1994 Honda Civic vti from UK and Ireland - Comments

Nothing really.

I had a vectra 2.0 sri before this and I ended up selling it becuase it just had too many faults, and cost too much to run and repair. after selling the vectra I thought I want something reliable with some power, a mate of mine was telling me to get a honda, so I thought I would give it a try, I had a budget of about 2000, I was browsing the autotrader site, I came across a civic 1.6vti with low mileage and 1 owner, I went out and bought it.

First impressions - the car looked pretty nice, nice interior lowered suspension, vtec decals on the bottom of the rear doors.

Driving - its fast below 5.5 revs, but after that the vtec kicks in and the car flies, the sound it makes is incredible when in vtec mode, compared to my vectra it doesn't have as much torque, but is miles faster, gets to 60 3 seconds quicker without breaking down either.

I'm not a boy racer, but I don't mind racing at the lights that's if the car next to me is up for it, I've beaten toyota starlet turbos, astra gsi's, saxo vts's, novas, renault 5 turbos, golf gti's, the list goes on it can't quite keep up with subaru's etc, but again its only a 1.6 na.

For a 1.6 its rediculously powerful with about 160bhp, I highly recommend this car to anyone who is looking for a cheap to run, reliable fast car.

Not quiet as fast as a subaru? No I think you will find that it is a lot faster than a civic vti as are half of the cars you have "raced"

What's with all these jealous comments regarding the Civic vti? I think it's a BMW driver who's been bashed by a vti; they can't take it when a car with half the engine size and less than half the price beats it.

I too have a Civic vti, and I can honestly say I've beaten the cars listed in the review (raced most, but not all of them). Don't know about the Subaru, as I haven't tried it yet, but I'm sure I won't get left behind!!

Vauxhall Astra

2.0 litre GSi 160 bhp from autumn 1999.

187bhp turbo from May 2002.

2.2 chain-cam 147 bhp four available from September 2000.

So that depends with one you raced?

1.6 VTR got boost to 125bhp for 2001 and gets to 60 in 9.4 seconds.

So yes you would leave the Citroen Saxo by miles.

Volkswagen Golf III (1992 - 1997)

150bhp 2.0 16v and 2.8 VR6 174bhp.

Volkswagen Golf IV (1998 - 2004)

Golf V5 170bhp.

180bhp six-speed Golf GTi Anniversary 3-door arrived May 2002 at £18,660. Top speed 138mph; 0-60 around 7 seconds.

204 BHP V6 Mk III VR6 with 4x4.

Volkswagen Golf IV R32 (2002 - 2004)

VR6 based 3.2-litre chain cam 6 produces 240 bhp at 6250 rpm fed through a 6 speed gearbox for a 0 to 60 mph time of just 6.3 secondw, and a top speed of 153 mph. Has 4MOTION intelligent four-wheel drive, lowered suspension, more responsive steering and throttle responses, plus ESP.

Volkswagen Golf V (2004 - 2008)

Engines include 75PS 1.4, 90PS FSI 1.4 FSI, 115PS 1.6FSI, 75PS (chain cam), 1.9TDI, 140PS 2.0TDI 16v, 150PS FSI 2.0, 185PS 2.0T, 175PS V5, 240bhp 3.2 V6 and possibly a 175bhp V5 TDI. 5-speed and 6-speed manual gearboxes.

Volkswagen Golf V R32 (2005 -)

New R32, basically an A3 / TT 3.2 with 250PS and (quarto,/4MOTION drivetrain with Haldex clutch.

Now Subaru:

Subaru Impreza I (1993 - 2000)

Engines are 1.6 flat four, 101 bhp 1.8 litre 16v flat four and 113 bhp 2.0 litre. Auto optional on 1.8 and 2.0. 2.0 obviously the best engine, but 1.6 much cheaper. There was a 1.6 litre two-wheel-drive version from 1994-96.

Subaru Impreza mrk 1 Turbo (1994 - 2000)

208 bhp engine, improved to 215 bhp in March 1999. But special import WRX STis offer 240-280 bhp and two-door WRX has up to 300 bhp. These cars are very fast indeed. 1999 UK 'special' 236 bhp RB5 offers a terrific drive.

WRX P1 with 277 bhp, 4.7 second 0-60 and 155 mph at 7,500 rpm.

Subaru Impreza II WRX (2000 - 2005)

WRX turbo from October 2000 had same 1,994cc flat four with 215bhp.

Fully European Type Approved 261bhp Subaru Impreza WRX STi on sale in UK from January 2002. Active Valve Control engine puts out 261.5bhp at 6,000rpm and 343Nm (253 lb ft) torque at 4,000rpm fed through a six speed gearbox to the car's four wheel drive system. 0 to 60 takes 5.2 seconds and top speed is 148mph.

£2,000 of mods from Prodrive add 39bhp, giving the STi a full 300bhp and 0-60 of 4.6 seconds.

From May - July 2005.

Free Prodrive performance upgrades for Impreza WRX and STi Type-UK, raising power to 265PS/257lb ft and 305PS/299lb ft respectively without affecting 3 year 60k mile warranty. WRX with pack does 0-60 in 4.8, 0-100 in 14.1; STI with pack does 0-60 in 4.6 and 0 - 100 in 12.2. Both Pro drive Performance Packs include a reprogrammed Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and free-flow exhaust system with a large single rear tailpipe.

Subaru Impreza II WRX (2006 - 2007)

Impreza WRX got a 230PS 2.5 turbo and 143mph top speed with 0-60 in 5.4 seconds. WRX STI got 281PS 2.5 turbo and 158mph top speed with 0-60 in 5 seconds.

Subaru Impreza III WRX STI (2008 -)

Thoroughly revised 2.5 litre turbo ‘boxer’ engine now with 300 PS

155 mph top speed with 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds

2.5WRX, TBA top speed, 0-60 6.1, 27.2mpg com, 246g/km.

Honda Civic Japan (1991 - 1996)

158 bhp VTi.

Honda Civic Japan (1996 - 2001)

1.6, 158 bhp VTi.

Honda Civic UK (1995 - 2000)

167 bhp 1.8 VTEC.

Honda Civic Type R MRK1 (2001 - 2006)

2.0 VVT-I 16v 1,998cc chain-cam petrol: 148kW (201PS) at 7,800rpm; torque 193Nm

142 lb ft) at 5,600rpm. Final drive 20mph per 1,000rpm

0-60 6.3 seconds; top speed 146 mph;

2.0 petrol: 200bhp at 7,400rpm/145 lb ft (196Nm) torque at 5,900rpm.

So don't try racing WRX STI with a Honda Civic 1800 or 1600 vti.

I can quite believe a VTi would beat the cars he mentioned, and he never said it would beat an Impreza, but I can tell you from experience it wouldn't be left far behind the likes of a standard WRX or 2000, as I used to own an Integra Type R, and that would easily stick with the lower powered Imprezas, and my friend's VTi was never far behind me!

New type r will not do 0-60 in 6.3.

That's right, the old type R one only did it in 6.6 and the new one is a bit slower.

I was not really on about the Type-R, but anyway look for yourself http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/

That's right 2.8 VR6 174bhp would kill the crap Civic, and the 204 BHP V6 Mk III VR6 with 4x4 would kill the Type R.

And WRX STI would kill all of these cars. Just think how much you can tune a WRX or STi up to.

So don't worry about it; people that have a Honda think their car the fastest in the world.

So the next time I race one, I'll tell you how far I left it.

I eat Golf VR6's for fun in my CRX SiR. It's only a 1.6, but it's knocking out 160bhp. I would race any standard Golf VR6 and I can guarantee I will beat it. All golfs are overweight and underpowered; even with a 2.8 engine they can't beat my 1.6. A 2.0 S2000 would beat any lardy Golf.

Agreed, seen many many type r's beating vr6's on youtube without too much difficulty.vr6's are just too heavy and can't compare with lightweight hondas. and on twisty roads type r's pull away even more!!

Raced 4 mk 3 vr6's in my area in my dc2 integra type r and trounced them all.

I agree that Type R's are faster than a VR6, which is a mere warm hatch, but there are far too many Honda fanboys on this site. There is one guy in particular who keeps banging on about a 300bhp Integra Turbo that he used to own. Keeps spreading this rumor that Integra is best handling FWD ever. I'd leave an Integra in my new Megane.

I hear Honda Pilots, CR-Vs and Odyssey's are being recalled for failing transmissions. It was about time to do some justice to the whole game!

After my experience with the Civic, I will never touch a Honda as long as I live.

I got VR6 2 months ago and I agree with most of the comments! The sound is awesome and the power is unreal! It's a 95 and still pushing 145mph! How many 12 year old cars will still do this? The 2005 Type-R flat out is 146mph!

I agree it isn't the fastest on car on the road, but I paid £2400 and my little baby killing BMW 330's, Audi's, and Mercs all worth £20000 or more!

Scooby's are one of the quickest rally cars on the road with 4wd and japanese, so I wouldn't feel that bad if one was pulling away! If it is that bad, fit a supercharger and meet him on the drag strip!

"The sound is awesome and the power is unreal! It's a 95 and still pushing 145mph! How many 12 year old cars will still do this"

Not many mate, and yours is no exception. According to street-car.net, the VR6 does 0-60 in 7.8, and has a top speed of 139, which I think is generous.