2003 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3 petrol from North America

Summary:

Gas saving, pocket draining lemon

Faults:

SRS light indicating seat belt malfunction - mechanic is stumped.

Hybrid system randomly failing - As usual, mechanic says nothing wrong and resets the vehicle ECU.

Hybrid batteries deteriorating.

Passenger side airbag malfunction indicator randomly lights up - mechanics find no trouble.

Body began rusting after only 6 years (garaged entire life), now a very real problem, destroying resale value.

Vehicle requires Honda software updates.

Interior light bulbs burning out prematurely.

General Comments:

The money saved on gas will be spent on costly repairs that require dealer specific service, leaving you to pay whatever they quote you with.

This car was reliable when my father purchased it new in 12/03, and has always been serviced by the dealer. It's just like other Civics. When the car was handed down to me, it was fine at first, but began its demise within a year. I baby my vehicles, and this car has always been very gently driven, never abused. Although the car has never left me stranded (yet), I feel the issues I have with it should have been corrected and addressed long ago by Honda.

This car is also PAINFULLY slow to the point of being outright dangerous. Don't expect to reach 60 MPH in under 20 sec, you're running on little more than a lawnmower engine, and Chicago drivers aren't exactly patient.

I don't recommend this car to anyone.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 19th September, 2011

2003 Honda Civic EX 4DR Sedan 1.7L VTEC unleaded from North America

Summary:

If you want affordable reliability and quality, get a Honda!

Faults:

My brakes are fine, but every time I step on my brakes and release, I hear a mouse like squeak, really small and irrelevant, but it gets on my nerves.

General Comments:

This car is GREAT in quality! I would recommend a Honda to anyone. Its fuel economy is phenomenal and it's really fun to drive with the power I get from it.

I barely have to any service, all I have done to it since I have owned it was an oil change and air filters.

It has a great design inside and out. Only thing is for such light weight car, it lacks brake power, and it dents really easily, and the paint chips away easy also.

Other than that, my overall for this car is a 9. I LOVE MY HONDA!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th November, 2009

2003 Honda Civic Type R 2.0 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Not just a car with a turbo, this is a proper race car!!

Faults:

No problems at all (touch wood)!!

General Comments:

I've had my Type R for about a year and love it.

For a hot hatch, this car is no doubt ONE of the best!! People will tell you differently, but when you're discussing hot hatches, how come the Type R is always there or thereabouts?? It's not a car for everyone due to the lack of torque in the lower rev range. However the Type R was designed for the track, and therefore needs to be driven with some knowledge of how it performs best. If you keep it in the higher rev range, it performs immensely and will scream you through the gears, then you're doing 130mph without knowing it. Round a track or country road is where it performs best, it handles amazingly and effortlessly in the higher rev band. It's not just an engine with a turbo, this car was designed like a race car.

Also because the power kicks in at 5000 revs I find it easy to drive sensibly around town, meaning fuel consumption is pretty good for a hot hatch. My Type R is better than my old Golf GTI MK3.

Negatives -

The Type R has been stripped down to make it lighter (like the old school hot hatches), however this means road noise is an issue for some people, but I don't think it's that bad (it's a hot hatch not a Bentley). Stereo isn't the best and it's a bit basic inside. Tuning potential isn't that good - very expensive to get more BHP, this is partly due to Honda putting performance parts on as standard.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th July, 2009

1st May 2012, 18:56

All good and well... Funny how my old 1996 Mitsubishi FTO GPX manual was just as quick as a Type-R... 200bhp VVT and 8000rpm has all been done before!!

In the real world the FTO and the Type R's are not flexible... you try pulling from low revs in a higher gear... bugger all happens, doesn't it!!

Mivec / Vtec is all good on a track, but after owning several VTEC Hondas and a few Mivec Mitsubishis... they're tiring and very frustrating in every day driving.

20th Feb 2023, 17:41

Nice review, love the look of the Type R from this time period.