If 5MT get the Civic. But dont forget the LXse Accord sedan if you want a 5MT. If you can find one. They are the very best deal on a Honda period. I checked with my dealer before I traded my 06 Civic EX Sedan for a Mazda3. If there would have been a Accord LXse in the state I would have purchased one.
Also the 08 Civic is coming in a EXL trim. Now that Accord is going to boat status complete I hope with star charts for navigation. Civic got a semi lux bump in trim.
I miss the mpg of my Civic and its basic manors. But not the problems.
The car to have is a LXse MT if you can find one. If you have to have a AT then go on with the EX.
I paid 19,128 OTD for my EX Civic 5MT with navi when they first came out. Most paid MSRP or more. Which made no sense seeing that puts you in Accord land.