I’m a college student trying to decide between the 9th gen Accord V6 Touring and the 9th gen Civic Si. I need a car that is safe, fuel-efficient, and reliable to avoid costly repairs. The Accord has more safety features and space for friends, but the Civic is better on gas and seems more fun to drive. What do you think is better for a broke college kid?
The Civic Si is going to be cheaper, but the V6 power in the Accord is nice to have.
I think the Accord looks better too, but I might be biased.
Fuel economy really depends on your driving style and the type of transmission. My J series engine gets better gas mileage than my K or F.
Honestly, as much as I love the Civic Si, I’d pick the 8th or 9th gen Accord V6 over it. The Accord uses regular gas and has more space and power. Sure, the Si is easier to modify, but the Accord is better in many ways.
@Ozzy
Any Honda car without a turbo in the US can use regular gas. Turbo models and Acura need premium gas.
I can’t really speak on the Civic Si, but I spend around $200 to $250 a month on gas with my 2014 Accord V6, which is really quick and fun, so it’s not a big deal for me. In sport mode, I can spend over $300 on gas. The Si will probably get better gas mileage but will be slower. The manual Si would be more enjoyable than the somewhat lifeless electric power steering and suspension in my Accord. I have a sedan, so I don’t have paddle shifters either. I know manual V6 coupes exist, but they are much pricier and harder to find.
For practicality, having the four-door Accord is way better than the coupe with its larger trunk and backseat. It’s a comfortable car and drives well on the freeway with good power for passing.
Just make sure the timing belt and transmission fluid have been changed, and check that the suspension is in good shape. Those are the main things to look for. I didn’t know about those and ended up with a big repair bill for the timing belt, rear shocks, and some other issues. It wasn’t the end of the world, though.
@Luca
Do the sedans not have paddle shifters in the US? We have them, but we miss out on the manual V6 coupes.
Dallas said:
@Luca
Do the sedans not have paddle shifters in the US? We have them, but we miss out on the manual V6 coupes.
None of the 9th gen V6 sedans have paddle shifters in the US. Only the CVT Sport models with fake paddles and the coupes with automatic transmissions got them. The paddles are kind of like the ones in my mom’s 2012 Acura TL.
If I could go back to your age and be in your situation, I’d definitely choose the Civic Si.
Both are great choices, but the Si will be more fun, and you’ll enjoy driving it more. The Accord might be a bit more comfortable and have more space in the back seats, but I would totally go for the Si for the fun factor.
I’d go with the Civic Si. The V6 is nice, but you need better gas mileage, and the four-cylinder is better for that. Plus, the manual is more fun to drive.
What about a 2008 Chevy Cobalt?
I really wanted a manual transmission, so I test drove the V6 Accord coupe and the 9th gen Si. I found that the slower Civic was actually more fun to drive.
I ended up getting a 2013 Acura ILX with a 6MT and the Si drivetrain, and I’ve been happy with that choice.
How long do you plan to keep the car? If it’s longer than five years, then the Accord is probably a better investment for your situation.
Civic Si, no doubt. Have some fun while you can! Plus, it’ll be cheaper.
The Accord will have an expensive timing belt job if it hasn’t been done already.
I’m leaning toward the Si.
Kade said:
The Accord will have an expensive timing belt job if it hasn’t been done already.
I’m leaning toward the Si.
It costs about $700 at a third-party mechanic or $1500 at Honda.
@Blake
Yeah, that’s not too bad. I’ve had cars with timing chains that had problems with the tensioner or guides. I actually like timing belts since you replace the tensioner and water pump each time.