Differences between a 2010 Civic and Elantra

Discussion in 'Civic' started by Al, May 31, 2010.

  1. Al

    Al Guest

    Hello,

    Right now I have a 2008 Accord EXL and I am thinking of downsizing my
    lease for the up coming one. I'm going to be re-structuring my
    investing outlook and need to re-think my finances. I thinking of
    either a later model 2010 or 2011 Honda Civic or Hyundai Elantra.

    The Civic EX is about 21,800 and the comparably equipped Hyundai
    Elantra SE with premium package is 18,200. Has anyone had any
    experience with the Hyundai as far as how it runs (good or bad) and
    reliability, controls, ride, handling etc compared to the Civic? 3,600
    is a pretty big difference in price.

    Just to throw some figures out there, I called my Honda dealer and was
    given a monthly lease quote of 342.00 for a 2010 Civic EX with 1200.00
    down 3 year 36k mi. I also contacted Hyundai about an Elantra GLS with
    2000.00 down. Hyundai's lease for 2 year 24k mi was 159.00 a month. So
    I'm sure if I dropped the down payment to 1200 on the Hyundai it would
    be about 179.00 a month. Still quite a bargain, but only if the car is
    close to the Civic in how it drives.

    Any thoughts?

    Thanks,
    Al
     
    Al, May 31, 2010
    #1
  2. How about don't lease a car--but instead buy a nice 2 year old used one,
    pay cash, and keep it?

    Otherwise, the "re-structuring of your investing outlook" will be
    nothing more than rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, May 31, 2010
    #2
  3. Al

    Al Guest

    Who can afford to buy a 2 year old car in cash? That's a bad
    investment, you'd have to deplete a lot of funds in your investments
    to do that and the market is coming up. Drawing the money prior to
    recovery is a bad thought.
     
    Al, May 31, 2010
    #3
  4. Al

    zzznot Guest

    Sounds high.

    I'm paying only $300.00 for a 2010 Accord EX, including $10/month for
    Hondacare. That's USA, you in Canada or anything?

    Be sure to use the Honda site or Edmunds.com or something to solicit quotes
    from several vendors in the area.

    J.
     
    zzznot, May 31, 2010
    #4
  5. OK, so finance it--and then keep it.

    And squirrel away those lease payments you've been paying.

    After not too long, you'll realize you can buy that Acura you've always
    wanted, and pay cash for it.


    A car is never an investment, no matter how you structure things. It's
    an expense, pure and simple.
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, May 31, 2010
    #5

  6. Well yes 'n no... Antique/classic cars are investment but often
    marginal examples never are profitable.

    OTOH, for daily transportation, your cite is exactly why I deal in
    ancient Civics that are cheap to obtain, operate and maintain...

    JT
     
    Grumpy AuContraire, May 31, 2010
    #6
  7. Al

    Al Guest


    So are you saying that Hyundai Elantra's are costly to operate and
    maintain? I'm just trying to see where the difference in price is.
    Hyundai has been around a while so it should be a lot more reliable
    than it was in the 80's, and also its known long enough to have prices
    parallel to Honda, but yet there's a large gap in costs for comparable
    models. I've owned 4 Honda's for 3 years each. They were all bought
    new. During that time all of them had some kind of annoying problem,
    which was fixed by warranty, but still being a car which is know for
    reliability it hasn't really been that reliable for me.
     
    Al, May 31, 2010
    #7
  8. Al

    pws Guest

    My 1995 Honda Accord 4 banger is becoming semi-ancient in years. It hit
    81,000 miles today!

    This car runs like a top, and so far it is the most reliable car I have
    ever owned. Every single thing works, no lights, no funny noises, and
    ice-cold A/C. It kind of freaks me out.

    It isn't glamorous, but I like it. I can just feel it sipping gas
    economically as I drive it down the highway.
     
    pws, May 31, 2010
    #8
  9. Al

    pws Guest

    Oh yeah, I meant no warning lights, the headlights and other lights work
    great.
    I have only had the car for a few thousand miles, and I would not expect
    it to have a lot of problems considering the mileage, but it seems like
    a well-made car, especially considering the current value.

    The A/C was entirely replaced the summer before last, it has nearly-new
    Pirelli P5's installed with a new alignment, and the timing belt/water
    pump job was done at 60K miles in 2008.
    It is about due for a tune-up, which two Honda dealerships have
    performed regularly for 15 years, and I will probably let them continue
    with the excellent service.

    This Accord is a pretty nice one to drive while working on the Mazda for
    a year or so.
     
    pws, May 31, 2010
    #9
  10. Al

    tww1491 Guest

    Have you driven the Hyundai -- as compared with the Civic. From what I
    have read the Elantra does not do as well as the Civic. But, Hyundai has
    steadily improved their quality and reliability and with the 100k warranty
    the price difference for a lease appears compelling. Given some of Honda's
    new offerings -- the ugly Crosstour and beaked Acuras -- I am going to keep
    my 06 I4 Accord coupe just as long as possible. Another aspect of the
    newcomers to the market -- Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata and so forth is what
    will those cars be like when they hit 150k. Will they compare with a Honda
    at the same mileage. Our 03 Pilot at 96k drives and handles like new.
    Since its paid for and is only worth about 7500 on trade or so -- keeping it
    makes far more sense.
     
    tww1491, May 31, 2010
    #10
  11. Al

    Al Guest

    I'm in the US, in the Northeast. The quote I got for a 2010 Honda
    Accord EX-L 4 cyl is $374.00 per month for a 3 year 36k mi lease with
    1200.00 down. Each 1000 of car value or down payment is equal to about
    25-30 dollars from what I understand. So being that the EXL is about
    2200.00 more than the EX, that would be about $60.00 more per month,
    so my quote might be about 15.00 high. So from what I understand if
    the dealer said a car is lets say $239.00 a month with 2500.00 down
    and you only want to put 1500.00 down that means the monthly payment
    should be around 265.00 per month on a lease.

    How much did you put down on your lease to get that 300.00 quote? What
    are the terms?

    I know some people think leasing is a waste of money, but it works for
    some and not for others. Its a preference.

    Just to go over the problems I had with my Honda's:

    1999 Accord EX V6: transmission brake sensor, replaced 3 times
    2002 Civic EX: heater replaced, trunk latch replaced
    2005 Accord EX: Console hinge replaced
    2008 Accord EX-L: all power lock motors died and replaced, engine
    light malfunction.
     
    Al, May 31, 2010
    #11
  12. So, you really don't know what the price of the car is, do you?

    You think buying a car means getting a monthly lease payment from the
    car dealer?

    And you're using THAT as the basis for restructuring your investments?
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, May 31, 2010
    #12
  13. Al

    jim beam Guest

    elmo, "al" is the retard that pops up here from time to time seeking
    attention, not actual advice. clue: his trying to compare a 24 with a
    36 month lease should have been a red flag.

    anyway, i suggest we let him **** off and buy the hyundai - that way we
    don't get his dumb ass wasting honda electrons any more.
     
    jim beam, May 31, 2010
    #13
  14. Al

    JRStern Guest

    3 year, 12000 miles/year, $1000 down.

    So your quote on the Civic is MUCH higher than even your own quotes on
    Accords? If you can save even $10/month on the larger car, that pays
    for the extra gas.
    So these were covered?

    Outside of a battery that died in warranty, I can't recall anything
    significant I had picked up by Honda warranty in four cars plus my
    current new lease.

    J.
     
    JRStern, Jun 1, 2010
    #14
  15. Al

    JRStern Guest

    Pretty near. When you're comparing quotes on leases for the same
    model, unless someone is playing weird games with residuals or
    something, it's all about the monthly. I just get quotes for the same
    Honda lease from five dealers, and go with the best ... usually after
    some negotiation on my trade-in, the one thing about the Honda leases
    is the residuals they quote for buy-out are waaay too high, the dealer
    gets a wholesale buyout and can split it with you.

    As long as you drive something close to the standard miles and deal
    wisely with the residuals, life is simple.

    J.
     
    JRStern, Jun 1, 2010
    #15


  16. Well, with (any) new car, there's payments, high insurance rates, etc.

    OTOH, with my method, I pay about $100 for a vehicle, spend an
    additional five or six hundred bux and usually get pretty reliable cheap
    to operate transportation. Been driving the '82 Civic automatic since
    last September and it hasn't missed a beat...

    The savings allow me a couple of trips to Vegas, back east and lots of
    good dining etc.

    Works for me!

    JT
     
    Grumpy AuContraire, Jun 1, 2010
    #16

  17. Yep, no need to glamorous transportation for everyday use. OTOH, if I
    want to impress, I'll take my '56 Studebaker Power Hawk out for a spin...

    JT
     
    Grumpy AuContraire, Jun 1, 2010
    #17
  18. Al

    Tony Harding Guest

    Mostt of us aren't interested in impressing Zsa Zsa Gabor. :)
     
    Tony Harding, Jun 1, 2010
    #18
  19. Al

    Zeppo Guest

    Al,
    We have both Hondas and Hyundai's in my family and like them both. The
    Hyundai's have proven to be nicely made, reliable cars. The Honda's are a
    little better appointed and use nicer interior materials. They are generally
    faster, with a lot more 'Zoom' if that floats your boat. The Hyundai's are
    an outstanding value and will do the job. My 5 year old Santa Fe is coming
    up on 60 K and has been incredibly reliable. Same for my sister's Sonata and
    my cousins Elantra. However, I really enjoy unleashing the 3.0 in my wife's
    Accord EX every once in a while.

    If you're trying to conserve cash, the Hyundai is definitely the way to go.
    You won't be disappointed.
    Jon
     
    Zeppo, Jun 1, 2010
    #19
  20. Al

    Bob Jones Guest

    I have never driven an Elantra but I doubt it matches Civic in handling,
    performance, refinement and quality. You get what you pay for.
     
    Bob Jones, Jun 2, 2010
    #20
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