Hello everyone. My dad has just sold is car and is about to buy a Honda Civic. We're looking at a 2008/58 plate civic, but we can't decide between the 1.4 petrol and 1.8 petrol. I know the spec differs between models, i.e trim level etc. but I'm just looking for general advice on the car themselves.

We spoke to someone at a Honda dealer and he suggested a 1.8 due to the 1.4 being 'underpowered' or something, and that people say taking over cars can sometimes be a challenge.

We test drove a 1.4 earlier with a Peugeot dealer thinking it was a 1.8 (genuinely) and we thought it was a 1.8 until we checked the insurance websites. Anyway, we are impressed with the 1.4 and the dealer said the following (obviously looking for a sale..)

- More MPG on the 1.4 due to smaller engine
- Less road tax (half)

I'm 18 and will be a second driver, so works out around £300 cheaper on insurance overall for the 1.4. I won't drive it like crazy, and my dad drives slow anyway so speed isn't really a problem. Mostly used in town.

- Are there any significant problems with the 1.4?
- Would a 1.8 be better overall in terms of the engine?
- Are 1.4 more rare and harder to sell?
- Whats the main difference and why would the Honda driver tell us to buy a 1.8 rather than a 1.4?
- Should it be avoided?


Sorry for all these questions, we are about to buy within the next week. I will be sticking around once we have a car and hopefully learn alot more about it!

All help is appreciated. I may post this somewhere else on the forum where someone may be able to specifically help rather than all in the introduction haha.

 

Definitely the 1.4. We only had 1.8's in the USA since petrol is relatively cheap and the road tax is basically the same on any car (mostly it is paid indirectly as a fuel tax, at a ridiculously low rate compared to Europe). They're not that fast either. If you must have a fast car don't buy a stock Civic.

You should get better resale value on a 1.4 due to its lower operating cost. The tax rates and price of petrol are unlikely to decline in the forseeable future.

Dealers will try to sell you what they have an excess of, or the one that makes them the most money.