1985 Honda Civic DX 1.3 liter from North America

Summary:

Zippy, reliable, great car

Faults:

The boot on the passenger side where the castle nut is and the cotter pin is came loose.

General Comments:

It is not the best looking car, but it is reliable and great on gas mileage.

It has awesome acceleration. Not too much speed, but from zero to sixty it's just in a matter of seconds.

It hugs the road like it was made for it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th September, 2002

1985 Honda Civic Sedan 1.5 liter from North America

Summary:

A reliable car with great gas mileage

Faults:

The radiator had to be replaced after 14 years of city driving.

Some of the hoses need to be replaced.

Dashboard has some minor cracks.

General Comments:

This car gets exceptional gas mileage (35-40 miles per gallon on the freeway!)

No power steering.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th April, 2002

1985 Honda Civic Wagovan 1.5 from North America

Summary:

A great old car

Faults:

Major thing like the C/V joints.

One front control arm and tie rod (both right).

The left rear trailing arm broke (while I was driving!).

Heater was plugged for about eight years.

General Comments:

This car is very quick for the kilometers and age, but still gets incredible gas mileage.

It has never let me down anywhere!

Very reliable.

I had the body and paint done about three years ago, with no signs of rust resurfacing.

I plan to find an '86 or '87 Acura Integra to perform an engine swap and suspension upgrade.

Everything under the hood is currently stock, except the custom intake from Home Depot® that I made myself. I don't know how but the car will zero to sixty in about nine seconds.

I love my car and will never get rid of it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 8th January, 2002

16th Oct 2002, 21:20

Wow, I own a 1986 Civic wagovan and I had the exact same problems! My trailing arm also broke when I was driving, and the cv joint went, twice.But is a joy to drive.

24th Nov 2002, 09:52

Yup, cv joint gone on mine too.

7th Jan 2006, 01:24

I have an 86 Wagovan and yes the CV's are going out---but this is a common part to fail on any FF car. Although my heater is also plugged--bad 'Stat I assume. I find that the gas mileage is failing due too bad timing though. Very fun to drive. Although, I have heard that the rear trailing arms fail from many people---so I don't look forward to this happening to me--hehe.

1985 Honda Civic 4.0 from North America

Summary:

Honda has me wrapped around their finger

Faults:

Needed a new clutch last year.

Needed new brakes 2 years ago.

General Comments:

As long as regular service is done every 3,000 miles, this car will last a lifetime.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th May, 2001

17th Jan 2006, 08:04

I don't believe there was a Civic with a 4.0-litre engine. Any chance that the author may have confused it with a bigger Honda/Accura model, such as the Legend?

10th Dec 2010, 21:17

I'm pretty sure he was referring to 4 cylinder, as Legends only had 2.7s or 3.2s.