Honda Civic 2005 and earlier

jrct9454

Beware - because of the continuing trade in Canadian cars by US buyers [ the prices on some models are 10-20% less after currency translation ], more and more car makers have made announcements that they will no longer honor warranties on Canadian cars purchased new by US citizens and registered here.

Ford, DCX, Honda, and Nissan have all either made announcements to this effect, or have made threats to the dealers involved. Lots of questions about what the auto makers can legally do about this, but don't be surprised if your US dealer takes a hard line on warranty claims for any car with a VIN that was originally sent to Canada.

silvercrown

until I discovered that the EL really does exist. I thought that someone had cleverly modified a Civic to look like an Acura. It seems easy enough to do. Why someone would want to do this, I don't know. But hey, anything's possible these days ...

If you ever find the new link, please post it. And I will do the same. Thanks again!

doozenberg

Does anyone know if there will be any significant changes to the 2003 Honda Civic models (non-hybrid)? When are they supposed to be available?

Thanks.

saskman

Just couldn't let this topic slip by without out jumping in.

First off, here's the Acura Canada site with EL info, download the brochure for the best pics and info...

http://english.acuracanada.ca/models/el.asp

Second, Yahoo has a discussion group set up for the EL (I hope I don't get in trouble for sending you guys over to Yahoo)...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AcuraEL/

Couple of guys over there have discussed morphing (sp?) a Civic into an EL.

Third, picked up our black 2002 EL Premium (automatic) 3 month ago and are loving it. Its a great entry level (near) luxury car thats really worth the price over a Civic (IMHO). Civics top out at about $21 grand CAD, and thats the base price for an EL, we payed about $26 for our Premium. In that price range an Accord SE (4 cyl, cloth, auto) was within a couple of hundred bucks as well as a new Altima S (4 cyl, auto, cloth, ABS) was within our price range.

Touring is the base model, Premium adds leather and a moon roof, then there is the dealer prepped Limited that adds a spoiler, 6 disc CD changer (trunk mounted), and gold lettering.

Every time I sit in the car, I'm glad we bought it, as the leather, chrome and wood accents make you fell like your driving a way more expensive car then you are. The VTEC doesn't hurt either!

Any questions, ask away.

saskman

Just couldn't let this topic slip by without out jumping in.

First off, here's the Acura Canada site with EL info, download the brochure for the best pics and info...

http://english.acuracanada.ca/models/el.asp

Second, Yahoo has a discussion group set up for the EL (I hope I don't get in trouble for sending you guys over to Yahoo)...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AcuraEL/

Couple of guys over there have discussed morphing (sp?) a Civic into an EL.

Third, picked up our black 2002 EL Premium (automatic) 3 month ago and are loving it. Its a great entry level (near) luxury car thats really worth the price over a Civic (IMHO). Civics top out at about $21 grand CAD, and thats the base price for an EL, we payed about $26 for our Premium. In that price range an Accord SE (4 cyl, cloth, auto) was within a couple of hundred bucks as well as a new Altima S (4 cyl, auto, cloth, ABS) was within our price range.

Touring is the base model, Premium adds leather and a moon roof, then there is the dealer prepped Limited that adds a spoiler, 6 disc CD changer (trunk mounted), and gold lettering.

Every time I sit in the car, I'm glad we bought it, as the leather, chrome and wood accents make you fell like your driving a way more expensive car then you are. The VTEC doesn't hurt either!

Any questions, ask away.

bjk2001

Thanks saksman,

I didn't go to detail comparison between Canada Acura EL vs US Civic EX. Look likes Honda takes Civic EX from US and added a few options as standard equipment ex.. alloy wheel, floor carpet then put on Acura badge in Canada and sell it as Acura EL. Acura kept the same 185/65-R15 tires didn't go to 16 inches or wider 15 inches 195/60R-15 tires. Interesting thing is moonroof is standard equipment in Civic EX and optional for Acura EX Touring. Must be some marketing strategy. LOL.

bjk

saskman

Sorry to clog the Civic message board with Acura propoganda but found some articles having to do with the EL.

First one compares with EL with the Civic...

http://www.automotive-review.com/comparo5.htm

(sort of like comparing a Camry to an ES300)

A review of the EL...

http://www.canadiandriver.com/testdrives/01acura_el.htm

bjk2001

saksman:

Thanks for the link. But he was comparing Acura EL vs Civic LX. Which is like comparing Civic EX vs Civic LX. I don't know whether Honda selling Civic Ex in Canada or not. If you look at US version Civic Ex which has 127 HP 1.7 VTEC engine, ABS, sunroof and also equipped with so called bigger tire 15 in 185/65-15R.

Quote "Honda's supplemented the EL's engine with bigger wheels and tires (15-inches compared to 14") end quote.

I mentioned in my earlier post. I was disappointed that Acura EL doesn't come with wider 15 inch tires 195/60-15R or even 16 inch tires. Maybe there isn't much difference between Canada Acura EL vs Honda Civic EX. That's why American Honda doesn't sell Acura EL in US.

Here is US Honda Civic link. You can compare Civic EX with Acura EL.

http://www.hondacars.com/models/civic_sedan/features.html

Regards,

bjk

dermen

I agree with BJK. That isnt a good comparison. Some of the info is wrong too. He said the EL came with the SI's 127hp engine. The EX has that engine not the SI. The SI has a 160hp engine.

backy

Probably won't have significant changes. Honda already made some tweaks to the '02 to address complaints with the suspension and to give it a more upmarket feel. The next major tweaks should come out in the '04 model year, based on Honda's traditional schedule.

saskman

I think the confusion is arising because Honda has different model designations for the US and Canada. I'm nowhere near an expert when it comes to Honda, but I'll give it a shot.
In Canada there are only 2 4-door Civic models, the DX and LX. DX comes with 14 wheels and the LX comes with 15's. Both have 115 hp 1.7L engine, no larger engine is available in the 4 doors in Canada. No EX model, therefore no sunroof or leather available on the Civic in Canada.
So in Canada, the EL is actually a big step above any Civic that is offered to us.
The wheel/tire size issue may have to do with our northern climate and the 5 months of snow and ice we must endure. Generally speaking, the wider the tire the less grip in snow.
I hope this clears things up a bit, or more likely it made it a whole lot more confusing.

Saskman

zepplinl1

Hey everyone!!
Anybody elses fuel gauge in their '01 civic act up? Mine will nicely drop for FULL to HALF like any other car, and then when it's just a bit below half, it will drop down to almost EMPTY, turn the low fuel light on for while, then creep back up to nearly it's old position!! It even once dropped from 1/4 of a tank when we shut the car off to 3 hours later when we turned it on the next time to the needle actually touching the E for empty! Anyone else having problems with their fuel gauge or heard of this being a problem???
THANKS EVERYONE!!

bjk2001

saskman:

Thanks, that's what I thought. Honda plays name/marketing game in Canda and US market. US has alot more trim level, body style in Civic.

Honda in Canada took Civic EX in US and put Acura name and called it EL. In US Honda took Civic Si (2.0L 160 HP) engine and gave to Acura entry level RSX.

Regards,

bjk.

saskman

bjk2001,
just to add to your post, when Honda took the US EX and put in it Canada with the Acura badge on it, they also gave us a different frond end, headlights, front fenders & quarterpanels and new hood.
At least from the front, our EL's bear little resembelance to the thousands of Civics running around. Wish I could say the same thing about the back end!

Saskman

pat

The Town Hall is about to take on a new look in an effort to make content more easily searchable and accessible.

Have you seen the Letter from the Town Hall Manager on the Town Hall Welcome page? If not, you might want to follow that link to have a look.

And hang on to your seats. Change is never easy - for any of us - but resolving the Search problems we've had will be worth the pain.

Pat
Sedans Host

dardson1

Having lived through the gas lines in the 70's followed by mandated milage requirements resulting in downsizing of both weight and horsepower in automobiles, I remember when 0-60 in ten seconds was considered a plus by automotive reviewers and car buyers. I'm currently looking for reliable transportation for my 79yr old mom, drove a Civic LX today with the 115hp engine, and found the power perfectly respectable. It's no rocket, but with myself, the salesman, and the AC running it moved along nicely even with the automatic transmission. It feels well put together, quick enough, and rather spacious when sitting in the drivers seat. The seats have a distinctly upgraded look (better than the cloth in my 34k Tahoe) and everything seems way better than it has to be. Cars have come a very long way in almost 40 years. Honda knows how to make a small car, and I tend to agree with most reviewers....Honda is the standard by which all other small cars are judged. How do they do that? lol

silvercrown

I missed a day on the board and look what I missed. I seem to have created a new topic within a topic with my Acura EL question. But it is all very interesting information coming out of this discussion.

I never knew that the marketing strategies and trim levels were so different between the US and Canada. It does seem a bit confusing. I'll have to explore the posted links later to look at the comparisons.

Thanks for jumping ing saskman. You added a lot of "inside" information with a personal perspective. Your EL sounds like a really nice car. Now I'm curious to see the interior. I guess I could always cross the bridge to Windsor ...

zepplinl1

Hey everyone!!
Anybody elses fuel gauge in their '01 civic act up? Mine will nicely drop for FULL to HALF like any other car, and then when it's just a bit below half, it will drop down to almost EMPTY, turn the low fuel light on for while, then creep back up to nearly it's old position!! It even once dropped from 1/4 of a tank when we shut the car off to 3 hours later when we turned it on the next time to the needle actually touching the E for empty! Anyone else having problems with their fuel gauge or heard of this being a problem???
THANKS EVERYONE!!

harleyguy

I have a question for our host. I am looking for pricing information on a 2002 Civic LX 4dr sedan. The Edmunds new car information provides information only for the Civic hybrid. What happened to regular-engine Civic sedans?

bjk2001

harrleyguy:

You click on 2003 pricing. There is 2002 pricing link right next to 2003.

Good luck,

bjk

pat

bjk is right, but I can see how that layout is confusing. Here is a link that will take you directly to the 2002 Civic page: http://www.edmunds.com/new/2002/honda/civic/index.html.

Hope this helps.

Pat
Sedans Host

doozenberg

I asked this same question in the Corolla forum and got mostly answers in favor of the Corolla, so I'm wondering if you guys have anything new to say:

If I'm planning on driving a new car for the next 10 years or to 200,000 miles, which is better: the 2002 Civic or the 2003 Corolla? I've heard that the Civic will give you fewer engine problems in the long-run. But then, the Corolla does seem to be a bit better in terms of build quality. Any thoughts on this?

backy

If you are planning on driving a car for 10 years and 200,000 miles and you are choosing between a Civic and a Corolla, reliability should not be your first consideration, IMO. Both cars are as reliable as you can get in the small-car class. Give either one regular maintenance and don't abuse it, and it will last 10 years and 200,000 miles easy (unless you live in the Rust Belt, then the body may go before the engine). Instead, I think you should focus on which car you will enjoy driving for those 10 years and 200,000 miles. The two cars have distinct differences--in styling, handling, ride quality. Which one do you like driving more? Which one do you like looking at the most (if you care)? Which one has the most/best dealers in your area (for price negotiation up front and service afterwards)? Besides, no one can give you a good answer on how the 10-year reliability of a 2002 Civic compares with that of a 2003 Corolla because no one's driven those cars that long yet. If you look at the Consumer Reports April Auto issue, you can see repair history for the last seven years--but you'll see the Civic and Corolla are very close, and those figures don't reflect the redesigned '03 Corolla.

bjk2001

Doozenberg:

Backy is right. You have to test drive both to see which one is your favorite. Reliability of 2003 Corolla is 1st year model so hard to tell but according to Corolla past history it is relaible.

One thing in favorite of Civic is resale value. Civic is always better than Corolla. Which will not make too much difference after 10 years 200K miles. Due to 2002 Civic is an old model and price is very low you could get very good deal now, Corolla is new model so price is harder to negotiate. Also image, most of Civic owners are younger than Corolla owners. In general, Toyota owners' average ages are older than Honda owners.

I don't own a Corolla so don't know maintenance schedule. I know 2002 Civic is very low maintenance, in "SEVERE" driving condition, you don't have to replace timing belt and spark plug until 110 K miles or 7 years., trans fluid after 60K mi, coolant @ 120K mi, brake fluid every 3 years. Just change oil and filter every 5 K mi, A/C pollen fiter every 30k mi. Almost like fill up gas and go.

Good luck for your new car purchase.

bjk

igloomaster

Hello
thinking of buying a 2002 LX auto w/a/c.

I'm a musician and will be transporting roughly 300 - 400lbs of cargo in the trunk and some in the back seat -- -- on a regular basis.

No, I don't want a truck or van.

Question: can the Civic 1.7 liter engine handle carrying this weight, or will it be constantly straining and thus could wear out fast?

I guess the weight is about the same as transporting 3 adult passengers in addition to the adult male driver, all the time.

Anybody have any experience to share?
thanks!!

bigkahunafl

Just got my new Consumer Reports. They have a review on the 2003 Corolla. In there comparison ranking, the Civic was picked over the Corolla.

gliddell

All things being equal should I buy a 94 Honda Civic LX with 130,000 miles or a 95 Nissan Altima with 103,000 miles at same price - about $4500.00.

soldbear

I would choose the Altima over the Civic in that case. This is just based on my gut feeling.

You can say that I'm unbiased. I currently have a 2002 Odyssey and a 2002 Civic. I used to drive a Nissan - totalled in an accident.

cartagram

Zepplinl1: many other '01 Civic owners have complained about the same problem with the fuel gauge. I mentioned the problem to my dealer during a routine oil change and they set up an appointment to repair it. The repair is drastic but cured the problem for me: they replace the entire instrument cluster.

Which reset my odometer from 16,036 miles back to 12 miles.

(I should've asked the service manager if I had to break the engine in all over again.)

So you can live with your current gauge or live with a new odometer setting.

mickeywdw

We test drove a Civic LX sedan last night and the road noise seemed excessively loud at all speeds. We want to buy the EX, but the dealership (first one we went to did not have an EX to test drive. Has your Civic been quiet while driving?

thanks

jrct9454

...will not be significantly different between an LX and EX. Which is one reason we wound up with an '03 Corolla.

CU's ratings take into account a whole variety of factors that each customer may value differently. For me, the exta refinement of the Corolla outweighs the slight handling advantage that the Civic enjoys. To each their own...

alyssazmom

Mickey,

Compared to the car I first owned (1997 Escort Sedan) the Civic is very muted in terms of road noise. But you'll be driving the car and if it seems loud to you then you should look for a different car. I don't believe there would be much of a difference between the LX and EX however I would find a dealer who has an EX for you to try. I'm a firm believer in road testing the car/model you paln to purchase.

Best of luck,

Carrie

bjk2001

mickeywdw:

You must have very sensitive ears. Did you roll your window down when you test drive? I don't hear any loud road noise in our 02 EX, only when I open the moonfoor or lower the window.

alyssazmom:

There are some difference between EX and LX. EX comes with VTEC engine 10% more horse power show be a little smoother engine, also EX comes with bigger 15 inches tires. Tires will cause some road noise. Don't know what 14 inches tires LX equipped, but I am not in favorite our OEM 15" Firestone tires. Looking to get new tires as soon as our OEM tires wear out.

Benn

mickeywdw

Thanks - The LX we test drove had the windows up and the noise was noticable. Our current car is a 91 camry and it is quieter. We are scheduled to test drive an EX sedan (which is the model we want) tomorrow at a different dealer so we'll see. I am hoping it was an issue with that specific car.

The dealer is offering the EX sedan with Automatic and Side Airbags (which we want) for $16,295, plus tax in the NY area. Is this a good deal?

Thanks again,

alyssazmom

That is a great offer! Grab it while you can! I bought my EX Sedan, auto with side airbags for $16,504.00

Carrie

igloomaster

Hello
thinking of buying a 2002 LX auto w/a/c.

I'm a musician and will be transporting roughly 300 - 400lbs of cargo in the trunk and some in the back seat -- -- on a regular basis.

No, I don't want a truck or van.

Question: can the Civic 1.7 liter engine handle carrying this weight, or will it be constantly straining and thus could wear out fast?

I guess the weight is about the same as transporting 3 adult passengers in addition to the adult male driver, all the time.

Anybody have any experience to share?
thanks!!

cwliang

I've found that the EX engine doesn't have a lot of trouble with a full load but you do have to rev the car harder to get to the power. Usually I am able to keep the revs around 2-3k rpm to accelerate decently, but I usually hold the revs to 3-5k with a full load so I don't get run over by trucks while merging. The LX may not be as strong but I don't have any personal experience...

In a reply to a post on ride quality and tire pressure from awhile back that I think no one answered, increasing the tire pressure should decrease the ride quality by allowing more of the short duration bumps (high frequency) in the road to come through. But... there should be an increase in handling due to the increased pressure...

jjpcat

During the past Christmas, I was taking my wife and another couple from SF bay area to Lake Tahoe in my 2k1 Civic LX (auto). The elevation went from sea level to 6-7k ft. Yes, I had to rev the engine hard (5k+ rpm) occationaly to keep up with the traffic. But I believe I have to do the same even if I am the only people in the car. This engine simply can't handle the uphills at under 3k rpm.

That says, I didn't feel I had to cry for more power during that trip. In another word, the addition of 3 adults didn't make a big difference on those hills and I felt quite safe.

That's quite understandable. The car + all the fluid + gas + driver shall come to about 2800lbs. Adding 3 more adults shall bring the weight to about 3200lbs. So, the difference is only 14%.

I am the person who reported the weird ride quality & tire pressure relationship. Yes, the common sense is that higher tire pressure shall decrease the ride quality and that's also what I thought before I tried it. So, I was surprised by the result after I pumped the tires to 41psi. I still can't explain it.

zepplinl1

CARTAGRAM: Thanks so much for answering my question. Did you have to pressure the dealership into replacing the instrument panel or did they suggest it? What happens to your mileage though with respect to re-selling or oil changes or things like that? Sounds like a dream come true!!
Thanks again!

mdriver

I have recently noticed that the A/C in my 2002 Civic leaves a lot to be desired. Although cool air exits the vents, it not exactly cold and barely cools the car. Not only that, the fan speed doesn't seem to have the power it used to have in older Civics. I previously had a 97 Civic with dealer installed air that would almost give me frostbite. Anyone else feel that the A/C is not performing as it should?

cwliang

jjpcat, how are you defining ride quality? There's no objective way of measuring ride quality (I think), so if it feels better to you, you get the best of both worlds -- better handling, better ride.

As for the A/C, it seems pretty cool to me... the A/C doesn't have any problems making me feel COLD. But I do live in Maryland, and it hasn't gotten to be stiflingly hot, yet...

jjpcat

I am not satisfied with A/C performance in all 3 Honda I have owned. You won't feel the problem, unless you are driving under the sun and the temperature is above 90F. Cars & Drivers reported this problem in an Accord some years back. Yes, Honda is making progress. But its A/C is still nowhere close to 98 ES300.

However, one co-worker here said his Civic (previous generation) had a very strong A/C. So, maybe that model is an exception to Honda.

lily888

Hi, It is my first time to buy a car. So a little scared.
I am I'm looking for a 2002 Civic Dx Auto 4 Dr. and I live in Detroit. Will this car be fit for the snow weather in Detroit? Could anybody recommend me a good price and dealer in Detroit area?
BTW, some people told me that it is a better deal to buying a one or two years used car than buying a new car? Could anyone also tell me your opinion on it?

alyssazmom

First, relax! Buying a new car, to me, is fun! WIth a new car you get to pick the options, model and color YOU want and it's brand spanking new.

I live in Virginia and bought my car in Jan. and my car handled just fine in a couple of inches of snow. Anything more than that and us Virginian's stock up on bread, toilet paper, as much prepackaged junk food as possible and stay home!

I have a 2002 Honda Civic EX Sedan with Auto and love it. Due to a possible loss of job and income next June 2003, I may have to sell it *cry* and my #1 consideration is a DX Sedan. For Honda Civic as a whole, regardless of model, they are well built, reliable, fun cars to drive. I love the new styling inside and out! My best advice is to test drive test drive test drive! Compare it to a Toyota Corolla, Hyundia Elantra (but then you're getting into a lower safety class) and Mazda Protege.

Best of luck!

Carrie

carguy000

I was going to have the Honda Dealership check out my A/C at my next oil change, and then I realized that it cools REALLY WELL ONLY when I'm driving down the road with my foot on the gas. If I'm at a stoplight or something, it seems that the compressor is still running (as the air is still cold), but it doesn't match the coldness of the air that comes out when I'm driving down the road with a constant push on the gas, or with the cruise on (both on the interstate). So, I'm not sure if that's an issue or not. My mom's Avalon seems to cool well even when it isn't being driven down the road. I wonder if engine size has anything to do with it, and that our little four cylinders cut the compressor down at idle speed or something. Not sure. Otherwise, though, I'm loving my Civic. 18,500 trouble-free miles, and she gets wonderful gas mileage. Without the air on (and with properly inflated tires), I've gotten upwards of 40 MPG on the interstate. I'm hoping to get many wonderful miles out of my Civic, and if she's anything like my brother's Accord, I don't think I'll have a problem. Have a nice day!

mickeywdw

Thanks for all the input. Our test drive of the EX went great - it was much quieter than the LX we test drove which makes me think it was a car specific issue with the first dealer we went to. We signed the deal for $16,295 including destination for the EX sedan auto with side airbags. They even had silver, which is the color we wanted, in stock. We pick it up next week... Looking forward to replacing our 91 camry and hoping we get 10 years of reliable and safe service!

alyssazmom

Congratulations and wow, what a great price!

Enjoy the new EX!

Carrie

martylaw

Just picked up a new Civic EX Sedan today. Very nice car. I recall that there was a recent post inquiring about an aftermarket armrest. We had such an armrest installed. It matches the original upholstery, and is full width between the seats, replacing the factory (very narrow) armrest. It installs into the same fitting as the factory armrest, and can be raised to a vertical position. The only disadvantage is that it is positioned over the parking brake, which can still be operated, however, and the armrest can be raised, in any event. I think that the full width armrest adds a nice luxury touch to the car.

The website for the manufacturer is www.jjproducts.net. This particular armrest is not shown on the site, but I am sure you can call them and get more information.

mickeywdw

Hi,

Does anyone have a pointer to a checklist for picking up a new Civic sedan?

Thanks....

isellhondas

Well...when we deliver new Hondas we go over the car in detail with the buyer and have them sign off a long (and boring) checklist.

We walk them around the car, making sure it is damage free etc?

Is this what you mean?