1996 Honda Civic EX coupe review from North America
"Best darn car I've ever owned"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Driver's side power window came out of the track.
Exhaust rusted out, needed complete replacing.
Clasp for the cup-holder lid broke. Repair of this small piece requires replacement of the whole cup-holder unit.
Gasket for the sunroof is showing age, but still seals. To replace requires replacing entire sunroof unit.
General comments?
Peppy engine with excellent pickup, high gas mileage (35 mpg/average). VTEC gets good power out of the four cylinders, runs quietly, and doesn't sacrifice gas mileage to do it.
Loves to be driven in the twisties. Might not have the image of a sports car, but it definitely has the heart of one.
Remarkably comfortable backseat for adults, considering the overall size of the car is pretty small.
Precise, smooth manual gearbox; second best I've ever worked, and doesn't miss first place by much (best was a BMW 316, so it's in very good company).
Monochromatic interior is pretty drab. I dressed mine up with stick-on trim appliques.
Just a lot of fun to drive, and easy on the wallet to do it. I don't think I'll ever own another car that's not a Honda/Acura product.
Recommended reviews
| Good Fuel economy, poor performance and high maintenance |
|
| Best product I've ever purchased and owned |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1996 |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6-liter, 16-valve, 4 cylinder. VTEC (127-hp) Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 50000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 130000 miles |
| Previous car | Mercury Cougar |
| Date of Entry | 15th March, 2006 |