Honda Civic 2005 and earlier

rgarbaccio

Through all my car research.. I have come to the conclusion that there is little reason to buy a recent used Honda with low mileage. The resale is too high, and for a little extra you can get new with the full warranty.

Buying an older one with hi-mileage is a different story.

magilla

Lady in my office just bought a new Civic DX 4dr, auto, no side airbags, no locks, no windows, pretty basic. Couldn't believe how badly she got hosed - $14,990. Unstinking believable! Of course, I didn't say a word. Locally, they're selling LXs for less than that! And EXs pretty close to that. The scariest part is that she seemed pleased as pie with the deal. And she REALLY got hosed on her trade in. I saw her trade. It's this type of customer that keeps the dealers looking for more. Kind of like hitting that great golf shot (1out of 110 will keep some guys coming back for more). Just had to share this...

mdriver

rgarbaccio, you are right about not buying a newish used Civic. I think cars that retain much of their value are worth buying new, and cars that have low resale value are good values as used cars, maybe a year old.

autolover3

I was wondering if anyone has any information on the gas mileage issue w/ the '01 Civic EX's. I currently have a '98 EX (31-18 mpg auto) and remember that some people had problems w/ '01 Civic EX autos getting poor gas mileage (early in the model year)? Has this been resolved? Thanks in advance.

dsgecho

I have read a lot of the posts regarding a number of build and recall issues for the 2001 Civic. Having just test driven sveral cars, they seem to do the mission for which they are intended fairly well. Do you think that gas guage, recalls, and some of the misc. electronic problems have been solved for the Civics built late in the model year? Do you know this for certain? I think that would be the case, just trying to get some sound advice!
Thanks in advance.
Don Gillespie

isellhondas

Easy for me to say this, but the recalls were of little consequence. Fuel line clamps that we had never seen cause any trouble. Only affected a couple of models.

Some of the early EX's would lose their radio code. frustrating, but no big deal. Now fixed.

I know nothing about gas guage troubles.

jiiken

Here in the Southern California area the lowest price I have seen is 12k for a 5 spd civic LX without side air bags. You can't find too many at that price but can definetely buy them for that if you are determined. I test drove one that was available but didn't really like the way it drove compared to the Hyundai Elantra GLS which has 15" tires which give it a smoother ride, and of course rear cupholders which are hard to find. The Elantra has more HP which gives it alot more pep than the Civic, and seems to be built a little more solid. After test driving the Hyundai I didn't think the civic LX was worth 12k since you can get an Elantra for about 10k in the Southern California area. I bought the Elantra 3 weeks ago have 1200 miles on it and love it, and I bought it for under 10k.

jace1

Are there any notable changes to the O2's that should cause me to wait and not get an 01? I would not expect much since it is only year 2 for this gen. I am interested in an EX 5 sp sedan w SAB. Thanks for replies.

Jace

civic600si

Hi all! I'm very pleased with my 4dr 2001 Civic 5spd LX. Still have not had a very pleasing mileage though (28-29mpg). Can anyone please explain exactly how variable steering works? Is this the reason why on the highway I sometimes feel that the Civic easily leans on either side that I tend to constantly adjust the steering wheel to drive in center? Is it the Civic or is just me (I got used to my old but reliable Civic DX 85 which I drove for 3 years).

Has anyone had a problem with window rattle? I took my car to the dealer this morning and they told me they were going to order parts for this problem. Is this a universal problem with the new Civic? It's an irritating slight rattle on the front passenger's window.

What's the more accurate way of calculating for mileage? WHen the Empty fuel comes on, how many more gallons would the Civic still have?

I'd appreciate any replies. Thanks!

truckdude1

Just wanted to let you know our 3 week old Civic EX just hit 1600 miles and is perfect. Just washed and waxed it and it's extremely shiny. Our only concern is that its getting around 22-29 miles per gallon!! Is this normal , good, or bad? Please help. Also we noticed a noise such as a rattle or something from the dashboard or speaker! Last, but not least the suspension squeaks when your proceed over a speed bump , is all of any of this normal or what? Thanks for the help.
See ya later

kimbersk

According to Post #1054 by dsgecho, it said there had been a number of recalls on Civics. I have a 2001 Honda Civic LX sedan. So far, I've only received one recall for the fuel pump or something like that, which has already been taken care of. Am I missing something? What are the other recalls? Also, in a previous post that I posted, I inquired about two small paint chips on my car. See post #1012 for the description. Anyway, would my Warranty cover that? I haven't taken it in yet, so I'm worried they won't cover it. It's my very first car, so I'm still not sure of some things. Thanks for the replies.

jlim1

I got the new Civic 4-dr EX late last month and the car is approaching 900 miles. I know that the car was produced in July. I did have the dealer run a check on the fuel pump recall before I picked up the car and he said that the recall doesn't apply to mine. I would think that the factory might have resolved the recall. No problem with the CD player too, as opposed to the numerous concerns posted. Also, I've been seeing great mileage too on the EX: 39-41 mpg for a conservation driver with 99% city driving. I would like to believe that later production of Civic would have the mileage and other mechanical concerns resolved by then. These sorts of issues are usually found by Honda within the first 6 months of release through customer complaints. Engineering would have to issue design or process changes. By the time the design/process changes take place, the later batches are more likely to have the bugs ironed out.

Currently, no problems with the car. Just qualms about the increasingly loud engine noise (which I have posted numerous times before), slow engine reaction after start-up in cold weather, so-so AC. The ride may be bouncy at bit after going over speed bumps if I were to sit in the rear. Other than that, it's a fun driving.

sobers

I have helped 5 friend getting their Civics (all LX) They are regularly getting 28/29 in our City (too much stop & almost no go !! :-) ) They are also getting 37-38 on freeway, one of them got 40 cruise set to 70mph for 250 mile trip !!

I myself am getting EPA figures on my Accord. 22 in city (23 is epa) & 32 on Freeway (epa is 30!)

kmidas

We were thinking of buying the Civic EX but we are having second thoughts after hearing the complaints about mushy shocks and loud engine noise.
Particularly the engine noise increasing after driving for a while. Is this a consistent problem with Civic owners? I don't want a noisy car.

isellhondas

For what it's worth...

I've sold lots of these and have heard not one thing about "mushy" shocks. Only in this forum have I heard this and haven't witnessed this myself.

Noise? You'll have to drive one to see what you think. The noise won't increase as you drive that would be pretty impossible.

They aren't as quiet as a Cadillac or even an Accord but I don't think they are bad at all. You'll have to be the judge.

Just don't get scared off what could be the best car you've ever owned.

Drive one and then decide.

tlindeman1

I turned over 5,000 miles on my 2001 Civic LX sedan today and am loving the car. Mileage has been consistently between 34-37 mpg with a mix of highway and city driving. The only mechanical problems I can report are a hesitant power window switch for the driver's window and a clutch that seems to engage a little more abruptly than when new...both correctable and more annoyance than problems. I do say that the shocks and struts are a little soft with lots of rear bouncing over road undulations and have heard other similar complaints. Honda reduced the spring rates by about 25% to improve the ride and may have over-softened the shocks as well. Generally, the ride is very good for a small car but I will be looking to replace the factory shocks with aftermarket units as soon as they are available. All in all I'm very pleased with the car and would recommend it.

civic600si

Hopefully nothing else goes wrong, now I'm starting to love the 5spd Civic LX. With only 600 mi in it, I have yet to reach the mileage it's supposed to have (32-39mpg). I'm still getting 28-29 mpg but that's alright. I've got a fine car that'll give me peace of mind in the long term.

isellhondas

Well, that's probably the solution. Those who feel the rear shocks are too soft can replace them with something stiffer.

Some Civic shoppers used to complain that the cars rode too choppy and the Corolla salespeople delighted in pointing out that the Corollas had a softer ride.

Hard to please everyone, I guess.

bordsource

Those rear shocks ARE too soft. I went over a set of train tracks yesterday. These tracks are on a slight incline, and in the middle of a left turn. The front end tracked through straight and true, no problems what so ever. The rear, however, LOFTED COMPLETELY INTO THE AIR, flew out to the right and came back down with a humongous screech. While it's admirable that the rear didn't come around completely, it's still a bit weird for the car to do that, especially as I have never seen any other car do that on that set of train tracks.

mdriver

Actually it's not hard to please everyone. If you make seven Civic models: EX,LX,DX,HX(2 door only), then it doen't take a genius to figure out that you could make one of them with a sports oriented suspension, while leaving the others with the mush. I know, I know, the 2002 Si should resolve this, but that car will have a limited availability to the point of being almost a non-choice. Now I'm not talking about a rock-hard suspension to handle like a Porsche, but something a little more competitive with the other sporty small cars like the Sentra SE. But all seven Civic models drive, ride and handle exactly the same.

jrct9454

...you have asserted at least twice on this board that the Si is supposed to be some kind of "limited availability" model. I'll tell you how limited - limited only by demand. The Swindon plant in the UK is currently underutilized, and Honda would be more than happy to see demand for this model exceed its expectations.

This debate is never going to be resolved to your satisfaction; I and others here maintain that Honda is only being rational in how they have engineered the new Civic. The Si takes it in a direction you claim you want to go, but then claim it won't be "available enough". How can you know, when the car is five-six months away from introduction?

And Bord, if you actually got the rear wheels off the ground going over railroad tracks, I don't want to think about the speed you were carrying at the time. I've driven the new Civic repeatedly, and simply am unable to make the rear suspension perform these horrific feats as documented here. I still maintain that Honda has hit its target audience's preferences, and as pointed out above, was reacting to a lot of perception that the old car was too hard-edged. Maybe you guys are just in the wrong ride - the Mazda Protege ES certainly will ride firmly enough for you, and if the Sentra is the answer, then why not get it? There is no shortage of these cars out there, that's for sure.

No reason for EVERYONE to like this car; that's why the marketplace provides alternatives. Personally, I think Honda did the right things with the new Civic, and beyond the usual first-year teething problems, see no reason why it won't continue to sell at the usual rate. For me, their real shortcomings are the lack of power and equipment [like ABS as an option] in the LX...but again, the real-world customer base doesn't seem to care all that much. It's the hardcore enthusiasts who are offended, and that's the target for the Si...of which I am confident there will be no shortage. They can produce all this market can absorb...

bordsource

Ummm, maybe you aren't as perceptive or as sensitive to these things. My best friend has a '95 Civic DX that not only handles better, but also rides better than mine. My car pogos on the highway; his does not. My car leans a lot throuhg turns; his does not. I think the handling issues are mainly a function of the taller body (higher center of gravity) combined with softer suspension settings. But, no, I do not think that that was acceptable. Even if I had been speeding through the turn, the rear wheels still shouldn't have lofted completely into the air. Think about it: if you're going off a ramp-like crest, the front end should lighten or something of the sort, one would think. But no, that didn't happen in the least bit. No squirrely steering, no twitch from the tires, nothing. Then the rears clear the same crest and go flying. Yes, I know there's no weight back there. That's why the suspension needs to be able to compensate! On speed bumps at 5 mph, the rear hikes up noticably...kind of school-bus like. So if it happens on speed bumps, it happens on railroad tracks, which makes it a problem. Yes, I need to exercise more caution when going over crests; that's not the issue. The issue is SHOULD I have to exercise that extra caution, or did Honda just screw up and make the rear shocks too soft?

By the way: my horrific (notice no quotes there) speed was all of 30 mph...not exactly brain blowing. At 40 or so, you'd have a point. But 30 is not bad at all. Upper limits of acceptable, in my book.

truckdude1

WE just noticed two days ago that our Civic EX coupe Automatic is making alot of suspention noises? Every time we slowly go over a bump you hear alot of squeaking!! The car is only 5 weeks old with low miles, is this normal? No matter how slow you go or any bump you hear the whole car is making suspension noises! We are very upset, and the dealer is being NASTY!!! Has any one had similar problems or noise from the shock absorbers?? please help out!!
Thanks for the Comment.

goody01

Hello all:

I am strongly considering purchasing a new 2001 Civic. I currently own an older Civic and know what great cars they are. The only concern I have is not so much related to the car as it is to me. I'm a pretty big guy (6'6"). Naturally, I'm a little concerned about whether someone with my height would fit comfortably in the new Civic. I have heard about how it's bigger than the older models, but the rules are a bit different if you're not the average car buyer. I'd appreciate hearing from others out there about how tall drivers fare in the Civic. Thanks.

mdriver

At 6'6", the only Civic you probably have any possibility of fitting in is the 4door LX/DX. Forget the coupe. While every other manufact was working on providing a tall ceiling inside the car, Honda was working on flattening the rear floor area. The result? The driver has to put up with a lower roof every time he drives, but a fifth passenger, sitting in the middle of the rear seat, can ride in comfort due to the flat floor. OK, the flat rear floor is unusual, but headroom in the EX coupe, which was already bad, is actually slightly worse in the 2001 than the 2000. The sunroof is also part of the problem. But guess what? Honda, in its wisdom, made the EX the only model with ABS. So, if you are tall and want ABS in the Civic, you will have to shop elsewhere.

As to the suspension noise, it sounds like a bad strut, not unusual on the '01s

As to the Si, the UK plant doesn't just supply the U.S. with the Si, but Europe also where hatchbacks are kings of the road. I doubt they would ever be able to supply enough Sis for the U.S. There are several hundred thousand Civics sold in the U.S. Honda isn't sending 10,000 Sis to the U.S. because they are worried they won't sell all of them. They are sending 10,000 because that is probably the extra capacity of the plant that is now underutilized

minelaka

Anyone know what it might cost to lease a Civic EX sedan for 36 months with around 1000$ down?

lngtonge18

You have bad front struts. My sister's 00 Odyssey did the exact same thing (squeaked when going over speed bumps) and both front struts were replaced under warranty. She had no more problems with squeaking after they were replaced.

jlim1

With reference to truckdude1's concern on dashboard rattle on Aug 21, I have started to hear rattle somewhere between the inside of glovebox and the radio console. You hear more if you drive over harsh road conditions or if you brake hard. I initially thought a pen in the glovebox was making the noise, but when I actually took the entire car manual, documents, pen out from the box, the noise is still there. Truckdude1 - did the rattle you mentioned go away or have you had Honda taken a look at it?

Also, with reference to some past oncerns on the paint chip or finish job, I spotted unpainted spots right between the right rear taillights and the body (above the EX plate, but toward the left). Got it covered with over-the-counter paint, though. It was obviously a poor paint job matter.

I heard about ways to increase the engine performance in a Civic like changing the air filter. Is it ok to do so, and if so what kind of air filter should I be looking at?

Thanks !

goody01

I had thought that the new (2001) Civics had more room all around than the old ones. But I guess all things are relative. I'll have to try one out.

Actually, I have a '91 Civic 4WD wagon with decent headroom, even for me. But I think that's only because of the fact that it's higher off the ground than other passenger cars. Even then, I have to duck a little more closely than I'd like.

jrct9454

Automotive News has an article this morning that asserts that Honda will "stiffen the suspension on the Civic, and add a rear antisway bar on most models" for the 2002 model year. Whether this will satisfy those of you unhappy with the current car remains to be seen, of course, but it sounds like someone at the factory must be listening, if true...

silver_bullet

Compared to the last generation Civic, the current car has a higher "hip point", which means you are sitting higher than in the old car. Without a corresponding increase in overall height, you end up with less headroom. The coupe is a tight fit without the sunroof, and with it, I can't comfortably drive the car (I'm 6'5", with long legs and an average torso).

devore

I've had my 2001 Civic for about 6 months now, and while I've never lofted the back end of the car into the air, I have noticed that the rear end _is_ jumpier than the front.

On my way home from work, on a 35 MPH road, there is a relatively hard curve to the right. In the middle of this curve is a significant "ridge" between two slabs of concrete. When I go over that ridge with the front end, I notice almost nothing, but when the rear end of the car goes over that ridge, I feel the back of the car "skip" out a bit to the left (as I'm turning right.)

It's not catastrophic, but it is definitely noticeable. Good to hear that Honda will stiffen the springs for the 2002s.

arijitm

Can any one tell me the correct maintenance schedule of 2001 Civic EX? The service center of the dealer says different things at different times. I did my schedules 5000 miles oil change when my odometer was around 5100 miles. At that time they put on a sticker on my car saying my next maintenance schedule would be somewhere around 8800 miles (the problem is that I can't read it anymore - it's so faded) - and when I called them to confirm it, they are saying that the next maintenance should be at 10000 miles.

Well I know very little about cars - and this is my first car. So can anyone tell me if I should go by the schedule given in the book (the manual)?

jrct9454

Use the schedule in the book; 99% of dealer service departments try to get you to use their cockamainy idea of whatever home-grown schedule they cook up to maximize their revenues. Ignore them.

Oil changes, if you want to be ultra-conservative on any LEV or ULEV car, can come at 5000-7500 mile intervals. The rest should be by the book. When conversing with a service advisor, have the book in your hand and open to the relevant page, and stick by your guns. Never had a problem using this approach...once they know you're not going to roll over for this, cooperation usually comes immediately.

bordsource

One other note of caution: the seatbottom on these cars is quite short. If you drive long periods of time without cruise control, the inside of your thigh can become tired and crampy from having to hold your leg up hihg enough to work the pedals. It's no problem for me, because I don't do long drives and when I do, I use the cruise control, but for some who perhaps make 30 minute runs in city traffic, it might be an issue.

nopey23

Does Honda ever do rebates or incentives on the Civics?

I'm looking to get a Civic, but I'm just about to graduate and can't afford to get a Civic at the prices here in Chicago...

Any help would be appreciated-- thanks!

backy

Sorry, Josh, Honda has historically never offered rebates on Civics. They do offer incentives from time to time, like low APR financing and special dealer incentives that are not advertised but could result in your snagging a better deal. End of the model year is probably the best time to deal on the '01s, so if you're set on a Civic, now (or maybe October) is the best time. You could also check into getting a deal demo model at significant savings.

nopey23

do you know how long the 2001 Civics will be around?

I'm graduating in December and could probably afford one then, but I was assuming by late October/November the 2001 models would be all gone..

Thanks for your help!

goody01

The problem you describe actually hasn't been too much of a problem for me, at least in my current car. I'm used to long drives, so unless I have to shoehorn myself to get in, long drives aren't too big a deal. Cruise control does sound attractive, though.

goody01

Someone told me that the new Civics had about as much room as her old '87 Accord, which I thought was fairly roomy for a compact car. Can anyone out there verify this?

newexowner

Hi All

Thx for all the posts - made for very informative reading leading up to my recent purchase. I was happy to have just bought a 2001 Grn EX 4 dr 5 Spd for $15,200 including destination, floor mats and splash guards. They did get me for an extra hundred or so for documentation, and of course tax in addition.

I asked up front about the issues mentioned here (gas line, radio code) as was assured that these had been addressed at the dealer. However, took the car to work today for the first time, and when I came out the radio had reset and I didn't have the code with me, so drove 1 hr home in silence. Made me miss my 1990 Civic Hatch with 160K miles which I was driving until today. Not at all happy that this problem was not fixed by the dealer as promised, and concerned that it may not be fixed promptly.

The other thing that troubles me a bit is that it turns out the car was manufactured in 10/00. Although it had only 4 miles on it when I picked it up, why was it sitting so long? Should I be concerned? Thanks!

backy

Waiting until December for a '01 Civic seems risky to me, given the popularity of these cars and the dealer's incentive to clear them out for the '02s. You might be able to find a '01 as late as December, but if so there will be little selection. The latest I've ever bought a car for the "old" model year is mid-October, and then I got the last one (a Sentra) on the lot. Same thing when I bought a Caravan in October--just a couple to choose from. Maybe isellhondas could comment on the probability of finding a new '01 Civic in Chicago as late as December?

On the other hand, dealers typically have end-of-year clearance sales at the end of December, so if you can't find a '01 you could go for a '02, preferably on December 31, 6 pm, in a blizzard.

isellhondas

That there will be any 2001's in December or even October for that matter.

Heck, just buy a 2002. They wouldn't be much more money.

civic600si

isellhondas, how effective is the Theft Deterrent system on the Civic 2001? Is it really effective? I'd appreciate your response!

Cheers!

truckdude1

Our Civic EX coupe is alright. I would like to know what the 7,500 mile service is? What are all the tasks they perform at that mileage. Just wondering, and how often should the oil be changed on the Honda Civic EX ? Some tell me 5 or 6 k miles, but we always choose to change our oil at approximately 3k miles. Thanks for the in-put.
Enjoy your Hondas !!!

isellhondas

I assume you are talking about the ignition immoblizer built into the key?

As I understand things the theft rate has gone WAY down. The car would have to be towed away to steal it.

bordsource

If the thought of cruise control sounds good, then you're automatically paired with an EX model, sunroof and all. I myself find the sunroof to not be intrusive at all. But At 6'6", you may think otherwise. Choices, choices! When you drive an EX, though, be sure to keep in mind the seat height adjuster. I don't recall if LXs have that as well, but in any event, make sure the seat's positioned properly, height wise.

jrct9454

Consult your owner's manual for the 7.5k service; it should be nothing more than a glorified oil change. Beware the dealer trying to sell you all kinds of unnecessary inspections and inflating the bill. Do what the book says and save your money.

Secondly, I'll keep beating this drum: LEV and ULEV cars do not dump all of that crap in the oil that older cars do. This is the source of the dilution of the oil that requires a change [mostly products of combustion and unburned hydrocarbons]. It is a complete waste of both oil and money to change the oil on these cars at intervals of less than 5k miles, and frankly, even that qualifies as extremely conservative.

If you want some reassurance, have a look at the oil on these cars [after the first change, mind you]...it will look as good at 3000 miles as the day you had it changed. On our Accords, it takes at least 5k miles after a change before the telltale discoloration starts to show. Trust the manufacturer - Honda is not trying to blow up your engines...their reputation is important to them, and the recommendations in the manual will keep the car running well after you are sick of looking at it.

sobers

2002 Civic WILL have a retunes stiffer suspesion (autonews.com article) which weas confirmed by my contact at the dealership! Also all civics except the DX will have rear antiroll bar standard! (Interior material quality will be up a bit also)

Oil changes: Honda recommends 7500 for Accord & 10,000 for Civic UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS!

If you drive frequently distances less than 5 miles & drive in a stopnGo traffic a lot then cut this in half !! i.e. 3750 for Accord & 5000 miles for the Civic. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE CRAP & MINDSET OF 3000 miles. Service department need to earn money so they are promoting 3000 miles !

Also it would be a GREAT HELP OVERALL IF WE DO NOT WAIST A LOT OF OIL & $$ on it !!

tim_bittes

Check out http://www.collegehillshonda.com/2002.htm

They have posted 2002 Civic Pricing.

Not too big a change 50-100$ higher on MSRP.

Tim