What I can say is that my 08 Civic Si outhandles my wife's new 14 Corolla S. The S is pretty good though, adequate for the power that comes with it.
I would like to explain my thoughts on steering and handling of various cars I have driven in the past so you guys can understand why I am a little obsessed with this subject.
The followings are my ratings of steering and handling performance of various cars I have driven in the past:
2003 Toyota Corolla - 3/10
(This corolla has numb, lose and imprecise steering. It often makes me feel there is some kind of lag between when I turn the steering wheel and when the car actually start to turn. The lag could be psychological and doesn't really exist but it just doesn't feel good. And it tends to understeer. My parent own one of this car so I have the chance to borrow it to drive quite often.)
2010/2011? Toyota Corolla - 3.5/10
(I drove the car a few times from a car rental. This prior gen Corolla is only slightly better than the 2003 model but there is still under steering and that lag feeling)
2012/2013? Ford Tauras - 4/10
(This is the rental car I've been driving the last few days after my Civic got flooded at UCLA. Its steering feels heavy and the car is not very nimble. After driving this car, I am sure Ford Taurus will NOT take back the mid sized sedan sales crown from Toyota Camry any time soon)
1989 Toyota Camry DX - 4.5/10
(This 2nd gen Camry with 4 cylinder engine actually feels pretty good when compared to many recent Corollas and that Ford Tauras I got from a car rental. If it had stiffer suspension, it probably would be as good as an 8th gen Civic. The V6 model is very front heavy and not as good 3.5/10 for the V6 model)
1985 Nissan 200SX - 4.5/10
(How can I possibly remember how this old car performed? We'll. I gave it a 4.5 rating because when I moved from this car to the 1989 Camry, I did not have to adjust to the steering and handling attributes of the 1989 Camry. They feel pretty similar)
2008 Honda Civic EX Sedan - 5/10
(This car sets the minimum steering and handling quality I am looking for in a new car because its steering feels natural to me; precise enough, nimble enough and natural enough without under steering or over steering or any feeling of lag. The first time I drove a 8th gen Civic, I immediately feel the size of its steering wheel is the perfect size for me).
2001 Toyota Camry - 5/10
(This Camry is not quite as nimble as 8th gen Civic but its steering and handling is still very good plus smoother ride. Better than the fat Taurus I've been driving in the last few days. So I gave it a 5).
2008 Honda Civic EX Coupe - 5.5/10
(This is the car I owned for the last six years until UCLA Flood. Steering and handling performance of the two door Civic always feel slightly better than the sedan probably because the coupe more nimble or Honda gave the coupe slightly better suspension)
2006 Honda Civic Si Sedan - 6/10
(I have only driven this car for about six or seven times but its steering and handling always feel natural and slightly more precise than my EX coupe.)
So where would you place the 2014 Corolla based on the above ratings I listed?
If most drivers here think steering and handling of 2014 Corolla is at least as good as the 8th gen Civic sedan, I will give it a shot and schedule a test drive. But if the new Corolla is not on par with the 8th gen Civic, there is no reason for me to consider it because I will most likely be disappointed.
Yes, I know I should simply do a test drive to decide for myself...
Why have you not looked at the new Civics? Besides them being ugly and having less space than the Corolla? The looks are one reason I'll be keeping my 8th gen for a few more years. Hopefully the next gen Si will be nice, and I'll jump on it:thumbsup:.
I agree The 9the gen Civic (both sedan and coupe) are uglier than 8th gen Civic, especially the first iteration for year 2012. The current Civic sedan has a rear brake light design that looks like a piece of layered cheese cake folded in half. I don't like that but it's not the ugliest compact car on the market.
Personally I think the 8th gen Civic coupe is one of the best looking coupes ever designed especially the 2006-2008 model with that classic Honda front grill. (I don't like the honeycomb front grill found on the 2009-2011 model). Too bad mine got flood damage last week. I really wanted to drive my EX coupe for at least another 10 years.
Currently there is not a single compact car on the car market with good styling I really like.
Elantra? its rear looks like an ugly Saturn wearing a MC Hammer pant.
Mazda 3? oh that LOL front grill. No.
Ford Focus? Looks bloated. If Ford can eliminate that bloated look I would consider the current Focus the best looking compact car.
But by the virtue of being least ugly, I still consider the new Corolla and new Civic the better looking compact cars on the market.
I have researched the new Civic but have not decided to purchase one because comparable Corollas (based on known specification and features) are less expensive than Civic and many reviews I read online indicate that Corolla's Entune system is better than Hondalink. But ultimately steering and handling is the most important quality I am looking for. I simply can not tolerate the steering performance of the 2003 and 2010 Corollas I have driven before.
The more I write about the subject, the more I think I should just schedule a test drive.
Anyway..
Any thoughts or opinions are welcome
)
