Honda Civic 1.4

Advantages: Very reliable, good engine, comfortable ride, good interiors, looks good, holds value reasonably well
Disadvantages: Some see as 'old persons' car, can be too low for some people, expensive services from Honda garages

...we came across a blue Honda Civic 1.4 16v on a private sale from an honest looking couple. Now I thought 'Bit of an old mans car to be fair' - and I could not have been more wrong! The curves of the Civic are very aesthetically pleasing and the test drive put my thoughts to shame! The engine was quiet, the ride was smooth and the interior was comfortable and clean. I was also shocked by the kick of the small engine - aided by the 16v - and all in ...
...with the Civic are the expensive Honda services - I was once recently quoted £256 for the full service before they even thought about doing anything else on the car if need be. But I guess if the cars never go wrong then they need the money from somewhere!! ... Read review

Advantages: Attractive style, nice revisions
Disadvantages: A bit too conservative

...and say "Andy, what do Honda make?" I would same "Motorbikes, silly!" I would not automatically say "Cars". I was watching a programme last night and discovered they are the leader in the Outboard boat engine market too! Honda claims not to do things by halves - and it's hard to argue. Some Manufacturesrs build sports coupes, Honda makes the legendary NSX supercar. Where others provide diesels, Honda has VTEC petrol power and where others offer small ...
...is quite a long time. Honda has recently introduced a new Sport trim grade for the three-door hatch. It now has alloy wheels and a leather-rimmed steering. As mentioned earlier, equipment levels are good, with all models featuring driver and passenger airbags and seatbelt pretensioners as well as an immobiliser. Anti-lock brakes, electric windows, air conditioning, a sunroof and power steering are standard on most models too. The prices remain ... Read review

Advantages: Build quality, economy, perky engine
Disadvantages: small glove box, non colour-coded exterior parts

Having bought a Honda civic 1.4 E from new, having had a vauxhall corsa 1.2 beforehand, I was extremely excited at the prospect of Honda ownership. In terms of looks, the civic is a great looking car and at a very reasonable price of £10,500 (pre-registered with delivery miles) I was very happy to be signing on the dotted line. The car itself is a nippy little number - significantly more so than the corsa 1.2 I had previously. The engine likes to ...
...the highly capable technicians at Honda and there were no related problems thereafter. Honda delaers, or at least those I've dealt with, are generally good in terms of price and customer service, however, if you can find a private garage authorised to stamp your service book, you'll save loads - guaranteed! Before fitting aftermarket wheels, I found the standard wheels to be great at soaking up bumps and pot holes on the road and road noise was ... Read review

Advantages: Good sporty look, Reliable and stylish interior
Disadvantages: Really big doors!

I recently purchaseda Haond Civic 1.4 Vision which had been kitted out by the dealer to look like a R Type. When in the showrrom I actually though it was a R Type and coulnt believe the price (£11999) Ex Demo Model. This was great as although I would love an R Type my bank-manager wouldnt! The Model I puchased was from teh Vision Range, 3 Door, 1.4 engine. Since tehn (about 2 years ago) I have seen Honda's sold as Civic SPORTS, which are basically ...
...on the back. The car is fantastic and the cental gear stick on the dash is really easy to use, if a little strange at first. Handles really well , not to light, not too heavy. Im not a car nut and so dont know the specifics of the car but did enquire as to what the change in looks would cost if requested on a normal 1.4 civic Vision? £1500 was the answer I recieved and this includes, skirts, spoiler, low front bumper. Also 17" wheels, Fox evo 4's ... Read review

Advantages: Reliability and comfort come as standard
Disadvantages: relatively expensive dealer services

...I bought a 1999 Honda Civic 1.4i in June after owning my previous car, a Vauxhall Astra for 5 years. I paid £7995 for an ex management vehicle with just 13,000 on the clock. It was in near A1 condition, both inside and outside. I was also given a full 3 year guarantee. I had never previously thought of buyng a 'Foreign' car, but an offer by my local dealer made me take a look. I was certainly impressed by what I saw. The car was clean, well equipped ...
...was impressive to say the least. I had never driven in such comfort and was surprised at how quiet the car was. My mind was made up and I decided to go ahead with the purchase. 5 months and 10,000 miles later, the car still runs as it did on the first day. It has been very reliable with no problems. I have returned the car to the dealer once due to a slight rumbling noise. They knew exactly what was the cause and within one hour, I was back on the ... Read review

Advantages: Free Passage Into London. Interesting Technology. A "Proper" Car.
Disadvantages: Terribly Thirsty in Town. Half Hearted Exterior Styling.

...WHAT IS IT? Now there’s a question! This is Honda’s answer to the rather better known Toyota Prius, i.e an ultra low emissions vehicle, in this case dependant on a combination of small (1.3 litre) petrol engine and a battery powered electric motor. The badge on the back reads “HYBRID”, the one on the speedometer “IMA” – Integrated Motor Assist. Both of these terms in practice amount to the same thing, a medium sized saloon car powered by two “engines” working together to produce an ultra-low emissions vehicle, theoretically capable of very good economy. Looking at the Civic saloon it is difficult to visualise the much more stylish, and popular, Civic hatchback with which, I suspect, you will be far more familiar. Indeed this is a totally different car, sharing no external body panels with the Civic hatch, inside... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Economical, reliable, feels like a high end car
Disadvantages: No good for petrol heads!

...I've owned this car for over a year now and am very impressed. It's hybrid engine and low emissions means it falls in the £40/year road tax bracket and is exempt from the congestion charge. On top of that I'm able to get between 450 and 480 miles out of a tank driving around town. My average mpg is 47 - 50mpg around town. On motorways I get around 54 - 57mpg. I haven't worked it out but it saving me substantially in petrol. TO drive you'd never know it was a hybrid until you stopped and the engine stops with you. It took a while to get used to and I must admit to thinking I'd stalled on a number of occassions but again this saves petrol and helps reduce my carbon footprint :) In terms of comfort I can't complain. Leather seats, seat warmers and a comfortable ride position make the civic very comfrotable over long distances... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Low running costs, reliable, green
Disadvantages: Not for boy racers!

...slopes etc and it recharges itself while you brake (reclaiming a lot of the kinetic energy lost in normal braking) or when you are cruising speeds. Also the engine cuts off when you stop completely, e.g. at traffic lights etc and comes to life as soon as you engage the first gear. You would be surprised at how much fuel that saves! And the driving experience - well it really doesnt need any specialist skills to drive one! No really! Honda Civic IMA comes in only manual transmission and you drive it like any other manual car. The only hint that this car is different from others is in the dials on the dash which tell you when the battery is assisting or being recharged and the battery levels. I bought it last year and it has been such a boon for me so far! I am able to do at least 450 miles on a full tank (about 11 gallons) and I pay less... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful