Honda Civic VTI-L Vs Mazda 3

sauce2k on 29/09/2014 - 09:09

Hi guys,

I have recently sold my car and looking to buy a new one within a month.

I was looking at the new Mazda 3 then decided it's a bit expensive for me. I was initially looking at the sp25 with tints+mats+extended warranty+road assistant and it would probably cost me around 28-29k.

I have been looking at the new Honda Civic vti-L and with all the stuff I want it will probably cost me 25 if I'm lucky.

I have the money for mazda but I thought about it and wanted to save some money for end of year holiday trip. I'm a newbie at cars so I'm here to seek for help.

For all the experts/people who love cars out there,

  1. Is Honda reliable?
  2. Does Honda provide capped service fees?
  3. Is it possible to get the current year model for around 25k?

Thanks heaps guys!

P.s. I'm from Sydney

Automotive

Comments

  • drawntoher on 29/09/2014 - 09:35
    +1

    I've owned a Honda Civic sedan and yes indeed they are reliable I'm no expert and these are my opinion but the car provides quiet a bit of comfort for long drives / long waits in traffic, great to take out the family and friends

    Honda has a capped priced where the maximum price doesn't further 270$ I believe ( and i don't think the first few services should cost Anything over 200$)

    if you can get a vti-l for 25k I personally think that's quiet cheap as vti range usually market for that price
    anywho I hope this helped in any way possible and good luck with your car finding

    • sauce2k on 29/09/2014 - 17:54

      Not sure if I can get it for 25k but I saw this car in melb . Leather seats + mats for 24,990 drive away. Tempted to go down melb and drive it back .

  • [Deactivated] on 29/09/2014 - 09:46
    -3

    Id choose a civic over a Mazda 3 every and any day

  • Austin 316 on 29/09/2014 - 11:54
    +2

    I own a Civic Vti-L which I purchase brand new for $26750 around 5/6 years ago and it is still going strong. To date I have had no mechanical faults with it so you can say it is as reliable as they come. I am not sure about the capped price servicing though. I paid $200-$215 for a service every 6 month via the dealership and about $600 for a major service every 2 years.

    I also have a recent Mazda CX-9 and can assure you that the quality is as good as the Honda (at least from my viewpoint). The only difference is that with Mazda's capped price service, I have to only service it once every year (as long as I am under 10k a year) for ~$300.

    Not sure if my post helps but you wouldn't go wrong with either purchase. They are both decent choices.

    • sauce2k on 29/09/2014 - 17:53

      Hmm.. It looks like honda is a bit expensive to maintain based on ur figures . Thanks heaps

  • modsec802 on 29/09/2014 - 14:21

    I'd definitely choose the Mazda3 as they have much more advanced SkyActive engines, are made in Japan (Civics are Thai built) and have 12 month/10,000k fixed price servicing (Honda makes you service every 6 months regardless of kms).

    I would try to get the Mazda3 with the smaller tyres (max sport or touring) as the tyres on the SP25 are 18" large meaning the ride is overly firm, they're noisier and more expensive to replace. Also, the smaller engines are more fuel efficient (and still powerful).

    Have a look at carsales.com.au and search for new and demo cars and sort by price. You'll get a good idea of how much you should be bargaining for.

    • sauce2k on 29/09/2014 - 17:52

      Oh I didn't know honda cars need to be serviced every 6 months.. That's bit of a put off=[. Hmm is the service fee gonna be a lot more if I only take it in once a year

      • modsec802 on 29/09/2014 - 18:56

        Not sure what happens if you only service a car once a year when they say you should twice.
        Perhaps they could deny warranty claim?

      • Austin 316 on 30/09/2014 - 09:49

        The service wouldn't be different. However, if you don't service it according to the log book then you would have problems with the warranty. That would be an easy way out for them and none of your parts would be covered under the warranty.

  • Diesmile on 29/09/2014 - 17:24

    i bought honda civic vti back in 06 as my first car. it has done just over 70k, and still running perfectly.

    apart from a few small paint faded due to sun damage, the car runs perfectly fine. does honda always do 6months serving? because i always bring my car back to dealer once a year, lol, no one said anything to me at the dealer shop.

    • sauce2k on 29/09/2014 - 17:48

      Lol how much do u usually pay for each service

      • Diesmile on 29/09/2014 - 21:02

        about 200 something, last major was 60k, was around 450 ish.

        • sauce2k on 29/09/2014 - 21:25

          Thanks m8

  • raymond y on 29/09/2014 - 18:44

    Just look up the two capped price service schedules.

    Honda:
    http://servicing.honda.com.au/

    Mazda:
    http://www.mazda.com.au/cars/2014-mazda3-sedan/servicing/

    • modsec802 on 29/09/2014 - 18:55

      Honda roughly $500 per year
      Mazda roughly $300 per year

  • SaberX on 30/09/2014 - 00:20
    +3

    I am pretty sure with these warranty things on new cars, you have to follow them and service it with that dealer within that every 6 months period so you 'dont void your warranty' bs. Personally I've done mine just around 6-8 months, but im going to as I'm working FIFO now stretch this out to closer to a yr. apart from the oil, I can't see any reason you can't service longer intervals provided your use of the car warrants. I don't know the effect the older oil will have on the car i.e. if once you change it after say 10 months if it has a permanent lasting damage/effect versus a 6 monthly service/oil change…

    IN terms of the Civic, I have one, a 2009 civic VTI, did about 49,000 km when I bought it second hand, only $14k from dealer after bargaining. market value supposedly is insured for $16k something with RAC - not sure if this is bs but hey if that's the MV ill take it.

    MY advice would be just get a second hand civic, one from the last few yeras with a couple of km's on it - you can find like I did a VTI with built in reverse sensors, apart from that and foglights, I didn't note anything "great" difference between VTI and VTI-L models that the everyday person would care to notice.. unless you really nitpick I fail to see how many of those distinguishing features would matter.

    So yeah… if you can score a VTI with VTI-L like features like i did e.g. the reverse sensors installed already, go for it.

    I would def recommend second hand provided you find a well treated one, mine still feels new/shiny in terms of interior/outside. Def has flaws when you look closely, but when I think of had i bought a 2013 model it would have cost me clsoe to 23-25k too, i feel alot better! Good luck!

    Drive around my gfs 2006 mazda 3, it drives fine but if you're taller like me I found the honda a perfect snug 'size', liek it had 'presence' if that made sense. yet wasn't huge like a sedan accord or camry….

  • Karlos101 on 30/09/2014 - 07:50

    Mazda would be my pick. Worth the extra 3 or 4k in my opinion. Take them both for a drive and see which one you like though. Mazda has come leaps and bounds in the last few years.

  • ozeebee on 30/09/2014 - 10:55
    +4

    To be honest, you can't go wrong with either cars. Both are very reliable in the long run, and yearly running costs would be separated by few hundred dollars.

    But if I was to pick between the two, I would go with the Mazda 3. The tech on the engine and the car is more current and more efficient at the moment. The current Civic is getting a bit old in the model pipeline.

    If you care anything about image, Honda fanboys doesn't have the best image in the motoring world. Mazda is actually seen as a step above Honda in Australia when it comes to prestige and quality.

    If you want to broaden your horizons, go and test drive a Ford Focus as well. This is also a direct competitor to the Civic and 3. You may find that suits you better in the end.

  • bradsmrbetty on 30/09/2014 - 12:16

    Mazda and Honda are both good, I can't comment on the Honda as much, I have two family members that that work for mult chain dealerships both have said Mazda is the best. One is a mechanic, one is a service manager. Neither dealership they work for sells Honda, so as I said I can't comment as much on them. Resale value should be good for both. I thought some said in a earlier comment,that Mazdas only needed to be serviced every 12 months. My understanding was they needed to be serviced every 6 months same as the Honda. I double check this fact as one of us is wrong.

    • modsec802 on 30/09/2014 - 12:21

      My understanding was they needed to be serviced every 6 months same as the Honda. I double check this fact as one of us is wrong.

      It's a fairly recent change:

      http://www.mazda.com.au/owners/servicing-ethos/

    • Austin 316 on 30/09/2014 - 14:09

      All new Mazda 3 have to be only serviced once a year according to their new CPS program and they are rolling it out for all other models this year.

  • Wallace on 30/09/2014 - 15:50

    My 4 year old Honda Civic costs about $300 range per service.

    I used to have a Mazda 626 and Mazda Brighton would rip me off every service. Please avoid Mazda Brighton.

    Else, you can't go wrong with either cars both are reliable and pleasing to the eye.

  • charlotto on 30/09/2014 - 20:38

    I'm also looking between these models and I'm also considering the Ford Focus and Subaru Impreza and I've decided it must have a sun roof (shallow, I know). Does anyone else think any other cars are comparable?

    • sauce2k on 30/09/2014 - 22:31

      Haha wow I was thinking the exact same thing.

      I started with honda, focus, Impreza and mazda!

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