New to this site, and hoping to get some input on a decision... looking at a '06 Civic LX (R18) w/ 52,000 miles and a '04 VW Golf w/ 2.0 4 cylinder w/ 45,000 miles. Both look to be well maintained, w/ service records available on both. The Civic is priced several hundred more. My main concern is durability, price, low maintenance costs, and then a close 4th is fun to drive factor. Also, Civic is an auto box, while Golf is 5 spd stick. Been doing a lot of research, including this site and others, to get an overall pic. Based on my priorities, I'm slightly leaning towards the Civic, even if it's going to cost some more.
How much more would I expect in long run maintenance costs on the R18 over the Golf MKIV??

 

Stay away from VW. I have yet to see one without a headlight/taillight out. From what I hear they have many electrical problems.

Not to mention, the Honda is larger, and newer.

 

that is mostly true. i have a 01 gti now and im looking at a 08 civic. dont do it. you will regret it.

if you do be ready for expensive parts and crap breaking (that in theory parts that shouldnt break, but do) alot.

 

i would say, from the factors you have listed.. durability, price (value of the car/resale value), and maintenance costs all go to the civic.

fun to drive probably would go to the dub, taking into consideration its a 6 speed, however this issue can be quite relative

 

The VW is a 5-spd. He could find a 5-spd LX without too much difficulty, if he really wanted.

 

Would love to find a decent '06 on up Civic (R18) w/ the stick, but here auto trans seem to eclipse stick shifts 7 to 1, esp. in pre-owned market. Plus, high resale value is great, if you got one already, but really sucks when you're in the market. But one thing that I took into consideration is the upkeep cost for a stick shift, including the eventual clutch swap (I plan on keeping the next car til I drive it to the ground)... w/ that in mind, how big of a gap in Cost of Parts/Repairs is there between Hondas and VW's?? I hear both ways, that VW's cost/maintenance is relative inexpensive if you look in the right places (I don't know where those places are).

 

I used to only drive VW's. I would never go back to a VW, unless I was able to get my old 97 Jetta back. They have nothing but problems with their newer ones, and the cost of ownership verse a Honda is ridiculous. For fun factor, you will enjoy the automatic Civic a lot more than the 5-speed Golf. I just got an 09 Civic LX auto, and is as much fun to drive as my modified Jetta was.

My Jetta had adjustable struts/shocks, strut brace, rear sway bar, sport springs, CAI, cam, cat-back exhaust, ECU chip, short shift, lightweight rims, minor weight reduction, and I still think my new Civic is more fun to drive.

Also keep in mind that the Golf is heavier, has less hp/tq, and gets worse fuel mileage.

 

What's that?

 

The older VW's had a chip that could be replaced in the ECU. I had a custom tuned Garret chip that was programmed for my modifications and 93 octane gas.

I just noticed the smiley you used, so I take it you were kidding and knew what it was. It was nice to be able to order a chip and just swap it in and be done with it.

 

Haha. I knew what it was and I was just playing. It must be nice to just buy a chip and have a reworked car right out of the box.

 

It was nice, and I was able to swap that chip in about 10 minutes. I even swapped a couple for friends in parking lots when we used to hang out.

 

Also, from what I understand, Civics now run on timing chains as opposed to belts, like VW still does I believe. Do the chains ever need to be replaced, like timing belts often do, and if so, what type or length of intervals should that be done?? Or is it just a matter of adjusting the chain sprockets as opposed to removing/replacing chains??

 

I had a VW before i got my Civic Si. Woulldnt go back to many problems and can get too expensive.

 

My GF drives a new beetle and it is a constant pain in the ***.

When you get a CEL and one thing is wrong it throws 10-15 different codes.
The water pump was made of plastic and exploded at 40k miles
Countless random switches have broken
Parts are more expensive

The list could go on.

 

Timing has always been chain driven.

 

my aunt went from an early 90's corolla to a brand spankin new (at the time) 2007 jetta and it's been nothing but problems for her.

i can't even begin to count howmany times she's said that she misses her old toyota!

 

both are crappy, get 99 or 00 civic and mod it

 

lulz...

em1 fanboi

The Civic LX is more fun on the highway anyways.

 

Not on the Civic it hasn't. The K20 in the EP3 was chain driven and the whole line of Civics didn't get timing chains until the R18 in '06. The D-series motors have timing belts.

My $0.02 on the original topic...VWs suck to maintain. A friend of mine has an '04 Jetta and it sucks to work on. Parts are definitely more expensive than the Honda. Some other friends of mine had a Passat and got rid of it when it was a couple of years old because of all the electrical problems it had.

 

new civics arent made in japan so theyre pretty crappy compared to the pre-00 civics. vw are just homosexual because ive owned like three of them and theyre just a PITA. 99-00 civic gots good looks, parts are easy to find, ect... oh and i drive a eg2 del sol