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Vacheron
9th December 2005, 23:39
Well, mum and I have just got back from the official dealer launch of the 2006 Honda Civic, where I assisted my mum in what she called "technical and bargaining assistance" LOL.

We went to our local dealer who told her yesterday on the phone that the launching would begin from 2PM this afternoon. We arrived to see a model in the showroom which we had a good look around it, and even managed to get it out for a test drive!

Long story short, great car, mum decides she definately wants one. Salesman is terrible. I knew more about the models and trim options than he did, and he evaded giving us a P/X price of her old car for over 30 minutes before we finally got fed up and left (but not after helping ourselves to significant amounts of complementary food, wine and coffee of course.) ;)

On the way home we decided to try the main dealer in the city instead, fought through the traffic and arrived there at about 5pm. Walked inside to find 3 cars wrapped in tailored dust covers to discover that the official unveiling time should not have been until 7pm!! :D

Walked up to woman behind counter:
Us: "We're here for the new Civic"
Woman: "You're quite early, the launch isn't for another 2 hours"
Us:"Never mind that, we've already seen one.... and test drove it, now we just want to order one."
Woman: ":confused:"
:p:

After much haggling on the P/X price of her old car again, we finally reach an agreement at about 6.45pm and start the paperwork while I help myself to more free cheese, wine, biscuits and coffee:drink: :p: . About 100 people have now arrived for the launch, and the lights are dimming. The paperwork is signed and we pass unnoticed behind the crowds who have turned to see the "grand unveiling" as we head for the door. My mum has ordered Civic "Ncle00001" and the spotlights hadn't even come up yet! :hehe:

Here is a pic of her new toy. - Should arrive before christmas. - Identical model, identical colour (RHD though). ;)
MORE PICS (http://www.vacheron.btinternet.co.uk/Civic/Civic.htm)

http://www.vacheron.btinternet.co.uk/Civic/photo04_low.jpg

Andy King Of All
9th December 2005, 23:53
WOW!!

Stands out. Would need to see one on the road to really say if i like it that much.

BroadbandPlacey
9th December 2005, 23:58
looks nice :D

free booze and choccies w00t! :D

Arok
10th December 2005, 01:46
sweet, they eliminated the hatchback this year in the states. for 2005 the only civic hatchback was the Si, now the new Si is a regular coupe, with 200hp, same motor as the RSX.

Grolschie
10th December 2005, 06:18
I managed to test drive one myself the other day............................................... ....was on the new toca race driver game demo though :hehe: seriously though, lookin sweet mate :)

Vacheron
10th December 2005, 13:15
She should get the call today to find out the delivery date. And she seems happy and excited which is the most important thing. :)
She has an 03 Civic at the moment, but keeps losing it in car parks because she says it looks so bland! :p:. This one is a lot more distinctive. "More like her Puma" as she says... which is a complement indeed! (She loved her puma! LOL)

It's actually a bit bigger that it looks in the the pictures, and the dashboard lighting is superb from the perspective of an ex casemodder like myself! :p: Interior build and plastics quality is easily as good as the Lexus IS200 I had for a while - maybe better. And it's a hell of a lot cheaper!

The demo model had the blue footwell illumination which she liked. Salesman tried to talk her into it as a £235 optional extra. Before I pointed out to them both that I could buy two 12" cold cathodes with inverters from ebugger for £3 each, and a regulator for £5 to get exactly the same effect for less than a tenner! :hehe:

BroadbandPlacey
10th December 2005, 13:22
£230 quid for blue footwells! are they having a bloody laugh!

shelley
10th December 2005, 13:33
Oooh very nice car! your Mum has very good taste indeed :)

dave_elucidate
10th December 2005, 14:56
I quite like it, which is unusual for me, I don't normally like em.


So blue footwells? Are they 'pre-modding' the cars so you don't have to rice them up?

'sporty foglights' as well i bet!!

Still, the car looks lovely

dave_elucidate
10th December 2005, 15:02
Actually, paint it blue and it would be a Peugeot 206!!!

Conan
10th December 2005, 16:01
Interior build and plastics quality is easily as good as the Lexus IS200 I had for a while - maybe better.

Glad about that, we make a few parts for the interior. The 3 door is due to start production next September, which will include the Type R. Its planned to be a 200Bhp version !!

Vacheron
11th December 2005, 10:35
Glad about that, we make a few parts for the interior. The 3 door is due to start production next September, which will include the Type R. Its planned to be a 200Bhp version !!Cool. Well, good job! :) What sort of products is your company involved in Conan?
Yeah, My brother has the current type-r civic for a while which I believe already has 197 BHP. Rumours avout the new Civic "r" are that it it is planned to be based on the 2.2 VTEC out of the Accord and could actually be putting out around 250. :drive: :)

So blue footwells? Are they 'pre-modding' the cars so you don't have to rice them up?Yes. Plenty of choice on the facrory options list, including front and rear low swung spoilers, and 18" "Storm wheels on 245/40/18 Yokohamas!!!!! :slayer: :D
'sporty foglights' as well i bet!!
Triangular ones! :p: I was worried about the cost of replacing the triangular exhausts too, but looking closely at a model, it seems that there are standard oval exits nestling about 3 inches behind the triangular outlet trim with a sort of airguide / heatshield arrangement - which should be a fair bit cheaper! :)

Conan
11th December 2005, 11:29
We are an injection moulding company supply parts mainly for Honda and Nissan in the UK. I spend a lot of time in the Honda factory in Swindon working on the new cars. The most visible thing we have in the new civic are the plastic covers over the seat rails.

At the moment, the new Type R will use the same engine as current, just re-tuned. The diesel engine in the civic is pretty good as stock, I think 0-60 is around 8.5 secs with a top end over 120.

dave_elucidate
14th December 2005, 00:23
Won the fifth gear family car thing yesterday...lokks good.