a little ninja soldier :) a little ninja soldier :) PERFORMANCE: The 1.6L D16 4-cylinder V-Tec engine producing 125hp and 106 ft-lb smoothly propels the 2200lb car adequately at lower rpm. At higher rpm the V-Tec engages a sportier intake cam profile, and the acceleration becomes lively –the engine spins very well right up to redline. Throttle response is a tiny bit slow. Demanding traffic conditions will necessitate frequent downshifting, but that is a welcome task with the pleasant manual transmission, although the clutch travel feels a little long. Braking is secure and weighted well, though attention needs to be paid to overheat because the discs are only in the front (drums in the rear). The car handles very well and is fun to drive. With a taut suspension setting, body lean is relatively contained through corners with good grip and the ride is moderate, though road imperfections feel harsher as the car ages. Steering is weighted well, with decent feedback. Emergency handling can be a bit tricky at limits or in slippery conditions because it’s a nose-heavy front-wheel-drive car, but is predictable enough to be controlled. Body rigidity could be better. There is abundant aftermarket support for this car. It sits right on the line between the compact economy and sporty segments, but will not to be mistaken for a performance car unless a few key items are modified: the engine (a B-series swap is popular), body rigidity, and transmission are highest priorities. COST/SAFETY /AESTHETICS/UTILITY: Overall the car is very reliable, but excessive aggressive driving will demand a price. At 196,000 miles major repairs were: timing belt, alternator, water pump, radiator, and a suspension arm boot. There was a small unidentified oil leak onto the center exhaust pipe at the time I lost this car. Routine oil changes and occasional tune-ups were also performed. Maintenance costs should be relatively low due to an abundance of parts for these cars. Body integrity is very good. The body panels and chassis soaked up very well all the dings and hits from learning to drive :]. Fuel economy ranged between 31 and 44 mpg, depending on how it was driven. Normal driving in a rural area returned a very good 36 mpg consistently. Maneuverability is excellent, with a very tight turning radius. I lost this car to a lady who rear-ended me in a SUV at a highway entry ramp. My car was knocked quite a distance, but rear-seat occupants would have been fine (maybe some whiplash) from this 4000lb impact to the rear at about 40mph. Only front and passenger airbags are available as far as I know. Because of this and the relatively low and narrow profile of the car, crash safety ratings are fair/average. Many people like the simple look of the car, and I think both the interior and exterior designs were ahead of other vehicles of its time. The window waistline could be a bit higher by today’s design trends. The instruments and controls are laid out thoughtfully. The coupe has less versatility than the sedan, but more than the hatchback. The compact and narrow dimensions of the coupe result in limited interior room and a rather cozy ride with your occupants. Taller (> ~5’7”) or heftier (>~170lb) people will only fit in the front seats while compromising rear seat room. Front seats are shaped rather uncomfortably, with the upper back contoured back too much. the cabin is a bit noisy, with pronounced wind and tire noise. Overall this is a pleasant car that is fun to drive, with very good gas mileage with looks about as much as it performs (both moderate). If you’re a medium to smaller person who wants a reliable fun, economical everyday car on a budget and don’t mind limited utility, this car is right for you.

lovely car lots of potential, VTEC is bulletproof

1.6 liter straight 6 cyl Fun to drive Reliable (because its a honda) easy to maintain Good performance good commuter car not a good family car this car is fun to drive good for track days on the weekends never needs repairs

It has been a great car. I just hit 200k miles and it is still running great. Average gas mileage is about 28mpg. Inexpensive to own and maintain. It is by no means a sports car but with the manual transmission it is still somewhat fun to drive.

The Civic, as with all Honda's is renowned for it's reliability. Combine this with the (fairly) cheap cost of parts, cheap insurance and the large availability of aftermarket modifications, and what you have here is a great car for those starting to drive, learn about or modify cars.