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Hello everyone. My dad has just sold is car and is about to buy a Honda Civic. We're looking at a 2008/58 plate civic, but we can't decide between the 1.4 petrol and 1.8 petrol. I know the spec differs between models, i.e trim level etc. but I'm just looking for general advice on the car themselves.

We spoke to someone at a Honda dealer and he suggested a 1.8 due to the 1.4 being 'underpowered' or something, and that people say taking over cars can sometimes be a challenge.

We test drove a 1.4 earlier with a Peugeot dealer thinking it was a 1.8 (genuinely) and we thought it was a 1.8 until we checked the insurance websites. Anyway, we are impressed with the 1.4 and the dealer said the following (obviously looking for a sale..)

- More MPG on the 1.4 due to smaller engine
- Less road tax (half)

I'm 18 and will be a second driver, so works out around £300 cheaper on insurance overall for the 1.4. I won't drive it like crazy, and my dad drives slow anyway so speed isn't really a problem. Mostly used in town.

- Are there any significant problems with the 1.4?
- Would a 1.8 be better overall in terms of the engine?
- Are 1.4 more rare and harder to sell?
- Whats the main difference and why would the Honda driver tell us to buy a 1.8 rather than a 1.4?
- Should it be avoided?


Sorry for all these questions, we are about to buy within the next week. I will be sticking around once we have a car and hopefully learn alot more about it!

All help is appreciated.

 
Rep Power: 367

hunh...
yer from UK, considering the currency you posted and calling petrol, heh?
hope we still have some european guys here to chime in....
most of the members are from US/CAN, and we do not have the 1.4 liter version, for example, so hard to answer that...

 
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My 2002 Civic had a 1.7L 115hp engine. It had plenty of power except when I was driving at highways speeds (65 to 70mph) uphill at high elevation (4,000 feet msl). The car had to be dropped from 5th gear to 4th (stick shift tranny) to maintain highway speed.

This was acceptable to me, especially since I rarely drove in those conditions.

I'd guess that in town a 1.4L will have plenty of power. Try it and see if you like it.

 
Rep Power: 518

Smaller engine = less power. Probably better fuel economy with a smaller engine.

If you drive like a grandma, you won't need a ton of power.
If you don't drive like a teenager, you will get good gas mileage.



It's a sales maggot. Follow the money. He makes more money on the higher priced car.
Plus, we all like lots of power.
You obviously have done some math..... You decide which engine best suits your needs and budget.


Another suggestion: Have a PRE-purchase inspection done so you don't end up buying a nightmare such as this https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...-headache.html



We haven't had Peugeot over here since about 1982.