General Comments:
Wow! This car is a serious hot hatch. Forget your GTi's and RS turbos, this car is much quicker. 0-60 (mph) comes up in 7.0 sec and will do 135+ (mph).
The car will rev to a 8000rpm red line (or 8500rpm before the limiter cuts in). It sounds superb, especially when the the Vtec system takes over at 5700 rpm.
The handling is also pretty good with double wishbones all round and the strut brace up-front, keeps the car flat through the bends.
The engine is superb. Some people complain that the car lacks torque, but if you know how to drive the car and use the gearing correctly, dropping a gear and nailing the throttle beats having torque any day.
Drive the car below 4000 rpm and it will return 35mpg and 40+ on the motorway.
The car is also very reliable. My car was off the road (working away) for 3 months and when I returned it was covered in 2 ft of snow, but it started first time and was running perfectly.
Going to the dealer for parts and servicing is a little costly, but a full Honda service history will give you a good selling on price.
The only down side is the insurance for the car. It falls into Group 15 and being only 21, it does cost a bit, but it's most definitely worth it.
5th Jun 2003, 17:18
A sports car? Um, hello...it's a Civic... made for mileage... leave it be.