Biggest strength? It's a Honda. Reliability and economy are beyond reproach. It's good on the highway, in the city and even got us through the mountains.

There really should be a dash light for the part of the instrument panel that's home to the rear-view mirror controls and the sunroof switch. After almost five years, at night I manage to open the roof when I'm trying to adjust the mirrors (or vice versa) about half of the time.

We're blessed with a Good Dealer, but I understand some are not quite so nice. That helps a ton in the enjoyment of and loyalty to Honda. We originally leased our 1996 EX Sedan for 32[!] months, then purchased it. It's required nothing but gas and oil, filters and wiper blades since we took delivery late in 1996, 42,500 miles ago. I have run Mobil1 synthetic oil since the first oil change.

The only time we ever wished for more was on a long trip to LasVegas, though Denver and Grand Junction, Colorado and on into Utah. Around the Prairie, the 4-cyl with all of its fuel- and spark-management goodies is perfectly adequate. We do a good deal of highway driving on Interstate 80 and can totally keep up with traffic, accelerate, merge and so on. But in the mountains, we really ran out of beans above about 11,000 feet. We were passed often, and I saw quite a few Camrys and Accords with V6s go wheezing by as we could only hold about 45mph on some grades.

We love the visibility, looking out. And the invisibility, looking in. There's nothing about the EX Sedan that screams "Arrest Me!", but there are a few nods to sporting use: stiffer shocks, wider tires, etc. It's not my old CRX Si, but it's not a bad way to get around, either.

We would definitely buy another Honda. We've already bought several and cannot see a reason we wouldn't buy several more in the future. They're great cars.

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Mazda GLC. Toyota Celica. Chevrolet Nova.

Excelent relibility comparing to U.S.and some imports cars if properly maintained. Cheap on gas. Fun to drive-especially in corners, predictable suspention (Note below), still cheap to fix-in Canada the O.E.M prices are O.K. Easy to install after market sound system. Great resale value. One of the most logical and easiest cars to work on.

Rust is a problem, where winters are harsh, as is the heating (thermostat set at 78 deg cels). Front brakes tend to overheat when applied hard, which deforms the rotors . All Hondas are very sensitive to deformed rotors, even slightly,and less than well ballanced tires. Stay away from big suspention mods like short springs (more than .5" shorther) since they change the susp. geometry and lower tire longevity. Transmitions should be tougher(automatic ones don't last) and they require regular oil changes (10w30 oil) every 25k miles. Engine mods which really boost the power will kill your trani in no time. The engine doesn't make any decent jouce bellow 3.5k r.p.ms. and My sis's 98 EX, I think is even worse than the regular 98 Dx's in the midrange, making ride in the heavy trafic and passing a bit tiredsome. Also the new Civic's suspention is too soft comparing with older models.

I will buy another one again since, despite the weakness, it is predictable in stering, reliable, easy to work on (I fix many of them for friends) and excelent on gas car. I had once a 85 civic with over 160k miles, which always started in the winter despite -20 deg Far., when other cars would sit death on the lot. My current '89 Dx with 145k miles(not many cars with such a millege here) is the same, and should make another 40k without problems. Honda is the best.

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Drove Volks Golf(lot of fun, v.good midrange, v.good suspention),'92 Sentra (underpowered,not as predictable ,teribble for long trips), '92 Corrola (v.reliable, but lifeless).

Gas mileage, Handling, Gas mileage, value

Power, Torque

Good car for around the town stuff, long trips are painful, but you'll get like 40 miles to the gallon. DOn't expect to accelerate until you reach about 5000 rpm. Get ABS. I've rear-ended about 5 cars because of lock-up. Everything else about this car is decent. Decent stereo, handling, seats, etc. If you have the money, get a Si or an Integra. Don't get an automatic if you want to get anywhere in a hurry either. The 5-speed is a great transmission, the car just needs more power. A major plus is that everything in this car is readily upgradable. Engine upgrades (heads, exhuast, turbos, etc.), wheel and stereo upgrades are great ways to personalize and enliven your car.

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Saturn SL, Acura Integra

Typical Honda, reliable, good ergonomics, good resale
I love the double wishbone suspension

Considering the price it feels cheap

I wanted to replace my 9 year old Civic EX 5 speed with a car with automatic because I started a new job with a long stop and go rush hour commute. Because my old Civic was such a great car, my first choice was a new Civic EX with an automatic. I was hugely disappointed. In 9 years this car has actually digressed. It felt smaller than my old one, less solidly built, louder, and more plasticy. The new VTEC engine with an auto was noticably weaker than my old 1.6 with a 5 speed. I really wanted to like this car, but I left the dealer shaking my head.

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1990 Honda Civic EX

Incredibly reliable car that doesn't need baby-ing.
Surprisingly good small car in terms of stiffness and road feel. Excellent gas milage: I drovw Atlanta to San Francisco on 7 tanks of gas!

Lacks power, though the 4speed automatic is responsive, but with 105 horses, one shouldn't expect much.

Overall, an EXCELLENT value for the money. After six trouble-free years with this car, I happily and enthusiastically reccomend this automobile.

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Mazda 626, BMW 325

Very reliable
Fun to drive
Easy on Gas
Roomy for a small car, lots of headroom
Very tight body structure despite being 15 years old
Hondamatic transmission (2 speed semiautomatic/overdrive transmission) makes driving more fun

Heavy (non-power-assist) steering
Gutless (76 hp, what do you expect?)
Noisy for highway driving
Brakes are a little weak (changed pads)
Rusts easily (my parents' car still looks good)

This is a car that, despite its age and rust, I genuinely enjoy driving. My parents were very fortunate to find this car barely used nine years ago, and although they felt almost embarrased to say how much they paid for it, it has earned its keep. In nine years of daily driving, the Civic has gone through a couple of water pumps, a couple of brakes, a few sets of tires, some shocks and tie rods. It starts on -40 degree mornings and with fwd it is a safe winter car.
That's all beside the fact that the car is fun to drive. I drove many a Cavalier back and forth from parking lots, and they all felt so boring and sterile, with overboosted power steering and cramped seating. My parents' car feels so much more alive. The car understeers a lot, but it can be balanced quite easily in a fast turn. The engine sounds somewhat raspy, and the noise is actually audible in the car. The car is slow, but from a rolling start it lost by a little over a car length to a new Cavalier, a car with 40 hp more. The car may be old and the rust may be starting to poke through, but this car has way more personality than a Cavalier could ever hope to have, while being roomy and almost boringly reliable.

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During a stint as a GM dealer car jockey, I drove many a Cavalier, Malibu, Lumina, Corsica, etc.

Lease Price (Only $193 per month for 36 mo)
Looks

H. Power
Noisy on highway

I've been driving my civic for about an year now. As the car is new and it is Japanese car, the car never gave me any problems so far.

I decided to buy this car for the following reasons:
1. It is very cute and attractive looking car. I love how they designed headlights.
2. It is very affordable. My car is top-of-the-line but only costs less than $13,000.00. If you want to finance the car, you will be paying $300 - $400 / month. But if you decide to lease the car, it's only $193 / month! (inc. alarm, mats, etc...)

After I've been driving the car, however, there are several things I have complaints about.
1. Noisy. On local roads, you can hardly notice but once you are on the highway you will have to speak up when you want to talk to other passengers and will have to turn up the CD/Radio volumn fairly high if you want to enjoy listening to music driving.
2. The car has an enough horse power to run with 2 passengers (inc. the driver). But as you take more people in the car, the driver will definitely feel that the car has reached 100% of its power. Especially when you are going up-hill. Before you know it, you will be pressing Gas-pedal all the way down and going only about 50... barely. 99 Civic Ex is supposed to have 123HP but I doubt that.

economical, fun to drive, incredibly reliable, well worth its higher price

a bit noisy on the highway, blind spot is more than I would like

None of the other three similar cars that I have driven can measure up to the pep, economy, bodyroom, and quality of my Honda. I purchased it at three years old and have replace d the brakes, the water pump, the tires and suspension system - which, considering the high number of miles that I have put on this car - is not bad at all. The car has never broken down on me , is very reliable, has a lot of pep for an older car, and makes me happy to drive it! What more can you hope for? Plus, it still has a good bit of life left and my payments ended over a year ago! An excellent deal.

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I have driven Ford Escorts, Toyota Corolla and the Dodge Neon

Great gas millage. Sturdy

Seat is too small for a tall person. The hatch back does not come with power windows and power locks. You'll find that your friends never remember to lock the door when they get out of the car.

The car handles great. It is put together well. It carries on Honda's quality name.

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Other cars

-Gas milage
-Looks sporty sorta
-Comfy
-The older 1986 grunted with masculinity, new models are high pitched

-Low powered, low torque
-Interior looks more for a family car opposed to its sporty exterior
-Fabric used on the seats are a bit odd
-Shifter feels mushy
-Automatic isn't a good idea
-Needs to rev high to pull
-Ugly oil filter location

The Civic is a decent car. Honestly I wouldn't recommend fixing one up to race due to cost and FWD. It seems targetted at parents that want their kids in a nice safe somewhat sporty lookin car. 99 models are better than the 96-98. I personally prefer the 92-95 models.

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Integras