27th Dec 2008, 19:21
"The honda is just not a "solid" car no matter how much you argue on it, this is a fact and people need to realize this".
That's an odd attitude on a car review site where the emphasis is on expressed opinions. In other words his opinion is just as valid as the next guy's but is by no means "a fact". Just because he believes something is true doesn't make it true, nor does it give him the right to attempt to close debate on the subject. He should be thanked for his opinions on this car, but just remember... that's all they are.
My experience with this car would suggest that it had more than just a well designed engine. It seemed well built in general. Noisy -- yes. But also fine handling and reliable. There are much smoother, larger, and heavier vehicles that give a strong impression of substance; but light weight shouldn't be confused with "flimsy" build quality. Most sporty cars would have to, likewise, be deemed flimsy for the very same reasons.
I'm sure the Civic isn't perfect. Mine had a heater control cable that broke at about 30,000 miles. That was all that ever failed on the car as long as I owned it. I only had it to 45,000 miles approx... but a fine record nonetheless. Note that the reviewer didn't find the car troublesome either (even after 200,000 miles)... he just FELT that it was insubstantial.
So to those who are interested in this car, read between the lines here in this review; you will find that this car served its owner rather well.
4th Aug 2008, 19:41
Regarding crash tests. I checked Automobile mag., NHTSA, IIHS, and NADA. No one tested for side impact so I'd like to know where the side impact info the reviewer had came from. I must not be checking the right source. The frontal impact data says that the driver's-side is 3 out of 5 stars and the passenger side is either 3 or 4 out of 5 stars, depending on the source.