Check the insurance rate before buying this car
What things have gone wrong with the car?
1. Engine light on need i-vtec software update, couldn’t go pass 4000 rpm. Dealer having trouble getting equipment to service probably because 2002 is first year it is being offered in Canada.
2. Honda changed the front suspension set up from double wish-bone to strut, front passenger suspension is noisy, but dealer can’t locate the problem, I owned a 90 Civic hatchback with double-wishbone set up in front and never have suspension noise.
3. Otherwise the car is trouble-free.
General comments?
1. I just sold my car because cost of insurance is killing me, it cost me almost $200 per month to insure this car with a 43% claim free discount.
2. I own a 1990 Civic hatchback before, I must say the Hondas quality control has deteriorate quite a bit, may be because this car was made in England.
3. The car perfers to be pushed, not very suitable for city stop and go traffic, on the freeway the engine is in optimal range so it’s very powerful, if you do a lot of stop and go commute, don’t buy this car. If you want a car that is very powerful in the city, buy something with a lot of low end torque, ex. Toyota Celica GT or Golf GTI 1.8T.
4. This car attracts attention including thieves, I had my side-marker, radio attena stolen. And I had an expensive alarm installed already.
5. Brake is not too responsive compare to the output of the engine, on the other hand the engine has a nice sound to it especially when the i-VTEC opens up.
If I have to make a buying decision again, I will probably pick a Mini Cooper or a Toyota Celica GT, with a MSRP of almost $25-26K CAD, the car is not worth the money, especially considering cost of insuring the car. Also Civic is a economy car, it’ll be always lable as such, people always ask me why it’s so expensive to insure Civic.carsurvey.org
