USED Honda Civic Hatchback (06 - 12)

My car

Had car for 2 months as a temporary hire car - I am amazed that they can sell cars which are so poor. It looks very futuristic but underneath it is like a car from 10 years ago. The engine is hopeless below 3000rpm and deafening above 4000rpm. Road noise is very high. Best driven hard - keep the engine above 5000rpm and it will keep with the traffic unfortunatly the noise will quickly force you to slow down. [I found that on the autobahns above 100mph the engine is OK.] On UK motorways you need to use 2nd and 3rd gear to pass traffic. The car has some surprising features - folding mirrors that only work with the igition on, no timer for the heated rear window, no rear washwipe [understandable as there is virtually no vision through the rear window] and a switch on the drivers door that locks out all the passenger electric windows - even the drivers switches are locked out. A triumph of form over function. Honda should stick to designing motorcycles.

My car

Now had for 8 months (bought second hand 11 months old) and after reading many reviews (which reflect personal taste and experiences) my experience is as follows:

Very good handling with the tight suspension and low-profile tyres. Yes, rear vision is by no means the best, but when you master the HUGE door mirrors, parking is easy. Love the dash and the looks, nothing on the road at the same price comes close. I'm 6'3" and find the cabin roomy. Engine pulls nicely >2,500rpm and when you work it, it works! Just completed Glenrothes - Basildon - Glenrothes (900 mile round trip) and it was an absolute pleasure. Sixth gear at (ahem) "just over" the limit, turned in nearly 43mpg. Worked it out manually (full tank to full tank vs mileage) and the computer was correct. Do a lot of town driving and over 6,500 miles now have averaged 39.2mpg.

Once experienced the knocking from the back, stopped and pulled away again and never came back (yet). Occasional "creaking" noise from where the dash meets the windscreen but this only seems to happen on cold days when the car is warming up and then disappears.

Service due in Feb 09 and so far it has been a dream, I just hope it stays that way.

My car

I was really worried about buying this car after reading some of the reviews on this site, i have had a type r in the past as well as honda motorbikes and have always found them to be exellent. My new civic is no execption, i love it. i drive 70 enjoyable miles to work every day and have had up to 62mpg on that journey although i average about 54mpg. people have comented on its hard ride but i think its just right, i like to feel whats going on underneath me. i have rear parking sensors which is really helpfull but i dont find the limited rear view a problem at all. just take a test drive! the the extras that come with the EX are fantastic. the bluetooth phone is exeptionally clear and everything is right where you want it. i understand that people do get a 'bad' car but mine has had no problems and the build quality is what i expected from a honda...brilliant.

My car

Have owned this tub for 12 months and i still can not bring my self to like it. For a 1.8 ivtex it pulls like a slug on a dry day. One good thing is you will not fall asleep for the rattles and squeaks. Parking, now thats another thing - you just can not see. I only wish my son had not said they are bulletproof. If i had the money I would buy a tank and crush it ...but things will get better as i am going back to the Blue Oval. Thank god for FORD!