the perfect college kid's car
Pros:
-gas mileage
-reliability
-cornering
Cons:
-bland look
-noisy engine
-bumpy ride
The Bottom Line:
Buy it. I especially like having a manual. But get the ABS, and, if you're me, the sunroof.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I bought my EX (manual transmission) Civic in 2004 with 27,000 miles on it. It now has 57,000 on it and is still going strong.
Gas Mileage:
Amazing. I coaxed 44 mpg out of it on one long winter road trip when I didn't have to use the a/c. Typically, I get around 33 mpg in town (I'm a pretty conservative driver).
Reliability:
I had one little issue with the blinkers (5000 miles out of warranty grrr), but the Honda people fixed it quickly for only $150. Some wires behind the dash had worn down. They said it was a very strange problem and they hadn't seen it before.
My air conditioning system occasionally "whistles." My dad suspects it has a vacuum leak somewhere, but it's a problem that's too intermittent to get looked at now. I'm sure it wouldn't whistle if I took it in to get looked at.
I don't have the "rattle" problems other people have reported.
Beyond those two little hiccups, it's done great.
Ride:
Nice, but loud, as other reviewers have said. It's never bothered me, but when I get in a nicer car I can definitely tell a difference.
Acceleration is rather lacking above 65 mph. I can put my foot to the floor and my passengers don't know the difference.
Things I would change:
- ABS!!! I want ABS! This is an option, but unfortunately I didn't get it. I wish it were standard, as I have been in two near-wrecks that I think would have been much farther from wrecks if I had had ABS.
I plan to drive this car into the ground - hopefully for 10+ years.
I'll come back and edit this review as I think of more things.
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