The most convenient car I've ever had
The door locks in left doors fail to work after a while.
The car is light and responsive for a woman driver like me.
The maintenance is easy and not that expensive.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 5th June, 2002
Just a fabulous car for the money
Nothing at all.
Superb build quality and finish along with impeccable handling and reliability make the Civic near enough to a perfect car.
Engine is a dream.
Gearbox is smooth and direct.
Economy is outstanding.
Air conditioning is essential especially in Australia as the ventilation could be better.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 31st March, 2002
Best, most cost efficient car I've ever owned
No major problems. Interior is wearing a bit and currently the radio does not work.
This car has caused me no mechanical worries. I've done regular maintenance and have only had to replace tires, brakes and exhaust pipes in ten years.
The manual transmission is a joy - the car is surprisingly powerful on the highway and when passing. Ride is very comfortable for a small car.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 19th May, 2001
The 1991 Civic DX has been an OK car. For a 1.5L engine it does have a surprising amount of low end torque, but not enough power to do much more than maintain speed on the highway or climb hills. For a basic commuter car, it's near perfect. I've had the car for 5 years and the AC had already failed when I bought it, but I didn't care. Bought the car with 79,000 miles and it now has 143,000 with no "major" mechanical failures. Had the timing belt fail while I was driving, and the associated valve strike that was not nice, but belts fail over time and I think it was the original belt. The lite machine screw holding the distributor rotor worked loose and allowed the rotor to spin off 3 times while I was driving, essentially shutting down the engine. $25 for a new distributor rotor (& set screw) and new distributor cap fixed that problem. Had the radiator crack right near the hot return hose at about 120,000 miles, but swapping out radiators wasn't hard at all. Other than that it's just been the regular tires, exhaust and struts for stuff beyond the normal oil and spark plug stuff. The 5spd manual is great to have on it. I seriously think an automatic transmission would have over-stressed and killed my engine by now.
It's a small car, but bigger people can fit in it. I'm 6'3" and while it's a bit cramped I can still easily drive the car.
Good car for your grand parents
Like all Honda civics, beat them up, the engine will start to burn oil and fail...
If you plan to upgrade the performance of your car, get something else. If you drive too hard, you can be sure to spend a lot of money on piston rings, and head gaskets.
The handling is amazing.
Don't get me wrong, the mechanical components are good, except for the engine, which will be your worst nightmare. This is not typical to the 1991 model. They still have the same problem on recent models.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 8th May, 2001
I bought a '91 Civic from my relative in 1998 with 72K miles on it, which was maintained by Honda dealers since new. Now it has 129K miles on the odometer. The Honda Civic is so overrated in terms of reliability and longevity. It has stranded me on the roadside twice with engine failure, and cost me $7,500 in towing, maintenance and repairs.
The following is a list of repairs: 3 timing belts along with 3 water pumps, 3 distributors, entire AC system (including compressor, condenser, and AC clutch), 1 radiator, heat shield over the catalytic converter, front/rear brakes, 4 tires, and 1 section of exhaust pipe. The Honda dealer in my area charges hefty price in maintenance and repair. I wish I have saved money and bought a base Toyota Echo coupe (no power steering, no AC, 5 speed) whose engine comes with timing chain, not a belt. If you want a reliable car that is cheap to maintain, buy a Toyota.
22nd Nov 2001, 21:05
Indeed It is a very reliable car.
My brother owns one and has been practically manteinance free against my 1988 Volkswagen Cabriolet.
It seems that He never has problems with it.
Just radiator, tires, and distributor has been changed in a period of 5 years.