Honda Civic 2005 and earlier

1414244464779

Comments

  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    Well, there's a difference between what's intended and what's actually received. I know, and stated, what I wanted to express, but if you still find it derisive, I can't change your opinion.

    4-5K is indeed a lot of money for many car buyers, but with the heavy incentives and generous interest rates going on, you can practically buy a new car and pay as much per month as if you bought a slightly used car. In fact, you could even buy a new Hyundai.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    you could buy a new Hyundai Elantra (in Civic's size class) for under $10k in some markets, with all the benefits of a brand-new car like full warranty etc. Just another reason why the Civic EX seller may be having trouble selling a 2-year-old compact, even one with as great a reputation as the Civic, for nearly $14k. Another factor I forgot to mention before is that the used-car market is swamped right now, since new-car purchases have been at a high level for the last year, fueled by 0% financing and rebates. Supply goes up, prices go down.

    P.S. Dr. Strangelove is a comedy.
  • redly_oneredly_one Member Posts: 122
    Trade-in Private Party Dealer Retail


    Base Price $12,052 $13,122 $14,906

    Optional Equipment $439 $471 $585

    Color Adjustment $56 $61 $69

    Regional Adjustment $62 $68 $77

    Mileage Adjustment $478 $478 $478

    Condition Adjustment $513 $516 $600

    Total $13,600 ->$14,716,<- $16,715



    Certified Used Vehicle $17,265*
    * You should expect to pay this amount if this vehicle has been certified as part of a manufacturer or authorized reseller program.

    Private party price of $14,716 (outstanding)
    it goes down to $14,195 for (clean)

    The car is at least in CLEAN condition.
    I based my price ($13900) on TMV and NADA. And, the car market has been this way (0% financing, flooded used car market) for about a year now.
    So, why are the guides (TMV, NADA) so far off?????

    This sucks :(
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    First of all, the "options" you mentioned are standard equipment.

    Is it a five speed? These are hard to sell since probably 5 out of 6 people won't buy one.

    And, as backy pointed out, you are competing against brand new ones for not much more money and low interest financing.

    Still, all it takes is one buyer.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I've found the TMV is not reliable. It usually runs higher than actual advertised prices in my area (Twin Cities). A better barometer of actual value is I think looking at what comparable cars are actually selling for in your area. Of course, you don't really know what the cars are selling for, you just know the advertised prices. But you can get some idea by checking ads from private parties over a period of time and knocking some off for negotiating room. So what are other '01 Civic EXes going for in your area?
  • bowkebowke Member Posts: 169
    we have a titanium used '01 with 12,485 miles on our lot. its honda certified, and this is the only way you should use the "excellent" or "outstanding" ratings on the pricing guides. we have this car fully marked-up at $15995. bought the car for 12000 at the honda auction. add $950 for certification, and $375 for reconditioning and clean-up. "color adjustment"??? all colors are the same price. all the "add-ons" you listed are standard on honda civics. take the initial "good" or "average" number, and it will be closer.

    anyway, for a negotiable $2000, people can get a certified honda at 5.9% with a 100k mile powertrain warranty, and 12k more on the full warranty. theoretically, a buyer could barter down to your price on a dealer-reconditioned, honda certified car. i think you should be able to get $12500-$13000 if you are willing to negotiate. if not, you will probably have to wait awhile, but you COULD get what you are asking.
  • debbea1debbea1 Member Posts: 1
    Hi bowke,
    Where do u find out about "honda auctions"? I'm looking to buy my first car and am interested in a Honda LX.Would appreciate feedback from anyone!!

    Ty
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    The kind of auction bowke was referring to is generally not open to the public. They are auctions for dealers. So, don't expect to find a Civic that way.
  • bowkebowke Member Posts: 169
    the auction i was referring to is a dealer only auction where honda sells lease returns. usually you will only find 3-4 year old cars, as honda doesnt sell to rental companies for a year like ford does with tauruses.

    this one was a leased vehicle that was cancelled due to the previous owner's disability and inability to pay for the car. they had the "credit life and disability" insurance and honda cancelled the lease and bought back the car.

    anyway, you can order a used car from a honda dealer just like you do a new car, and get exactly what you want in a matter of weeks. try it that way.
  • automotiveautomotive Member Posts: 7
    I just noticed on my three week old '02 CIVIC EX that the radio is not mounted flush with the faceplate. I know how to fix it but I don't know how to remove the faceplate. I've tried prying the top edge with my fingers but with no luck. Does anybody out there know how to do this?
  • seafseaf Member Posts: 339
    I was looking through the current year's annual car issue of consumer reports (Apr 2002 issue) and they rated the civic as just average in reliability (the black hollow circle). I looked in the more detailed reliability data and it turns out that everything is above average except "power equipment" which was average but I think this shouldn't be enough to make the whole car as "average", so it received a black checkmark this year rather than the red checkmark it usually gets. Is there something else that CR left out in the reliability ratings?
  • gasguzzgasguzz Member Posts: 214
    Do you mean the center panel trim?

    See the installation instructions:

    http://www.handaaccessories.com/civelec01.html
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I think you're referring to CR's rating of the 2001 Civic, which was the first year of a new generation. The prior gen Civic (1996-2000) had the usual (for a Honda) above-average marks. It doesn't take much in CR's survey to make a new car score average or even below-average marks. That's because the average new car has few problems in its first year. The '01 was a new design and had a few recalls (three if I remember correctly) and a few other glitches, which is unusual for a Honda. It will be interesting to see if the CR predicted reliability score goes up to the typically high Honda levels for the '02 Civic.
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    Finally got the recall notice for the Civic today. It's about time.
  • gasguzzgasguzz Member Posts: 214
    Which one is that, what year/model/trim?
  • seafseaf Member Posts: 339
    I just received a recall notice from Honda about my '99 Honda Civic VP. I've heard other civic owners having ignition problems in forums before, but I've never had the ignition die out after I started the car (it said this was one of the symptoms). Sometimes it is hard to start the engine when the fuel is less than 1/4 full, but I can alleviate that by turning on the fuel pump with the key at ON position for a few seconds before cranking the engine.
    So my question is this, should I go in to the dealer and have them change it anyway? On the one hand I want to be safe than sorry, but on the other I don't want to risk them breaking something that isn't broke to start with. During my first tire rotation at the dealer, they managed to mess up the alignment, but I went back and had the alignment done for free. (now I do the oil changes & tire rotations myself) Also I should note that according to my VIN, my car was built in the Canadian plant rather than in the U.S.
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    99 LX.
  • gasguzzgasguzz Member Posts: 214
    Seaf:
    I can understand your hesitance and agree on fixing something that is not broken (I too do not have the symptoms). It isn't necessarily given that a factory-certified-technician is a good mechanic.
    Below is a FAQ from the Honda website:
    "If my vehicle is part of this recall, does the repair have to be performed even if my vehicle is not experiencing any symptoms?
    Yes. You can have this repair performed at your convenience anytime after receiving the notification letter."
    One can see in this language a blanket order to alleviate liability, especially when "less than 3/10ths of one percent of affected vehicles have experienced switch failure" - that's an approx 3900 cars.
    Also... "according to my VIN, my car was built in the Canadian plant rather than in the U.S."
    Meaning what? I have not found any info that the recall is limited to a manufacturing region.
    We'll see if owners here post the switch-swap fixes the hard-starting.
  • dweinreichdweinreich Member Posts: 2
    I just bought a new Honda Civic 2002. After the car was detailed by the dealer, I was asked to take a look to see if there were any problems before I took the car. I noticed a significant, although small, ding on the front quarter panel.
    The dealer promised that this could be easily fixed. My initial instinct was to ask for a new vehicle but I instead took the dealers word and was given a due bill for the repair. Was this the right thing to do? and should the dealer offer anything for the inconvienence of returning the car for repair?
  • bjk2001bjk2001 Member Posts: 358
    dweinreich:

    You are facing the typical dealer thingy, most of the car buyer will go thru. Sales in dealership only cares about you signing the contacts and take delivery of the car. Once you done that, it will become service department's problem. I have had some due bill for accessory to put in later like installation of lojack, leather seats, tinted window, which was not available at the delivery of the car. A ding prior to delivery also could be put on due bill. But I would definitely to go back to the sales to get something extra. Free oil change, free floor mats anything. To me, no matter how good the dealer ding repair is, IS NOT the same as factory paint job. It happened to me almost 20 years ago, I bought a dark blue Renault (which was a piece of lemon) with a couple minor dings on the hood. Dealer did repair and repaint the hood, paint job looked the same first. But after a couple years it started to fade so there were two distinct color on my hood, one side (factory paint job) still matched with all the rest of the car, dealer re painted portion looked terrible. Granted it has been almost 20 years technology has been improved alot, but there is always some doubt on my mind between factory and dealer paint job.

    Good luck!

    bjk
  • kenitosankenitosan Member Posts: 3
    I haven't posted on Edmund for a long time. Last time was I hated my Grand Cherokee and loved my 93 Civic. Well, I got into a major accident and

    total my poor car. Since then I acquire a 2001

    Civic EX 4 Dr sedan. Great car (well, we can get

    into it later for other not so great features).

    At first the tiny arm rest didn't bother me until

    my other half keeps on taking it over due to lack

    of one on his side. And my buddies who own

    jetta's making fun of me about paying half price

    for the arm rest. What the heck was Honda

    thinking when the designer gave us the half **s

    arm rest?


    Ok, so I search since August 2001 to find a wider

    arm rest replacement. Even thinking of having it

    specially made. Well, my search is over!!! I

    found one at http://www.zetaproducts.net. It is

    a steal considering the price quote I got for

    the special made one. I order it last week,

    installed it this morning and only took me 10

    minutes if that. LOVE IT. And my my other half

    is not taking claim on my estate anymore.

    Hallelujah :-)


    For those of you who want a wider arm rest, you

    should check it out. BTW, this is my disclaimer:

    I am not related or associated w/ Zeta people. I

    am just a happy customer who wants fellow Civic

    2001 owner to enjoy what there to be offered.

    Life is better with wider arm rest believe me.


    Kenito

  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Ask the dealer if they can try to take the ding out using paintless dent removal, then let you inspect the job. And if the results are not to your satisfaction, then the dealer will fix it the usual way. PDR is great on some kinds of dents. I had it done last year on hail damage and the results were great--no sign of the dents, and they didn't have to touch the original paint job. This would also be a good deal for the dealer, since PDR is much less expensive than regular body work, so maybe you can work a deal, e.g. PDR plus some free oil changes or some accessory.
  • soberssobers Member Posts: 496
    The tailights look good & much more upscale than the ones on 2001/02. When 2001 civic came out, I was disappointed with the rear styling. The tailights were a step back from the 2000. The seat fabric for 2003 is also all new & looks really good. Civic also earned the center storage/armrest. Now only thing that need to "go" ios the fornt & rear Chrome strips.. Specially the front one....it is like a mole on already
    not-so-beautiful car!!
  • jvkalrajvkalra Member Posts: 98
    That's what a British car magazine called the styling of the Civic (hybrid) sedan. I think if Honda ever tried to sell the regular Civic sedan in Europe it would be DOA.

    Even with the 2003 taillight changes, I would rate the styling as b-o-r-i-n-g. Honda needs to can this Civic and come out with something more stylish earlier than 2005, unless it doesn't mind a big jump in the average age of Civic buyers.
  • alyssazmomalyssazmom Member Posts: 142
    To defend the Civic, I personally like the styling of it to the point that I bought a 2002 Honda Civic EX Sedan. I know I'm not in the minority as there are 2001/2002s all over Northern VA, Washington DC and MD.

    Styling is very subjective.

    ~Carrie
  • cwliangcwliang Member Posts: 54
    How about the new electroluminescent dash? The Civic is going up-scale... ;)
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    I like the new taillights too. I thought the initial taillights offered on the redesign were just a bit too 1990s (i.e. not clear "jeweled" lenses that are so in vogue right now).

    Regarding style: there are people who like to drive in a car they can stand to look at 10 years later without feeling nauseous. I look at a Chevy Impala's taillights and the design already looks 5 years dated.
  • jvkalrajvkalra Member Posts: 98
    I agree with you that styling is very subjective.

    While I wasn't expecting a radical new look in the Civic in 2001, I would have been happy if Honda had made the headlights similar to those of the Si (same as the European/Japanese 4 door hatchback) and the taillights the same as the newly redesigned ones. Honda should have made the Civic this way starting with the 2001 model. Just a little more pizazz wouldn't hurt.

    Although the Civic is still the bestselling small car, Honda is concerned that the conservative styling of the 2001 model has resulted in a significant increase in the age of Civic buyers.
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    Anyone have a clearer picture of the new tailights? From what I could tell, they don't look that much different from the old ones. Just a little bigger and a little clearer where the bulbs are. IMO, they could have made them look a lot better, like give it clear jeweled turn-signals instead of the bland red ones.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Go to http://www.hondacars.com. They have pics there. They don't look that much different to me though...
  • soberssobers Member Posts: 496
    These pics are of 2002 & not 2003. Taillights do look different than the 2002.
  • spacebarspacebar Member Posts: 2
    Hi, I'm totally new to this discussion and just bought a manual 2002 Civic LX four-door a week ago.

    I noticed something on it over the weekend that has me curious. There are two grommets in the driver's side floor mat for the anchor pegs, but only one peg is actually there. On the side closer to the center of the car, there is a grommet and a hole in the carpet, but no peg. Instead there is a lump, feels like a plastic box, indicative of some car part that is there and making it impossible to install the second peg.

    Anybody talked to a dealer about this or know what it is? I was surmising that it is something with the manual transmission that takes up space right there and prevents the second peg from being installed, but that's just a wild guess. Any comments appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Cindy
  • jfigueroa1jfigueroa1 Member Posts: 209
    I have a 2002 2d lx a/t and for the front driver floor mat there is two pieces cut out for you to install the pegs (2) both of them that goes with the (2) grommets on the floor mat. I really do not have an idea on the m/t.
    Greetings from sunny Miami.
  • chalupnychalupny Member Posts: 39
    Something is definitely wrong if you don't have two pegs for the driver's side floor mat. The missing peg has nothing to do with your car being a manual transmission. I purchased a 2002 Civic LX 4DR w/ 5 speed a few weeks ago and it has two pegs for the floor mat. You describe the lump in the carpet as a box? Not sure what that could be - maybe the base of the peg that has been broken off. I'd just take it back - I'm sure they can replace the peg. By the way, I'm glad Honda added the floor mat pegs. The car that I recently repalced was a 1990 Acura Integra. It had very similar floor mats - but no pegs. The floor mat on the drviers side used to slide around all the time - drove me crazy. With a manual transmission the driver moves their feet a lot - floor mats tend to slide more on manual tranny vehicles probably.
  • spacebarspacebar Member Posts: 2
    Thanks for the heads-up, Chalupny. When I spoke of a lump under the carpet, I meant the whole rounded-up place that continues on the other side of the gear shift--it must be part of the car, it's too big to be anything else. Is your second peg (closest to the middle) up higher than the other one because of this rounded-up car part?

    I'll be getting ahold of my dealer tomorrow. There is the grommet in my mat, the hemmed hole in my carpet, and an empty hole in the plastic where the peg should be installed.

    Amen about those pegs. I am replacing a 1990 Nissan Sentra, and the floor mat riding forward used to drive me crazy. :)
  • ttlttlttlttlttlttl Member Posts: 24
    I was going steady 60 mph on my automatic 01' EX today. Guess how much I got? 44mpg!! I have had 42 before. But this time is the record high! It ran 440 miles before the low fuel warning light came on. I took easy on the gas pedal and I didn't use any fan or A/C.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    That is close to impossible. How did you calculate your fuel mileage? And are you in the US or Canada?
  • jjpcatjjpcat Member Posts: 124
    It isn't easy to reach 44mpg, but it's possible. I have done 42-43mpg for several tanks while I was cruising at 55-60mph and I had AC on for about 50% of the time. My car is 2001 Civic LX (auto) which has the same EPA mileage number as EX.

    The way I calculated the mileage is as follow: reset the trip meter after refill, drive the car till the gas warning light is on, refill the tank, divide the trip meter's reading by the gallon I pumped in for the 2nd refill. I always use the auto stop feature of the pumps, so that I won't over or under pump.

    There is one obvious variable using this method. Different pumps may stop at different level when you use the auto stop feature and that may effect the mpg calculation. But since I was able to get back-to-back (for several consecutive tanks) numbers of around 42mpg, the variable above is cancelled out.
  • itybityitybity Member Posts: 1
    Hi boarders..
    I'm new to this particular board and very happy to see the high mileage figures. Even though I drive a half mile to work everyday, it's nice to see the EPA numbers beaten so soundly.

    -02 Civic Sedan, white, auto.
  • ttlttlttlttlttlttl Member Posts: 24
    The way I calculate mileage is the same as jjpcat's. I'm intrigued by the whole mileage thing. I do a little calculation every time I fill the tank. The worst I've got was about 24mpg. That was 99% city driving on snowy road. All trips were short (a few miles each). I live in the upper peninsula of Michigan where the annual snowfall averages 250 inches. Driving in snow takes a lot of extra energy. On dry pavement, I usually get 34-35 if I'm going 80mph. So it really depends on the cruising speed and road condition.
  • wpalkowskiwpalkowski Member Posts: 493
    My Mom got T-boned in her Civic Sedan at an intersection a couple days ago by Buick going ~40 mph. Caught her on rear passenger wheel and door, spun car around 270 degrees. Car was totalled but my Mom walked away with a few bruises and busted pride.
    Autobody guy was really impressed how car absorbed and dissipated impact energy - passenger cage stayed intact. THe roof was still smooth, the windows all stayed in their frames and didn't crack. Mimimal cabin intrusion even though doors were smashed. Honda engineers did their homework.
    Of course rear axle was shot, needed new right side doors, bumper, trunk was collapsed - all in all ~$10K in damage estimate before they even started taking it apart, resulting in a total. Unfortunately, there was only 4300 miles on the odometer. However, Honda end of model year clearance is still going on, so we can get a replacement, for relatively small amount over insurance payout. Mom's a much older model, but we're quite happy to keep her. Thanks Honda!!!
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Glad your mother was ok in the accident. People out there think because these cars are small, they are not safe. That's a very old school way of thinking in these days and times.
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    The Civic has actually been ranked as one of the safest cars in the market.
  • jfigueroa1jfigueroa1 Member Posts: 209
    Glad to hear your mom is ok. Some time people buy cars for their safety record/price/or brand.
    Having the car trashed... not a big deal
    the car been total ... not big deal
    having your mom walk away from the accident
    PRICELESS
    hugs for her and speedy recovery.
    Greetings from sunny Miami.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    It's nice to have a car care for its owner enough to give it's life for the owner's...
  • alyssazmomalyssazmom Member Posts: 142
    So glad to hear that your mother was ok!!!

    ~Carrie- 2002 Honda Civic EX Sedan- Eternal Blue Pearl.
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    Anyone read the new Car and Driver economy car comparison test? For the first time ever, they dissed a Honda! In the verdict for the Civic LX, it said, "Something new from Honda - a loser.". Ouch! That statement right there should kill anyone's perception that Car and Driver is biased toward Hondas. They even placed the Elantra in second place, above the new Corolla, and just one point behind the Protege LX. Their biggest complaints with the Civic were the large number of rattles, the poor quality paint job (rated worse then even the Kia Spectra), the harsh and noisy ride, and the loud engine. It appears Honda became real slack in this redesign job and needs to rethink this car quick or risk falling behind.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Ouch, that's a dagger! Maybe it will wake up the folks at Honda to get to work to make the next Civic the top of its class again.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I was really surprised, because I always thought Honda was the best. It looks like they are asleep at the wheel.
  • bjk2001bjk2001 Member Posts: 358
    C&D Who?

    LMAO, those are just a bunch of guys wrote anything they want. I always laugh at their report. Their review is very "subjective". Why don't they test Honda EX instead of LX? EX has better engine than LX. Very strange part is that, they have scores for each category, but at the end instead of adding all the scores from each category, they just pick a random number and call it a day. My "guess" is depends on which car manufacturer paid more ads on their magazine will get the better score.

    Go check out resale value of the cars to see which car has the best resale value. The winner is --- Honda Civic.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.