When I looked it wasnt much more to get alloys over steels new, I understand that some are not bother if it makes the car look worse, but I wouldnt say I am wanting it to be a fashion parade just that IMO steels would make the car look really crap, some it would work on ok but just my one would look crap.

I have 17s on my car (SR) however in tyre searches 16s and 17s come up, I thin teh SE runs 16s, therefore I could get 16s alloys and the tyres for the 16s and much cheaper and more selection

mytyre is where I looked, but tbh the steel wheel IMO will make the car look awful.

Just on another note, with Honda no longer producing the Tourer do you think its a better idea to trade it in now or in a couple year when I originally indented or will it make no difference in a trade in price?

Thanks for the comments and advice.

More than happy to go for either winter tyres or maybe opt for the all seasons to save the hassle of buying another set of alloys/steels or paying to have these swapped over onto the existing alloys twice a year.

I had another look over the VW Passat Alltrack and it is defiantly more suited to my needs, boot mainly being the key here. If you get the right colour it helps with the plastic trims. Wife is more SUV but think that is a standard thing!

I get the benefits of a winter tyre, its been proved and tested, however I can honestly say in over 20 years of driving I have never felt the need for a winter tyre, even during the harsh winter of 2010/2012 I think it was? It was only during last winter with the tourer I thought I need to either look at a new car or changing the tyres.

I would therefore imagine that anything that has AWD would do the job on summers, but I’d prob just opt for all seasons, as all previous FWD cars have been fine barr the tourer.

I like the tourer but just wonder if maybe its best to swap now, especially since they have stopped production of the car now.

tall_martin

Thanks for your feedback and great to hear from another tourer driver.  Can I ask is your one the 1.8 petrol or 1.6 diesel.

I did look at the 4wd estate cars and the VW passat was an option, however those plastic covers that go around the wheel arches are awful looking on the car, the passat was the best but just looks poor, the audi I thought looked particular bad.

I understand the need, but IMO they look awful and cheap.

I know the SUV have these but just doesnt look nice on the estates

I’d have to step up to the likes of a s line but its way over budget.

This is the first time I have had to even consider winter tyres, like I said before never had any issue before with any FWD hatchback on summer tyres, I even drove from Edinburgh to south east in a harsh winter in 2012 I think it was with no issues in a golf, but then again a golf is a true machine!

This was the first ever time a car has failed me in the winter.

The hill up to my street can be a true challenge with snow on the ground, but ever car I’ve owned has got up there apart from the tourer, complete fail.

I usually buy a mid range tyre but all tyre and sizes will have been different.

On the same driveway yes the auris.

In the same street on the same hill, all previous cars fine, massive fail on the tourer.

The car is seriously bad in the snow, I used to aygo to commute as it sailed through the snow

The car sits on a normal civic chassis not sure if this is the same for only estates with a hatchback equilivent

I am tempted by the all season tyres as this does save the hassle of swapping. However I have recently put 3 new summers on the car about 3 months ago, one was replaced not that long before with a puncture. So they would be wasted.

A new set of alloys doesn’t sit well with me for a couple years. However the cost to swap back and forth would be about £320, so couple hundred more and you can get alloys and then sell them.

I’ve had civic hatchbacks before and had no issue, also had golf, auris all hatchbacks and no issues, run an aygo as a 2nd run about and no issues..BUT the tourer truly truly awful

Hey thanks for replying

Did you ever use it on summer tyre’s?

My one last year was on the Miichlins that came with the car, and was terrible, couldnt even get it up my driveway on a slight slope? Was basically un drive able in the snow.

Was looking to hear from people on winters/all seasons to see how it was.

Ive no doubt that an SUV in summer tyres would be better than a FWD in winter tyres, the winter tyres will be best.

My issue is that I’ve not had any issues before in any of the cars I have previously owned on summers, until now with the tourer. My view was that my next car would be a SUV therefore changing to a CRV now would be better in summer tyres than my current car in summers.

I am happy to give winter tyres a go prob going to be approx £400 to test this, plus swapping back in summer £80 and if its still rubbish then I guess I look to swap next winter to an SUV

I am concerned by cost, the only reason was that my next car will be an SUV, so it was to find out if winter tyres will do the job for now which it appears they will.

I menationed SUV as I thought it might be better to get do the change of cars now rather in 2 years if the winter tyres would not help.

So you just change the tyres over every summer and winter to the existing alloys? I think this would suit me better for a couple years I intend to keep the tourer.

I’ve watched a few vids of civics in the snow, in the states and Canada and all were doing fairly well especially with the winter tyres.

no tourers tho, I had a civic years ago R reg and that was fine in the snow with summers.

i do think it’s a tourer issue rather than the normal civic. There are fairy new last 2/3 years so tracking down owners is a little difficult.

my only defense with the SUV is that my friend had is Mazda running out and about on winters during the winter (beast from the east) with no issues and he stays further out where the snow is worse than I get.

More than happy to give the winter tyres a bash. If I kept the tourer for another 2 years  so 2 more winters would you recommend getting another set of alloys or steels or just get someone to swap the tyres over onto existing alloys and back again in summer?  I am guessing £20 a change so 2 winters would be £320

Just read an article saying that the tourer civic will no longer be in production any longer, wonder if it is better to jump ship with this now

Tyre size is 225/45/17 and the tyres were the ones that came with the car michelin’s not sure on the exact details. I have recently put on a mid priced pirelli as they were offered a good deal at the time.

Not really looking to down size the car, i.e get a car with thinner smaller wheel, plus we have an aygo as a 2nd run around which was truly great in the snow.

If winter tyres is the answer Im happy with that, but I am just not sure as my experience with the tourer was awful.

Great to hear tyres helped your RWD BMW as that’s a massive step, seen a fair few RWD having major issues last winter

Storing the wheels/tyres is not an issue, plenty room in my garage for these.

This is my first diesel car, the rest have all been FWD petrols, but never had an issue before even in the bad winter of 2010. The fact that it is diesel could be an issue as mentioned in an earlier post, however I tried lots of things in the tourer to get it going and failed, it wont even get up my driveway and its on a slight upright position but nothing major.

I am more than happy to keep the tourer as its nice and meets our families needs, but will need to research more into winter tyres on the tourers performance. Either than or I’m driving the little aygo in the snow again, my wife wont be happy she is car less!!

Will have a google on tyres and cheaper alloys/steels but first I need to find some other tourer drivers.

Im in the Uk, but in Edinburgh and stay on the outskirts and on higher ground where we do get snow fall and getting out of the street can proved a challenge at times.

I’ve also recently put 3 new summers on this so would be wasting these, but guess I need to weigh up the cost of wheels and winter tyres compare to all seasons and the loss of my current tyres

Need to look into the steel option more and the used alloys. I also don’t want to make the car look rubbish for 4/5 months.

The next car will be some forum of SUV but was hoping to keep the civic for another 2 year, as it’s only 2.5 years old now.

or maybe I just do the jump now as trade in is actually pretty decent will have lost £5.5k in 2 years, it was an ex demo car so bought it 6 months old pre registered

I’m pretty confident the Mazda will do the job on summer tyres as my friend had no issues.

ah the decisions

Yeah a set of winter tyres is definitely the cheapest option and also spare wheels makes it easier.

i guess my worry is that the initial outlay would be around £1k for wheels and winter tyres and then to find out the civic tourer is still bad, tbh I’ve not had such a bad car to drive in the snow.

Don’t really do any off roading and we bought the tourer for it’s practically, and massive boot size. I don’t need a new car and actually like this one.

It is seriously bad in the snow tho, undrivable id say. I have a little Toyota aygo which for obvious reasons had no issues and powered us through last winter as the tourer sat in shame.

Ive had no issue before with a Toyota Auris and VW golf both FWD but the tourer I was absolutely shocked at, not sure if it’s the size of it and sits on a normal civic chassis or just generally rubbish in snow.

All comments and advice welcome and of course if you have a tourer and have same issue or use winter tyres would be great to hear from you. Even if it’s another tourer and not a civic

cheers

Anyone able to provide any sugesstions, or is 6 still just a bit young for BMX

size guide

3’7″ – 4’0″ 110cm – 122cm 5 – 7 years 16″
4’0″ – 4’10” 122cm – 147cm 7 – 11 years 18″
4’10” – 6’4″ 147cm – 193cm 11+ years 20″

I do still like the Whyte 605, but Marin price is great

what about the whole 27.5 or 29er, much difference at my level?

Both the Marin Bobcat Trail 5 and Whyte 605 and priced same as new, was just that this is the 2017 marin for  cheaper price of £429.

I presume for my intended use it would matter if its a 27.5 or 29er?

I just dont think the ride to work scheme works for me, I dont plan to stay with this company for the next few years, so although I can see that you pay less for the bike, if you want to own the bike after 1 year then thats when you have to pay a fee for the bike 25% of the market value of a bike over £500 when makes it not worth the hassle for me when you can get a discount at the start buying new.

I can see how it works if you plan to see it out over the 4 years or upgrade after the 12 months, but for me it doesnt work.

I am swaying more towards the 2017 Marin based on the price, I am 5’11/6ft so the 20″ inch they have in stock would do the job.

What about this for the price?

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b58s182p9301/MARIN-BOBCAT-TRAIL-5-27-5-2017/&eid=6edb914fe5f38951801eec36fe8e96af

I had a look in store at the bizango or Bokor and to be honest I thought the actual design and style look poor, I know that shouldn’t have an impact over the specs, but they do look poor IMO

So The boardman looked the best in the store, didnt like the Voodoo, The Specialized, Marin, Whtye and Cannondale are all not worth the money form what I’ve gathered through the posting, so what else is out there?

not getting very favorable opinions  on the bikes I listed so how about the below

Boardman team

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/boardman-mountain-bike-team-29er-16-18-19-frames

Whyte 605
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/whyte-605-2018.html

Cannondale Trail 3 29er 2018 or 2017
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-Tra … gIaS_D_BwE

Anyone able to give any advice on the 3 bikes I’m looking at

not much around the pricing £429-£510 so juts needing some help on the Best Buy our the 3?

Thanks for the Paul Cyles recommendation, I found the bike I was looking at last year Marin Bobcat Trail 4 2017 £429 in a 20 inch frame.

Any views on this one?

https://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bike-archive/bikes/2017-bobcat-trail-4

Unable to get the 2017 range anymore from the place I was looking but they will give me 15% off the 2018 Specialized range.

Choice will pretty much be down to the rockhopper comp 2018 (£510) or the Marin botcat 3 (£450)

any other views on these 2 bikes?

@lister Yeah I get how it works but say I buy the marin at £450, it costs me £305 over 12 months, I then have to make a payment to but the bike, so what is that payment?

The savings of 32% are no longer there, say they ask for £100, I’ve only saved £94 so (16%) can prob get a 10-15% discount over easter so whats the point the the cycle scheme

Ok so cycle to work scheme is out, seems an absolute con to me

So back to the original choice

Marin Bobcat trail 3 29er 2018  £450/500

Specialized Rockhopper  comp 2018 £599 or the 2017 version at £530 (prob get this down too £480/500)

or locally a brand new unused boxed rockhopper comp 2018 for about £450 (private seller)

@ scaled no would need L (6ft)

Infact scrap that I thought after 12 months the bike would be mines looks like that is not the case, hand it back, extend the rental or buy the bike

Cycle to work scheme doesn’t sell the Whyte

Marin price is £450 then the discounts monthly on that price

Rockhopper comp 2018 also available at £599

Whats the opinions on the Marin Bobcat trail 3 29er?

What about the Cannondale range?

Or I could go £1000 on this Zest 26″ 2018 Mountain Bike and would cost me £600 with the scheme

Cycle to work could be an option then, had a quick read on it and 32% discount, and they dont keep records of your travel

Whyte is my preference and under the scheme would be better, will take another look at the other recommendations,

Found a brand new boxed specialized comp 2018 in Large locally, unwanted gift. £500 but open to offers could be an option

@ Malvern Rider

The colour shouldn’t matter but on this occasion that is truly awful colour

I think taking the Whyte out of the list as its just that little bit pricier than I wanted to spend, and not heard any comments so far that this is wroth the extra cash for my requirements.

So between the 2 below, which is going to be the better value, and best all rounder?

Marin Bobcat trail 3 29er 2018  £500

Specialized Rockhopper  comp 2018 £599 or the 2017 version at £530 (prob get this down too £480/500)

I do but not sure on the details and don’t plan on cycling to work, so I guess that is a major factor 🙂

I am a bit reluctant to go 2nd hand, based on time, effort ,missing any potential issues etc,  If I could find something on gumtree locally to have a look at it fair enough.

Regarding Halfords, I wouldn’t buy anything form Halfords, purely based on the service they provide being terrible, I would rather give my money to an independent bike shop or one of the chains like Edinburgh coop.

I had thought about go outdooes or decathlon but usually used Ediburgh Bikes or online stores that provided a good service to me,

Thinking the rockhopper sport 2017 at £460 and if I can get a bit more off might just do the job for what I need it for, I do like the Marin tho. The whyte would be the one I’d buy but I am think that for the extra £250 do I really need to spend that.

So are none of the bikes worth the cash. I’d look to Try and get a better deal like 10/20% off.

there is an option for the 2017 rockhopper sport at 460 and comp £530 plus I think I’d be able to get few quod more off.

personal opinion but would rather stay clear of Halfords.

used is an option but I looked on gumtree and unless the bike is viewable then I wouldn’t buy, there was nothing decent in my area.