Hi folks, I'm looking for used car recently. Budget is ~RM20k and model pinned to 2007-2009 Honda City. So far of my research, there is 2 types which is IDSI and VTEC version and both are using 7 speed CVT dry clutch gearbox.

To summarize IDSI is more fuel saving and VTEC is more power. But the IDSI tend to have gearbox failure, is it same to VTEC? And is there certain batch of City have this issue only or all of them regardless which year? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Base on your experience or user around you, do you have or heard any major problem and preventive suggestion?

I'm open for any related discussion and your input is appreciated !

This post has been edited by JungWoo: Jan 20 2017, 03:36 PM

None

This post has been edited by melizino: May 9 2017, 05:40 PM

Not recommended. A lot of users reported gearbox issue. (Jerking)

I personally experience that jerking issue + steering rack (sensor) that costs me few thousands to repair it....

This post has been edited by Ricky300: Jan 20 2017, 05:25 PM

lol ts as mentioned b4....

persona
+if you need the space (its even bigger)
+maintanance is cheeeeep
+se has a decent interior with leather and stuff...
-fc is crap

maivee
-in the middle between the 2 (above & below)

viva
+saves fuel
+cheap to jaga also
-tiny.. really tiny!!

another risk with the city is... its already so old, even if you get a unit with no issues, the risk of issues suddenly appearing are somewhat higher (old owner might have run through the dumb luck bits of the tranny's life)

edit: owait, personally not an owner... must run away!!! *uses honda airbag as boost to escape*

This post has been edited by lsm1991: Jan 20 2017, 04:58 PM

Sorry no gona do uber. Fuel consumption is not priority just personal preference here looking for own use

which variant and year is your car?

im ok as long as get a unit with no issues fc doesn't matter. i have my own foreman. this generation have air bag issue as well ?

2007 Vtec

My Previous car was Honda City VTEC 2005-2006 model. I bought is 2nd hand and drive it about 2.5 Years. (It was about 185k Mileage when i sell)
My experience is the car is good but it depends on how good the previous owner has maintained it. All the issues i had with it was due to general age of the car. Eg: Engine mountings, Wheel bearing. Idling issues due to dirty Throttle Body.

I was able to do about 14-15Km/L in mixed city/highway driving which is good for a car in that age.

I had not face any issue with Transmission (actually that was the reason for me to choose a car with CVT for the 2nd time - my first was that Honda City) but I did took care of the GB by servicing at a Honda Specialist service (Not authorized agent) regularly (I did it every other EO change about 12-15K intervals ) Anyway... Honda CVT OIL is not so expensive compare to Fully Synthetic EO.

Please do check the car thoroughly if you thinking of buying a one. Better ask a mechanic who knows about Honda issues (average technician knows about specific issues as per my previous experience)
I bought it form a friend of mine (a local, btw I'm not a local) , so i hope my case is different if you buy form a used car dealer. Still I did change Spark Plugs / Air Cleaner / EO / CVT OIL and run pour in Injector cleaner within first 500Km after i got the car. Later changed a new battery too.

Overall my opinion is if you are going to buy a 2nd/3rd hand car (over 5 years old) any model will give you issues due to age. Cost of replacing them is depending on the manufacture. Honda Parts are very expensive of you go for OEM. Also the reliability of the part you change also depends on the manufacture. Honda parts are reliable as per my experience. Maybe it's different for another person.

I'm no Sifu on these anyway... Just a user sharing my experience.

The old CVT gearbox model ended on 2008 if I'm not mistaken. 2009 is the iVtec with 5 speed auto. The 2007-2008 idsi didn't have the 7 speed auto mode. Just CVT mode.


Both are equally prone to clutch or flywheel failure. Mine (idsi) was starting to judder when I sold it. Friend kept his longer (vtec) and replaced the flywheel and gearbox. Recon gearbox including installation cost him around 2-3k.


Mine was actually a very reliable car. If I had spent a bit of money on it and fixed up the gearbox and flywheel, it had many more years of life left in it.

Just change the gearbox oil every 20k-30k km.

if fc isnt an issue in the 1st place, why not consider a diferent car? any particular reason you wanted this thing?

oh yea... all of them had that risk.... topped up with the car's age.... well......... (all old 2nd hand cars come with risks afterall)

This post has been edited by lsm1991: Jan 20 2017, 05:26 PM

Big NO NO for replacing EO every 12-15k. Fully synthetic is meant to be replaced every 10,000km

Sorry for misunderstanding, I meant to say was I changed CVT Oil on every other EO Change.

Eg : 1st time change EO+CVT >>>>> 2nd time EO only >>>> 3rd time EO + CVT.

I change EO about 7-8K (Semi Syn) so I change CVT oil on every other time I change Engine Oil which is abut 12-15K.

I am driving the 2007 VTEC version.. So far no major problems.. Gearbox all good condition.. I made sure to service at Honda SC..

Around 160k+ mileage and no problems at all.. FC is still superb.. Better than my Axia

Avoid at all cost. Gearbox problem waiting to happen only. The clutch will wear and lead to jerking. Can change around 2k++. I would buy a Vios FL than the damned first gen cvt.

Avoid it ... That is the root of why people hate CVT in the first place. Even the old generation vios are even more resale value thanks to old 5 speed auto

Since when vios has 5 speed auto

i think he meant new vios will come with 5 speed..

im a happy owner of 2005 city Vtec (aka 3rd Gen). altho im not driving anymore but stillkeeping it as a family car. my wife loves the city more than her own car, shes using it as her daily ride.

now clocking 150k km. a ver y reliable and suprisingly good in low fc:
1. over the 12years, changed the aircon compressor clutch once, changed gb clutch plate once due to idling jerk around 100k km (RM800 inclu. labour & CVTF), changed wheel bearing once or twice (rm200-300+ depending fr or rr bearing). these prices are jln ipoh sparepart prices, honda SC will charge double the prices above.

2. regular service: CI-4 HDEO change in 10k (oil rm50, filter RM25 + labour RM15). CVTF every 20k (RM90+).

3. mileage: ranging 11km/L to 16km/L depending highway/city drive.

very satisfy on the car despite lots of bad comments (mostly hear-say).