Consumer Reports Knocks Honda Civic Off Recommended List (lot of folks cryin tonight)

[DainBramaged]

How the mighty can fall. Consumer Reports today said Monday the redesigned Honda Civic which recently hit showrooms scored too low in its critique to be recommended by the respected magazine.

CR does not issue a press release every time a newly graded vehicle falls off its recommended list. For the Civic, which has been a perennial leader in quality, the magazine felt it needed to announce the change because consumers tend to look upon the Civic brand name as synonymous with hassle-free car ownership.

The redesigned Civic LX's score dropped a 17 points on CR rating scale to a mediocre 61 from the previous generation's "very good" 78. It scored second-to-last in CR's ratings of 12 small sedans, followed only by the recently redesigned Volkwagen Jetta.

"CR testers found the 2012 Civic to be less agile and with lower interior quality than its predecessor," the magazine said in a statement. "It also suffers from a choppy ride, long stopping distances, and pronounced road noise."

http://autos.aol.com/article/consumer-reports-knocks-honda-civic/


:woohoo: :applause: :rofl: :rofl: :patriot: :patriot:

[DJ13]

1. Cut too many corners to pad the profit margin?

Sounds like many companies the last few years.

[trof]

2. Smaller packages, higher prices.

yup

[DainBramaged]

3. They make so much profit on a LX Civic it isn't funny

The Cruze LT, with sunroof and turbo motor and six-speed automatic, has so much more content and so many more airbags for the same money it is a joke, yet people go 'ugh, Honda, me buy like robot, in spite of shitty millage and squeaks and crappy quality control'.

[MedicalAdmin]

9. I like my ford focus.

It runs well, handles well, is well appointed, and gets good milage. Best of all it is made here in N. America in a union shop. I also looked at the honda when I was looking and it wasn't even close.

[FLAprogressive]

18. The Focus is also a good car.

[FLAprogressive]

20. Plus it's more attractive. The dashboard of the new Civic is so busy it makes me wonder why anyone

would buy one.



I guess when you've been conditioned to think "IMPORTS GOOD DOMESTICS BAD"....it happens.

[DainBramaged]

25. I cannot wait till the Sonic hits the lots next month

the only small car built in America

Offered in two body styles – a 4-door sedan and a 5-door hatch – the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is offered with two engine choices. Standard engine on the 2012 Sonic is a 1.8L DOHC inline 4-cylinder unit making 135-hp and 125 lb-ft of torque, while an optional 138-hp 1.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder is available as an option. The standard Ecotec 1.8L engine is paired with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. The Ecotec 1.4L turbo is available with a 6-speed manual gearbox to let out the enthusiast in you. Speaking of enthusiasts, GM says that ride and handling on the Sonic is tuned by Chevy Corvette engineers – so you can expect something sport from this subcompact.

[FLAprogressive]

31. The Sonic looks awesome. Very aggressively styled, affordable, and it sounds fun-to-drive.

[blue_onyx]

32. The Sonic will definitely...

be one of the vehicles I look at when I buy, along with the Cruze and Focus. It will be nice to have a sub-compact option that's made in the US.

[RC]

4. Good. Less likely to be stolen now.

[freeplessinseattle]

5. My first car was an '83 Honda Civic

My mom did read Consumer Reports, and my trusty steed ran great until (and probably beyond) I got a new (used) car in '98.

[MadHound]

6. Well, I guess I won't be looking at a Civic next time I'm in the market for a car,

Of course that's going to be when my current Honda Civic, 1998, dies. Which doesn't look like it will be happening anytime soon.

[FLAprogressive]

12. look at this list next time....

http://uaw.org/cars

[MadHound]

13. It's nice that all of those are union made,

But the primary question is their quality, their longevity. I don't make enough money to afford to buy a crap car just because it is union made. When I buy a car, I always look at all cars, union made or otherwise, and judge them on their quality. I understand that these cars have indeed improved their quality over time, and if they meet my standards and needs, then I will buy one of them. If not, then I will buy what is best for me, because that is all I can afford to do.

[FLAprogressive]

17. Ford/GM quality have already improved a lot and Chrysler quality is improving a LOT

And their cars are priced competitively with import models.

[DainBramaged]

15. It is called, waste of keystrokes my friend

Hope you are well.

[FLAprogressive]

16. Still worth a try though, haha.

I'm doing pretty well. :hi:

[FarCenter]

7. The Hyundai Elantra will take any market share that the Civic loses

I'd wait a while to find out whether the Ford-Getrag dual dry clutch automated 6-speed in the Focus has reliability problems, especially in crawling freeway traffic.

[DainBramaged]

8. Ferrari's works fine, battle tested in California

[FarCenter]

10. Ford Getrag is dry clutch

Ferrari and other high-torque applications use wet clutch. Only VW also use dry clutch in the lightest vehicles.

Consumer Report mentioned the driveability issue at low speed in the Focus review.

[DainBramaged]

14. Still an excellent way to distribute torque, wet or dry

Dual-disc clutches common in ALL forms of racing and street rodding. Had one in blown V-6, S10, Corvette 6 speed, Centerforce dual 10",

[MedicalAdmin]

11. My next one will probably be a ford fiesta like this.

http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-global/dims3/GLOB/thumbnail/190x120%5E/

Only the street version.

[Mimosa]

19. Wondering if MPG mandates led to lighter weight vehicle

I'm guessing Honda puts 'more' into their more upscale models, including the Accord and used the Civic to reach mileage goals. In my experience Lightweight vehicles always give choppy rides.

[DainBramaged]

21. I've driven up to a 2009 Civic LX, and found them quite nice

I felt weird with the windshield and end of the nose so close to me, and did like the tiny quarter windows to help with the front end blind spot, but otherwise, meh.

[Mimosa]

23. Yours is pre-2012, Dain.

I'm assuming they changed a lot, since Consumer Reports downgraded the 2012 model. Yours is better. I hope it lasts you 20 years1 :D

[DainBramaged]

24. I don't own one never will

If it isn't built by the UAW, it will not be titled to me. Even my beautiful daughter drives GM cars. I have never in my 60 years owned anything that wasn't built by the UAW. All of my muscle cars back in the day, everything I have owned, everyone in my family, Ford or GM, that's what we drive. And none of us since my Dad's 56 Ford Fairlane wagon to my Cobalt SS, have had a lick of serious problems, I swear, and my sister owns a SS like mine one year earlier, without all of the ahem,mods, and she is 64.


UAW hard core virtually all of my adult life, all the way back to the 60's when I drag raced Chevys.

[Mimosa]

27. Cool.

You and Fangie rawk! :D

[DainBramaged]

28. You always have !!!!!

:yourock:

[Armstead]

22. Well at least my 2002 civic is still up there

[krispos42]

26. Wow, that's huge

The auto magazines were pretty lukewarm towards it.

[onehandle]

29. Honda has been 'Americanizing' their cars for a while now. Meaning 'cheapening' them.

Meanwhile, Detroit has been going the other direction.

And speaking of Volkswagen (Jettas mentioned in article), many have been redesigned to be produced here in America.

The new Jetta and Passat have lost their 'European' look and look Exactly like a generic Honda or Toyota.

I find it amusing that foreign car companies have crapped their product to fit into the American market.

[DainBramaged]

30. The new domestics are amazing (except Chrysler) up content, mega air bags

I saw my first Fiat 500 this weekend, cute, not for m way too too small, lkie a toy.