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Across the Fence:  Who's got a Honda Civic?  |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 04 2008 : 11:02:26 AM
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What do you think of it? Are they really as reliable as I've always heard? I may need to replace my 1995 Geo Metro *immediately* so I'm looking right now. I can spend about $3K at most, so I'd probably be able to get an early to mid-90's model. The things I really liked about the Geo, which I would like to replicate, are:
the gas mileage (30-35 highway with automatic tranny)
the ease of loading and storage capacity (I had a hatchback model)
great in snow, suprisingly enough, never slipped or skidded with regular tires
Things I wasn't so keen on:
very noisy on the expressway
questionable safety in such a tiny car
tends to hydroplane in rainy conditions
How does the Honda Civic measure up, in your experience? If you have any better car reccomendations, I'm all ears. Thanks! |
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nashbabe
True Blue Farmgirl
687 Posts
687 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2008 : 11:38:14 AM
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The answer is, YES.
I have a 1993 Civic. I drive 100 plus miles a day during the week. Stop and start driving I get around 28 MPG and on long trips be prepared to have fun with 35 to 40.
It has 207,000 miles on it and I hope to get another 50,000 from it. I got 250,000 from my last Honda (a 1990 Accord) and then sold it to a friend who loves it: at that advanced age she drives it a reduced amount and keeps it in the garage. But you know, it it probably still fine for a long trip.
My Civic isn't the quietest vehicle on the highway.
The trunk is pretty good for a small car, and "squarish" so I can get boxes of stuff for the antique mall or shows in it without incident.
With good tires, I haven't found hydroplaning an issue, although an oily street is hard for anything.
My 93 does have an airbag for the driver.
Four can ride in it with no problem. Five, you're pretty squished.
The 6'2" teenager I chauffeur complains that it is small. I tell him "this way I can afford to take you to school." *L*
On Hondas, if they tell you to get a new timing belt, you MUST. Usually every 90K or so. If it breaks, you are out of the car driving biz.
Plus really, really low emissions.
feel free to email me if I can help more
Crunchy crafty goodness and psychoses...;-)http://nashbabe.blogspot.com
groovy stuff 2 buy...http://www.alittlesplurge.etsy.com |
Edited by - nashbabe on Mar 04 2008 11:39:04 AM |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2008 : 11:48:01 AM
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Agreed! I have a 1996 Honda Civic with 233,000 on it. It carries 3 large dogs, rides very comfortably, and is easy to drive. Not any major problems, just minor wear and tear. Parts aren't too expensive, but labor seems to be so taking it to a foreign auto place is smart. I have the sedan, and both back seats fold down if you have something long that you stick in the trunk.
Love it! When it goes (knock on wood) will probably just get another :)
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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nut4fabric
True Blue Farmgirl
885 Posts
Kathy
Morgan Hill
CA
USA
885 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2008 : 4:52:37 PM
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We had a civic back in the 80s and loved it, bought one for our daughter for her first car in 1997 and she loved it and we traded that in for a Honda S2000 for her in 2000 and that is still going strong. We also had an Accord that we drove into the ground. You absolutely cannot go wrong with a Honda.
Kathy |
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italianchildhood
True Blue Farmgirl
172 Posts
172 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2008 : 06:22:03 AM
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I've had a Civic and two Accords (out of only 4 cars I've ever had, and I'm not very young...). Great gas mileage and definitely you can get lots of miles out of them--one I hit 200,000 with, and I'm looking to do the same with my current one.
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And my latest amusement: http://foundmuseum.blogspot.com |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2008 : 06:37:12 AM
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Thanks for your input! No negative experiences yet.
One thing that concerns me, though, is the rust issue. My Geo is dying, not because of anything wrong with the drive train but because the bumper seems to have turned entirely to rust and crumbled away. When I brought it up here from PA two winters ago, it had nothing but a few spots of cosmetic rust. That's not a very long run.
Does anyone know how Hondas hold up in areas where winters are long and snowy, and salt is used on the roads?
My husband is more inclined to get a Volvo wagon (like his current car), because as he says "There's a lot more car to start out with, so it takes the rust longer to eat through it."
He's concerned about safety and longevity. But oh that gas mileage! |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2008 : 06:42:58 AM
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My honda is great--when I said that it's best to take them to a foreign auto specialist, it's because the underside of the car is "enclosed" and nothing gets into them. The only "rust" I have is from where someone dinged our car and my husband told him it wasn't a big deal...so it's a little dent that the paint came off of and over the last 4 years it's rusted a bit.
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
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nut4fabric
True Blue Farmgirl
885 Posts
Kathy
Morgan Hill
CA
USA
885 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2008 : 07:15:25 AM
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My Daughter lives in Maryland and hasn't had any rust issues on her S2000. She has those ugly butt low profile tires on it too so it is low to the ground.
Kathy |
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junkjunkie
True Blue Farmgirl
1306 Posts
Judy
Lawrenceville
NJ
USA
1306 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2008 : 09:55:09 AM
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I've been a pretty loyal Honda car owner for a few years. My first car was a 1974 Honda hatchback Civic...talk about small....two people could walk off with that car. I loved it until I had a fender bender with it. I've had a 1987 Honda Civic that I had for 10 years at almost 100,000 miles and sold it to get a new 1997 Honda CR-V that I still drive. The '87 Civic I sold to a co-worker's son and I think he still has it. It was a great little car...just regular oil changes and maintenance. Never had a problem. My '97 CR-V is great! I've had that for over 10 years and it has 120,000+ miles. I always make sure to have the oil changed and do the necessary tune ups and maintenance. I take it to a foreign auto service for the more complicated services, but take it to a local station for the oil changes. Honda cars are great....highly recommend!
"To have life in focus, we must have death in our field of vision." Benedictine monk John Main |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2008 : 10:00:37 AM
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I think if you regularly drive it through a car wash to rinse off the salt it should help with the rust issue I think. Also if you ever have cosmetic rust, at least get a clear sealant on it- it really can help a lot. I have even heard of people using clear nail polish!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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Across the Fence: Who's got a Honda Civic? |
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Who's got a Honda Civic?
