1990 Honda Civic GL from UK and Ireland - Comments

I have a 91 1.4 GL Civic and it goes like stink, and it is a XR2 GTE beater. I've owned it 10 years and in my opinion, it gets quicker. I love it...

You're going on about the 1.4, drive the 1.6 vti vtec, it's miles more powerful and quicker.

I've got a 1.6 ivt from 1990, very rare these days, and it keeps up with Subarus, and all the current hot hatches, like the Focus ST, Civic Type R.

It will crack 60 in under 7 seconds.

It leaves Saxos, Astra GSI's, GTEs, the Fiesta ST and the rest of the bunch.

A Civic VTi will not do 0-60 in less than 7 seconds; its official 0-60 time is 7.7, and it will not keep up with the Focus ST or Civic type R, and it shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as a Subaru.

I've replied to you before vti boy. I'm the Astra VXR owner. Can you please tell me somewhere were we can meet up so I can show you what a real hot hatch is? I honestly think if we had a drag race 0-100 I don't think I would be able to see you in my rear view mirror. That's what happened to the Clio Williams I raced and they have very similar performance figures as the horrible Civic VTi.

Its the same shape as the CRX and it will do 60 in under 7 seconds. It might be a banger, but it will keep up with your overpowered VXR. If you want to meet up I will bring a diesel BMW 535d tuned to 340bhp that will leave your VXR for dust.

The reason I mention the civic is because it's very very quick for a 1.6. If you think your VXR is rapid, bring it to Bradford and I will get lots of tuned up 1.6 VTi's that would dust it.

Why does that vti boy leave a comment on every review saying "my vti this" and "my vti that" they do 0-60 in 7.7 but yours is 17 years old probably lost a good 20 bhp at least.

"It might be a banger, but it will keep up with your overpowered VXR"

Erm no, I don't think so; mines got 292 bhp, it doesn't have any problems putting its power down in dry conditions and 0-100 it can match an Impreza no problem. I have also raced a Clio V6 from a rolling start of around 50 and pulled away from him.

I am a fan of the Honda V-tec system (I used to own a Type R), and it was a good car, and yes they are very reliable, but my VXR is a lot quicker than the Type R was, especially above 60.

Most cars, the Type R included, slow down once above 60. What I mean by that is that they aren't as quick 60-90 as what they are 30-60. In the VXR this doesn't happen; it won't slow down in its acceleration until you get past 125.

Why am I telling you this? Because as the comment above says you've left a comment on every single Saxo VTR review, every Fiesta Zetec S review, every 106 GTI review etc etc saying "my vti eats your car". There's no need to say this to every one just because you think your car is better (not that I do; it's 17 years old and is probably worth about £300).

I have never ever left a comment to anyone saying my VXR is better than your car, or my VXR is faster than your car except when I've replied to you.

My point is that many people have far faster more expensive and much better looking cars than you, and lots of people have more expensive cars than me. You just look you're trying to make yourself sound better than other people, when you drive round in a 1990 Honda Civic.

The 1990 Civic VTi is a classic now, it hasn't lost any power and is quicker than ever. I think the engine has opened up properly now. I'm comparing it to equivalent cars, e. g 1.6 Saxo's etc, you're comparing your 2 litre turbo charged VXR with a 1.6.

Once the Civic is turbo charged it would blow your VXR apart.

ps, these cars are fetching over £2000, just have a look on Pistonheads.

"Once the Civic is turbo charged it would blow your VXR apart"

Good joke thanks for that. It would take a very big turbo, and a whole new cooling system new clutch etc etc to get a 1.6 160 bhp up to 290 bhp like my VXR. It would take 290bhp because the Civic is lighter and that is never a good thing when you have more than 200 bhp in a front wheel drive car; you need a bit of weight to use the power. The Civic VTi probably couldn't handle more than 200. By the time you've spent the money making it faster, you could have bought a proper car like a VXR, or maybe a Civic Type R.

The Saxo VTS is every bit as fast as the Civic VTi. They have the same 0-60 time. Go on youtube; there are plenty of videos showing the Civic VTi vs Saxo VTS, and on nearly all of them the Saxo edges it.

I have a Civic i-vt, which is the first civic ever to have a dohc vtec engine; it's the quickest of the lot, and it's a lot quicker than a VTi. I've raced plenty and I give them a good 2 car gap to 60mph; the driver on Youtube probably didn't know how to drive.

A mate of mine had a Civic VTi with 200bhp NA; changed the cams, intake, etc. and that car used to give scoobys a very good race.

I would rather put a turbo on my car than buy a VXR. I used to have a Vectra SRi 2.0, and the car was sluggish and had loads of reliability issues, so I don't have any faith in Vauxhall. The only decent Vauxhalls are the Cavalier GSis and Astra GTEs with a redtop engine.

You say you would rather put a turbo on your vtec than buy a turbo car, but isn't it easier to buy a turbo car then change the cams to high lift ones? After all that's all a vtec is, high lift cams.

The 2.0 Vectra and the Astra VXR share one thing, a Vauxhall badge, that is it. The Astra VXR is the third best car Vauxhall have ever made behind the VX 220 and the Monaro VXR. It is streets ahead of the awful Vectra. Is the dc5 Integra Type R "sluggish" because the Honda Jazz is? I'm going to say probably not.

The dc5 teg is quicker than the vxr, I'm not talking about speed by the way its reliability, the vectra was awful reliability wise so that's why I wouldn't buy another vauxhall, even if its got 237bhp and is turbo charged.

Honda vtec engines might just use high lift cams, the thing is nothing goes wrong with the engines aslong as you keep them serviced.

I know. Like I said, I used to own a Civic Type R and I loved it, but when I got my VXR I definitely upgraded; it's faster, better looking, the interior is better, and there is a lot more equipment. However, I do think the dc5 Integra Type R is better than the VXR, and I would buy one tomorrow if I could, but I can't seem to get cheap insurance for it (I'm 22). The Integra seems to get respect from everyone, even the people that hate the v-tec system. One day I will get one; better fuel economy, nearly as fast in a straight line, but miles better handling with an LSD and plenty of "street cred". But for now, the VXR will do.

Interesting chatty row guys. I used to get involved similarly in my 'yoof'. However, being a little older & wiser, let me give you the benefit of the wisdom gained. Stop messing around with front wheel drive! The front wheels are for steering, the back wheels are to get the grunt down. I'm the proud owner of a 2004 face lift Monaro VXR (5.7litre, no bonnet scoops). The only thing that Vauxhall have to do with it is the badge (oh and the servicing I suppose). It's an Aussie. Crack the bonnet and the only badges you'll see are Holden Special Vehicles (HSV). Best bang for yer buck around. Will go as fast as it says on the tin, in comfort. Economy, take foot off loud pedal on motorway and get close to 30 mpg (A/C off). Not so great round town, nearer 12 mpg (ouch) Still, great carbon foot print, he-he. I know Yank's can't make cars to go round corners, but it's true what they say, 'Ain't no replacement for cube's, boy'. That's as standard. You wanna tune a motor, tune a V8, easy. New exhaust, new chip set, done. Oh, get better brakes, going's important, stopping's more important. Turbo's blow up, big block's generally don't. Oh, if you wanna get really silly you can bolt on a supercharger, overkill really, 383bhp is plenty, trust me.