FAQ - The headunit! It's an ATOTO F7 10.1 (I don't think they sell this exact model anymore but a very close newer version of it.) See my full review here but I'd like to add that since purchasing and living with it for over a year I started to eventually wish I'd saved up the extra cash for one with a brighter screen, better call quality and steering wheel controls that just worked like the branded ones I used to have. Given that fascia kits can be £100 alone however it's a great stepping stone headunit to get you away from an old CD player for example: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-B0MZRYCjiug.html I've also now upgraded from this wonderful Honda Civic and I'm soon to do my review on that car so do subscribe to find out what I've hopped into now!
Compare the Insurance cost, Road Tax & Fuel consumption of a 1.8 engine Civic to any Ford Focus or Fiesta with a 1.5 or 1.6 TDCi engine. Then you will understand why the Civic ISN'T the best CHEAP Daily.
@@F4Insight-uq6nt well that's petrol vs diesel so an unfair comparison but given Ford's middle ground reliability I'd say fuel savings are probably going to even out with repairs anyway. Do love me a Ford though, not knocking them! Hardly any hatchback drives better than a Fiesta!
@@naiemhussen8121 About £200 ish for the headunit, about £80 to 100 again for the Fascia adapter plate + any other bits related to the install and then I threw a friend £50 for the install as with these Honda Civics it takes an absolute AGE to do hahaha. It made the interior feel much, much newer but actually it's not a great location for looking at a map. In hindsight a phone holder going to an expensive Bluetooth to aux adapter that's powered by the 12V is the easier option.
I reluctantly sold my old Jag because it was getting expensive to service, and bought one of these Hondas. I thought a boring, old man's car was probably a good idea, as I did tend to speed in the Jag, and I'm getting old as well. I've had it for a year now, and it has done a great job as a daily driver. It's solid, reliable, comfortable and, yes, a bit boring, but as you say, the designers really thought this one through. Which reminds me... A guy rolls into a petrol station on his way to the golf course. A young lad comes out to pump the fuel in. While he's doing this, he admires the new Honda CR-V. Not a golfer, he asks what those little plastic things are on the passenger seat. "They're tees," says the owner. "What are tees?" asks the lad. "They're for resting my balls on when I'm driving." The lad slowly shakes his head, "Those Japanese think of everything."
I had a 2.2 CDTI ES, owned lots of £100k plus cars since in my later life and i can easily same this little Honda Civic is still my favourite. So much fun, really well designed interior
I have mine at 190k miles and still going strong. 78MPG of diesel is the best I got on a trip from Southampton to Canterbury once. I get around constant 55 mpg as a daily driver.
this is the only car from the 2010 generation still properly visible on the streets here in Munich. I also bought one for my wife's father. it drives great, is spacious, and all mechanics that I encountered say it has one the best engines ever built. yes, it is still worth it, and I'm looking into getting one to replace the current Opel Astra K once the leasing expires and I return it.
@@njegosrailic the 1.4 is too weak for the car size, the 1.8 is one of the best engines ever built, the 2.2 diesel is just as good (I had it), but it's not worth the trouble. the 1.8 is alot more fun, and isn't at all heavy on the fuel consumption. I managed 6L/100km with 4 people and luggage (no motorway though) over an about 1000km trip.
I had one of these (A 2006 1.8 Ivtec in Es trim) as my first car. I absolutely loved it, was Such a good car and really a very nice first car. I got a massive computer desk in the back of it and only had to remove the two legs on one side to allow the boot to close, but that's it a pretty much fully assembled desk went in the back! Those seats really are the best I've seen, not to mention the 90° opening rear doors. Really cool car actually 👌
I've had two of these, both 2006 ES models; fantastically equipped with auto lights, wipers, power-fold mirrors, cruise control, dual zone climate control. They're economical, sporty looking and extremely practical (magic seats); it's only after you get into a slightly more modern car do you realise its cheap plastic interior that had me yearning for the later model. I still have a soft spot for this car but could only ever consider the later model now.
Yeah I think you've hit the nail on the head there! I'm very glad I got the facelift, the interior quality feels many, many years ahead. It's mad how much car you get for your money!
It's funny, before I got one I found the interior a bit plasticky, but then I got used to it and it compares pretty favourably to modern cars. The newer model does feel higher quality, though. It's a shame the styling isn't as good, although the facelifts and the touring look good.
Got one of these 3 years old in 2011, still have it. 1.8 petrol iVTEC , only thing it's ever needed is tyres and brakes (obviously), a suspension spring, doplink and a new battery. Amazingly well built cars that are a pleasure to drive and they have so go in them too.
@@keatongroom pretty good, the aerial isn't amazing to be honest but it has 6 or 8 speaker sound system. I recently upgraded the head unit to an android powered screen which is great but was a hassle due to needing a few additional leads to get everything working (steering wheel controls etc)
My 06 civic definitely gets use of the magic seats, as a musician i dont need a van! all i need is my trusty civic😂, just chuck my huge amp in the magic seat area and room for guitars and even some drum kit parts in the boot! Loved the review, spot on and people need to stop dissing honda civics!
That's a brilliant use of that space! In the 2012+ Civic my old band used to get an entire drum kit plus keyboard plus merch in too! They're so practical it's a joke! And thanks so much for your kind words pal!
I have a 2006 2.2 cdti with 210,000 miles which drives great considering the age and mileage. Best thing is, it cost me just £650 last year and flew through it's MOT this year. Will keep it till it dies.
That's absolutely insane hahaha £650!!!! What a champion!!! I love that I've spent that money in a single go just simply fixing my old 330ci from years ago!!
Couple months ago, I bought FK3 as a first car and I love it. Love the ride, the torque and fuel economy. Seats are very comfortable. The climate control is nice but takes time to warm up the cabin during winter as the engine first has to warm up but no complaints from then on.
Just bought one of these, it’s such a solid car. I got a 2.2 diesel, it’s actually very nippy and probably faster than most cars on the road but I can still get 50mpg around town or 60+ on the motorway and like you mentioned I love the interior. The styling is just brilliant. The climate controls are the best I’ve ever seen in any car, right next to your hand when driving. It has aged SO well. And so has the exterior styling. Honestly I think one of the best cars made in the 2000s.
I had a late 2010 2.2 si 3 years ago and is still the best car I've ever owned. It was so practical, good looking and torquey. Sadly i wrote it off in a freak accident and I've missed it ever since 😢 I've had an alfa romeo since then and I want to switch back to Honda. Great video. Love a daily driver review👍
Thanks so much, Jimbo and I'm really sorry to hear that you wrote off a good one! Luckily they're incredibly readily available, so get yourself back in the Honda market again! I'd definitely look at if the shocks have been done recently and pay attention to ride quality on a test drive, I'm sure my car's ride is getting worse and I'm thinking the shocks may have started perishing a little. But on good roads/fresh shocks it's unbeatable for the size and price!
I bought a low mile facelift type S with full service history. Had it for around 18 months now. If you want a genuinely reliable run around without getting wrapped up in finance or high prices, these really are perfect.
@@mohammedsalimahmed5230 i'd avoid the Type S if you are after a comfortable cruiser. Its a great run around but its no mega mile muncher. Though it would do it reliably.
@@cc2162 also, I found a 2011 type S GT with 51k miles on the clock with genuine FSH by Honda and 1 owner. All for £4300. Do you think this is worth going for?
@@mohammedsalimahmed5230 i couldnt comment on the normal model. Only issue i have found is it is a bit of a screamer on a motorway especially past 80mph. The 6th gear feels a bit pointless. Probably best to test drive on to see if you can live with it.
I bought a 2010 GT model with 1.8 litre, I have it for over 2 years and have put over 75,000km on the car. I have reached 200,000km - it is the only car in the family that never had a problem. I have saved some friends with it - jumpstarted, towed, ... I have put LPG in it, it's unbelieveably reliable, comfortable, sporty and fun to drive, VERY cheap to run, looks good and also sounds good, the R18A2 engine is a masterpiece, revving it just makes your day better everytime, watching the cars dissapear behind you while listening to the beautiful sound - all in one package. It's hard for me to even imagine owning another car. I do drive a lot of others cars, but this Honda has something special, it just wraps around your heart creating a relationship between the two of you if you are into cars. You can do heel-toe shifts, the gear changes feel also great. For some people a little stiffer suspension might be a nigative point, but I love it. The car handles incredibly well even at higher speeds like 180-200km/h. I have been driving many times in very hazardous conditions (extremely heavy rain and snowing, icy roads, very strong side wind, etc.) the point I'm trying to make is that it is a safe car with lots and lots of grip with quality tires and feels very safe at higher speeds and hazardous conditions (I have KYB excel-G struts and eibach pro kit springs) - it has never let me down in any way. From my standpoint if you find this car with a genuinely good service history and you see that the owner loved the car, just take it.
Cheers, very helpful comment. I need to buy a car and Hondas have been our family cars for the last 40 years. Civics but not this model. I am about to see one next Friday, 2008, 2.2 diesel engine. Fingers crossed.
I bought my 1.8 2008 Type S GT 2 years ago and it's been an absolute joy to own. Not to mention an absolute steal in my opinion at £3k @ 67k miles with 1 owner/full service history, and it's the rare metallic black colour. Cruise control, auto folding mirrors, auto wipers, panoramic roof. I've upgraded all the lights interior and exterior to some nice bright LED's, treated the old weathered trim with black dye and generally kept the car polished and detailed. I'm always pleasently surprised by the good comments when I give people a lift in it, really doesn't feel like a 14 year old car at all.
2.2 diesel all the way, had 6 of them(every colour apart from light blue) and had literally 0 issues apart from suspension always needing replacing. Really good review on my favourite daily car 👍
I got a FK2 1.8 Sport last year and absolutely love it. Found one without any rust at all 😎 Really like the appearance, doesn't feel a 15 year old car at all because of the futuristic styling both in and outside. In fact, a lot of newer cars feel older than the 8th gen Civic 😁
Thanks for that good review of the civic. I have a 57 reg. 2.2 diesel. On the note of boot water leaking, my was big style. My local garage fitted a genuine Honda tailgate seal, think that it was something daft like £300. It didn’t solve the issue at all. My next call was Honda main dealer in Stoke, I got a bill of £160 from them but the car is watertight now. I wish I had gone to them first. My civic has 172k miles on it now and it’s the best car I have owned in 50 years of motoring.
Hey Paul, Thanks so much for your super-kind words, much appreciated. And sorry to hear the dreaded leak was such an expensive fix! Glad you love it though, I'm still in awe at how brilliant these cars are and ahead of their time! If I could soften the suspension slightly and just ever so slightly improve the aircon effectiveness it'd be perfect! But really they're good enough and I still can't believe how much car I have for the money!
I bought my '07 8 years ago. Since then ive done 110000 miles in it. Its only ever needed brakes, tyres, battery and one shocker. Its an incredible car, still better than the competition. Spacious, comfortable, tardis like when carrying loads. The magic seats are awesome if you have a dog. Economy is great. Mine is the 1.8. I average 45mpg combined and often get over 50mpg on a run. Its the single best purchase ive ever made in my life.
Thanks so much, Ryan, and you know what, poor or not I just think they make brilliant dailies for unbeatable value. I would also recommend that you try a petrol (diesels were very unreliable) Mazda6 or do try and stretch to the newer Mk9 Civic even if it has really high mileage. That way you'll have a car with next to no complaints at all! I love reviewing cars of incredible value, I'm going to seek it out more often ya know!
I've got a 1.8 petrol sport and drive 190 mile round trip to work every day. The civic doesn't miss a beat, manual box is spot on and I'm getting that 53mpg ish doing 60-70 all the way. Mine is in the garage having some warranty bits done and I'm actually missing driving it
I have this car since August 2018, it is my second car although I was 27 when I bought it. This workhorse cost me £3500, it's a 2009 Type S diesel model with 110k miles when purchased, now 145k+ I moved 4 times during that time and this car always got my back... It didn't need much, my average mpg is 49 city + motorway. It's quite comfortable and sporty, alcantara seats are nice. You can go quick in stock form when you get the gang of the max turbo. Admittedly, the clutch is not good but I'm still on the original and it works for me. It's losing a lot of plastic and is falling apart due to this weather, the bills are coming up now and every year it is getting less reasonable to keep it... Plus, ULEZ is hurting me, I've already paid hundreds unfotunately. But honestly, this car will be in my memories, first car I detailed and was proud of a few years ago. If you can find a nice example like in this video the car will genuinely suprise you. It's a lot of car for the money.
I've bought the 1.4 version year ago as my first car and it feels great. For daily city drive, the fuel consumption is amazing. Super practical with great space in front and the back. Outstanding design in both fields ( exterior and interior ). The driving feels great, I had a couple of longer drives 7-8 hrs and had no issues with comfortability. I really do like my UFO and wouldn't change it for a thing. Cheers!
@@samixalam_ it's a 2010 with the vtec and it's a good engine for a 1.4 but it's a big car with a small engine, so don't expect much excitement 😁 it's fine for me though good car.
I have the car. 1.4 i-vtec 100 hp. If you want overtake go to 5-6000rpm and it goes...very fuel efficient...2500km in 1 week with 4 person on bord and some luggage NO PROBLEM...Just use brilliant brilliant gearbox..Very good car.no oil consumption and 6.1-6.6 l/100km.
I have two cars, a second hand 2017 BMW 420i which I bought because of the expansion of ULEZ, and my 2010 2.2 CTDI SI Civic. I have spent more money on that BMW in the year I have had it than I have on my Civic in the 11 years I have had that. So far on the Civic (beside usual brakes/disks etc) I have replaced a high pressure fuel rail (ot was the sensor on it) and a single injector (both off eBay for pennies). As for the clutch you mention issues with the diesel, well mine is still going strong and I am close to 270,000 miles on the clock. And given how poky this car is, they have not always been the most sedate miles. What I do have is a small oil leak. Honda wanted £2k to fix it as it means going into the engine (they say). Whilst not environmentally sound, it still passes the MOT as an advisory so I'll put up with the leak. Best car I ever owned.
What I do recommend doing is replacing the perspex grill with a Honda Access grill. It came with the style mode version made from 2009. It makes the car look leagues better.
This was nice to watch. Refreshingly relatable to get to see a nice normal guy reviewing a nice normal guy, rather than some super polished performer showing off totally unaffordable brand new cars or supercars. This was nice.
Thanks so much Mark, I'm so glad that this relatable car content actually has a happy appreciative audience for it! I was only today saying to someone that I ironically remember feeling the need to apologise that I was putting a Civic on the channel and justifying that it'd earned its place! Little would I realise that this would go on to become my most popular video hahaha!
Own 2.2 diesel 06 ES model, my first car. Have it more than 3,5 years and not thinking about changing it soon, sometimes after driving wife’s ‘16 Volvo xc60 and jumping to civic it feels so light, fast and fresh. Actually loving how fast that small car can be, how good handling is and together, how spacious it can be. Great car, and love that first I-CDTi models don’t have DPF, so it one less headache when you own diesel 👍
I bought a similar car to this one two years ago, only it's a 2008-model. Before that I owned a Peugeot 207 that had so many errors I just had to get rid of it. It's simply a great car, fun to drive, feels safe and steady on the road. I've never had any issues with it. The design is great and timeless.
@@Matty_Champwhite Same experience for me. I had major issues with water coming into the engine that caused a lot of trouble. I decided to leave French cars for good and bought a Honda. Best choice I've ever made.
Great review, I see these cars everywhere and I have started to like them. I've done the same as you and bought a boring daily, for me it's a 2009 Toyota Prius, runs so smoothly and is so economical. And I just bought a 2007 mx5 NC to enjoy when I feel like it. Absolutely loving that!
Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. And that's actually such a great two car garage! I've looked at the Auris Estate Hybrid recently as I'm now doing so much London driving for my video work - they can't be knocked!
Spot on review. I've had my 06 1.8 since 2008, with now 114000 miles on it, and it's still as good as new. I loved it that much that I got another in 2015 1.6 diesel. Awesome for everything plus mpg at 60 plus on motorway driving. Southampton to Hull and back on a full tank with some left in the tank. Both have cheap parts and easy to buy them here in the UK.
Bought mine in 2018 (2010 model), still running with not an issue except the boot leak! Over 100,000 clocked on and counting. I want to run it till it refuses to move.
boot leak is usual on that model and usually not easy to solve because it can leak from different locations. I removed carpet from bottom side, drilled two small holes (some 3mm diameter) on each side, paint exposed tin after drilling to protect from rust, return carpet and thats it. No more aquarium inside boot.
I had a 2009 1.3 civic and it was one of the best cars I owned and I owned multiple bmws and audis. 4 years of ownership and not one thing went wrong. Nearly hitting 55mpg on long journeys. Magic seats are class if u have a kids seat installed on the 1/3 side of the rear seat split. So much space
I'm on my second civic 2.2 ES, brilliant car. Rock solid reliability and gives 46mpg start stop town driving and 60+ on a nice long drive. Average price round here is 1700-2500 for something with above 100k miles. You can get a high milage scrubber for less than 600. If you want comfort then go for something with 16" wheels. 17" wheels look nice but you WILL feel everything. The 2.2 is the one you want... soooo much torque! The petrol 1.8 feels lethargic in comparison. In both cars Ive owned (2007 / 2008) Ive NEVER had either clutch slip or the leaky boot that was mentioned in this vid although it is something to look out for! The first was written off by an old chap in Tesco's and IM still running the second. Between them Ive clocked about 190-ish thousand miles with no probs only routine maintenance. Oh, an ABS sensor failed one time. HAnds down the most reliable car Ive owned. Couple of other benefits worth mentioning for the mk8 2.2..... no DPF filter to have to worry about and a lovely engine timing chain rather than belt :P Fantastic car, reliable, frugal, quick, cant fault it! - I think it's the best looking too.
It's absolutely mad value isn't it!! And that's very interesting regarding the 15" wheels, did they do them for the lower specs then? I'd be very tempted to swap out when the tyres need a change as the firm ride is slowly getting on my nerves over time hahaha
Beautiful car. Car prices for used cars in the UK seem to be way way lower than in germany. A 8gen Civic like this with a leather interior + a roof like this seems to be 8000 or 9000€++ lol. Pretty crazy that you'ge got this for half the price in the UK. Lovely car.
video presentation comes across like a channel with 100K+ subs - Really great and honest video - As someone who is looking for an auto I admittedly overlooked this for other brands, might have to reconsider!
This is my favourite comment I've read in months pal, thank you so much. That means a lot! And definitely try out the Honda equivalent of whatever you're looking at, they feel a lot better to drive than most people would anticipate!
@@petrolpoodle I have been looking at these for the last few days and check prices etc... I agree with the poster here. I was thinking never come across your channel, and was a bit shock at only under 3k viewers. Considering the diesel type S or possibly the EX if I can get a well cared for example. 1.8 or 2.2. Have had a mk 1 Honda Insight since 2006 which Honda are not really supporting parts wise now so...
@@johnshore3095 Thank you so much, mate, that's amazingly kind! Excitingly I finally have another video under my belt and just need to find time to edit it now! I would see if you can test drive both and see which resonates most! As for the petrol vs diesel, well, I would be tempted to go 1.8 petrol for the Type S to have the fun high revving nature match the sportier setup/seats. And I'd be tempted by the 2.2 diesel for the extra grunty motorway muncher personality of the EX. Mine is an EX 1.8 auto and I have no regrets despite the 35mpg!
@@petrolpoodle Thanks for the reply. Because I do not do the miles to warrant a diesel and there are more expensive running costs and ULEV things to consider I am looking at 1.8s fuel consumption I've ruled out the type R. It will be type S or a good spec 5dr. Looking for a well maintained one. How is the suspension damping at motorway speeds some firmer setup cars can suffer from a bounce at speeds north of 70, which I won't be doing in the UK of course.
Yes I've had one in Honda civic for 3 years I noticed a towel-like shoes to get condensation in them so I drilled two holes in there to let the air flow go into the rear lights so I don't get no condensation in there I messed it up all around the towel gate where they were supposed to spin leaking I've done that before it gained a leak but the car has been ok I'm very pleased with the car and it's quite reliable it's just a bit hard on suspension I think you'll find it's not the suspension it's a low profile tires what the car comes with apart from that the car drives superb and it's reliable for what it is it's a Honda civic and I'm very pleased with it thank you very much again for a fantastic video 👍
After wanting one of these since it was shown as a concept back in 2005, I finally got the chance to buy a low mileage -08 manual (1.8 V-Tec) some weeks ago. It was just as great as I hoped! Drives really nice (the feeling reminds me of a combination of the Mazda 323 C and the Saab 9000 CS!) and I love all the quirks. A little tricky to parallell park it (still), but I guess I will get used to that too soon. To me, this generation of cars hits the sweetspot -still relatively modern, but without all the rediculous over complexity of brand new cars. Btw, this Civic was never that common here in Sweden and to me they have never been "just another car", but something special. Great to read the other comments saying you still are loving yours for years and years. I will hang on to mine for as long as possible. Also - I used the floor in the rear passenger area to haul one wheel (the other 3 went in the boot). Really brilliant sollution!
They are truly remarkable cars, absolutely brilliant things! And congratulations! I weirdly also had a crush on them since 2009 and always hoped to have one. So I enjoyed driving it around and reminiscing to the 2009 one I was sat in thinking god, how am I in this machine now!
Had a bit of bad luck 2 months ago, my 3 series and wifes astra both had engine failures 1 week apart 🤷♂️ bought two 06 Civics, 1.4 and 1.8. £1800 for the pair ! Im honestly totally sold on Hondas, they both work great , no engine/gearbox issues , my 1.8 is actually pretty nippy too ! Both can average 55+ mpg on the motorway which is fantastic for petrols. I think im a Honda guy now 😂
was my second car after a golf iv. I bought mine in germany 2020 for 3500€, 2008, Type S with the 1.8 - 140 PS in Ionized Bronze Metallic at about 120.000km. Was a reliable car, only had a few issues what did not cost very much. I sold it three weeks ago for 9300€, i loved that car but the price was very tempting. i "upgraded" to Audi.
Brilliant choice! How are you finding the Audi? I've recently upgraded to a Volvo for the daily duties and I'm certainly enjoying the added plushness! Still love what an unbeatable machine the Honda was for value though
Sorry to hear that pal, that's awful. I hope you all got out unscathed! What's on the list for replacing it? Mk8 again? Mk9 or something completely different?
They're fabulous cars my friend, I'd just say pump for the Mk9 if you can afford even a high mileage one as they're better cars from the chassis up. If your local road quality is good, go for the Mk8 by all means :)
Completely agree, it's just somehow pulled off 'timeless' with actually quite a radical 'futuristic' design for 2005. Today it still feels right and not too complicated or fussy!
I have 2013 1.4 and its the best small car I have ever had inn 50 years of motoring. Cheap to run very reliable and so versatile. Not that fast but in today's traffic it doesn't matter that much anyway.87000 miles on mine and no issues . I recently had a 2016 Skoda Superb auto as a second car, DMF failure at 66000 so watch out if your looking for one according to the auto trans company who had to fix it 2 grand job not an uncommon fault as its made out to be.
Thanks mate, very Good review, unfortunately I bought it last month with a lil bit overpriced I thought as my first car of my entire life, nearly £10k, but mostly everyone being dumb to buy your first car, so I am okay haha, low mileages just 27k miles in 12 years, Automatic gearbox and I like the design of this 8.5th generation no matter inside and outside, still enjoy it❤
I had the Honda civic diesel 2.2 cdti. Really good car, 0 to 60 mph in 8.22 seconds. Had it remapped, it produced 180hp with 423nm of torque. Fastest speed I went on it was 136mph on the digital speedo on a lovely wide 3 lane toll road in the Midlands 😅 Sadly I had to get it scrapped because of the Ultra low emission zone in London. Although I did get a £2.2k l scrappage grant. Sad to see it go. Great car 🚗
I love my Civic MK8 but it does have a firm and crashy suspension. It handles well but you do feel rough roads up your back. It's the tradeoff for a sporty ride.
Im a honda nut for past 20 years owned mainly type R of all types. My daughr had a type S civic 2.2 diesel. Best all rounder made in past 20 years ENORMOUSLY FAST 250lb/ft and light weight
Bought this as my second car back in January. Absolutly love this thing. The futuristic design. The interior is lovely. I have the 1.4 6 speed version and even took it to the Nürburgring a couple times already and drove a few slow but fun laps! Ive driving around 20k kilometers and counting. My next car will also be a honda for sure! Very reliable and just fun and cheap to drive. It has 177k kilometers as of right now. If your reading this and thinking about buying one look for it. Although it wasn't hard to find it sells absolutely crazy here. So i looked at about 4 cars and they were all snagged away from me. Luckily i found one now myself. Couldn't be happier with my car
@@Johnnyboiii on the highway you can hear some wind through the car. I would not say it's bad but it could be better. On backroads and in the city it's not as noticeable. I personally don't really mind it
I have a 2009 diesel one of these. Had it 6yrs a d it passed all MOT without advisories apart from one year the handbrake, which required adjusting only. I do mainly motorway miles and achieve on average 53mpg. It's very pokey and shifts along no issues. Ride is a little stiff also mines running 18in low profile honda wheels and u feel a lot of of the road. It's the most reliable car I've owned 108k on the clock and running like a dream
I had one exactly the same (manual - The manual box is an absolute dream) - Loved it. Magic seats were perfect for transporting my bass around. Upgraded to the 2019 Sport. That's such a lot of fun to drive. Miss the magic seats though.
I was a teenager when these came out and I absolutely fell in love with them. I remember wishing I was older so I could get one of them lol. I was straight up jealous of people who could go out and buy one. Unfortunately I never got the chance to own one. I guess I could by one now as a second car but I don't have anywhere to put it. I also barely drive enough miles to justify one car, let alone 2.
I had a Sport with GT Package (German equipment, no idea what the comparable one was called in England) from 2017-2020. was super reliable, economical and fun to drive. I can only recommend.
Wow! 4th! What's made you leave and return so many times? Or have you been simply mostly swapping between different types of these Civics? Welcome back, btw!
@@petrolpoodle Fancied a change but i had to get the Ex model previous had the sports and the es model but love the power how it looks and just looks so modern aswel :)
i just got a 1.8 07 manual one of these and I'm still a learner but with my partner in the car did a 184 mile round trip in it and it drove amazingly great fun car to drive and easy to tell what you are doing in it as there's loads of visibility out of it i wouldn't recommend it for a new driver but i have had plenty of driving experience just cant fathom the theory test as i have a mental block when doing exams :(
@@asensibleyoungman2978 I do, I use the side window a lot you sarcastic shit, especially at junctions. It's still a design fault, the thickness and angle of the pillars block out a lot. It shouldn't be necessary for drivers to have to look like Mr/Mrs bobblehead to be safe,
@@paulqueripel3493 I wasn't being sarcastic. A lot of people just don't know you need to move your head to eliminate blind spots. My cars doesn't have thick pillars but I still move my head
@@asensibleyoungman2978 Sorry, I'll apologize then. It's not so much cars that hide behind the pillars, but pedestrians at crossings often pop out of nowhere. I think the pillars are about 10cm across, increasing to 30cm at the base due to the mirror base/tweeter housing.
This type of thorough and practical review is exemplary. Not a second is wasted and the man shows all that we need to see -- except getting in and out. The truth is that cars by the 2020s all look the same, rely too much on electronics and, with a few Asian exceptions, using cheaper steel and alloys to save money and increase profits as if by right. Honda and Toyota always got the medium hatchback/small family car segment right as Nissan entirely abandoned build quality and Korean cars vary wildly between superb and rubbish. German brands relied on a former reputation and huge snob propaganda effort which conned many of us now in twilight years and often learned to drive in VWs. Incidentally, one reason why Skoda stands out in the VAG group is because of pedigree engineering and pride in their work. They also supplied the best engines to other VAG brands and VW in particular spent serious money on re-badging such engines and even spare parts. Honda made a few mistakes now and then early on but by the 2000s had earned a reputation for understated quality and thoughtful design which was left to speak for itself by longevity and detailed servicing requirements. The young man here has picked up on why cars like these, the Yaris and slightly bigger Toyotas are still on our roads. Excellence from the factory meant that the cars lived on and on and are sought out by those who require quality, not style statements the latest this and that. Subscribed.
Thoroughly agree bought one as a cheap as chips crash damaged motor but with MOT as a run around. I'm over 6ft and it's very comfortable and I'm incredibly impressed. I've had Beemers Lexuses ( if that's a term ) and at present drive a Jag XJ. This little beaut has really changed my attitude been a joy to own ...... a couple of small issues including the boot leak but not to hard to resolve. Mine is the 2.2 cdti and has all the toys bargain at 800 quid
I have the 2014 version of the civic. Just to mention the magic seats. Ahhh yes the magic seats. Theyre great for moving stuff around whether you fold them up or down flat. I run a small landscaping business on the side and i can easily fit a lawnmower, strimmer, hedge cutter, chainsaw, brush, shovel, rake, fuel and oil cans, waste material box and a toolbox in the back. Yes it is very cramped with all that in there but it can be done! Not to mention after 20 minutes with a hoover the back is spotless again. (I have the 1.6 diesel version. N16A1 engine, 120hp 300nm torque. For the techy folks)
Got A 2008 1.8lt Type-S which I bought used. It's been a great ride overall, yes a bit stiff which can be improved if you change suspension and want to keep it for long.
A year later..... 🙄 Kaya a shocks are a must. They still are on the sporty side but the faster you go, the better they get. On the motorway they absorb everything, one body movement and it settles perfectly. Great in the twisties too
Ohhh really? Mine behaved fine on E10 though I'm sure I got a 3-5mpg drop in economy. Does the incompatibility mean that it'll have problems long term then? (I have sold the car since the video by the way, just curious!)
Not true. You can literally drive late 90's Civics with E10, and they will be fine. My 2002 Civic ran exclusively on E10 and went 300.000 kilometers with it. The thing is still running to this day. These cars run it without any issues.
Interesting channel to come across and at the tender age of over 60 something I actually enjoyed watching it…you seem to cover all the bases well and now I want one!! 😂
Hahaha fantastic! Really glad you enjoyed! If you're in the market for a brilliant daily car and aren't near a city with ULEZ-style restrictions, check out my Volvo V60 review. It's the car I've since replaced this Honda with and I'm utterly smitten! It's not quite got the same bulletproof Honda reliability (speaking as a whole, mine's been well behaved) but at 160,000 miles mine feels tighter and newer than even my Civic interior felt at 80,000 miles. Worth a watch anyway, but the Civic gets an immediate recommendation if your local road surfaces are good. Otherwise they do get through springs on rough roads!
Had several my first one wrote off was the best cruise control really good Aircon very good full glass roof very good . Think it was 2006 brown gold got really good milage in Europe on the toll roads . The second was a lot more tinnie body panels a lot thinner door handles and fitting been made lighter . For better fuel economy. It has electric power steering no spare wheel is a issue if you take out the lining out from the tyre well a spare tyre will fit in but because they have put thicker alloys the floor lid sticks up about a 1 inch further up . Got a spare wheel for about £40 from a scrap yard . Never had any issues with them just standard usable parts shocks and brake pads discs all cheap . My latest one has a leaking boot issue my older ones never did have a issue . Acceleration really good when needed .
I have a 1.8 2010 plate, I think the only advantage of 9th gen is better ride, I dislike the rear arches on the 9th gen! Be wary of 2013 plates, maybe some early 2014 plates. Honda used different piston rings in those and they can consume a lot of oil. Check out Civinfo for exact details.
This car is really underrated. I drive a facelift one 1.8 140hp petrol manual which have a 3.5 jack audio i plugged a bluetooth receiver on, so i have all i need. The reliability is brillant, the handling is sharp, materials are not effected by aging, the space inside is masssive. The cockpit is driver optimized. And the boot is 485 liters. Maintenance ? chain timing , so : oil change, brakes, tires. period. Ride is firm, thats right but in my opinion (and i do have back pain issues) it's not a problem at all, i do like cars with low body roll (previous car was a Fiesta ST 150)
@@asensibleyoungman2978 well, to be more accurate, i would say not rated because people don't know this car. But since theyr are extremely reliable, they will stay in the roads while aging.
I bought Mk8 Civic just because of the interior. Of course it was a very, very good deal, but if the interior was more boring, I would've picked something else. The manual also has rev lights accompanying that eco meter. One thing it does NOT do very well in, is winter conditions. In Finland. The fuel filler door is always frozen shut and requires some minor percussive maintenance, it's pretty cold even with the heater on full blast and the handling is not great, even with good winter tires. Turning the steering wheel feels more like a suggestion than steering and it understeers like crazy. I had 90s beemers before, and Civic has been a polar opposite when it comes to driving experience but also reliability, which is the reason I still very much like my car.
@@petrolpoodle You were being honest towards every detail of the car especially being a foreign car. I see a lot of car journalists reviewing Japanese cars and their energy is kinda negative compared to when they review germans or Americans which is a shame really. Or it could just be mee seeing it different 😅
Thank you so much! And yeah it always winds me up the adoration and comparison to German cars when actually interior quality is only half the story of car ownership, having something that works is actually bloody important! Haha
I have a 3DR 59 Type S GT for the past 4 years. The car is great overall and it’s so spacious but I have to agree with journalists, the ride is quite crashy and hard; you feel everything on the road, even the smallest dip will feel like you’ve hit a massive pot hole, the larger ninja pot holes will send a loud bang throughout the cabin - this is in part to do with the torsion (read: torture) beam rear suspension. Plenty of toys though like cruise control, dual zone climate control, large boot and fun in the corners on country roads. Mechanically my car has been sound in the 4 years I’ve had it - the only issue I had to change was a sticking rear calliper and drop links (which need replacing every year if the roads where you live are bad). Passed MOT every year without a hitch. Also if you’ve got the panoramic sunroof, the blind is known to stick close (and when you do open it) it will snap back. Not worth fixing since it requires a full interior tear down - just do what I do, keep it open. Aircon issues not engaging could be as simple as a faulty relay in the fuse box under the hood. The car is fairly economical and fairly cheap to insure; VED is a little high for what it is - £220 per year. Alas, I will be giving her up in the next few days for something a bit more powerful and comfy but it’s been a great 4 years.
I think this is a perfect review of the car, having driven my friend's FN2 Type R I can attest that the sportier setup is just sadly too harsh for our UK roads. It must suit Japan's roads and some nice European tarmac brilliantly, but here it makes your fillings fall out. Otherwise nearly flawless cars, incredible value for money. What did you replace it with in the end?
@@petrolpoodle Thanks for the reply! The car definitely is made for the smoother Japanese/European roads - even in U.K. when the roads have been freshly tarmac’d l, it’s a nice drive. I ended up getting a 2016 Octavia VRS hatchback petrol - low mileage and a lot of factory added options. In this fuel climate, not many would agree it was a wise choice but the extra power, space and comfort sealed the deal for me - plus finding a similarly spec’s Audi or BMW or even an EV was out of the budget I was willing to spend. I do miss the Civic but my ever ageing old man back thanks me for it.
Thanks for the detailed review. Seems like underbody rust might be the only weakness for these. Guess it's just a case of finding one that's been washed regularly. 👍
You're welcome and thanks for your kind words. I haven't heard owners complain of underbody rust but being Japanese I wouldn't be surprised that it's commonly a weakpoint
This civic (I've got one and had 6 years, mine is EX) is excellent but the FN2 tends to get a boot leak. I fixed it 2 years ago and it has come back this winter. Never let me down and on 135k miles and 2.2CDTi diesel engine had been amazing. Would get the 1.8 petrol if getting today mind. The EX does come with a spare wheel. Yours it's missing.
OHhh man sorry to hear it's come back, what a pain! That's not ideal after only 2 years! They're bloody superb though aren't they, I've just replaced this one with a mystery car (soon to be revealed on the channel!) and I absolutely adore it but miss the Honda servicing costs already hahahaha! Happy motoring!
I own a 2007 with 187000 miles on it. I drive it every day. Runs without any major problems. The plastic wheelarches wants to fall off, and the aluminium shield above the muffler i ratteling, but that´s about it. I think stuff like that is to expect on a car with that meny miles on it. It is a really good car. I live in Sweden and we have sometimes a lot of snow. My Civic is NOT at good car on snowy roads, so you need to drive carefully. Actually, it is quite scary in deep snow.... But that´s only s for a few months....
@@petrolpoodle your one of the best You Tube car reviewers I’ve seen I’d kick off one possibly two of the Top Gear bods and put you on ….I’m actually after that Honda you reviewed after falling out with my 2010 countryman mini bullet proof so they say …chain belt snapped off …but listen take the credit your VGood at what you do
@@roycarder6179 I'm beyond flattered! That's really made my day! Thank you so much. And I'm so sorry to hear about the Mini! That's awful 😔. You'll love this Honda, and there are so many variants to choose from to suit your driving style. Wishing you the best of luck!
@@petrolpoodle cheers buddy …keep doin what your doing …you bring something others lack in your reviews ,who knows where your natural presentation/review skills might take you good luck son
The ride.... "... Re if you're coming from a high end German car..". Well, I wasn't. I had a lift in one of these, a 2010 reg., a few years ago. My own car at the time was a very well used, high mileage Peugeot 406 HDI. In comparison with the Peugeot, the ride in the Civic on anything other than a very smooth main road.., was firm, and bangy. From time to time, I do think of the virtues of owning a Civic. Each time, the memory of the ride quality reminds me why I never have.
I totally get it, on bad roads you really do feel its unsophisticated, crashy setup. I had 4 people in the car this weekend and the extra weight over each corner made it ridiculously bad. When driving by myself (most of the time) I've found it's fine for most roads and just noticeably jarring for the bad roads. But I'm used to it. When I get in a lovely sprung French car or German car, I'm reminded that I do really miss lovely soft suspension
I've had my i-shift for 1.5 year and what a great little car: great engine, great mpg, great looks (non carheads think it's brand new), and I've never seen so much storage space in a tiny car like this. I moved out recently and I was able to move all my furniture with it in a few trips, can you believe it? As for the gearbox: I don't know, I kinda got used to it, and never really hated it (+ you get the sequential mode with wheel shifters) but beware if you have one: don't forget to lift your foot from the throttle when it shifts at high revs, or it will literally eat your clutch
Yeah I heard mixed things on it and that some people who got used to it even loved it haha! It does mean that you can scoop them up even cheaper, so they're not to be fully sniffed at! Glad you love yours still and you're right, they're just insanely practical for such a reasonably sized car!
