The clutch had to be replaced shortly after I bought the car. One of the tail lights went out. The rad started falling off, but this was easily corrected. It started leaking coolant, aslo easily corrected. The car also uses a lot of oil, but I wouldn't consider this a problem, as VTEC engines are known to do this.
Let me start off by saying that Honda never actually made a car called the "hybrid". This is simply a term used to describe a vehicle that carries an engine that is not the original one that it came with. However, the Honda tuning thing is huge right now, so I figured that this would be an appropriate review.
My car is a CX hatchback sporting a GSR motor & transmission swap. I bought the car hoping to have some fun without going into major debt, and I feel that I have achieved that, and well beyond. This car is extremely fast, as the GSR engine produces 180 HP, along with the basic bolt-ons that are on there as well. It will do high 13s in the quarter mile. The 8000 redline is SWEET! The car also handles very well, with only the addition of lowering springs, and a sway bar. However, my hatch works just as well in rush-hour traffic as it does ripping through the twisties of Northern Ontario. I even get great gas mileage!
BUT, this is by no means a winter car, and god help you should you ever smash one. And don't expect comfort or luxury when buying one of these either. You are not going to find such in an economy sports car.
In any event, while I have had a few problems, the clutch is the only one that has costed me any $$$, and I consider this to be normal wear and tear. And considering that the body has almost 220K on it, I am absolutely amazed at how well it drives.
So if you are looking to buy a performance car for less than 10 thousand Canadian, I would definitely recommend a Honda hybrid. SIR, GSR, and even Type R swapped cars are plentiful, so take your time and find a good one. I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed. Make sure you know of a good mechanic though, because you will confuse the regular Joe when you bring in a car that contains parts from completely different cars altogether.
Porsche performance!!!??? Ha!Ha1Ha!Ha!Ha! Too funny!
You should consider stand-up comedy as a career.
What do Canadian Porsches run on, two cylinders???
Good review, but let's not bring in a Porsche comparison. You can make a shopping cart run a 12 second 1/4 if you throw enough money at it. A Porsche is still a Porsche and a Honda is still a Honda, now matter how fast or slow either are.
To that first comment, I'd like to see a 2 cylinder run a 13 second 1/4 :) I'm sure the reviewer meant it strictly by the numbers. Some Porsche's run 13's and maybe his Honda does too. But yeah, it's still a bad comparison.
This review should not even be in here.
Who cares about the performance of a car with a non-original engine and transmission?
Calling it a sports car is almost as ridiculous as comparing it to a Porsche!
The term hybrid, when applied to cars, means that the vehicle has two sources of power (usually a small conventional engine and an electric motor), either of which can drive the car.
Replacing the original engine with a different one does not make the car into a hybrid.
This review is totally a sham. Bad comparison and not accurate. I expected it to be about reliability and repair history... I want my 2 minutes back.
The guy who placed the comment on the first of January 05 knows what he is saying regarding hybrid vehicles. The author of the review doesn't however. A Porsche is just that. A Honda is not nor ever will be. They are two different brands with two different approaches to building cars. Drive a Honda and then a Porsche...the difference is obvious. One is an intern, the other is an experienced surgeon.
Wow! I am impressed that so many people took my review so seriously. OK, maybe I was being a little too general with the Porsche comparison. I was actually thinking along the lines off the 928 or the 944, which I do believe would compare quite well. And to the dude with the "hybrid" comment, hmm, maybe I have been mistaken? Anyway, I love my car, and I know that there are MANY Honda enthusiasts out there who love their rice rockets just the same.
My intent with this review was to provide information to anyone interested in purchasing a hopped-up Honda, as I needed info myself before I bought my car. And if you don't like the review, well, I don't much care anyway. I stand by my opinion.
To the fellow who insisted hybrids are cars with two engines (ie: gas/electric) my dictionary defines a "hybrid" as "something of mixed origin or composition". so, a civic with an integra gsr engine is, I repeat, is a hybrid. also, the comparison to a porsche is not as crazy as some are making it out to be. a suped up civic can be a very fast and nimble little car, somewhat porsche-like.
Note: A Comments RSS Feed 
is available. New comments appear in the Members Area before the main site