Faults:

Mostly normal wear & tear:

- Threw out original radio and speakers. Installed basic 4x5" speakers and CD/MP3 player; $350.

- Tires (original owner never changed them); $300 for set of 4.

- Brakes (I'm a heavy braker); $500 (front brakes, calipers, etc...) - did it 3 times in 4 years.

- Timing belt (was done originally purchased, just did it again now); $350.

- Alternator belt, water pump; $600.

- Rear fender tends to drop (I notice that a lot with this version of Civic); a couple of bolts props it back up; Cost of cheap bolts from Home Hardware.

- Radiator hose had to be replaced a couple of times this year - not sure why, but fairly cheap $100 (mostly labour).

- Air filter ~ $15 to $20 (easily done, even if you're not a mechanic).

- Headlights $10 each (basic); $40/pair (bright ones); $60/pair (super brights) - a bit hard to do it yourself, but it's doable if you don't mind getting your hands dirty.

- Rear, signal lights; $2 (all the same - bonus!).

- Radiator fluid change (should do this every 2 or so years); $100.

- Transmission fluid change; $80 (again, every 2 years).

- Catalytic converter + muffler; $280 USD (did it while on a road trip to Everest, WA).

General Comments:

All in all, my biggest combined expenses were brakes. It's a nice ride that can get you from Point A to B, even at a distance.

Mileage is not too bad for an older vehicle. I pay about $33 per week for approximately 425 Km (gas at 112.9). In summer conditions, with air con almost daily, it becomes 350 Km at best; but on road trips, mostly highway driven, it can go as high as 500 Km with air conditioning.

Like any car, there will be expenses for normal wear and tear. However, this Civic has lasted a long time, but I know it will eventually wear out (mechanic said when they die, they die). So far so good; hopefully I can squeeze out 1 or 2 more years out of it. As it starts to wear out, it does burn quite a bit of oil.

If you're a mechanic, it's great, since it's not all computerized, and parts are fairly cheap to obtain, and easily available.

It's fun to drive and cheap to operate. It's not flashy or anything, but it works. The 1993 to 1995 are the last of the Honda Civics that are made in Japan. Solid vehicle.

Faults:

I've only had it a few weeks, but so far:

The biggest problem the car has developed is a totally random misfire problem. I could be just driving along and out of the blue, it'll misfire. The Check Engine light doesn't come on, so the computer doesn't detect a misfire. At first, I thought it was water in the fuel so I put some Iso-Heet in the tank and all was well for a few more weeks, then the misfire came up again. I am 98 percent sure it's ignition related. After doing some searching, it appears that it's not uncommon for the ignition coil to burn up after 200000 miles (320000 kilometers) or so. I ordered a new ignition coil from eBay. Hopefully that, and a new distributor cap and rotor will cure the problem.

I'm starting to hear some unsettling noises coming from the transmission. It sounds like an intermittent rattling, concurrent with engine speed. Having the clutch pedal in or out doesn't change the noise. I've read that the input shaft bearing has been known to make noise in these cars. Unfortunately, a lot of work is required to change one. I wonder if changing the clutch would quiet the noise any.

This car will not warm up in cold weather, unless I put some cardboard in front of the radiator. It warms up nicely once the cardboard is in place. Is this normal behavior? My brother had a 93 CX (Canadian) hatchback that did the exact same thing in cold weather.

Left side CV joints are clicking on turns, but only when pressure is applied to them (accelerating).

Front end is a bit out of alignment. The car pulls to the right if I hit a patch of water or snow on the road. It's a bit unnerving.

Clutch seems a little weak. It grabs about halfway up off the floor.

Brakes are a little spongy. A few pumps of the pedal and it firms up.

Heater control knob fell off. I have to use a screwdriver to change the heat setting.

General Comments:

The car gets great fuel mileage. I've averaged a bit over 38 miles per gallon over the past 5 tankfuls. It currently costs about 30-35 bucks to fill the tank, based on a 97.9 cents per liter price. Fuel mileage was the whole reason I bought this car.

The handling is good but the ride is a little choppy. Them's the breaks, so to speak, for buying a low-weight car with small 13 inch tires.

The car is pretty peppy on the highway, but at lower rural type speeds, a lot of shifting is required on hills when trying to maintain speed.

Being a relatively low slung car, I find it difficult at times to get out of it. Being that I'm 6'2, and have a stiff lower back, I have to brace my arms against the door frame and pry myself up and out. If the car were even 2 inches higher off the ground, it would make exiting so much easier for me.

Trunk size is quite large for such a small car, and it's got a wide, low opening so putting in heavy objects is easy. I wish a trunk light would have come with the car though.

I notice the windows fog up quite easily. Another Honda trait perhaps? My brother's old 93 CX hatchback also fogged the windows easily, and a 92 Accord I had at one time did it as well.