The New Toyota Civic
 

Sportiness and ... godliness of Toyota?
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../1015/BUSINESS

What about the Si? (it's not available yet)
Ok, so the current model, excluding the untested Si falls short of previous civics. But what about the previous generation? Everybody complained that it was a departure from the classic Civic design, especially in suspension department. How does this one compare? I wish Mr Phelan would address this question before saying that the new civic is stale.

From what I've read, most reviewers seem to think the Civic is fairly sporty but underpowered. :dunno:

detroit free press did this publication...they are used to big old pushrod v6s as base engines in most of their cars...they also don't understand the import tuner market and how the new civic is a big answer to their hopes

In my opinion, if you want a sporty Civic, buy an Si. All others are just econoboxes. Nice, solid, well built econoboxes.


What were they expecting? 0-60 in 4.2, 11.8 in the 1/4 and 1.08g on the slalom? Please.

The Detroit News' Lienerts are in favor of the Civic. The Free Press is more UAW-friendly and also Mark Phelan is "Mr. Cold Water" on pretty much a lot of things. But he still has an argument.

Oh, like there's an alternative from Detroit that can offer anything remotely close?

These people forgot that good, reasonable, extremely affordable and reliable cars that also happen to handle well are what's driving nails into the coffin known as Detroit.

When was the last Detroit car that's under 20,000, drives as good as the Civic (any Civic), family-friendly and rice-ready? Yeah, maybe the Neon has less "short comings" when compared to the Civic.

I think what he wants is to have his cake and eat it too. Building an economy sedan (or coupe) is a tradeoff. If you have a nice, tight, well handling suspension, your ride quality goes to hell, especially on bumpy roads, and your interior noise goes up. If you use double wishbones, you lose frontal engine compartment and engine room. Add power, and you increase cost and lose fuel efficiency. The Civic is a well rounded car, IMHO, but that means there are going to be compromises.

The closest US-market car is the Chevrolet Cobalt, at the current time. The Neon is thankfully dead, the Focus is stale, and the Saturn ION continues to be the epitome of awful.

The problem is that he tested a Sedan. The Coupes have a stiffer suspension and the Si is even stiffer yet. 98% of people who buy Civic Sedans place ride comfort over handling and quick reflexes...that's why they toned down the suspension so much. Mark Phelan is also a dumbass, so that doesn't help.