Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 Forum - View Single Post

Stew · 04-25-2011, 10:18 AM

OK, because of fuel prices and my long drive i am looking at getting a new car with high gas mileage. This weekend I pulled into the Honda dealership and to my surprise they already had 2 2012 Civics on the lot. Honda just introduced these at the NY auto show last week. One an EX, one an EXL (leather, etc). I drove the EX (pretty loaded with bluetooth, sunroof, etc). I then went to the Chevy store to test out a Cruze. LT model with bluetooth package, 16 inch alloys (instead of wheel covers). The 2 cars were pretty evenly matched as far as options.

Civic EX:

I really wanted to dislike this car, but it was really good.

The good: The highway gas mileage at 39MPG was a good start. The looks are improved for the 12 model. Pictures don't do it justice. In person the new sculpting, especially on the sides and rear, though the overall shape is certainly familiar. The interior is a drastic change from more rounded to a more squared off look. Everything falls into hand, and secondary functions: Cruise, phone, bluetooth, radio controls are all included on the steering wheel. t still runs the dual tiered dash design with a normal tach and dummy lights in the lower tier and speedometer, secondary gauges, and computer in the upper tier. i really like this design as everything is easy to see and the digital readouts have a very vibrant, almost 3d effect. The seats are extremely comfortable. Leg room is great, mainly because of the center console design. This is the only small car I have found where my leg does not have to rest on the center stack while driving. I had plenty of headroom even with the EXs stock moonroof. Thanks to the light weight and en extremely responsive transmission, it was very peppy. Part and full throttle downshifts were quick and precise. Yes, the auto is only a 5 speed but unlike may 6 speeds, it does not feel neutered for the sake of gas mileage and still runs at the top of the gasoline fuel mileage heap. Handling was confident. It soaked up potholes and pumps, yet did not feel floaty or imprecise. Steering had a very good feel. The cabin was extremely quiet.

The bad:The only real con is that the interior dash area is pretty plasticky.

Overall: A surprising great small car, with lots of room, lots of features, and an engine and transmission that speak the same language.

2011 Cruze LT:

The Good: This is one handsome car inside and out. The interior is extremely sharp and has very good materials. The footwell was a little tight on room, but that is true of most smaller cars. Headroom was good, but the Civic with a sunroof was a bit roomier in this area than the Cruze without one. Still not bad for a small car. The turbo engine had decent pep to it also. The drive was very solid and very quiet.

Cons; the gauges were hard to see, it seemed almost as if the pointed towards the floor. Lucking I located the digital Speedo as part of the computer and was good to go, so no real issue. There was some turbo lag, the engine certainly took a moment to get into the power and then power was pretty adequate. The biggest con is how the engine/transmission worked together. Part throttle acceleration was met with slow shifting and was reluctant to downshift at times. Now, from stop at full the shifts were crisp and quick, so this is a tuning issue for the sake of fuel mileage. The seats could be little more comfortable, just can't explain, I couldn't get completely comfortable somehow.

Overall: A really good car in need of some fine tuning to be a great car.

I still have quite a few I want to try The 12 Focus, the 12 mazda 3 with it's new engine, The Kia Forte, and the Hyundai Elantra. may try out a 12 Impreza once they hit the lots and a VW Jetta, if I can find a decently close dealership for either.

04-25-2011, 10:18 AM	#1
Stew Drives: 92 Luminadead/01 Dakota/97 F150 4x4 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Eastern, Ky Posts: 3,789	Drove: 2012 Civic EX and Cruze LT OK, because of fuel prices and my long drive i am looking at getting a new car with high gas mileage. This weekend I pulled into the Honda dealership and to my surprise they already had 2 2012 Civics on the lot. Honda just introduced these at the NY auto show last week. One an EX, one an EXL (leather, etc). I drove the EX (pretty loaded with bluetooth, sunroof, etc). I then went to the Chevy store to test out a Cruze. LT model with bluetooth package, 16 inch alloys (instead of wheel covers). The 2 cars were pretty evenly matched as far as options. Civic EX: I really wanted to dislike this car, but it was really good. The good: The highway gas mileage at 39MPG was a good start. The looks are improved for the 12 model. Pictures don't do it justice. In person the new sculpting, especially on the sides and rear, though the overall shape is certainly familiar. The interior is a drastic change from more rounded to a more squared off look. Everything falls into hand, and secondary functions: Cruise, phone, bluetooth, radio controls are all included on the steering wheel. t still runs the dual tiered dash design with a normal tach and dummy lights in the lower tier and speedometer, secondary gauges, and computer in the upper tier. i really like this design as everything is easy to see and the digital readouts have a very vibrant, almost 3d effect. The seats are extremely comfortable. Leg room is great, mainly because of the center console design. This is the only small car I have found where my leg does not have to rest on the center stack while driving. I had plenty of headroom even with the EXs stock moonroof. Thanks to the light weight and en extremely responsive transmission, it was very peppy. Part and full throttle downshifts were quick and precise. Yes, the auto is only a 5 speed but unlike may 6 speeds, it does not feel neutered for the sake of gas mileage and still runs at the top of the gasoline fuel mileage heap. Handling was confident. It soaked up potholes and pumps, yet did not feel floaty or imprecise. Steering had a very good feel. The cabin was extremely quiet. The bad:The only real con is that the interior dash area is pretty plasticky. Overall: A surprising great small car, with lots of room, lots of features, and an engine and transmission that speak the same language. 2011 Cruze LT: The Good: This is one handsome car inside and out. The interior is extremely sharp and has very good materials. The footwell was a little tight on room, but that is true of most smaller cars. Headroom was good, but the Civic with a sunroof was a bit roomier in this area than the Cruze without one. Still not bad for a small car. The turbo engine had decent pep to it also. The drive was very solid and very quiet. Cons; the gauges were hard to see, it seemed almost as if the pointed towards the floor. Lucking I located the digital Speedo as part of the computer and was good to go, so no real issue. There was some turbo lag, the engine certainly took a moment to get into the power and then power was pretty adequate. The biggest con is how the engine/transmission worked together. Part throttle acceleration was met with slow shifting and was reluctant to downshift at times. Now, from stop at full the shifts were crisp and quick, so this is a tuning issue for the sake of fuel mileage. The seats could be little more comfortable, just can't explain, I couldn't get completely comfortable somehow. Overall: A really good car in need of some fine tuning to be a great car. I still have quite a few I want to try The 12 Focus, the 12 mazda 3 with it's new engine, The Kia Forte, and the Hyundai Elantra. may try out a 12 Impreza once they hit the lots and a VW Jetta, if I can find a decently close dealership for either.