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Honda Civic vs Volkswagen Jetta

498 messages,  Last post on Mar 11, 2013 at 12:20 PM

You are in the Volkswagen Jetta Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Volkswagen Jetta, Sedan

Messages Page 43 of 51

#417 of 498 Re: Comparing the two [erickpl] by eldaino

Mar 06, 2007 (2:56 pm)

Replying to: erickpl (Mar 06, 2007 9:41 am)
that planted feeling is probably due to the fact the german cars have a tendency to weight a whole heck of a lot. (i.e. my 06 civic handled exceptionally well, but because of the weight of my rabbit, it feels more 'planted'.)
 
So the doors on the 06 civic were warped when you closed them? Very strange, i actually think that the thud on my civic sedan sounded nicer than the one my rabbit currently produces!
 
Don't want to argue until your blue in the face, but to say that you don't really care about the new ratings is a little ignorant.
 
Perhaps she liked the jetta more for other reasons other than safety. Especailly if its a gli!! The civic has done exceptionally well in new crash tests, they even came up with a new body structure to achieve it. 04 compared to the 06+ body style is just centuries apart man! Again i think that if you establish that you want a safe car, look into that first and then the rest comes up to personal preference; and since you guys went with the gli, its safe to say that it possessed many qualities that the civic did not, to make you want to purchase it.
 
But safety can't be one of them. if you were shopping for an 01-05 civic, ok i'll give you that one, but if you ever had any safety concerns about the new civic, you should be just as worried about the jetta since they both achieved great ratings. (in all fairness, how safe do you think the 01-05 jetta was in comparison to the new ones? See my point? its a bit unfair.)
 
I agree that there is no comparable feeling to a solidly built german car, but i do miss the light tossability of my civic.

#418 of 498 Re: Comparing the two [eldaino] by erickpl

Mar 06, 2007 (3:18 pm)

Replying to: eldaino (Mar 06, 2007 2:56 pm)
A lot of it boils down to that she just didn't want to be in a Honda again.
 
The newer Civics are certainly different from the previous generation and probably warranted a look, and their styling is very polar (love em or hate em), but she just wouldn't go there or consider them. With her making the payments, she's the one who got to decide what she wanted. I was just there to point her at possibilities (and cosign).
 
-Paul

#419 of 498 Re: Comparing the two [erickpl] by ruking1

Mar 06, 2007 (3:34 pm)

Replying to: erickpl (Mar 06, 2007 3:18 pm)
For sure, it is her choice and from what I can gather, both your nickel (s). Since we have them side by side, in one sense we prefer them both. Just to get a sense of the IIHS actuarial take, get a side by side comparison as to your insurance costs. Something tells me, the Civic's have gotten in more accidents than Jetta's and the insurance price difference/s would probably reflect this. Let us know what you find and all the best!

#420 of 498 Re: Comparing the two [erickpl] by eldaino

Mar 07, 2007 (8:27 am)

Replying to: erickpl (Mar 06, 2007 3:18 pm)
A lot of it boils down to that she just didn't want to be in a Honda again
 
i figured it was more this than acual consideration for crash test ratings; otherwise the civic would have been a strong contender for her.

#421 of 498 I'm imagining one thing by tazereli

Mar 07, 2007 (10:23 am)

that the side impact may have been a bit higher that IIHS tests side impact. More speed with its inherently more kinetic energy may very well shove the door in to the point of contacting the center console. if it was similar to IIHS's speed, then I'd be a little more worried. i feel pretty safe in my 98 civic when compared to similar cars of that vintage.

#422 of 498 Re: I'm imagining one thing [tazereli] by erickpl

Mar 07, 2007 (10:36 am)

Replying to: tazereli (Mar 07, 2007 10:23 am)
Yeah, I think the IIHS impacts are at 40 MPH or less, but I am not sure on that.
 
Her impact was in a 45 MPH zone, but cars routinely go 50-65 (and sometimes higher through there). I'm being conservative when I say she was probably hit at around 55 mph.
 
-Paul

#423 of 498 Re: I'm imagining one thing [erickpl] by thegraduate

Mar 07, 2007 (10:54 am)

Replying to: erickpl (Mar 07, 2007 10:36 am)
I can almost see not wanting to be in that kind of car again after such a bad wreck, and I can't help but wonder if I'd feel the same way. Although, if she were hit and hurt like that in a VW, I wonder if she'd be looking at a Honda?
 
It sounds more mental than practical (although VWs are very safe, heavy cars) that she would want a different kind of car.
 
In 1995, my grandmother was hit at 55 MPH in the passenger side of her 1991 Civic DX. She had only bruises from her seatbelt and a bump on the head from hitting the window glass. The fact that it held up so well from a hit at that speed made her want ONLY a Honda after that. The car was totaled, but she walked away.
 
I don't say this to talk about the Civic's integrity, because that is really hard to debate on these models that aren't made anymore. I say it, to say that it is a mental thing. "This car kept me safe so I won't buy anything else" is likely as common as "I got hurt in this car so I'll never buy it again," even if a different car may have gotten them much more injured. It's not logical, but it is how we as humans work. Not saying you or your daughter are wrong in any way, just trying to give a little outsider's perspective (and just one perspective, at that).

#424 of 498 Re: I'm imagining one thing [thegraduate] by erickpl

Mar 07, 2007 (11:31 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Mar 07, 2007 10:54 am)
I imagine your analysis is correct. If she gets popped in the VW, she may very well go down the "It saved me and that is all I'll drive" road or "I got hurt, so forget VW's entirely now" road.
 
My dad was t-boned in 04 in a Mazda 626 (pre 6) and won't drive one again, even with side bags being available (his didn't have em).
 
My wife had an accident in 05 where her car went airborne due to excessive speed (long story), she came down and went into a phone pole that had been converted to a fence post at probably something between 50-60 mph. She walked away with no scratches, a few bruises, a sore throat (from the airbag dust), and that's it. We put her in another one just like it.
 
I think you hit the nail on head as to why she didn't want another Honda (or Acura) - it hurt her and didn't protect her as well as it could/should have.
 
She called me a couple of hours ago after driving to and from school, saying how much she loves her new car. She just got it yesterday and is already outside washing it. Gotta love black. hehe
 
BTW my 99si was black too. NEVER AGAIN even though black cars are darn nice looking for the 5 minutes they're clean after a wash.
 
-Paul

#425 of 498 Re: I'm imagining one thing [erickpl] by thegraduate

Mar 07, 2007 (11:34 am)

Replying to: erickpl (Mar 07, 2007 11:31 am)
Black IS a NIGHTMARE to keep clean (and over the years shows scratches quite well), but looks darn good when it is shiny... like a Tuxedo on wheels. I tend to like cars that are colors (I have a red and a blue/gray one), so they aren't exactly easy to keep clean, as say a silver or gold car would be.

#426 of 498 Re: I'm imagining one thing [thegraduate] by ruking1

Mar 07, 2007 (12:45 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Mar 07, 2007 10:54 am)
You guys are making a good case for SUV's!

Messages Page 43 of 51

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