Honda Civic 2005 and earlier

twistinmelon

Nice to see they've held the line on prices pretty well. Anybody know where I can get a look at the new color offered on the LX and EX -- Radiant Ruby Pearl ?

And has anyone ever seen a 2001 Plum (the color the Ruby Pearl replaces) on the road?

twist

tim_bittes

I have seen the plum on the road on both Civic and Acura EL (Canada). It looks almost black in the shade or under grey skies. In bright sun it looks purplish. I think the purplish part scared buyers off.

Any idea what is Radiant Ruby Pearl? Is it a red color??

Tim

silver_bullet

Well, since rubies are red, I'd say it's a safe bet "Radiant Ruby Pearl" is a shade of red as well ;-)

civic_cx_92

Jetta with the 1.8 turbo starts a $19,550

180 horsepower and 174 lb-ft torque.

2002 GTI's base sticker is $18,910 with same engine.

http://www.autoweek.com/

sobers

civic_cx_92

All 2002 Civics will receive stiffer suspension settings, and a rear stabilizer bar will be standard on all but the base model. The quality of some interior fit and finish also will be improved.

This is the big news for 5-door civics.

Stream: This mini-minivan created from the Civic platform could be targeted at the youth market here if the decision is made to import it. But the Stream has a four-cylinder engine that may not have enough juice for American tastes. It would be a mid-cycle addition to the Civic line, possibly for the 2004 model year.

http://www.autonews.com/html/main/stories0827/fpasia827.htm

observer1

Hi,

I'm looking at the Civic EX Sedan. The only negative I ran into on the test drive was that it seemed like the air conditioning was slow to cool the car on a hot day. How has the air been for you owners?

The accord we tried seemed to cool much more quickly.

thanks

devore

I've got a 2001 Civic EX up here in Wisconsin, and we've had an extraordinarily hot summer, and I've been more than satisfied with the car's ability to keep the interior cool.

I should note that I _do_ enable the "recycle" button when it gets this hot. Seems to make a pretty significant difference, as I would expect it would.

I have heard some complaints about the Civic not cooling well enough, but not in my case.

sobers

Before turning the AC on, make sure fan is at an average speed, drive the car with all windows down for a minute (or less) when the fresh air gets in, close the windows & start the Ac with 'Recycle' button off, After a minute or two 'recycle' should be on...This may help you.

Note that on a hot day you MUST keep recycle on to get the best result.

jlim1

I'm wondering why the 2001 Civic EX sedan's insurance premium costs quite a heap (almost very minute difference from my former 2000 Hyundai Elantra without ABS and without immobilizer; fatal crash results for rear passenger) and based on the fact that:

1. Civic is virtually theft-free with the immobilizer and when you have the parking brake on.
2. Civic has the safest crash rating in its class.
3. Civic EX has standard ABS.

And how can the Insitute rank Civic as top 10 most stolen when it is virtually theft-free? Are they basing that on the previous model year?

Does anyone feel that they are paying a LOT for insuring 2001 Civic? I might suspect that my insurance agency has ripped me off somehow.

jjpcat

Right after I bought my 2001 Civic LX, I was surprised by the insurance cost. It's higher than my previous car (98 Lexus ES) and my wife's 2000 Lexus RX300. Either Lexus costs more than twice the Civic. Civic might have a higher comprehensive cost if it's one of the most stolen cars in the states. But what really confuses me is that Civic also carries a higher collision cost. One AAA agent said that's because Civic was expensive to repair. I just can't buy it. I checked several other insurance companies and most of them have the same story. Finally I got Great American whose charges less on Civic.

civic600si

Has anyone had this problem? WHen I turn on the ignition key, I hear a buzzing sound from the dash/instrument panel. Isellhondas, is this a problem or is it normal?

THanks!

mdriver

Civics have always been expensive to insure mainly because of theft and an image that the car is well liked by the "boy racer" crowd. Even though it did well in crash tests, it is still one of the lightest cars around which doesn't bode well if it hits a heavier vehicle (which is almost a certainty).

daveyd

Anyway you look at it, insurance is a ripoff. Maybe i just look at it that way cause im 20

D

jlim1

I have been annoyed by the buzzing/rattling noise from the glove box, only when the car is driven over harsh road or the cobblestone. When the car is stationary, I experimented by pushing the glovebox (while it's closed) and it rattled. Even worse when it goes over small bumps.

truckdude1

I agree!!! We have gone to 4 companies for full coerage insurance and all of them quote us slightly over 100 dollars per month!!! We have perfect driving records and TWO cars and still ! It sucks, but what would an average insurance be , full coverage for a Honda Civic EX coupe?? Please help so we have an idea what we should pay versus you. It is ridicoulous, but our deductible is 250 , could that be a part of the problem,thanks for the comment.
TrUcKdUde1

honda86

I'm wrestling with which to buy--the 2001 Civic LX or 2001 Accord VP. I like the extras on the Civic LX (cruise, power locks, etc.) and the overall length of the car will be easier to park, but the interior feels cramped. It is almost the same dimensions as my 86 Accord but feels much tighter inside. The 2001 Accord has the advantage of interior roominess and many more places inside to put stuff, plus the added trunk room, but it is 11" longer than my 86 and I'm afraid of the parking dilemmas.

Best price I've gotten locally on the Civic is $14,790, but the same dealer quoted me $15,990 for the demonstrator 2001 Accords they still had on the lot, both with 3800 to 5700 miles on them. This is $500 more than the same dealer was advertising for the same car--new--four weeks ago, so it makes me suspicious of the Civic pricing too. I don't want to pay a premium for a car that has half a year's mileage on it already and may be discounted just as much next year.

My two questions are: Civic or Accord? Buy now or wait and see what discounts will be available on the 2002s?

Thanks for any insight.

mfriederichs

I have a 1998 Civic EX with an occasional starter grinding problem. It sounds like the starter is not engaging fully. The sound itself is like when one accidentally re-starts an already started vehicle. 81,000 miles so it's well out of warranty, and I've seen nothing on the nhtsa TSB or recall databases. Just wondering if anyone out there has has a similar experience, or if there is any knowledge of a "hidden" warranty on this problem. Or if it just went bad.

gasguzz

You'll have to decide between the Civic's "cramped" interior or parking the Accord's 11 more inches. From your post... that's $14.8k for the Civic USED? Well, that's a rip off. If you can wait you might as well wait till '02, assuming you're looking to get a USED '01 (depreciation/marketing being the key). Expect no discounts from Honda on the '02s. Other factors are financing, where are you in that. And naturally, ALL prices will start high and will end when you sign the purchase - or walk out.

civic_cx_92

new 2.4-liter, 16-valve, dual overhead cam 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine produce 160-horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque, estimated 22/26 mph city/hwy.

http://www.hondabeat.com/news/crv02.cfm

civic_cx_92

The hybrid Civic (sedan) will be available in Japan from December and will be introduced in USA early next year. As the Hybrid Civic will be less exotic compared to the Insight (no aluminium body, no special aerodynamic design), the price of the hybrid Civic will be relatively low, only "slightly" higher than a comparable conventionally engined Civic, which should lead to much higher popularity.

http://www.europeanhonda.demon.nl/hondanews12.htm#hybr

68 mpg!

hjbc

I bought my EX Oct. 2000 and it took until Aug. 2001 - and the intervention of the Maryland Attorney General's office - to get the radio fixed. In all that time and many phone calls, Honda couldn't get my info into their database - but they were able to send me mail trying to sell me stuff. The new radio holds its code but the volume control is still unpredictable.

The ignition makes a "scritching" noise if I turn the key slower than I normally do. I don't know if it's a problem but the sound is worrisome.

The a/c isn't very strong. I'll try using the recycle setting next time.

And there are lots of interior rattles.

mdriver

You got an early Civic. I'm afraid you were Honda's test subject until they sorted out all of the bugs.

I would have bought my own stereo and demanded Honda buy back their defective unit.

silver_bullet

There are about 10 2001 Civic sedans (mostly LX and EX models) parked around my apartment complex. No matter what color they are, I've noticed the color of the rear plastic bumper does not match the adjacent metal panels very closely - this is very noticeable on silver and gold colored cars, but I've even noticed it on the white ones. Only the dark green seems to be relatively immune to this problem. Whatever happened to Honda's famous "attention to quality"?

patrick45

I have a 1999 Toyota Camry LE V-6 (color:burgundy) manufactured in Japan and when the sun shines on either side of the car, you can tell the rubber bumper paint does not exactly match the paint on the body of the rest of the car. It's only noticeable under certain conditions, though. I've seen this on other makes/models as well. I don't believe it's just a Honda/Toyota thing.

backy

Yes, I've seen many cars, especially white cars that are a few years old, with yellowish bumpers. My only white car, a '92 Galant, had a hint of this later in life. But I too am surprised at this popping up on a Honda, especially a new one and for more than just white. If I were the owner of one of these cars I'd demand a repaint. That's what an owner in Japan would do with a poor quality paint job, or so I've heard.

honda86

I agree that a demo with 5700 miles on it is really a used car. But, they say that they can get an '01 Civic LX in that is new for $14,800. Is it still a rip-off? I know that there won't be any discounts on the 2002's right away, but could I reasonably expect them to begin late winter/early spring? That's about when they started appearing last year, along with the special interest rates (Accords only.) Unfortunately, I was just casually looking then--and the best deal on the Accord VP ($14,990) was offered in March! My '86 is currently running just fine, so I can wait awhile if need be even though I'm anxious to get it over with.

Thanks for any advice.

twistinmelon

hondanews.com says 2002 Sedan and Coupe feature several refinements including:

Revised steering box for improved driving feel

Added insulation for reduced noise

Improved damper settings for reduced vibration and handling

Upgraded silver trim panel around shift area for all Sedan models "Chrome accents now grace the door handles and the shift area panel features silver trim, giving the Civic's interior a more stylish, refined look. The dash features a new meter design, enhancing the Civic's sporty appearance."

Chrome interior door handles for LX/EX/GX Sedans

Center console sliding door added to LX

Radio pocket lid added to LX

Plush driver's arm rest added to LX

Front beverage holder lid added to LX and EX

Variable intermittent wipers added to EX

Fuel filler holder all trim levels

Rear stabilizer bar added to LX.

the link to the stories is too long for edmunds to allow me to post

Just poke around hondanews.com and you'll see the stories.

twist

tlindeman1

Just my luck...My 2001 Civic has proven to be somewhat of a disappointment. Although it gets phonomenal mileage (35-40 mpg), the bouncy suspension and excessive road noise make it very uncomfortable. Also, the constant "drumming" noise produced by the suspension over minor bumps is terrible. I noticed a similar noise on a 2000 Elantra that I drove a while back. I find it interesting that dealers I mentioned the problems to claimed they had "no complaints" from other Honda owners regarding the suspension of the new Civic, Honda has firmed up the suspension and added sound deadener to address problems that no one was complaining about (?) In honesty, the 2001 Elantra I drove was a far quieter and comfortable car but I chose to go with Japanese quality and reliability. I just wish I'd gotten a little more comfort for my money.

dtownfb

If you are that unsatisfied with the 2001 Civic, why not sell it for $14k and buy a 2002 Civic. The nice thing about the Civic is their high re-sale value. As long as you don't have too many miles on the vehicle, you can probably sell it for close to what you paid for it. I know you can't do that with an Elantra.

silver_bullet

Here's the challenge: Go buy a new Civic from your local dealer, drive it around the block, and pull back into the dealership. Tell them you want to trade it in for another car. Be prepared for a shock.

I once bought a new Civic hatchback (in 1999), and paid $12.5K out the door. A personal emergency came up, and I had to sell this car quickly, so I went back to my dealer and asked them if they would be interested in buying it back (at this point, the car was flawless, had 1200 miles on the odometer, and was only 5 months old). "Sure", they said. "We'll give you $9K". So much for "selling a car for almost what you paid for it".

mdriver

getting $14k for a 2001 trade is highly unlikely. The resale of the 2001s is actually not very high for the very reasons tlindeman1 stated above. Who is going to buy the 1st year experiment for close to new value, when they can get the improved 2002. Who said there will be no discounting on the 2002s? When the 2001s came out, the discounting was already up to about $1,000 off of list. Don't forget, a new 2001 Civic is already one year old. Unless they are discounting the 2001 by at least $3,000, I would get a 2002.

gnl

You mean discounting by $3k off of MSRP? A friend and I will be shopping for a Civic tomorrow, I'm trying to get an idea of what to expect for prices.

dudka

i just traded in my 1999 civic ex coupe, well, i paid $14K in september 1999, and after two years and 26 000 miles i decided i didn't want it. kelly blue book estimated it would be worth $13 - $13.5K, and edmunds estimated it would be $10.5K. guess what, edmunds was "the closest with out going over" i got $11K on my trade. if i were on the makrket shopping for a car, why would i pay $14K for a 1 year old car with well known defects, when i can get a brand new one 2001 for $1000 more and get lower financing, which in time will save me more than the initial savings of a $1000. if you do take it in to the dealer be prepared to get an offer of $12K-13K, more likeley of $12K.
the reason i got $11K for 1999 civic coupe is because a 5 spd is very rare in NYC area and actually resell value of the 5spd is higher than auto. when i bought it in 99 i had to wait 3 weeks to get a 5 spd special ordered, there were none in nyc area available.

nodrv55

Does anybody know if an aftermarket stereo in a 2001 EX will prevent the alarm and the dome light from working, as they did in the previous gen? Are there any good "faceplates" to make a an aftermarket installation look good in the dash? I have noticed that the front speakers are inaccessible unless you remove the entire door panel. Is it difficult to replace the factory speakers front and rear? Thanks.

rfruth

I have a 00 Civic hatch and its great, the Civic hybrid really sounds good, are the big 3 going to let the hybrid market pass them by ? Ford Escape hybrid due in 03 if all goes well most of the bugs should be worked out a year or 2 later. Rob Fruth Houston

isellhondas

That Civic hatchback probably depreciates less than any other car I can think of.

Of course, you would lose your tax and license fees paid. In addition, your car has to be sold as used. Many buyers would get leary and simply pay a few extra bucks for a new one.

Try that same thing with a Korean car and find out what happens!

dtownfb

You guys are all talking about trade-in value not re-sale value. Of course a dealer is not going to give you 14k for a 2001 vehicle. You'd be lucky to get $12k.

dudka: You got $11k for a 1999 Civic with 26,000 miles from the dealer as a trade-in and you're upset about that???!!!????. YOu should have tried to sell it yourself, you could have gotten at least $12,000 for it. I guarantee the dealer will list that car for $14000 and probably get $13,500 for it.

You guys claim that since it's a 2001 it's already a "used" car and you should wait for the 2002. If you wait for the 2002 it should be for the new standard features on the LX and EX, not because of the price of it. Take a look in the paper and see what one and two year old Civics are selling for. Just today in Easton PA, I saw a dealer listing a 1999 Civic with 19,000 miles for $14000. And they will probably get $13,000 for it. The Civic has great re-sale value becuase of it's proven reliabilty and durabilty. The 2001 Civic are not "1st year experiments" as some of you claim. They have had 2 recalls and one was merely a check to make sure a clamp was on tight. IF you think the Civic is so bad chack out the Focus forum and check out how many recalls and TSBs they have had. Now the Focus qualifies as an experiment.

You guys talk as if the Civic is a bad car. It's the highest rated small car in the country. Do we expect too much from this glorified economy car? As much as everyone is complaining, I have not read of anyone complaining about their Civic leaving them on the side of the road or costing them an exhorbinant amount of money, etc. It's all been minor things like the radio, not handling as well as the 2000 (even though it has more interior room and outstanding crash ratings) or not getting the 35 mpg (try driving 65 mph instead of 80 mph). All very minor things. A nuisance, yes but nothing in the great scheme of things.

So relax, you have the best small car on the market. Be proud.

dtownfb

You guys are all talking about trade-in value not re-sale value. Of course a dealer is not going to give you 14k for a 2001 vehicle. You'd be lucky to get $12k.

dudka: You got $11k for a 1999 Civic with 26,000 miles from the dealer as a trade-in and you're upset about that???!!!????. YOu should have tried to sell it yourself, you could have gotten at least $12,000 for it. I guarantee the dealer will list that car for $14000 and probably get $13,500 for it.

You guys claim that since it's a 2001 it's already a "used" car and you should wait for the 2002. If you wait for the 2002 it should be for the new standard features on the LX and EX, not because of the price of it. Take a look in the paper and see what one and two year old Civics are selling for. Just today in Easton PA, I saw a dealer listing a 1999 Civic with 19,000 miles for $14000. And they will probably get $13,000 for it. The Civic has great re-sale value becuase of it's proven reliabilty and durabilty. The 2001 Civic are not "1st year experiments" as some of you claim. They have had 2 recalls and one was merely a check to make sure a clamp was on tight. IF you think the Civic is so bad chack out the Focus forum and check out how many recalls and TSBs they have had. Now the Focus qualifies as an experiment.

You guys talk as if the Civic is a bad car. It's the highest rated small car in the country. Do we expect too much from this glorified economy car? As much as everyone is complaining, I have not read of anyone complaining about their Civic leaving them on the side of the road or costing them an exhorbinant amount of money, etc. It's all been minor things like the radio, not handling as well as the 2000 (even though it has more interior room and outstanding crash ratings) or not getting the 35 mpg (try driving 65 mph instead of 80 mph). All very minor things. A nuisance, yes but nothing in the great scheme of things.

So relax, you have the best small car on the market. Be proud.

I am now stepping down from my soap box.

s852

The Civic resale is better than most cars, but no one is going to buy any used car for about the same as they could get the same car new.
The price has to be adjusted down so that any buyer will think twice about just getting a brand new car instead.
It is not like it is a car that they would have to get on a waiting list to buy new like the first New Beetles were and the PT Cruiser was.
In those cases, someone might pay the same price for a used one to avoid waiting.

rkan

Here's a thought. What are the odds that some of the improvements will be able to be retrofitted to 2001's? Like the redamped shocks, and the rear stabilizer bar. I know Honda would never say that they could do that, but in actual implimentation, I wonder if it can be done? Isell, any input?

twistinmelon

I assume they'd fit just fine. But by the time you added them piecemeal, you might be better off just selling your Civic privately and buying a 2002 with all the stuff on there right from the assembly plant.

Just guessing.

twist

gasguzz

as previously discussed, knock off at least $2k to sell your '01 - and that's more than you'll spend for a suspension retune. And if you go that route, why spend the money and get the stock setup. You can probably spend less money and increase performance with a Koni/Eibach set.

rkan

to find after market suspension stuff for '01? The reason I might go with the Honda derived parts is I am looking for an overall better ride and not neccesarily an SCCA racer, and I assume Honda listened to the complaints with the '01 suspension and did research and tuning to handle the complaints.

vocus

How is your Civic running after the repairs from the accident? Just curious.

gasguzz

http://www.ground-control.com is one.

tlindeman1

I contacted a dealer regarding the revised shocks for the 2002's. He acknowledged that the parts are listed under a different part number than the 2001's and could be retrofitted...supposedly they are revalved and stiffened somewhat to correct the annoying bounce and bottoming that plagues the 2001 Civic models. Dealer price for a pair of the units was quoted at $102 apiece...a little hefty but may be worth it if they'll cure the ride problems. I'm considering ordering these rather than wait for aftermarket units...my experience with aftermarket shocks are that they're usually too firm for good ride comfort.

mopargirlie

I live in California and there is a local dealer that beats any price advertised by $100 no matter what. So far there has been no easy way to find a dealer on the internet that will give me a straight price quote. Is there an easy way to do this or am I stuck calling every dealership and trying to get an estimate? Thanks for your help.

s852

It says "price advertised." So, you would need to have an ad to show them to beat, not a verbal quote.
If you do not want spend time negotiating, use one of the buying services from, AAA, Costco or Autobytel.

asdxere

Has anyone seen any 2002 Civics ( Sedans or Coupes ) in stock yet ?