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I currently drive a Dodge 2500 3/4 ton diesel pickup lifted on 37s ~50+ miles round-trip. Time to fix that. My budget is $7-10K range for the right car.

I was originally looking at the 04/05 Civics; a little research showed that they seemed to get a bit better MPG than the 06+, but IMO looked better than the 01-03, and fell in my price range. I noticed the interiors of the 06/07 look a lot nicer (in pictures), I haven't gone to look at anything in person yet.

How much nicer/better (if at all) are the 06/07 models over the 04/05 models? It looks like there are some of these later year models that still fall in my price range. Realistically, how much worse is the MPG? Thanks guys.

 
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i personally would go with the 04/05 over the newer models, but a test drive will tell you for sure. they are completely different inside. the earlier models do seem to be better on gas too. highest numbers in my 2002 ex were around 34mpg city and 42mpg highway in the summer at sea level. but these can vary based on environment and the driver.

 
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I'll check out both models. For what reasons do you suggest the earlier model?

 
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to me, the interior feel and layout was hands down the deciding factor. 06+ has some strange things going on inside with the cheap looking dash, no visibility, awkward gas pedal, and few other things. but thats just me, i didnt feel comfortable at all in the newer civics when i drove em. the 01-05 civic just feels right, and has richer looking interior.

 
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Oh really? Looking around at least in online pictures the 06+ looked nicer inside. Like I said that's just pictures though, I need to see in person.

 
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I own a 02(7th-gen) and have got to beat on a 06(8th-gen) rental up for a week in the northern Cali mountains. Granted the 8th gen was an automatic and a 4 door.. but both are nice for handling, gas, comfort(for a small economical car) and quality is fair on both 7/8th gens. Quality has gone down since older ones in my opinion. 7th gen transmissions seem sloppy and problematic for the autos and even the manuals. Other shotty parts but still an overall decent car. I have heard the first 2 years of the 8th gen had some issues with engine blocks cracking. Still overall both are better than other makes. I really did like how quite the 8th gen is on the highway at 85 mph; more spacious and the layout is really nice. Still that strange guage cluster is just foreign to myself and the monster A pillers make visibility more of a pain. Only other thing that gets me is how much the engine sits back in the firewall. Don't know how much of a pain they are to work on the back side.. Definitely test drive both if possible, never know till you try!

 
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In response to the comment about working on the back of the engine;
Ive seen the 8th gens in shops and the whole front end come off,like all the way to the window so there is a lot more room than you'd expect to work.

Also they flipped the engine,so things like spark plugs are front and center so they are SUPER easy to get to.

For refular maintanence I think the 8th gen is pretty easy,only thing that might be hard is if you plan on adding intakes or turbos(Saw one person who had to take out his battery and put it inside the car to fit his intake and turbo.)