Does it worth to pay more $ to get the Acura CSX over Civic?

[say]

Does it worth to pay more $ to get the Acura CSX than Civic? Please help.

[jww]

For my money the CSX is superior because of the folowing:

Larger engine (the same as the one in the RSX)
Available heated leather
4-wheel discs vs disc/drum (other than EX 4 dr)
More upscale interior in CSX
Auto tranny has auto-shift mode with steering wheel paddles (should you prefer a slush box to an auto tranny but still want to swill the gears)
Available HID lighting
Euro-style side turning signals on outside mirrors not only look very upscale, the also greatly improve general visibility which means improved safety

The available navigation system on the CSX looks to be very good as well - plus it's got a billingual voice recognition system - how appropriate for a Canada-only production vehicle can that be?

My only disappointment with the CSX is that it doesn't include typical Acura electric adjustable front seats and adjustable lumbar support for the driver. Knowing Acura - this will probably see a fix in next year's model.

Even against a loaded EX 4Dr, I'd take the top end CSX manual with navigation.

Oh and BTW - the CSX doesn't require premium petrol lke other Acuras typically do - that makes filling up at the gas pumps an equal point between the two.

jww

[FWDMOTION]

The Civic EX priced at approx $22K, CSX starts at $25,400 for the same car! Oooh, you get side mirrors with flashers, and 15 horse, that's it!! No sun-roof.

Want leather? Extra $2700! So now your Civic, cause no matter what the badge says, it's a Civic, who's getting fooled here, is $28K! GPS = $30K! $30K on a Civic, sorry, I'm buyin something else... probably a Civic EX... Oh yeah, paddle shifters are for wanna-bee's

[jww]

Canadian Driver review from the other day.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/06csx.htm

I like the Paul Williams' approach at the review considering the CSX as an independent offering from the Civic rather than comparing the two. In the end, it's your money - so if you think it's worth the extra for an entry level luxury Acura model vs a compact economy sedan, then by all means, go with the Civic. If you are a bit concerned about the price tag for the car size you get, then go with the Honda. Either way they are both sure to be excellent buys.

For my money, I prefer the Acura. Yes, I am influenced by available leather and other luxury kit available (like HID lights, etc.). I personally prefer leather to standard upholstery - I realize not everyone shares this opinion - but that's why there are so many options in the marketplace - so we can all get what we personally want. The CSX is a nice luxury compact sedan, with a hint of performance - remember it may share body parts with the Civic, but a further review reveals that it's a bit more underneath the skin - more closer to the RSX in some performance tendencies according to Mr. Williams who has first hand experience. I haven't driven the car yet, but you can be sure that I will be doing so sometime in the next couple of months.

Oh - and for the record, while I agree that paddle shifters are a bit of glam with little purpose, they are becoming extremely popular in the luxury segment. It is simpy a feature that people are wanting to buy, which in this particular case could have been invested in electric seats or lumbar on the driver's chair. FWIW - I personally drive manual transmissions so I can shift when I want rather than let a transmission decide for me. I guess I am lucky to be married to a woman who also prefers manual to auto transmissions (heck, she taught me how to drive a 5-speed 23 years ago!).

Acura know a couple of things about selling cars in Canada, and I am sure that the CSX will sell very well along side the Civic. Each brand caters to a specific hotspot in the marketplace and I am sure there will be few people really in a tizzy over purchasing a Honda vs an Acura. They typically don't compete against each other as has been suggested in this thread.

jww

[say]

Thanks! both JWW and Fwdmotion. i think both of you have your valid points.. i think i will test drive both and see....
Thanks again.!
btw, with this price range, is there any other choices that you guys recommand? (a reliable car). but not old style like corola.
say

[Pritch]

Im sorry this is new to me...CSX?

There is no acura dealer in my town

its the same idea as the 1.6 EL or 1.8 EL now i suppose?

What a funny looking, akward sedan. I never understood the whole civic and 1.6 or 1.7 or 1.8 EL thing....what, you get leather seats and they bend the H on the badge into an A??

Having never driven one Ill stop now cause I know they are popular. Oh wait, I have driven one. And......its a honda civic. Only more money.



Thanks, Ill take a mazda 3 GT. Flame Suit On.

[The General]

Does it worth to pay more $ to get the Acura CSX than Civic? Please help.

What features are important to you in car?

(Pritch) Im sorry this is new to me...CSX?

Dude, where have you been?


If you ask me and leather and NAVI are not things that interests you (like me), I'd spring for a 2006 Accord SE-V6 for a modest $30,400. It is roomier, as well finished, much much faster with proven reliability although, perhaps a little more boring...

http://www.auto123.com/06photo/honda/accord4dr-sev6.jpg

[Pritch]

Ive been around, but I dont pay particular attention to Acura because ther are so few where I live and they impress me no more than a regular honda, except for the high end stuff.

I just find it interesting- cause its new to me.

[carenw]

Having bought a Premium EL this past August and come from a VW hell story (1998 Beetle) I would say go for the CSX. I love my EL and yes I find there is that Acura feel even on the Civic based model. I have the leather and sunroof etc and am thoroughly pleased with the car. Nice change from the VW. 15,000kms already, great gas mileage and great comfort in a nice package. I would definitely choose the CSX next time around in three years and in the meantime just love the EL. Great fit and finish would have liked a slightly bigger engine but the CSX takes care of that but what I might lack in HP I gain in MPG! Go for it.

[woohoo!]

Im sorry this is new to me...CSX?

My god, Pritch... is Lively that far off the face of the earth? ;-)

http://www.csxrsvp.ca/

[woohoo!]

The EL used to make some sense before a better-equipped Civic. I owned a '98 1.6EL with leather and a '02 1.7EL Touring, and they were both great, although a little slow, cars.

But now, the CSX's price range is $25,000 to $31,000... ouch! You can get a navigation system and a lot of other gadgets that are not available in the Civic, but still... for 31 grand, I'd look into something else.

[The General]

Ive been around, but I dont pay particular attention to Acura because ther are so few where I live and they impress me no more than a regular honda, except for the high end stuff.

I just find it interesting- cause its new to me.

There are very few Continental GTs and F430 on the roads in Montreal and let me tell you that I pay particular attention when I see one...

It's nice anyhow...
http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/52194/2006-Acura-CSX-10.jpg

I would never spend the extra money though.

[FWDMOTION]

Took both the 2006 Honda Civic EX ($21,800) and Acura CSX Premium ($28,100) out for a test drive. The CSX is nice, a little more refined than the Civic EX, with a little more power across the torque band but not much. I wouldn't count the extra power as a big selling feature, let's put it that way. Everything else is the same, there is no feeling that your getting much for the extra $6K+ going with the CSX Premium. The leather is nice, and I am a big fan of leather seats, but closing in on $30K the CSX is just not worth the extra dough. The Honda Accord EX-L ($29,500) includes leather and is a much, much better value. The CSX Touring Edition ($25,400) is not even worth consideration as it has a cloth interior and no sunroof.

The Civic EX and CSX Premium interiors are exactly the same, excluding leather in the Civic. The Civic EX includes power windows, power sunroof, ABS 4-wheel disc, CD, MP-3... the Civic EX is an exceptional value.

[jww]

Thanks for the drive info. I am still really taken in by the CSX package - and I still don't think 30K is alot for an Acura - even if it is a re-badged Civic. Nothwithstanding - I do concede the points presented as I have not had my hands on either one yet. As I am just coming off ACL reconstruction surgery, that isn't likely to happen until the new year.

I'll post my own experience at that point as well.

jww

[The General]

I'll post my own experience at that point as well.

Make sure you do!

[jww]

I did a comprehensive tire-kicking around a brand-new CSX today at Camco Acura here in Ottawa. My initial impressions were - WOW - it was an all-black premium model and it looked really good on the showroom floor. The real test was sitting inside it - and I was not disappointed at all with high quality materials, outstanding fit and finish, and great visibility out of the vehicle. The driving position is nothing short of excellent, and the seat is very supportive. The leather is of a very good quality. The only two things that keep the front seats from being totally sumptuous is the lack of electric/memory adjustments and a fully adjustable lumbar support - I sure wish Acura would have included them - they don't add much to the price, but sure do add to interior comfort and appeal. Even without this, the seat was quite comfortable and I do believe that I can see myself driving long distances in comfort in this car.

There is a dead pedal - something that should be standard in every car, and yet many manufacturers still don't get this one (mind you aftermarket products abound here). The dash is an interesting novelty to me - with such a strong rake to the windshield, there is quite an expanse of dash top to clean - even with the eye-lid speedometer.

I set up the driver's seat to a comfortable location for me, then did my back-seat test sitting behind the driver's seat. I was pleasantly surprised. With concave seat-backs, I had adequate knee room, and with the pedestal style front seat, I was able to tuck my feet underneath quite comfortably. The only niggly thing was that the sloping rear roof line encroached ever so slightly on my headroom. It didn't seem as pronounced as the Volvo V40 which is probably the front runner in the poor rear seat headroom category for compact cars. Otherwise - the rear seat is very comfortable as well.

I was very impressed at how everything simply is in the right location. The 5-speed stick shift was elevated ever so slightly from what one would normally expect - and yet it felt like it was located perfectly. The steering wheel is an absolute work of art - a true thing of beauty. It is slightly elipitical too which is kinda cool. The tilt/telescopic feature is excellent - I was able to get it into just the right location without blocking my view to the tachometer (something which is problematic for me in many other cars that have this feature - I usually end up cutting off the top of the instuments in order to be fully comfortable). There are also plenty of cubby holes and storage bins throughout the front. The flat rear floor actually helps when sliding across into the middle seat - not that you would do that often as this is really a 4-passenger car with a 5th seatbelt.

The trunk is a fine size with a lid that opens straight up and away from the back of the car a-la VW's new Jetta and Passat. I liked that alot - and while it had plenty of space (I would guess-timate 12 or 13 cu ft) I didn't notice cargo net ties (must be another after-market dealer add-on). It didn't seem as deep as the outgoing EL has - but did seem longer.

I did do a quick walk around on a Civic EX and although they look alot alike from the outside, I would say that in my opinion, the CSX is worth the extra cash. The Honda - while it is a very nice vehicle indeed (about time - old Civic styling seemed plain and boring to me) - doesn't have any pinache. The engine in the CSX is far superior to the new Civic - it's essentially the RSX engine, tuned a bit differently. It has a timing chain rather than belt - an approach made popular recently by Nissan's 2.5l 4 cylinder engine found in the Altima, Sentra SpecV & X-Trail.

The CSX is clearly a luxury car - albeit entry-level. Not that I don't like the Honda because I do. I simply don't have an issue at spending the extra $$ for a luxury brand vehicel with a higher level of trim.

Like it's EL predecessor I think Acura have another Canadian specific hit on their hands with the CSX. I am looking forward to taking one out for a drive to see how the package performs on pavement.

jww

[say]

Thanks JWW for your valuable opinion!

[woohoo!]

The biggest problem with the EL was its resale value. I've owned a '98 1.6EL Premium and a '02 1.7EL Touring, and when it was time to sell them, nobody gave me a reasonable price, because for the price of a used EL, you could get a new or almost new, fairly well equipped Civic.

I hope the CSX doesn't suffer the same fate.

[FWDMOTION]

Just signed off on a Black 2006 Accord EXL - 5 Speed today!

Virtually the same price as the CSX Premium, more value!

[say]

not to be offended, but Accord seem a bit boring and old style.

[jww]

Just signed off on a Black 2006 Accord EXL - 5 Speed today!

Virtually the same price as the CSX Premium, more value!
not to be offended, but Accord seem a bit boring and old style.
I have already sung the praises for the CSX so I won't pontificate on that again at this point - at least not until I have had the chance for a full test-drive.

However, from a "point-counter-point" perspective, I actually think Honda finally got it right with their re-design of the rear-end of the Accord for 2006. The original back-side was without a doubt boring and basically looked unfinished. It was like they ran out of design funds after the B pillar.

In terms of the model choice, I would say that FWDMOTION indeed selected the best overall price/trim package of the Accord lineup in the EWX-L. It's pretty tough to argue against a car with a 5speed manual tranny, 166hp large 4 cyl engine, full leather, heated seats, moonroof, steering wheel controls, etc. for just under $30K CDN. And hey - even though it will get filthy in winter, there are few things that look better than a black car that's been freshly washed, waxed and buffed! :)

jww

[woohoo!]

Congrats on your purchase FWDMOTION ;-)

[The General]

Just signed off on a Black 2006 Accord EXL - 5 Speed today!

Very nice!!

That's exactly what I would have done. Well, almost, I would have taken an SE-V6.

[neseh]

Good choice!

Just remind you, you have a lot of work to do after that! WASSSSSSSSSSSSSSHing!

[jww]

I did a full test drive today of the CSX and can say that it is one heck of a car. Probably the best manual transmission I have ever shifted - buttery smooth. This does not feel like a small car. It is uber-luxurious, and drives like a dream. The steering in nice and tight and visibility is outstanding from all angles from the driver's seat. The steering wheel is wonderful - the small eliptical shape is wonderful. It feels so wonderful in your hands.

A very free-reving engine that likes to run fast. Even at 120 kmh it was turning at 3000 RPM and you couldn't hear a sound. My wife and daughter were along for the drive, and both fell in love. Even with a short wheelbase, it feels smooth and very connected to the road, but doesn't rumble your kidneys.

Everything you touch feels absolutely opulent. Easy to find a good driver's seating position. The only two things I would like to see is an electric driver's seat and an adjustable lumbar support. In my mind, this is worth the money if you consider the high end level of quality (not to mention the 4 yr 80Km warranty - not that you'd need it too much).

I stand by my original comments that I believe this car worth the money. Yes it is smaller than an Accord, and yes it is more expensive than a Civic but there is a feel that neither the Accord nor the Civic can come close to creating when compared to the Acura nameplate. Call me a brand snob, but I am very impressed indeed. I expect that Acura will sell plenty of these cars in the coming years.

jww

[Canex]

:D Yes go for the Acura. You won't notice any signifcant difference
as far as handling, performance or anything that is value related can be identified.

But you will be experiencing the Acura experience and your next car will
be a more expensive Acura where you will defintely know "this aint no Honda".

Think of it as an opportunity to grow with Acura. You have no where left to go with Honda at this point. The first thing that will really come out of left field
right at you is the premiere qualityof service that you can get only at Acura

Harmon

[jww]

:D Yes go for the Acura. You won't notice any signifcant difference
as far as handling, performance or anything that is value related can be identified.

But you will be experiencing the Acura experience and your next car will
be a more expensive Acura where you will defintely know "this aint no Honda".

Think of it as an opportunity to grow with Acura. You have no where left to go with Honda at this point. The first thing that will really come out of left field
right at you is the premiere qualityof service that you can get only at Acura

Harmon
Too late - I went with the top-end Hyundai Sonata instead. The Acura dealer was far too snobby to deal with imo - which was making the car-buying experience very bothersome. On the other hand, the Hyundai dealer wanted to sell me a car, treated me well, and followed up with phone calls to see how I was progressing in my decision. Acura's loss was Hyundai's gain. Acura called a couple of times, but kept saying they couldn't/wouldn't be able to budge, but wanted to know if I liked the car well enough to buy one. Gimme a break!

jww

[F1mania]

jww...are you planning to trade in your Sonata? :roll:

[jww]

jww...are you planning to trade in your Sonata? :roll:
Not for some time - I am ecstatic with it.

jww

[big_block]

To answer the question, I would say no. High 20K for a compact. I would prefer like the other guy the Honda Accord SE 2006 for about the same price with more space interior.