The bulletproof 2001 Honda Civic!
Written: Apr 22 '01
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Pros: High build quality, great gas mileage, affordable, excellent safety ratings (side air bags), nearly indestructible!!!
Cons: No ABS brakes (except on EX), nearly everybody has one!
The Bottom Line: If you're like me (i.e. on a budget, but not wanting to drive a Chevy Metro or Ford Festiva), then you can't go wrong with a Honda Civic!!!
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| texascop's Full Review: 2001 Honda Civic 4 door |
Okay, maybe I'm going a little far to call it "bulletproof", but the new generation Honda Civics, like all Hondas, are about as close to indestructible as a car can be. Read on....
When I began my car search several months ago, I made a list of several things that HAD to be met: great gas mileage, highly dependable, fairly inexpensive to purchase and maintain, comfortable, and most importantly....something I could live with while I spend the next seven years in college! (That pretty much ruled out most American-made cars...sad but true.)
After months of test-driving various makes and models in the small-car segment (including Fords and Chevrolets), my search narrowed to the 2001 Honda Civic LX sedan.
Quite honestly, my choice was one of the better ones I've made in my life.
Most of you probably already know about the major changes Honda made to the new-generation Civics: revised body styling (love it or hate it!), larger engines (1.7L instead of 1.6L), better fuel efficiency (a few miles per gallon on average), Macpherson struts on the front suspension (instead of the sportier and stiffer double wishbone suspensions in previous models), flat floorboards for rear-seat passengers, etc.
But, Honda has made some other changes to the Civic that make it worthy of consideration: approximatley 50% increased torsional rigidity in the body (less roadnoise, better ride quality, safer during a collision), all Civics are now rated as Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles (the environment will thank you), roomier interior, integrated radio antenna in the rear windshield (no more reaching out the driver's side window during a rainstorm to manually pull the antenna up or down!), availability of side air bags for a paltry $250 (a no-brainer if you ask me!), and an all-new 105,000 tune-up interval!
The Civic is surprisingly roomy and comfortable, even for those of us who are beyond six-feet tall. The seats are well-designed and provide ample comfort, even on longer jaunts. And the rear seats provide plenty of legroom and headroom for taller than average adults! Plus, Honda could teach those "other" car makers a thing or two about ergonomics, as all controls are within easy reach and clearly marked in such a way that even a monkey could figure them out!
A casual observer may not notice some of the nicer touches Honda made to the interior: climate controls that are variable rather than the usual Low, Medium, and High settings most cars have, windshield washer spray nozzles that actually mist instead of stream, air ducts that go under the front seats and provide A/C or heat to the feet of rear-seat passengers, dual vanity mirrors, dual map lights, a steering wheel that has a nice, solid, textured feel to it, etc. The list goes on and on.
I live in Houston, where motorists typically drive "offensively" rather than "defensively", so performance was another concern of mine. Fortunately, the Civic rises to the task with an exceptional horsepower to weight ratio that makes it an adequate little performer. You're not going to win any drag races with your new Civic, but you shouldn't have any trouble accelerating onto the highway or down city streets. (Those of you who enjoy taking part in some good ol' road rage might want to look elsewhere though.)
The styling is different for the sedans and coupes, and it'll really be a personal choice you'll have to make. I happen to like the styling on the sedans simply because I think the tail lights look cleaner....and besides I like the little chrome strips on the trunk and hood of the sedans. Sorta adds a touch of class. Also, the insurance premiums are significantly lower on the sedans....a little over $20 per month LESS in my case!
One more thing for those of you in Houston....I bought my Civic LX sedan (manual transmission and side air bags) from David McDavid Honda on I-45 at Fuqua Road. I got it for $13,900 and they threw in the VIN etching on the windows for free (drops the insurance a few bucks). Trust me, I looked around for a LONG time, and that was the best price anywhere! My total drive-out price was $14,939.
Note: I don't have any particular affection for ANY dealership, including David McDavid, but I figured this information might be helpful during your search for the best price you can find. Use it as bargaining power if nothing less!
Also, if you're looking for genuine Honda aftermarket accessories....in-dash CD player/changer, floor mats, cargo net for the trunk, etc...then, do yourself a favor and go check out http://www.handa-accessories.com/ before you buy from the dealership! I saved a TON of money and didn't have to pay a penny in sales tax (no such luck for those of you stuck in California!)...and the shipping was only nine bucks! And, no that's not a typo in the web address....it's actually spelled just like I put it....handa. For instance, I bought a six-disc in-dash CD changer...genuine Honda...for $470 as compared to the $630 the dealership wanted for the very same item! Installation was a paltry $25.....so, I still saved over a hundred bucks!
Hope this review helps! If you need more information, feel free to email me! :)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 13,900
Condition: New
Model Year: 2001
Model and Options: LX sedan, side air bags, manual transmission, in-dash CD changer
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Epinions.com ID:
texascop
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Location: Houston, Texas USA
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
I'm into cars, music, investing, academia, running, and college football. :)
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