The new Civic.

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Just read from the local newspaper that the new civic will move to Macpherson struts up front and same wishbone setup in the back. Cost reduction by moving to Mac suspension. The automotive journalists that have driven the pre-production model says not as fun to drive as the previous gen. The engine will be a 1.7L. The power will be 115HP at 6100rpm developing 110 lb-ft at 4500 rpms. That is for the DX and LX models. The EX will produce 127HP at 6300rpm and 114lb-ft at 4800rpm. These engines are for the Canadian market but most likely be the same for the US. Transmissions will be the usual 5-speed but the surprise is a CVT automatic. Now, the competition will need to offer a CVT. Are you listening Nissan. http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif The engine is actually 5 percent lighter. The article did say the Civic will move from subcompact to compact segment. Now, the compact segment is going to be a great race. We will soon see if the Sentra can stay #1 in the comparo tests. Stay tuned.

[tbear]

The new civic so far has not impressed me. Horsepower is only 115, lower than most of its competitors. Styling is not much different than the current civic. Honda was very successful in the past few years up to the release of the odissey, but the new civic hints that honda is losing its magic touch. I think it has a lot to do with the management change.

A few years back the Honda USA president moved from Honda to Acura division, because honda was in a very good shape while acura was in a bad shape. He was given task to revive Acura. Very soon after, we're seeing competitive acura products: new CL, MDX, etc. But it seems the new management at Honda is not as good as the old.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

The problem is that Honda is doing the same thing with the Civic as Chevy is doing with the Cav. They're sitting on their ass because they're selling like hotcakes anyway. The 96 model didn't offer much more than the previous model, it was mostly a cosmetic redesign. It was deceiving IMHO, and now 4 years later, still no major redesign. You will need to buy a EX to get the same power as the base Sentra, and the Sentra will still kick the EX's ass thanks to its torque! It seems Honda is afraid of putting too big of an engine in their car. Something they could do to spice it up would be to put a freshened GSR engine in the SI coupe, people would love it!

[This message has been edited by Yannick Blais (edited 07-25-2000).]

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Could it be that they kept the engine small to meet the limits of the CVT? Just guessing...

[This message has been edited by tardis24 (edited 07-25-2000).]

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It looks like they need to make a big "Lemming Power!" sticker a standard equipment http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/wink.gif

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and guess what, if they say that the new civic is gonna have more room than the current one, i guess that's another bummer for nissan. interior room will get customers attention much more than a great suspension setup will. so no wonder honda is getting cheap on the front end and putting $$ to use by craving out more space. the sentra does not have alot of rear space.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

The new Sentra also doesnt look as good in my opinion. Although Mechanically the same, the pre 96 and 96 Honda cars were very differnt in terms of feel. The suspensions were in better tune on the new cars, the bodies were much more rigid and quieter than the old cars giving the new ones a more refined feel to it. Dont get me wrong, I love the Nissan, but in my opinion the Honda has what it takes to be number 1. Most people in America dont buy on HP levels or acceleration alone. Mostly they buy on what they percieve is a good product or value, not to mention word of mouth. And when two cars are similarly priced, with the same equipment levels, it's the one with the freshest styling that usually wins.

[stonefield]

Since the G20 is going to die. I think Nissan should take the rear end of the G20 and apply it to the Sentra. Now, that would help make it a good looking car.

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Hell, might as well make the G20 the next Sentra, then everybody would be happy. I really havent heard ANYBODY complain about the way the G20 looks. Now if they could only do something about the engine.

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I personally prefer Sentra's exterior design over Altima. SE's rear spoiler looks very sharp.
The rear-end styling looks better than both Maxima and Altima.
If they can put SR20DET into a Sentra, this car will be an SiR beater.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

well car and driver complained about the G20's styling. but they always are whining about SOMETHING.

I wonder how the Altima got so butchered in the first place. It's a shame that the rear end was made into that bulky shape it is now.
Let's hope the XVL concept can help it out.

[Max Ima]

Interest in the new Civic will force cross-shopping with the Sentra -- that is if Nissan doesn't take their foot off the gas in terms of advertising and keeping the dealers focused on moving Sentras.

[240sx]

My honest opinion on why Honda has never gone with a larger engine in the Civic is gas mileage.
1.6 L engines are unbelievably great on gas, here on the west coast of Canada, that is a major factor in a purchasing decision, my friends parents decided with a DX Hatchback over the new Sentra cause of the displacement. Styling didn't affect them, but the option of a hatchback did, very light weght car and light on gas, makes their commutes alot cheaper on gas. When my friend Sean brings a car out for the night, if he has to pay for gas, he chooses the Civic or their 98 Corolla that is a 1.8L I beleive. At 76.9 Cents a Liter, Canadian, more and more people are worried about gas, all SUV's are fuel thirsty machines, and no matter how nice they make them, people will not buy them untill gas mileage is better.
The word gets out that Civics are great on gas, and Honda makes major sales on that. No denying. I can see the car market depending on that, small engines for high gas prices.

I think alot of car comopanys can sell a car based on it being a 4 cylinder, because alot of people who are not knowledgeable towards motors, don't know anything about displacement. This is what I seem to think, and have been noticing lately.

Thats just my 2 cents.

Oh and I'll never buy a new car, but I will buy a used S14, or Z32, does this still help Nissan in any way? I won't be able to afford to buy a new Z, so I must stay with Nissan somehow.

[This message has been edited by 240sx (edited 08-29-2000).]