1997 Honda Civic VTi 1.8

Summary:

Economical performance motoring

Faults:

Early days, but nothing to date.

General Comments:

Superb smooth performance. Engine revs right to 8000rpm, slick gearchange, excellent brakes. Averages 35mpg. Low gearing means at anything above 75 mph on the motorway you need earplugs, but this aids fuel ecomomy! Lovely VTEC soundtrack above 6000rpm.

Car looks like a harmless Rover (a definite plus point).

Only blot on driving pleasure is the steering feedback, but this is not a major drawback.

Dealer support is excellent, far far better than with my Peugeot (Mi16). The Honda people seem genuinely interested in the cars they sell.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th October, 2001

1997 Honda Civic SR 5 door 1.6 VTEC

Summary:

Wolf in sheep's clothing

Faults:

Alternator needed replacing due to a bad jump start.

Exhaust back-box needed to be replaced.

Front tyres needed replacing after 14,000 miles.

General Comments:

Enjoyable car to drive.

The suspension is set a little hard, I assume for better handling.

A fast car with understated styling.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th February, 2001

10th Apr 2001, 15:25

If you think this one is fast sell it and buy a 1.8 vti, then you will see the difference.

16th Aug 2001, 03:55

I have had this car for 164.000km. It's a good and a fast car, but I feel unsafe in high speeds.

2nd Feb 2009, 06:50

Hi, I have just got a 1996 SR. They're good cars, this is my second one, the last one I killed the engine and the gear box. It had done 145,000 miles, and the last 40,000 I drove the pants of it.

The only bad thing about them was that it was only in production for a couple of years. It was only UK Honda with that engine and brakes, so parts can be hard to come by.

19th Apr 2009, 15:25

Hi. I've had my Honda Civic 1.6 SR vtec for 18 months, and I have to say it is an excellent car. Looks apart, it has everything you would need in a car and a great vtec engine. Very rare also. Trust me, buy one.

1997 Honda Civic LS 1.5 Vtec 3dr

Summary:

Speedy bargain machine

Faults:

Nothing so far. Only had it a few weeks.

General Comments:

The best feature of this car is the engine. It is very economical, but get it above 4000 rpm and it just rockets.

The interior is a let down (slide controls for ventilation, but it looks good from the outside (fat, low profile tyres).

Feels solid and composed around town and on twisty B-roads.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th December, 2000

2nd Feb 2001, 09:35

I have had the car for 3 months now, and I like it more and more. Keep it below 3000 rpm and it works in ecomomy mode (green light comes on). The fuel economy is exceptional.

Pick the revs up (4000-6000) then the Vtec-2 (stage 2) come to life. This is the only flaw in its performance, but I am thinking of getting it Super Chipped and fitting a K&N air filter, to sort this torque flat spot out.

At 6000-7200 rpm the Vtec-3 (stage 3) kicks in and it flys (went past my brother in laws RS 2000, Escort GTi).

And then slow down and you're in ecomomy mode again doing 250 miles on £15 of petrol (unimaginable with British fuel prices being so high).

A very underestimated car, and very reliable.

1997 Honda Civic 5 door 1.4

Summary:

Too many design flaws to recommend

Faults:

Headlights steam up and need replacing. This has been done EIGHT times in three years.

Doors knock on bumps.

Wiper motor packed up and was replaced.

Doors bulge when windows are wound up.

Windows rattle if not fully up.

Huge dashboard reflection in windscreen.

General Comments:

Throttle pedal has too much throw and so much of the performance cannot be achieved without having the seat uncomfortably forward.

Great suspension though.

Dealers are a pain and incompetent.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 26th November, 2000

1997 Honda Civic VTi 1.6 DOHC VTEC petrol

Summary:

Jeckyll and Hyde motor that loves being wound up high

Faults:

Had a Honda CAT1 alarm fitted by the Honda dealer who sold me the car. Unfortunately they wired it to the +12V that is cut whenever the key is turned to the start position. Lasted 2 weeks and then blew the alarm. New alarm fitted properly and everything OK now.

General Comments:

Performance not as good as previous VTi (1992 K-REG) and they seem to have changed the gear ratios. 4000RPM @ 70MPH vs 3500RPM @ 70MPH in my old car. Air conditioning does not seem as powerful either. Made in Japan unlike the 5 door junk Rover version. Nice car to drive and quite economical, ~30MPG with AC on and fast driving.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th July, 2000

1997 Honda Civic 5 door Vti 1.8 VTEC petrol

Faults:

Clutch failed at 2,500 miles - slipping & smoking - replaced no probs.

Creaking from doors - after several visits found to be due to door latches - all needed removing and greasing - no further creaks.

General Comments:

Engine loves to be revved - sings between 6,000 & 8,200 - a missile when kept in this rev band - average 30mpg regardless

Keep revs below 4,000 (75 top) if you want any better, still manages 28 if revved solid - brakes fade if really, really worked for approx 5 miles - tendency to understeer in fast corners - drive this car sensibly all week, your mother would love it.

Pick those revs up to 6k and the horns come out - very discreet car, it will still be in the car park when you come back for it!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th October, 1998

1st Oct 2001, 12:47

1997 5 door civic VTi - in 2nd gear it screams and really takes off, had a 2.0 16v Prelude before, not as quick as the Civic.

Only complaint is wind noise, especially from the driver's window and sunroof.

Great car though.