Faults:

I have owned the car for some time now, and in that time the problems have racked up. From memory -

The tires always needed to be replaced for the first three years of ownership (about 1 tire every 5 months).

While driving the car a year after ownership, a sensor of some sort was knocked off the transmission causing the car to buck. Had the car towed to the dealer and it was covered under warranty.

In five years the car has gone through three batteries, and no, I don't leave lights on excessively. I was left stranded twice until I could get a jump.

The passengers side door lock sometimes comes unhinged, and the door will not open until I unlock the doors several times.

The driver's side window is equipped with an auto up/down feature. When the button for auto-up is pressed (sometimes) the window will go up, then half-way down. I have to just hit the button without the auto feature to get the window to go back up.

The rear-view mirror appears to be "peeling". The mirror materials around the edges of the mirror itself are cracked and peeling.

The seats show dirt very easily, which is surprising since the interior color is grey.

Last year, the engine started making a very strange high pitched humming noise. When the dealer was contacted, I was notified that Honda had issued a recall for that specific problem. The dealer fixed the issue under the recall.

The driver's side visor broke due to the heat of the summer, subsequently making it near impossible to see what was right in front of me. The dealer was contacted, again, and again I was told it would be fixed under a recall, and it was.

Various chips, prongs, and sensors had to be replaced, which ended up costing a few thousand dollars over the course of ownership.

Regular maintenance: Oil changes, tire rotation, inspections, light-bulb replacements, and tune-ups have all been done on time and as needed.

A year after the car was purchased (making the car 3 years old), the CD-player latch that grabs the CD and places it into the player itself broke. My remedy: inserting the CD with tweezers so the CD hits just the right spot in the player in order to work - hey - I'm a broke college student!

The illumination lights for the radio display and buttons have gone dark. This also includes the light for the hazard button. When I took the car to the dealership and complained, they blamed me, stating I had the "illumination settings" on the lowest setting. There are NO illumination settings for those specific buttons or display. I was charged $800 for their "labor" as well as an overpriced inspection and sent on my way, without having the problem fixed. Those areas are still dark when the headlights are turned on, and the radio display fades from bright to dim to non-existent (black) - not necessarily in that order.

I'm sure there are other things that have gone wrong that I cannot remember, but my favorite thing (sarcasm) that has gone wrong is the lovely paint peel and fading that is occurring on the roof of my car. I have thoroughly investigated this issue, and Honda is aware that their paint for the Civics is defective. They issued a recall ONLY on a few colors and shades, of course, leaving mine out of the recall. So, my car looks like a 1996 instead of a 2006 as far as paint is concerned.

General Comments:

I truly fell in love with the car when I first bought it. It was shiny, with a cutting-edge look to it. I saw that it even had a premium sound system, and with that I was sold - I had to have it.

After the initial novelty wore off, I was still smitten with the car itself. That is, until the gremlins showed up and messed with the car.

This car has been my baby. I live in PA and have taken the car all through New Jersey, Delaware, EVERYWHERE in PA, New York state and City, Maryland, the mountains, shores, plains, cities, and any other geographical setting that comes to mind.

This car has seen me through many years of schooling, through diplomas and degrees, but as I near the end of my education I am coming to terms with that fact that I need to part ways with the car. I no longer want a car that I feel has a "Christine" complex, no, I need a car that isn't out to get me and my bank account - which is why I will be purchasing my dad's 2012 Honda Accord when his lease is up and cashing in on this car. Sad to say, but all good things must come to an end.

The paint issue is what fascinates me, since it only is affecting the roof. The rest of the cars paint glows like it just rolled off of the assembly line; it literally sparkles, glistens, and shimmers in the sunlight.

I was also a bit put off that the headlights have become "foggy". I know that most cars go through this, oxidation, but it is a reminder that the car, like myself, is not as young (new) as it once was.

As I conclude my experience, I realize that the car is almost like family. It has seen me through good times and bad, through many friendships, dates, trips, and commutes. If only the problems which impede the car from being perfect were non-existent, then I might consider keeping it. But the car isn't perfect, and I can't afford to sink another thousand dollars into this already sinking ship. If you have a Civic or are considering buying one, that's excellent, but do your research first. Investigate the car's history, mileage, cosmetic work, hell - even where it was located. I am so pleased I got to experience owning a Civic, but I cannot stress enough that mine at least was very temperamental. I understand not everyone or every Civic is going to have this experience, but it's better to avoid a project than to find yourself entangled in one.

I also want to say that I DID enjoy the gas mileage this car offers. I can travel 300 miles in mixed driving before I have to fill up, and that is hard to beat!

The car, despite its problems, really is my pride and joy. I pretend the problems don't exist and crank my radio up (taking advantage of the premium sound system), roll my windows down, open my moon-roof, cruise the highway, and enjoy driving and life itself. That is probably the highest remark I can say, that the car is perfect for just cruising. Hopefully the Accord I will be driving next (which is an LX offering minimal creature comforts) will be as rewarding to cruise in as this car was and still is. I hope that when I sever ownership of the car, someone else will appreciate it as much as I did, and will fix the problems so it can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Faults:

Nothing, but I only had it a few months.

General Comments:

I read a few positive and negative reviews of the 2006 Civic, and wanted to give my opinion on the car, which I have owned for a couple of months now. I have the 2006 Civic DX-G coupe, which has left me with nothing but positive experiences.

First of all, it looks sporty and modern, and gets lots of compliments from girls as well as guys from all age groups. Performance, coming from a 100hp Saturn to this 140hp, is a big step up, and is more than adequate for my needs of merging on the highway, and passing trucks and turtles on the road, without getting lots of speeding tickets.

Comfort, comparing to a rough riding Fiero and a basic Saturn SL1, this car handles pot holes very smoothly. Handling is above average; I have dodged many squirrels with ease, and can travel on highways turning at 100km/h without feeling like the car will slide or flip. Sound system is better than I expected; the factory built sub-woofer will shake the side-view mirrors when turned up, and the sound is clear and realistic.

Fuel economy is above average. I get roughly 550 km per tank of regular gas with a mixture of highway and city driving, and it costs me $50 (Canadian) to fill.

Braking is a little weak; I feel the car can go faster than it can stop, but the car was purchased used, and it could just need to be replaced. The digital dashboard is a nice touch that I thought I would hate, but now I'm not sure I could live without it.

Overall I love this car. My friends love getting rides, and I get a smile on my face when I climb into it daily.