Faults:
Front and rear bumpers are quite weak; have had minor incidents from the previous owner such as constant wear leading to a hole in the front bumper, and reversing into walls has lead to damage on the rear bumper and sensors, which can be costly when going into servicing and reduces the selling price.
Steering is also quite unresponsive, have used a silicon wheel to increase grip wheel steering; NB wheels should be pumped up to 33 PSI max; guaranteed better grip and better use of fuel.
Wheels are damaged due to scraping along gutters, however they are cheap to replace, unlike alloy wheels which need to be detailed and are very expensive.
The car's performance is purely based on Honda's i-VTEC, a super-computer that acts as an injector as well as a turbo. However if you want to put your foot down in an overtake or need to take a quick corner, it takes a few seconds to register and can be dangerous when the engine lag begins in the opposite lane.
In all, though, this car is not based on performance, rather more on fuel economy and comfort.
General Comments:
The fuel economy of the Civic is brilliant, using a maximum 8.5 litres on average per 100 kilometres, but if you want to floor it you're looking more at 10 litres per hundred.
Suspension is perfect, and gives great comfort for anyone with a physical injury or elderly wear and tear, as the front wheels have been lifted slightly higher than the rear to ensure absorbance of every bump and pothole that the shocking Australian roads can throw at you.
Practicality is another strong point, being able to seat 4 and a half people with plenty of leg room. Boot space can fit up to 3 substantially-sized suitcases, and passenger and driver space is much more lenient.
Visibility is great, mirrors can be adjusted while driving with no extra buttons, and the windows are fully electric, and the driver's side is automatic.
The car's slim but lengthy body allows for easy parallel parking, but main street and reverse parking can be more difficult.
To be honest, for a company that used to make bikes and boat motors, the Japanese have done quite a job with this nimble family saloon. This car would be priced between $6,000 all the way up to $15,000 for second hand, and the later models (highly recommended) at $22,000-$28,000.
26th Mar 2018, 11:44
I have the same model car. I also drove the previous generation car. I think the biggest practical advance is having 6 gears. For this generation car I could cruise in 6th gear with the revs at 3K RPM, getting close to 50 MPG. The previous generation car - I had the 1600 VTEC - I would be in 5th at 3.5K RPM getting approx 43 MPG.