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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 49 of 51

#475 of 498 Just bought 2009 Jetta TDI Wagon with DSG by dieselbreath

Mar 19, 2009 (11:30 pm)

other than the fact that I'm 6'5" and don't fit into most Japanese cars easily, most of the extra weight of a Golf or Jetta compared to a Civic (Rabbit is 300 pounds heavier) is more steel protecting your a$$ in an accident.
Civic's are OK head-on (the stuff they have to make strong to meet Federal rules) but when hit in the side or rear they are ... not very good (but better than, say, a Cavalier/Cobalt).
Of all the fatal car accidents near Vancouver one winter, half the vehicles that people died in were Civics.
 
As an RCMP mountie whose job is highway patrol in the mountains said to me: "I'd rather be in a German car with a seat-belt than a Japanese apple-crate with an air-bag" ... and this guy has lots of firsthand knowledge of "real car-crash tests".

#476 of 498 Comparing the 2009 RABBIT and CIVIC by dieselbreath

Mar 19, 2009 (11:34 pm)

Here are some notes from Edmund's 'car-comparison feature that I sent to a friend who is upset that he had to take his Golf into the dealer for a repair at 140,000 kms:
 
You know how our rain varies, and you're always changing the variable intermittent wipers to match?
No problem on a Honda ... variable intermittent is not available! (just one intermittent delay for the world)
 
Lets check the other features:
 
VW: Twin cams, Honda: single cam
 
AUDIO
10 speakers in VW, 4 speakers in Honda
 
INTERIOR
VW: Black or Tan. Honda: Grey or .... grey
 
The following is a list of VW Rabbit features (standard unless optional specified)
optional sunroof: Not Available on Honda Civic
intermittent wiper: Not Available on Honda Civic
rear wiper: Not Available on Honda Civic
heated seats: Not Available on Honda Civic
split-folding rear seat: Not Available on Honda Civic
remote power locks: Not Available on Honda Civic
One-touch power windows: Not Available on Honda Civic
heated mirrors: Not Available on Honda Civic
power-adjusted mirrors: Not Available on Honda Civic
Cruise control: Not Available on Honda Civic
Speed Proportional power steering: Not Available on Honda Civic
rear cup-holders: Not Available on Honda Civic
cargo-area tie-downs: Not Available on Honda Civic
power-outlet, cargo area: Not Available on Honda Civic
center console: Not Available on Honda Civic
rear-seat "easy entry" (front seat slides out of the way in 2-door model) Not Available on Honda Civic
optional floor mats: Not Available on Honda Civic
cargo area mats: Not Available on Honda Civic
external temp. indicator: Not Available on Honda Civic
 
SAFETY FEATURES
rear disc brakes: Not Available on Honda Civic (except SI ... which is a pile more money)
brake assist: Not Available on Honda Civic
traction control: Not Available on Honda Civic
stability control: Not Available on Honda Civic
signals in mirrors: Not Available on Honda Civic
remote anti-theft alarm system: Not Available on Honda Civic
 
So, for the same price, the Civic has 1/2 the features of a base Rabbit, and isn't as safe.
(of the extra-high safety rated cars, 1/2 are VW/Audis)
 
No wonder the Japanese are profitable!
 
Just thought you'd like an apples-to-apples comparison.

#477 of 498 Re: Comparing the 2009 RABBIT and CIVIC [dieselbreath] by backy

Mar 20, 2009 (8:57 am)

Replying to: dieselbreath (Mar 19, 2009 11:34 pm)
There are several inaccuracies in your post. e.g. moonroof is standard on the Civic EX trims, as is intermittant wiper (all), as are remote power locks, power mirrors, cruise, center console (all trims but base?), floor mats are standard on Civic I think, stability control is available on upper-end trims on Civic.
 
Also re an earlier post re side crash safety, the Civic got "Good" (best") on the tough IIHS side impact crash test, so it is no slouch there.

#478 of 498 Re: Comparing the 2009 RABBIT and CIVIC [backy] by thegraduate

Mar 20, 2009 (9:22 am)

Replying to: backy (Mar 20, 2009 8:57 am)
There are several inaccuracies in your post. e.g. moonroof is standard on the Civic EX trims, as is intermittant wiper (all), as are remote power locks, power mirrors, cruise, center console (all trims but base?), floor mats are standard on Civic I think, stability control is available on upper-end trims on Civic.
 
All of what you say is true for US models, but maybe its different in Canada on SOME things. However, I'm looking at Honda-Canada's website for my info on the Civic, not VWs. To our friend who posted earlier, check out this link. It'll prove VW is untruthful/misinformed about the Civic. Click here to see it! Disc Brakes? Heated Leater Seats? Rear Armrest with Cupholders? Stability Control? Variable-Speed Intermittent Wipers? Yep, all available. I'd list more, but don't have the time to do so.
 
Not picking a fight here, just trying to help you be more informed.
 
Best regards,
TheGraduate

#479 of 498 Re: Comparing the 2009 RABBIT and CIVIC [thegraduate] by backy

Mar 20, 2009 (9:30 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Mar 20, 2009 9:22 am)
Well maybe so, eh, but I live in the US of A, eh.
 
I would think there would not be that much difference in available equipment in Canada, though, e.g. no power locks? mirrors? cruise? floor mats (even as options)? And Canada gets features we sometimes don't get, e.g. some cars up there routinely get heated seats and mirrors but US cars don't (an example that comes to mind is the lowly Accent, that has heated seats available in Canada but not the US).
 
Edit: I replied to your original post, not the edited version.

#480 of 498 Re: Comparing the 2009 RABBIT and CIVIC [backy] by dieselbreath

Mar 20, 2009 (6:46 pm)

Replying to: backy (Mar 20, 2009 9:30 am)
As I mentioned in the post, ALL information comes from EDMUNDS.COM using the compare vehicles feature.
I noticed errors about the VWs too, where it lists something as "not available" when its either optional or standard.
But it sounds like they are WAY off on the Civic features!
 
I wonder why, for a car site, Edmunds has so many errors in its specs for cars?
 
BTW: I love Honda's engines and they have good handling and are sportier than most Japanese cars. But I don't like the tinny doors ...

#481 of 498 This post is really silly! by dieselbreath

Mar 20, 2009 (6:49 pm)

Comparing a Civic to a Rabbit makes sense.
Comparing a Jetta to an Accord makes sense.
(I used the compare feature with a Jetta 4-cyl. against a high-end Accord 4-cyl. and they were within a couple hundred on price and almost EXACTLY the same on features)
So those make sense to me ... but a Civic vs. a Jetta ... well, they're not even close in features, size, price .... I don't get it.

#482 of 498 Re: JETTA versus ACCORD by dieselbreath

Mar 20, 2009 (7:30 pm)

Replying to: dieselbreath (Mar 20, 2009 6:49 pm)
Oops! I made a mistake there.
I compared a 5-cyl, manual Jetta against a 4-cyl, manual Accord.
Here: /www.edmunds.com/...../VehicleComparison....
The Honda has more HP, the Jetta has more Torque, they have similar performance.
And they have almost IDENTICAL features.
As close to the same car as you can get.
The main difference is that the Accord price is roughly $5,500 higher than the Jetta's price.

#483 of 498 Re: This post is really silly! [dieselbreath] by backy

Mar 20, 2009 (8:26 pm)

Replying to: dieselbreath (Mar 20, 2009 6:49 pm)
You are right, the post was really silly.
 
Comparing a Jetta to a Civic makes sense--but be sure to compare equivalent trim levels.
 
Comparing a Jetta to an Accord makes little sense--you are comparing a compact to a much larger car, with a full-sized interior. Also you happened to compare a loaded Accord, with leather, to a lesser-trim Jetta. No wonder the Accord cost more. Try comparing a Passat to an Accord, with similar equipment, and see what you get.

#484 of 498 Re: This post is really silly! [backy] by dieselbreath

Mar 21, 2009 (11:41 am)

Replying to: backy (Mar 20, 2009 8:26 pm)
That's so funny!
A base Passat has most of the features of a loaded Accord.
Same with a Jetta.
The Accord is a nice car, and has more room in the back seat than the Jetta, but the Jetta has a larger trunk and can handle more weight safely (better handling).
 
The Passat doesn't compete with the Accord ... it competes with the Benz C-class and BMW 3-series.
 
Still, I'd take an Accord over a Camry any day

Messages Page 49 of 51

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