1993 Honda Civic ESi 1.6

Summary:

Neither reliable or inexpensive

Faults:

O2 sensor replaced (EM Light constantly lit)

Coil replaced, but turned out to be Ignition Control Module . Car turns over, but won't "catch".

Brakes glazed, possibly through under use by previous owner. Pads replaced, need new disks really.

Rear brake caliper seized, replaced caliper, same problem. Handbrake cable need to fix.

General Comments:

Get that oil changed every 6,000 miles.

A quick car in a straight line, but not fantastic in the corners. Loads of wheel spin, but fairly predictable. Needs working hard to get swift progress.

Reliable most of the time, starts quickly even in sub zero temperatures when I drove it to the Alps. Brakes froze which caused a few brown trouser moments...

Cabin is drab plastic, but has worn well.

Very good fuel economy high 30's.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd December, 2002

1993 Honda Civic VTi 1.6

Summary:

Performance at it's best

Faults:

The problem I am having with this car is that the V-Tech does not kick in at 5.5 rpm in any of the gears.

General Comments:

The car is a little rocket for a small engine. For extra good road handling I have placed gas shock rods.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd December, 2002

1993 Honda Civic VTi 1.6i DOHC

Summary:

Screaming, satisfying hot-hatch

Faults:

Distributor seized as a result of a melted rotor arm!

Rear brake calipers seized as a result of a failed ABS modulator.

General Comments:

You won't find a better hot hatch from the early 90's if you ask me. The screaming VTEC is one of the most satisfying noises a driver can hear and what more could you ask for than a rev limiter at 8500rpm!?

The car does lack low-end torque when pulling away, but from then on the engine won't stop pulling all the way to 130mph+ if you keep it above 5700rpm.

I find the suspension a little soft on corners, but I expect it's just getting a bit old.

Other than that I couldn't be happier, and I don't mind spending the money on it as it's a very rewarding drive.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th November, 2002

1993 Honda Civic VTi 1.6 V-TEC DOHC

Summary:

Screaming V-tec Hot-Hatch

Faults:

Faulty ABS controller at 55000 (replaced by the dealer).

Cracked manifold at 60000.

General Comments:

Wow! This car is a serious hot hatch. Forget your GTi's and RS turbos, this car is much quicker. 0-60 (mph) comes up in 7.0 sec and will do 135+ (mph).

The car will rev to a 8000rpm red line (or 8500rpm before the limiter cuts in). It sounds superb, especially when the the Vtec system takes over at 5700 rpm.

The handling is also pretty good with double wishbones all round and the strut brace up-front, keeps the car flat through the bends.

The engine is superb. Some people complain that the car lacks torque, but if you know how to drive the car and use the gearing correctly, dropping a gear and nailing the throttle beats having torque any day.

Drive the car below 4000 rpm and it will return 35mpg and 40+ on the motorway.

The car is also very reliable. My car was off the road (working away) for 3 months and when I returned it was covered in 2 ft of snow, but it started first time and was running perfectly.

Going to the dealer for parts and servicing is a little costly, but a full Honda service history will give you a good selling on price.

The only down side is the insurance for the car. It falls into Group 15 and being only 21, it does cost a bit, but it's most definitely worth it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th December, 2001

10th Jun 2003, 21:04

A person Wrote: I'm sure your Honda is a good car. But your figures are wrong and exaggerated.

For a start, the VTi variant used a 1.5L VTEC engine, not the B16A (1.6L) which was reserved for the SiR.

Secondly, there is no way the car will get to 100 km/h in 7 seconds. For example, the brand new Subaru WRX 2 Litre 4WD turbo does it in 6.8 seconds. The civic is front wheel drive, and a lack of grip alone will prohibit you from launching at 8000 rpm.

There IS a lack of low end torque. The small displacement of the engine alone supports this fact. However, it can be helped by investing in a VTEC controller. This device remaps the ECU in the Civic, and engages the 3rd stage of VTEC (the real power zone) lower down in the rev range.

I'm really sorry, but you don't know what your going on about. I expect that you don't live in the UK. The UKDM VTi does indeed have the 1.6 (1595cc) DOHC 16v VTEC B16A engine. You are correct in saying that there is a 1.5 VTi and a 1.5 VEi also.

Yes, the 0-100Km/h time is around 7 seconds. It achieves this because it weighs 1050kg's and has 160bhp. It is only 2 wheel drive and has no propshaft (cos it's an FF car) which means that you'll lose 25 of power to transmission losses. This gives the UKDM VTi 115bhp/tonne at the wheels. The UKDM 2003 WRX has 215bhp and weighs in at 1430kg's. It is 4 wheel drive and as such loses about 30% of its power through transmission losses. This means the UKDM Subaru WRX has 105bhp/tonne at the wheels. This means that the two cars performance's would be VERY similar and the extra grip of the WRX, would be almost offset by the increased power of the VTi.

People go on about lack of torque on Honda engines. Compare them to other engines of equal displacement from other manufacturers. Honda torque values will be highest. The b16a engine only has 2 stages of VTEC. Low cam and High cam (where the pin slots through the rockers to allow the High lobe profile of the cam to be followed). A VTEC controller can alter the engagment of the High cam, but it is best not to alter it by too much, because don't you think that Honda chose the near enough optimum switch over point?

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