Faults:

EVAP system leak.

Transmission solenoid.

General Comments:

Bought it certified & etested. Previous owner put some add-ons on in addition to what it already came with. Chassis stiffeners, wider anti-roll bars, etc.

Can't say how it handles stock, but with good aftermarket suspension it's awesome. Reacts very well and the steering input is improved.

Do your maintenance, it's a car just like any other. The fact it's a Honda makes no difference. I've owned four other cars that were just as reliable. Spark plugs: Small displacement, high revving engine. Change them once every two years, or every year if you're driving a lot.

The engine bay is well laid out with easy access to everything. Hood opens nicely too. General and annual maintenance are a cinch.

This car is a great lightweight, fuel friendly, easy to own vehicle. Basic and cheap. The fully functional sunroof is the best part. The non telescopic steering is the worst. The interior cancels out road noise easily and reacts to aftermarket speakers well. The trunk is a fair size with a generous compartment for your road side goodies below.

With the CEL on, fix the problem before it worsens. It'll affect gas mileage and long term reliability.

Want a del Sol now.

Faults:

I had a Saab I loved, but it was sending me to the poor house. So I gave it to my son and bought a Civic for cheap. Honda Civics are great, right? Wrong! At least not this one.

After a couple weeks I got in my Civic to find a 3 inch puddle on the driver's side. After much detective work (I almost replaced my windshield), I found a hole where you unlatch the hood... a cheap fix.

But then it started acting crazy; lights would strobe, it wouldn't shift right, speedometer flipping out. Thought it was the computer that got wet. After more detective work, I found a bare wire on the intake manifold (which is common). My ignition wouldn't turn off completely, leaving the radio on (got a battery shut off).

After all that stress, the head gasket was leaking. And to add insult to injury, the gasket job failed. A $1300 headache! It still ran on 3 cylinders and still got great gas mileage (the only good thing I can say about it). AND IT SUCKED IN THE SNOW.

Faults:

Replaced timing belt / water pump at 150,000km.

Replaced brake pads every 50,000km.

Replaced rotors twice; once at 100,000 and 200,000km.

Machined rear brake drums at 200,000km.

Replaced right side upper table at 200,000km.

Replaced ball joints two times.

Replaced clutch at 190,000km.

Replaced rear upper table passenger side at 190,000km.

Changed oil every 5,000km regularly.

General Comments:

This car has been extremely reliable for me, and the fuel economy is terrific.

I am the original owner of this car, and am very satisfied with overall quality.

Things that have gone wrong with this car I would consider normal wear and tear on any vehicle.

Faults:

69K - Is when I got the car from the first owner :-)

70K - Exhaust pipe and muffler needed replacement - took it to a muffler shop ~$200.

75K - Right rear wheel bearing went bad, took it to the shop ~$150.

101K - The car had problems starting in very cold conditions (<0F/-17C), distributor contacts needed good cleaning - fixed myself ~$0.

117K - Original radiator had a small leak, new radiator installed.

125K - Power locks suddenly stop working, nor the driver's button or remote worked. I turned out that the power lock module was missing ground, I fixed myself (cost at the shop would be $250-$500 to fix).

127K - All belts, including timing and water pump, will be replaced at the shop, cost $500 (not actually a problem, but regular maintenance).

General Comments:

Pros:

- Never had a single problem with the engine or transmission.

- Great on gas, I drive 40/60 city/highway and get an average of 29-31MPG.

- Reliable, I have owned this car for 4 years now and put abound 55K miles on it and it never let me down, it always starts.

- All models with power lock come with a keyless entry capability (stock radio required), just need a remote ($25 @ eBay) :-)

- Acceleration is good from 0-60MPH for a 1.6L engine, poor above 60MPH.

Cons:

- Seats are uncomfortable if you spend more than 2-3 hours in the car.

- I'm 6'1" and could use some more legroom.