Sport Touring Civic Disappointment, what’s next?
Posted by Elephant_Cricket@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 27 comments
I test drive a Honda Civic Sport Touring manual transmission and felt like there was too much to be desired. I loved it in my head more than in real life. Since I have not found a sedan I like, I’m moving on to a smaller SUV. So far I have liked the Subaru Outback and Mazda CX5. Are there others I should consider? The Subaru transmission scares me, which is really what led me to Mazda was no cvt. I would prefer something with some “get up and go” as I do a lot of interstate driving.
Jamaidian@reddit
Golf GTI. Manual or DSG. No CVT.
Golf R if you want AWD.
StrawberyVillain@reddit
Vw alltrack for a mix of both with more storage space
Jamaidian@reddit
TDI for maximum smiles per gallon!
Bearlodge@reddit
Or a Jetta GLI if a sedan is a priority.
No_Organization_7509@reddit
I'm confused because this is how it reads in my head...
I drove a car I expected to be a 10, but I was upset because it was only an 8. Because I was upset, I said to hell with it all, I'm going to settle for a low power CVT SUV, which drives about a 5 or 6.
...I say this as the owner of a Mazda6 with the 2.5 SkyActiv-G and 6MT. While I love the car, I don't think you're ready for the level of "get up and go" a CX5 is about to deliver...
Gunorgunorg@reddit
If you are considering a backup of a sporty car and now looking at small SUVs then you should consider an EV since you seem more open to options beyond pedigreed manual transmission cars. Like a used Ioniq 6, which is a sedan, or one of the various SUV offerings. Some new exist in the budget range between a civic sport touring and an outback. Lots more in the barely-used category of returned leases. EVs are all the get up and go. There were always a few on ramps I disliked in my 2008 Altima Sport Coupe. Unless I'm stuck behind someone merging at 40 I am never concerned about getting into traffic in my Ioniq 6. It doesn't hurt to test drive a couple and see the possibilities
Elephant_Cricket@reddit (OP)
I am not against an EV, I’m just not there yet. Not having the combustion does make them pick up speed quicker, I’m just not willing to go down that road yet. I looked at an EV last year. Gas seems to rise quicker than electricity prices, so I figured I may go that route but haven't made my mind up.
Gunorgunorg@reddit
That sounds like me in 2018. I didn't get my EV until 2024. The rising trend is that they are getting better as time goes on. I ignored the want and got 4 more years out of my 08 Altima and then new car became more of a need. I considered what things might look like in the 5-10+ years and what I wanted then instead of now. I decided it was right for me then because of new models. In 2018 I wanted a Chevy Bolt. In 2021 I was interested in the Ioniq 5 with a Bolt as the backup. Then when they announced the Ioniq 6 in 2023 I was glad I waited, and that became my goal to save up for for another year
Elephant_Cricket@reddit (OP)
I can’t bring myself to buy a Kia or Hyundai right now. Some old wounds never heal, and I don’t plan on buying a vehicle with either of their names on it.
Gunorgunorg@reddit
That's valid. This was my experience. The TLDR is of you hold off this time some new model may come out by the next time you are shopping. There's some attractive concepts out there right now, like the Rivian R3. That's a good looking car to me. As long as the price and specs fit with it when it comes to market
Elephant_Cricket@reddit (OP)
Rivian is one I’ve been eyeing.
Elephant_Cricket@reddit (OP)
Rivian is way more than I really want to pay for a vehicle, I just keep hoping I can find one that has a good enough price for me to purchase.
SyntheticOne@reddit
How about an EV? No transmission to break. No oil to change. Not even a starter motor! Also, no gas tank, no spark plugs, no alternator, no engine, no radiator, no drive shaft, no exhaust system, and NO EMMISSIONS!!!
What EVs do provide includes cost per mile in an EV is about 1/5th the cost of gas per mile, quiet, stellar acceleration and 1-pedal driving driving.
Absurd_Zer0@reddit
If you still want to give a sedan a shot, check out a 2014-2020 Impala. Reddit hates GM products but these cars are very reliable. It's a full size sedan with a nice interior that has a 305hp v6 that's pretty quick.
Elephant_Cricket@reddit (OP)
I hadn’t looked at those, but I did consider something like an Avalon.
jrileyy229@reddit
If a Honda Civic met your requirements for "get up and go" then you're in luck, practically everything on the market will
Elephant_Cricket@reddit (OP)
I overhyped it. Maybe I’d have to go to the Type R or something, I don;t know. The Subaru WRX that I drove had much better pickup speed than the Civic did.
ChemistRemote7182@reddit
Sport Touring was basically an Si that traded the trunk for a hatch and the lsd for heated leather seats, the adult Si. Not fast, but he could go far slower than a ~200 horse small to midsize sedan
jrileyy229@reddit
Even a base model Corolla has 170 HP these days
Civil-General-2664@reddit
What about the civic didn’t do it for you?
Elephant_Cricket@reddit (OP)
I pumped it up in my head for more than it was. I was hoping with it being a manual it’d have a little more pep in its step, but it’s no different than anything else I’ve driven. The shifting wasn't as smooth as I would have thought either. It also seems louder on the inside than my Kia Optima was. I think I just overhyped it for what it was. Still a nice car and if I just found a good deal on one I’d still buy it, it’s just not what I thought it’d be.
Total-Improvement535@reddit
Subaru CVTs generally aren’t bad as long as they’re not bolted to a turbo engine.
Crosstreks, Foresters, and non-turbo Outbacks are usually good. They tend to need a new valve body at over 100k miles if you don’t get the transmission fluid changed before then but that’s usually it.
The turbo Outbacks, Ascents, and older turbo Foresters are usually the ones that end up with CVT issues.
qwexor@reddit
Could you clarify what you mean about the Subaru transmission? Bad CVT or just the fact that it’s CVT?
Elephant_Cricket@reddit (OP)
Ha, maybe both. Seems most new vehicles have gone to or are going cvt. I will be buying used, and I know the older cvt Outbacks had a lot of issues. While maintenance is always important, I think a traditional transmission would handle neglect better than a cvt. The CX 5 and Outback get about the same mileage. I havent driven either on the interstate to see how I like them though. The Outback I did test drive seems like a nice vehicle, though I don’t think I really need AWD and figured repairs would be more costly for an AWD.
Turbulent-Pay1150@reddit
Subaru CVT is rock solid. If you don’t like it get a hybrid Subaru for better mileage and the eCVT which is an electric motor with planetary gears (not the same as a CVT) - that may be the most reliable Toyota tech transmission ever built. It also gives the Subaru more oomph although I’m not sure they have an Outback version yet.
Elephant_Cricket@reddit (OP)
I have heard good things about the ecvt that Toyota uses.
breadsticck@reddit
what have you test driven already? what didnt you like about them?