1990 Honda Civic GL review from UK and Ireland

Radiator replaced due to leak about 3 months after purchase.

Rear suspension bush replaced and rear brakes stripped and cleaned for first MOT (Oct 2003).

Battery replaced at about 76000 miles (it was original).

Offside outer CV boot replaced at about 76500 miles.

Timing belt and crank woodruff key replaced at about 76500 miles.

Exhaust blowing due to corrosion at rear flange, where the back box joins the center section, despite the rest of the system being in good condition. Sealed with Gun Gum for MOT.

Rear trailing arm bush, brakes lines, front disks and pads replaced, and both sills completely replaced due to rust at current MOT (77000 miles) costing me nearly £600 - Ouch!!

Still needs a new clutch, new nearside CV joint, and an engine rebuild when I can afford it!

Please note that my negative comments are not a reflection on all 4th generation Civic GL's, I was unfortunate in that I bought a complete lemon!

BODY - Rust is the keyword here, and it seems to be common on these cars. The side rubbing strips are fastened to the car by plastic plugs inserted into the panels. These holes are not water tight, so moisture gets inside the car and gathers in the sills. That is why these cars rot from the inside out, along the sills and rear arches. I urge anyone who buys one to immediately strip out the interior and inject Wax Oil into the bodywork, and fill any visible holes that Honda stupidly left (you will see what I mean)!

Despite this complaint, I do love the design of the 4th generation Civic, with only the tail light design keeping it planted in the late 80's/early 90's.

INTERIOR - Hmmm, what can I say? How about CHEAP PLASTIC! Yes, it is fairly roomy and comfortable, and the general layout is quite good, but you are surrounded by acres of the cheapest looking plastic. And with only 77000 miles, my car has twice as many rattles and squeaks as my previous 205 Gti (which isn't good when you consider the reputation of French car interiors!), but this could be due to the abysmal roads in Edinburgh.

I also disagree with other comments about the racy 'bucket' seats - yes they do have quite good side bolsters, but the base has hardly any bolstering, giving poor lateral support.

Despite the standard tape deck having rear speaker outputs, there are no rear speakers. I don't know if they were an option, but there does not seem to be any where to fit speakers other than the parcel shelf. Unfortunately, the parcel shelf folds in the middle. I decided to fit an MDF panel under the shelf (ala Stealth Shelf) but drilling holes in the front edge of the parcel shelf is a nightmare due to a metal panel under the material - took ages to drill through with a cheap drill!

PERFORMANCE - This is a touchy area due to my engine being knackered (I think the previous owner thrashed it), but fortunately I can use my mates GL (good condition and full service history) as comparison.

I can confirm that a standard GL will hit 60 in about 10 seconds, but after that they get a little bit gutless. I don't know what the top end is because mine struggles to get past 105mph. I find claims of 120mph very dubious though, as my modified 205 1600 Gti could only hit 126 (without rev limiter).

With regards to the handling, I can't believe other owners have described it as 'fun'. My suspension is generally fine, and I have 15-inch alloys with good tyres, but the car wallows around corners, and I have no desire to try and push it to the limits. Whilst Honda gave the GL a relatively lively engine, it did not bestow it with any handling dynamics at all.

For any boy racers looking for a car to modify, don't bother with the GL, go for the 1.6i or above. Aftermarket parts are thin on the ground. For instance, the only aftermarket air filter available is a Green Filters replacement element. You would have to spend serious money just to achieve 115bhp, which would be a complete waste of time. The 1.6i DOHC Civic has 130bhp.

COSTS - Insurance is not as cheap as people claim, I think people are being fooled because it is only a 1.4 and a GL. Honda's are expensive to repair, relatively unsafe in a crash, and were fast by the standards of the time, and the insurance reflects this. When I changed to my GL, my insurance went down by £30 - this was from a modified 205 1600 Gti! And it was with one of the most competitive specialist insurers in the country.

Honda parts are also pretty expensive so I avoid the main dealers. It cost £175 to replace the timing belt. I got a quote of £275 for a new clutch (fitted) or £400 from the dealer!

Fuel consumption is pitiful on the motorway, probably because my engine is underpowered so it must struggle to maintain 70-80 mph. In town, I just got 27 mpg using BP Ultimate, driving like a pensioner! On standard unleaded I get about 23mpg in town. I think my mate used to get about 25-30 mpg with a heavy right foot.

OVERALL - I still love the 4th generation Civic, and would love to have a Vti, but on my budget I would have to think hard about buying another. The majority of them seem to have rust problems (and those that don't look rusty on the outside are probably rotting away from the inside), and when things do go wrong the parts are extortionate. The insurance costs do not reflect the performance you get and the GL is a nippy car with sloppy handling. I would only buy another if it was absolutely mint.