1988 Honda Civic Sereno review from Australia and New Zealand

When I got the car there was just a little bit of rust that was easy to remove. For the moment there is not rust anywhere, but I'll keep my eye on it.

Driver's door handle broke, so you couldn't open the door from the outside. Very easy to find a replacement.

Hazard light switch doesn't work.

I don't think the CV joints will last forever.

I got this car very cheap, NZ$1500. It needed just a little rust fixed at the bottom of the c-pillars.

I am only the third owner, and the previous owners kept it regularly serviced, and I'm now reaping the benefit of this. Mechanically it is perfect, it doesn't drink any oil at all, and I change the oil every 5000km.

The paint is rather faded, but I'm a student, so that doesn't mean anything to me. And won't be the end of the world if it ever gets a little ding in the car park.

It is comfortable to drive around town or on the open road, very quiet inside and long legged on the open road thanks to the fifth gear. Don't have to change out of fifth gear unless there is quite a steep hill.

Very economical, at worst 6 liters/100km on the open road and 7 liters/100km in town. But if I drive nicely and with only me in the car, the figures are better than that.

The best car I've ever owned, very reliable, well looked after and a pleasure to drive.

Goes well up hills, 50km/hr in second gear up a steep hill is still quiet and smooth.

Easy to accidentally spin the front tyres in the wet when starting facing up hill, but when you're aware of it it's not a problem.

Lots of leg room in the front, and a lot of space in the boot. Not a lot of leg room in the back, though.

This is all I want in a small car - reliable, economical yet performs well on the open road and up hills.

I think I'll stay with Japanese cars from now on.