made in Japan) is really hard to beat.

    • [Deactivated] on 04/06/2018 - 06:04

      If you need esp to park is your real name evil kenevil or ken Carter?

  • Islund on 03/06/2018 - 19:48

    Check out the Jetta. VW are dropping tjhis from their line-up so some bargains to be found. My friend has a base model and even that hauled ass up the blue mountains

    • acg21 on 03/06/2018 - 20:19
      +1

      I think the Jetta was already dropped.

      VW needs to catch up with the competition re: warranty…

    • HighAndDry on 04/06/2018 - 13:55

      I'd stay away from European brands if OP is cost-conscious. I actually see no reason at all to go with VW over a similarly specc'd Honda, Mazda, Hyundai, Toyota or even a Kia.

  • bobbified on 03/06/2018 - 19:52
    +4

    Civic - for it's reliability and future resell value (relative to the original price).
    BUT if you think that Hyundai i30 and Mazda 3 are "way too common", then you might be disappointed to hear that Civics are also very common.

    • acg21 on 03/06/2018 - 20:16

      Interestingly enough, I was driving around to check out Holden dealerships in Sydney and I did notice a few new gen civics driving around which is definitely more than seeing any Holden Astra (I think I might have seen 1 or 2 today - not sure if that is a bad sign).

  • smuggler on 03/06/2018 - 20:28
    +1

    Buy a 2017 corolla or mazda 3 and save yourself from high servicing costs and less than amazing reliability.

  • Masterpupil on 03/06/2018 - 20:59

    The tax aspect of this proposition makes the astra quite attractive. If it were not for that, then I'd say no way. If you could get a corolla for similar money ( which without looking I'm fairly sure you wouldn't) then that would be better.

  • epicttiimm on 03/06/2018 - 21:21

    I went with the Civic RS hatch after testing the Mazda 3, Golf, etc last year. Great commuter, reliable, looks great and uses 6.5L/100km which is amazing compared to my last car. No manual option unless you spend 50k+ for the Type R, but the CVT is great on fuel and for traffic.

  • Brucet on 03/06/2018 - 21:25
    +4

    I would pick HONDA.Its more reliable than Holden.
    Also 5 or 7 years warranty ( that's all bullshit because u have to pay for car services every six months or 10k for that COVER )

    • AdosHouse on 03/06/2018 - 21:56
      +2

      You have to get your car serviced for any warranty cover irregardless of 3, 5 or 7. But you certainly don't have to get it done at the dealership, and log book servicing company can do it any maintain it's warranty.

      I just got a Elantra Elite. The first 5 years of servicing costs in total, ~$1300. My parents paid that on thier last service alone, VW Jetta.

  • apple2016 on 03/06/2018 - 21:33
    +9

    However, my biggest concern is that Holden is a dud and a waste of time

    This should have helped you in making the decision…

  • bdl on 04/06/2018 - 00:11

    Test drive both and see what you reckon

  • Melb69 on 04/06/2018 - 06:53
    +3

    Please do not buy the holden. If these are the onky 2 choices. 7year warranty is worth the extra. Will help you sell it if selling it say in 5 years as it becomes more attractive to second hand buyer with the 2 years left. As for the safety features. If you drive more cautious and use your mirrors properly when lane changing alot of the safety features are just extra. Sure they help. Once you own a new xar you think is not common you realise they are everywhere.

    I would also try i30 SR. Test it at least as you will be surprised.

  • dazeet on 04/06/2018 - 10:42

    Cerato S sedan with auto. $19,990 drive away with standard 7-year factory warranty. $500 more for reverse camera (i.e. Cerato S with AV). May be able to negotiate non-solid colours at no additional cost?

    In my view, it is probably still the best value, low-risk, and low-ongoing-cost new small car deal at the moment (if we exclude the Lancer :)).

  • Micko179 on 04/06/2018 - 11:03
    +4

    If you buy an Astra you should go directly to the Mental Asylum, do not pass go, do not collect $200!

    My choice would be Toyota over all but if the only other choice is a Honda then I'd go with that!

    For your best new car price go to: www.autoexpert.com.au John Cadogan, he'll save you thousands (his words, not mine)

    • xravisher on 06/06/2018 - 13:27
      -1

      This is definitely going to be another OzB rant but here it goes anyway!

      John Cadogan is a mouthy imbecile who actually gets paid by car manufacturers to say nice things about them. Namely (Hyundai + Kia)

      Don't believe me? watch his videos.

      He does all of this whilst simultaneously bad mouthing almost every car manufacturer even the good ones.

      There is quite allot of BS mixed in with a smattering of good advice too (most of it common sense).

      So whilst I understand his "entertaining" occa appeal to the aussie bogans out there, that's were it should end IMO.

      Read Here: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2556238

      • Melb69 on 12/06/2018 - 19:26

        He has consistently acknowledged he is not paid by any manufacturer and it's his opinion. As for any biased there is as its based on subjective criteria. He's happy for you to get him to look for any car brand or model. He's just saying in his opinion from the emails he gets that he gets less from Hyundai and Kia for issues with their cars and the service they provide during and after warranty.

        That Whirlpool forum is filled with presumption and no proof. If he read that he would tear it to pieces. You cannot make loose comments without backing them up with proof. He consistently pulls trolls up on things. Your first statement is just one of these. Where is your proof.

        You don't have to like him, but just listen to his facts. IMO

        • xravisher on 15/06/2018 - 13:24

          Thanks for your response.

          I freely admit that Whirlpool like most forums have vast amounts of people with differing opinions.

          But the Whirlpool comparatively speaking has allot more switched on users when compared with OzB. (You don't have to believe me on this one, but feel free to read the threads and see juxtaposition in the general topics + banter)

          As far as Cadogan is concerned I do agree that he is "stating his opinion" but that is as far as it goes. His opinion often doesn't match up with professionals within the industry. I am talking about actual mechanics working in the industry for 2+ decades.

          For example, Toyota and Mazda are still considered the pinnacle of manufacturers within mechanic circles and are not only under represented on his channel but are over shadowed by his "opinions" on their korean counterparts.

          You have a point saying that I shouldn’t say things without backing them up, and unfortunately the internet is full of trolls. But I would say please prove that he isn't getting paid off to say nice things about Hyundai and Kia or to simply trash other manufacturers where he sees fit. Him saying that he doesn’t, doesn’t mean that he isn’t.

          Cadogan might pull trolls up on things, who critiques him? plenty of people! There are quite a few people who disagree with him. That being said I don't disagree with him on everything, but there is definitely allot of highly subjective opinions being touted as facts from his mouth.

          I do hope that all of his information is collated from the aforementioned emails. I really do hope that he isn’t getting paid off.

          You’re partially right I don’t have to like him, but I choose not to listen to allot of his “opinions”

        • Melb69 on 15/06/2018 - 14:54

          @xravisher:

          Appreciate your thought out response. It is your right to not listen to all his opinions. I do sometimes think he goes overboard when he tries to shut down trolls, but he goes out there and at best tries to do so in a detailed way. Factual where possible. Thats why I say when he gets hate most of the comments are not backed up. He presents the facts. He has to corrects himself. Says a lot about where he's coming from to prove his case.

          He's opinion is biased as I say, but where it comes to Toyota he has on many occasions stated why he doesn't favour them over the Korean ones at the moment. Corolla only has a 3 year crappy warranty. If the product is good why doesn't Toyota back it up with 5 or 7 years. They require 2 services per year. A i30 only needs 1. Just these small things should be in your purchasing decisions. Not just the price.

          I have owned many different cars. Toyota, Mazda, & My close family drive Subarus. All good reliable brands. At the end of the day you have to take everyone's opinion and especially car reviewers opinions with little truth and work it out yourself. Go test drive the cars.

          Its laughable that ppl think that when a car wins a car of the year magazine award it must be good. What a joke. The criteria that they base the votes on is nothing like what a normal person would use to buy the car for.

          I certainly don't like he's mocking of ppl who believe in a religion. But that's he's right. Ppl should believe in whatever they like. We are all different.

          All above my opinion. Thanks for listening to my rant.

        • xravisher on 14/07/2018 - 15:35

          @Dedbny:

          Thanks for listening to my rant too..

          I agree with your counter-points.

          Nice to know that there are some people on OzB that you can have a friendly debate with :)

          Good day to you squire! :D

  • CMH on 04/06/2018 - 12:37

    I did my research before buying my car, and I found no specific issues with the astra HATCH, but a lot of quality issues with the sedan. So if you're only interested in the sedan, I'd go with the Honda.

    Also, I've always asked here for specific issues with the astra hatch and I could never get anything other than "Holden is crap". Just saying.

    • acg21 on 04/06/2018 - 17:54

      Agreed, the the hatch came up as being a better vehicle than the sedan

  • acg21 on 04/06/2018 - 15:59

    Thanks for all your comments folks - it is really appreciated!

    I have taking all your warnings and I have decided not to go down the Astra route.

    Have decided that the $20k write off is important for my business but its not worth buying something that is not reliable. What I am going to aim for is possibly figuring out a way to get a demo model Mazda 3 for under $20k or possibly 2017 Impreza demo model (I think the Impreza would be a good car to travel for work). It might be a stretch to get under $20k but with the EOFY deals coming up maybe….

    Again, thanks for your comments - I appreciate the OzBargain community!

  • yadupinto on 04/06/2018 - 16:00

    recently bought kia cerato S AV sedan demo model for 17k…good time to buy EOFY..

    • acg21 on 05/06/2018 - 00:49

      That's not a bad buy bud, ive been seeing more Kias on the road these days

  • Melb69 on 05/06/2018 - 10:14

    Both those new choices would be goofd. Good luck.

  • ELH05 on 05/06/2018 - 11:19

    I have an Astra LT - I love it - can't fault it at all so far (7000kms on) ! I was really surprised by it actually as it was not even on my radar the Elantra or the Cerato were my two choices but the bells and whistles and performance of the Astra won me over.

  • Entropy Sky on 05/06/2018 - 15:43

    Holden gone bust, Civic have good engine,
    But other accessories are cheap crap.

    On comparison, go Corrolla.

    • acg21 on 07/06/2018 - 19:10

      2019 new gen Corolla looks really good and there is allot of buzz around it. Should be a very successful car when it is released in Oz (I think August 2018)

  • acg21 on 07/06/2018 - 19:12
    +3

    Folks, just a follow up from all your messages - thanks for all ur advice. Ended up today signing for a Honda Civic - better go with a sure thing than taking a risk.

    Again, thanks for your comments and thoughts!

    • praga on 08/06/2018 - 00:45

      Good choice, I recently bought a Civic as well. Loving it except for the dashboard rattle noise.

    • deep007 on 09/06/2018 - 22:41

      Great choice!! Can you tell me the price also:)

      • acg21 on 10/06/2018 - 12:35
        +2

        yeah, I still haven't received it, it's on a boat somewhere

        (I hate dashboard rattle - I find it really annoying - hopefully mine will not be like that)

        I paid $28,350 for the VTi-L - I offered $28k and they said fine but $350 for business rego. MY18 model meaning that car was built May this year, mats, 7 year warranty and roadside assist. What do you think thumbs up or down?

    • Melb69 on 12/06/2018 - 09:37

      What happened to the Imprezza option. You ended up with the Civic which was alot more. A base imprezza would have been cheaper?

      • acg21 on 13/06/2018 - 10:11

        I mentioned it to my dad and he was like - the police will pull you over lol. I guess I was already paying over 20k for a car I thought I might as well go for the Honda as everyone raves about the brand quality (even though the car is built in Thailand).

        In hindsight I should have seriously considered the Kia Cerato. They have just released updated model and it is definitely better than the Astra but I guess I should be happy with the Honda (still haven't received it) and move on…

        • Melb69 on 13/06/2018 - 10:15

          The Imprezza base is a good reliable car with AWD which the other cars don't have.

          As for your choice. The Civic is a better car than the civic with that extra warranty at moment, so you should be fine while under that period. You may just want to sell it after warranty though.

        • acg21 on 14/06/2018 - 10:56

          @Dedbny: Thanks mate. It is a good car because of the warranty (I am still yet to receive), I am just disappointed with the lack of safety features. On an interesting note for those that are looking to purchase, I got a call over the long weekend from a different Honda dealership offering the Civic VTi-L offering a MY18 car for $28,990 (I think if he rang me like that means that he had a good deal he wanted to offer me). So whoever is looking to buy I would offer $28k and try and receive the mats and other additions that you require. At the end of the day I was not impressed with most of the sales reps I dealt with so pick your price and just stick with it.

        • Melb69 on 14/06/2018 - 11:41

          We went to our local Honda dealer twice and had the same useless car saleman. First time they didn't have a car to test drive. As the car had just come out. No demo cars. Left details and no call back. Went there a week or so later and got a test drive of RS. Left details.

          The salesmen never called us at all. Not to be pushy, but poor on their part. We were very interested in the Civic, but this guys didn't seem to want to try and make a sale. We ended up with a totally different car in the end, but could well have been the same VTi_L

          As for the lack of safety features. Wouldn't worry about it. It still has that mirror camera I think which is handy.

        • particle on 15/06/2018 - 11:30

          @Dedbny: I had a somewhat similar experience but I actually appreciated being left alone as a personal preference. Was recently deciding between a Jazz or Yaris - the Honda salesperson followed up with just a single text after a visit, while Toyota was repeatedly calling and texting me virtually every day after a visit. It's a personal preference but I didn't like the pressure I was feeling from Toyota, while not being pursued by Honda made it more comfy to deal with them while I was on the fence. We were in different situations tho I guess since at the time I wasn't as ready to buy yet while you were so they def should have contacted you back.

    • particle on 15/06/2018 - 11:08

      Great choice, enjoy your new car! :)

      • acg21 on 18/06/2018 - 19:19

        thanks mate - still waiting…

  • acg21 on 24/06/2018 - 20:00
    +1

    Just a follow up folks. I received the car on Friday and I am very happy. Awesome car with all the gadgets but most importantly the 1.5Lt turbo engine is the best aspect of the car.

    Very happy I didn't go the Holden route

    Thanks to all for your input!!

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