1992 Honda Civic VX from North America - Comments

A few posts back I noticed a few people asking why bother with a hybrid when the VX attained excellent fuel economy. The purpose of a hybrid IS NOT to increase fuel economy. The purpose of a hybrid IS to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Increased fuel economy is simply a by-product of the gas portion of the engine not being used as often during idling, cruising, and stopping.

I agree that the VX was an excellent vehicle (although rather bare-bones). The fuel economy is incredible and Honda quality and engineering is to be appreciated. I wish they would bring back the vehicle as well. I believe more of these VXs around over the last ten years (and more gas sippers from other manufactures) would have done more for our environment than the next ten years of hybrids will fix.

So hybrids do not really make any sense, do they, not with increased purchase price, huge cost of battery pack replacement and very high cost of transmission repair. ($8,400)

And hazardous in a crash, high voltage (500 Volts)

I agree, hybrids aren't all their marketed to be. They're simply a "quick-fix" until fuel-cell vehicles or some other technology become more marketable.

Face it, people want big horsepower. The problem is that they want it everyday when it simply isn't practical everyday. The human race is many things, but it isn't practical. Greed abounds everywhere. People want their toys so the manufacturers give them their toys. The government loves the income generated by the auto manufacturers so they push environmental concerns back and back and back.

Now, I'm no tree hugger and I badly want a 428 Mustang, but I also want a Civic VX or a Geo Metro to get me to and from work. I drive the car to work, it sits there all day, I drive it home. I prefer spending a dollar getting to and from work each day than $5 on my gas guzzling minivan.

I can never figure out why people insist on driving their F350s in downtown traffic to pick up some milk at the store.

Great comments, but a Ford makes the F350 (big truck) and ferrai makes an F430, and a 360...looks like you "hybridized" these two manufacturers cars.

I get 50-55 mpg with my Honda VX 1994. My question is why has gas mileage not stayed the same or even improved over the past 13 years?

The SUV craze and the arms race to increase horse power through the 90's and into the last few years. This is what the market wanted, or at least what they were made to want. Starting to move back in this direction though (economy, efficiency). A comment to the hybrid posts, although they are not perfect now, purchasing these cars will push the automotive industry to improve the technology and efficiency of hybrids and competing economy cars. It seems to me more of a statement to move the market (for those that can afford it), I on the other hand am looking for a 92 vx.

I own a 1993 Honda Civic VX model with 246,00 miles on it.

Other than normal maintenance (oil changes, mufflers, tune ups, tires, etc), I have replaced the oxygen sensor (112,500 miles), the shifter bushings (144,000 miles), one strut (170,000 miles, I would have replaced both, but a friend who owns a garage only found a problem with the passenger side and replaced only it), and the clutch master cylinder (241,000 miles).

I did replace the clutch and the slave cylinder at 181,000 miles, even though there was no problem at the time because I was going to do a lot of highway driving and did not want to be a "captive audience" for some dealership; Honda parts and labor was $275 for this service, which I knew would be much more if I broke down on the road.

One other service that I had, not very expensive ($80), was to get all the "under the hood" brake lines and clutch lines replaced.

I had a brake line blow out while I was braking at 60 mph; luckily traffic was very low and I did not have an accident.

My mechanic said that my Honda Civic, under the hood, uses brake and clutch lines that are not as strong as the lines not under the hood. I believe that this is an age problem and not a mileage problem. since my daughter (Nissan truck) and a close friend (Toyota Camry) and also myself all had brake lines blow out when the vehicle was 13 to 14 years of age. A clutch line under the hood blew out while the mechanic was test driving the vehicle to check the new brake lines.

Since I bought the car new, I have gotten anywhere from 33 mpg (all city winter driving in Buffalo, N.Y) to 64 mpg (highway driving at 55 mph) with an average of 48 mpg.

I plan on keeping the car for at least 300,000 miles, and have been extremely happy with its performance.

I own a 92 VX with 81k miles.

Right after purchase, the engine light came on and I did the standard paper clip test to blink out the code. It was a faulty O2 sensor. I thought no biggie and went to a retail auto parts store. "well the 4 wire is 50 bucks, but the 5 wire is 500." I thought they were joking. well, it turns out the engine seems to be built around that thing so has to be a special one. with the bad sensor I averaged 32mpg. after searching around eBay, I found a Walker better-than-OEM replacement. I now get 46mpg going 70mph. I don't do any of the hyper-mileage rituals accept for not accelerating up hills. recently I've added a carbon fiber hood and fenders, the weight difference was quite noticeable when moving the parts around. ill be doing another mileage test sometime, but I dout those parts alone would do anything. I plan on adding side skirts and an under body plate though. my goal is 60mpg.

I got the car off craigslist in San Jose for 3500$, 72k miles.

It seems this model is a target for modification due to its low weight, so its hard to find one completely stock.

Repairs:

Walker O2 5 wire - 375$

Clutch Master, Brake Master - 300$

OEM Exhaust center pipe - 400$

Upkeep:

Mobile 1 Full Synthetic 10-30, every 3k miles.

Mobile 1 Oil Filter

Bosch Platinum +4 spark plugs

5lb overpressure in all tires.

Bought my 93 civiv vx new in 92, just turned 200000 miles NEVER at dealer. just did third timing belt, O2 sensor never replaced, just turn key off while moving resets computer no more light. light only activates when reducing speed goin down inclines. what sets it off is a change in air fuel mixture because engine is running at rate gravity pulls it, not completely under its own power. once you realize this you can usally avoid activation of light by depressing clutch, thereby transmission isn't running engine. GREAT CAR. the reason it hasn't been at dealer goes back to the first timing belt change. I didn't see any marks that lined up, but car was running fine before replacement 75000mi. went to dealer, head mechanic told me all hondas line up by same marks. went home ordered factory manual, two days later 15Z1 engine DOES LINE UP DIFFERENT. Never been back to dealer, but for parts, no aftermarket, shooting for 500000 miles. WISH ME LUCK!!!

I own a 1992 Civic VX and it has 388357 miles on it to date.

I'm planning on keeping this car for a long while because it is great on gas and easy to maneuver.

I have the same HO2S (oxygen sensor) problem as the previous poster. I do the same thing - disengage the trans for downhills when it is safe.

I had to replace the head gasket last year - the heater outlet hose from the head had a small hole which I didn't notice till it was too late. I was surprised at how easy it was to pull the head off.

I just did all four brakes and front rotors and the drive shafts.

The car needs a new alternator; I've also just noticed a flicker in the speedometer - it may be related to the faulty alternator. We'll see.

I do all the work myself so save a bunch instead of going to the shop. Auto Zone has a great shop manual online for the car.

I have a 92 Civic with almost 300000 miles. I drive it everyday.

Had to change the tranny and that's it.

It just started to throw code 48, and have been noticing it kind of sputter and go whine at half throttle, and then give it more gas. Anyone experience the same thing? Can I get some much needed help thanks?

Other than that, I love it.