1998 Honda Civic HX from North America - Comments

Getting a Civic HX with a Continuously Variable Transmission was a big mistake. But when I got the car, the dealer made a mistake and told me it was $8,995 while it should be worth $13,535 so I couldn't argue with the deal even though I wanted a 5 speed Civic. Had 3 incidents with the transmission and was told by Honda that the transmission was bad and it would cost $5,000 to replace it. First incident was 56,000, second was 57,000, third was 84,000 and as of today, it has 112,178.

Passenger Side power window is a bit slow when it's half way rolled down or up.

Air conditioner doesn't seem to be cold enough. I don't know if it is just my Civic or that's typical in most Civic.

Occasionally (not very often), at a complete stop, the engine would feel as if it was going to die, but it will not die. The RPM would swing from 1.3 down to 0.2, back up to 1.3, back to 0.3 continuously unless I press the gas pedal fast and stop. It'll stop or I usually shift into neutral, that would stop the funny "dying feel-like".

High insurance cost!

No cruise control on HX models.

I would never buy another HX with continuously variable transmission. If I do buy another HX, it would have to be manual transmission.

Expensive air filter.

36 months or 36,000 miles warranty, whichever comes first.

This car drops everyone's jaws when they see my car in this condition and asks me what happened to it! Here's the story.

April 23, 2001, I rolled over the Civic a month and 2 days after I bought it. Due to 19 hours lapse on my insurance, I was stuck with the car. I had no choice, but to drive it. I started it up and drove away with 35,612. It ran with no problem. I drove it to New Mexico from Arkansas, going 110 miles per hour most of the way and no problem.

July 29, 2003, a rich-looking family in 2002 Suburban pulled up in front of me while I was driving and I hit him on the rear side of his Suburban. But it was driveble. 2 days later, July 31 an uninsured driver in a 1995 Ford Thunderbird ran red light and hit me on the right front side where the front tire is and caused a pretty bad damage to it. But since he was uninsured, I did not let the police to get me a tow truck so I drove it off the scene. No problem. The bumper, headlamps and some other parts on the Thunderbird came were gone. I am now living 10 hours from home and I drive back and forth 4 times a year and not once a problem. Needless, the insurance decided to total the car, but I bought it back. I used to be very picky about how the car looks. If it's ugly, I won't drive it. But after this Honda got ugly, uglier and uglier with more body damages, I can't stand seeing it go. I love my Civic so much that I don't care how bad the damages are as long as it keeps me going and there are stories to the car and I always enjoy telling people stories. And about the roll over incident, me and my friend wasn't even injured. Bless us.

Nobody could believe how the car was treated and abused and still running strong!

Nicely designed interior and very comfortable.

Clear view of instrument panel.

4 cup holders, two in front, two in rear.

Convenient radio and climate controls.

Plenty of room in the glove box and center storage compartment.

Comfortable seats, front and rear.

Drives sharply.

I work at High School and I've been asked by high school boys if I wanted to sell the car because they want it - easy to do body modifications even though it has salvaged title.

Starts up every time at first try. Except when the battery was dead last July 2003.

Purchased two factory keyless remotes from ebay for $9.99 and it works FAR away and nobody could believe that it would work far away.

I love the body style.

Good resale value.

Affordable dependable transportation for college students or low-income family and never have to worry about it breaking down easily.

Sorry for all this long notes. There are so much positive about Honda Civics with very little problems. My first Honda and I am hoping to own more Honda's in my life.

I could go on, on, on and on about it, but I think you, Honda owners know the real secret of owning a Honda.

Very thorough review, well done. And don't be sorry for a long review, it's better that way. Too many people are vague and misleading in their reviews. You've helped my decision to buy a civic.

Interesting comment about the RPM swings. My mother's automatic 89 Civic (which will soon be replaced) does the same thing, generally only when first started up. When the engine warms up, it isn't as much of a problem. I wonder if it's a common problem on Civics.

I highly doubt that this is the common problem on the Civic's. My Civic was a HX, and with automatic, its CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). I didn't know when I purchased it. I found out later that it would cost $5,000, not including the labor.

If you're on the search for a HX, my suggestion is to get 5 speed HX. If you don't drive manual, get DX, LX, or EX Civic. The engines were wonderful, but the transmission sucked! I was losing the MPG's - and had to stop for gas like 4 - 5 times in a 700-miles trip! Until February 18, 2005, I totaled it. I miss it very much, but glad I didn't have to deal with the transmission.