Faults:

The air conditioning bearing went - but this was through lack of use.

General Comments:

This car is fast, and with a few modifications, they go like stink!

This Honda is the only car in the UK with dual runners on the Inlet manifold. Meaning that at 4500rpm you get a bit of Vtec and it opens up all the way at 5800rpm and will hit off the limiter at 8500rpm!!

It's a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.

Faults:

The engine knocks loudly. Honda calls this "piston slap" and they say it is normal. It at first sounds like a monkey under the hood with two pipe wrenches. Then, a hollow knock begins, sounding like a two-by-four banged against a wall. Finally, it quiets down after about ten minutes. Sometimes it takes longer to quiet.

The engine computer (electronic control unit) had to be replaced.

General Comments:

Honda is very overrated, and don't believe the hype. A relative owned this car before me for 25K miles, and I was the one who maintained it. The car has been perfectly maintained. I have gone above and beyond regular maintenance, yet at 50K miles or so, the engine developed a knock. Honda calls this "normal." They even have service announcements about it, and a representative read the memo to me over the phone. A local dealer mechanic tells me the engine is shot. Honda knows about this problem and is doing nothing. Check out reviews from Canada. They rate Honda far below what Americans say.

Faults:

Nothing. The previous owner put on a sport exhaust, which made a throaty noise - very impressive, but I didn't want to live with it. So I fitted a standard silencer, and it is now much quieter. I have changed transmission fluid when I got the car, and the gear shift is now soooo smooth.

General Comments:

Honda Civic Coupe 1.6 SRi is very good looking, which is one of the reason I bought it. In terms of handling, it is not quite as good as my Prelude, but is not too far behind either. The 0-60 is actually a little faster than the prelude, and there is a lot more space inside for passengers. So, the civic coupe is much more practical than the prelude. And of course, the civic coupe can easily do 35mpg whereas the prelude used to do 30mpg. Sometimes, I do miss my prelude, which is the best handling 4/5 seater I have driven - and I have driven no less than 30 different cars.

Faults:

Exhaust back box and center pipe have rusted through. Replaced with stainless steel ones so that shouldn't be a problem anymore.

Electric mirrors don't work intermittently. I think it's just a loose connection somewhere as if you pop the controls out the dash it works fine.

Had some issues with the alarm and central locking, but this seems to of cleared itself up.

General Comments:

By far the best quality and most reliable car I have owned.

The Civic always had a reputation as a a bit of an OAP's car, but the VTI is definitly the fastest and best handling car I've had. It's a bit of a sleeper (especially debadged) and will more than holds it's own against bigger/ sportier cars. Saying this though it is not the most fun on the motorway due to the relatively short gear ratios. You'll be sitting at around 5,500RPM at 100mph, just below the VTEC point.

Admittedly its not the most exciting car to look at both inside and out, but its by no means an ugly car and I find it comfortable enough. Though at times I do wish I had a cup holder!