Overhall

Yearly

Or

Throw

Away means TOYOTA.

Honda better though.

Thanks a lot for the detailed overview. I am planning to buy a CITY and

your comments have made it clear to me that it would be the better choice

I cant really say why I am not going for VIOS… but something in my heart

is saying…"City…City… city"

I am not against Toyota in any way, for I think the new Toyota Corolla (or isit Camry) is absolutely gorgeous! (The one whose trunk looks like a BMW one)

Anyway… Just wondering… can anyone please tell me how to get best price from salesman LOL! Greatly appreciated.

From what i see here, both the vios and city have their fair share of supporters. Since i have pretty vivid experiences with both cars, i would like to talk a little bit about them. I'm not too sure if they vary much in Malaysia.

However, since both Malaysia and Singapore source their cars from Thailand, i believe specifications should be very similar except for interior trimmings.

I would like to talk abt the i-dsi city in this context as i have not experience the vtec model.

The i-dsi is has two sparkplugs per cylinder and therefore has develops good combustion equating to good fuel economy, not a usual Honda trait. Power is nothing great, but if since the city has CVT, it never really gets stuck in a position where you feel like you're seriously in a wrong gear. The manual transmission gears in Hondas have always been the best in terms of shift action and throws, and in the city it doesn dissapoint.

Toyota Vios 1.5 vvti unit is a proven unit. Having been in the Toyota Yaris/Echo/Vitz way before the Vios was even made. In fact it was the basis of the Yaris T-sport of Europe and the Echo sportivo in Australia. What we get is a twimcam unit boasting good economy (considering its a DOHC unit) and good horsepower and torque figures that would be suitable for city and highway driving. The auto transmission being a regular four speed auto is a no brainer and nothing to get excited about, and the manual though feeling well oiled does have a bit of a notchy shift action.

However, when it comes to handling and ride, both cars have their compromises. The city's high centre of gravity is the primary culprit for its bad body roll even if the chassis is more than capable of hanling some decent speeds through the corner. The Vios on the other hand has the upper hand in terms of carrying speed through corners, but the steering is lifeless even though it is very direct and accurate.

Ride is where the city excels having achieve a fair balance of damping without feeling floaty. The vios on the other hand loses out in the ride department as it tends to have a stiffer setup that just does not feel as balanced as the city's.

In terms of build and quality, both of these cars are not the last word in terms of build compared to the japan assembled vitz and fit on which they are based.

Shut lines can be inconsistant in certain examples and fit and finishing is still not comparable to the japanese assembled units. However, considering what the cars are worth, they are still fine and it could be worse with other manufacturers.

The only thing that is a real concern is if you are looking for decent interior quality plastics. The Vios is a good product on most fronts, but the interior plastics are a disaster. The plastics are hard and brittle, though the surface is texture to help disguise the use of really inferior quality plastics. If you have driven or sat in a Toyota Yaris/ Echo/ Vitz, you'll know what i mean. I really have nothing agaist Toyota, but to have a generally good product and spoil it all by providing a i cant care less atitude to the interior is unforgivable. Especially when we all know how far Toyota has come in terms of building quality interiors in the new Lexus IS and GS. Don't get it wrong, im not asking for Lexus quality interiors in a Vios priced vehicle but just decent plastics like those in a Yaris/ Echo/ Vitz. The Vios plastics look like they came out of an EP71 Toyota Starlet seriously and that is ok for that time but not now. The game has moved on.

All in all, if you could live with inferior quality interiors, the Vios is quite a sweet car with its willing engine and above average roadholding. The City on the other hand is a more mature car, oozing a quality that Toyota has seemed to forget about in the Vios, and not to mention a nice sporty interior with a gigantic rear trunk.

One more thing before i leave, i think some people have the misconception of Vtec in the forums.

Vtec has evolved alot over the years and we now have i-vtec, 3 stage vtecs (in the 1.5L SOHC EK series civics) and the raw twin cam 2 stage vtecs that used to lift at 5500rpm pioneered in the NSX and the B16 engined EF civics. The raw two stage vtecs are still available but only from the current integra R,accord R, S2000 and NSX. Yes the NSX is still available through order even though officially it has cease production.

Cheers.

Honda's V-TEC technology stands for Variable Valve and Lift Electronic Control System and for Honda City L series of V-TEC engine it actually monitor and varies the Valve timing like toyota vvt-i but with the Lift in Honda's V-TEC honda L series engine actually runs on 2 mode… the 12 valve mode and 16 valve mode for performance… inorder to save fuel… while Toyota VVT-i only monitor and varies the valve timing… the i stands for intelligence… (all cars today have intelligence for honda and toyota part that is)

and if one ask me on CVT and normal auto gear… both perform great if you maintain it well… and by the way the spare parts… Honda's used to be GOD DAMN VERY EXPENSIVE… but since Honda Malaysia took over the Honda sales in Malaysia… the price have gone down.. lets say the City front Bumper is WAY cheaper than the Wira Taiwan front bumper… and I mean Original CITY Bumper… lets say the price is RM150.00 including paint job!!! so any vios dude have change a Front Bumper b'fore!!!

the new face lift for City is way better than Vios facelift… I dont see much diffecence in Vios facelift… wat a let down… small changes only…

for New city vs New Vios… go for City…

for Old city vs New City Trade in your OLD FROG and get a NEW PRINCE CHARMIN!!!!

No Offence!

Comments:-

- Aveo out of the story for sure…..

- City, nice interior, more spacious, more quiet, steering too light and feel like a toy car, handling less rigid than Vios, accleration is the worst part as the power and torque always come a second later….

- Vios, better handling, less spacious (especially for a tall guy like me), power comes as u need it, slightly more noisy then City.

Conclusion:

- For power-minded user, get neither, the hp offered from both cars just can't meet your taste.

- For family-minded, and slightly bigger size user, get City for the sake of storage and leg space.

- For ordinary-single- small size user, get a Vios

- Both cars project a young professional image

- For those have more money to spend, get a Altis or Civic, everything is better when u can afford more

VTec – relatively new, 120hp per litre, more powerful.

VVT – used in 1960's in Ford, Fiat, Alfa Romeo

VVTi – improvised version of the old-VVT technology, 100hp per litre, reasonably powerful.

Gear transition

VVTi – smoother transition. suitable for family.

VTec – towards 'racy' or 'sporty' cam profile, suitable for those who like sporty feeling.

But this differs in different cars, I drove my brother's Honda Civic before, it is very smooth, unlike some says its jerky. Have to test drive the new City to find out.

About Longevity – I think both will last a life time if the engine oil are kept clean and change regularly.

VVTi – engine parts are simpler, less prone to complication if engine is roughly used

VTec – engine parts are very complicated. more prone to complication if engine is roughly used.

You'll actually spent more money on a Honda car if you don't maintain your car properly. Toyota is known for robust. Those who doesn't maintain the engine timely shall choose toyota.

I test drove the IDSI and Vios, I found the VIOS has more torque, at least in picking up. The new City with VTec will definitely out perform the Vios. At RM89,300, I think its a good price for many more additional features. The Vios G is about the same price.

About fuel consumption, my Vios goes up to about 500Km per RM60 in the city, 600++Km per RM60 highway drive. My friends IDSI went up to 500++KM per RM50 in the city. On the highway about the same.

Between City IDSI and Vios E, I'll go for Vios.

The price difference between City VTec and City IDSI is just RM5,000-RM6,000, might as well spent a little more for much more comfort and power.

Deciding between Vios G and City VTec, I think City VTec is a better buy.

Finally, there are a few notes here about the Vios and toyota before you guys deciding to buy it.

1. The Vios rear boot. I have to slam it hard in order to close. The people inside the car will hear a loud thug noise. Also, I notice almost every Vios on the road, the boot is not perfectly aligned. Please take note of this! Screw the salesman if you find out this and he never fix this for you on delivery. Those in the showroom are perfect one. I noticed most people bring this to the workshop to align the boot. Spent RM80,000, must be perfectlah, right?

2. Toyota has limited workshop. Everytime I service (Puchong), I have to queue and wait at least half a day. The service personnel is not as friend as you would expect (don't be surprise).

3. The paint work on Vios. My Vios kena a small stone dropped from a lorry (probably 1/4cm in diameter) the paint came off (can see the metal inside). I was moving at about 80km/h. My wira used to kena stone like this, and the paint never came off, only light scratches that can be polished away.

4. Everytime after starting when the engine is cold, the engine will ramp at 1500 rpm before I settles below 1000 rpm after 2 or 3 minutes. This is a nuisanse because the engine noise is very noisy. Not sure if Honda City is like this. Not sure why.

On overall, I'm happy with my current Vios E -lah, coz' that's the only good car I can afford. Who doesn't what a better car? only if they can afford lah!

Thank you and regards,

Ople

As for interior, the drawbacks was Honda team trying to push a futuristic body into present time in which I think are not well accepted yet. Yet, after owner it not so long ago, I think Honda City's still the best 1.5cc car in town. I like VIOS too but as for the power, this is one car i would rather let my wife drive…

even tough vtec is more advance than vvti, so sure lose to i vtec la

vvti in theory is smarter than vtec

but well, both engine from toyota and honda are of high quality.

there's very very little warranty claims on those engines

as for reliability, statistically, toyota lasts longer than honda