1996 - 2000 Honda Civic review

Engine

Honda Civic 1.6L SOHC engine The 1996-2000 Honda Civic came with the 1.6-liter SOHC 4-cylinder 16-valve engine as standard. The US EX model and Canadian SI model came with VTEC version of the same engine with more power. Either engine has a timing belt that needs to be replaced in recommended intervals. Honda Civic engine is proven to be reliable if maintained well.

Strengths

- Excellent fuel economy
- Durability and reliability
- Low maintenance costs
- Comfortable interior
- Good resale value

Weaknesses

- Cupholder design
- Slightly underpowered at low rpm
- Road noise
- Exterior sheet metal is easy to dent
Problems are rare and mostly minor, like engine wiring harness, check engine light, some electrical.

Overall

Honda Civic could be a good choice for inexpensive and economical daily commuter or as a starter car. Honda Civic is a simple and easy to work on vehicle - any garage can handle the repairs. Maintenance costs are fairly low.
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What to look for buying a used Honda Civic

As a first step, check the used car history records. A history report may help you to uncover some of the problems the car might have in the past such as accidents, flood damage, rolled back odometer, etc. Follow this link: How to check used car history
- Check the service records if available - it's important to verify that the car was properly maintained.
- If the "check engine" light is on, have the problem assessed with your mechanic or a dealer before buying a car; in worst cases repair might be quite expensive.
- Black soot in the exhaust or a smoke may indicate excessive oil consumption.
- Look for signs of corrosion at the rear wheel arches and doors.
Learn more what to look for when buying a used car
- Prior purchase have the car inspected by a mechanic of your choice.
Shop wisely, check few cars to compare; it's worth to pay a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition. Check our step-by-step used car buying guide for more information.
Some models may be costly to insure. Get the insurance quotes first.

Few maintenance tips

- Wash and wax your car regularly to protect the paint.
- If you live in the area with high humidity, rustproofing will help to protect the car body from corrosion.
- Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Overheating can cause serious engine problems.
- Winter tires will provide much better traction on the snow.
- Change transmission fluid regularly using only original transmission fluid.
- Use original parts.
- Follow recommended maintenance schedule and keep all the fluids clean and topped up.
- Have your car inspected, at least once a year, in a garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g. brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at fast lube places; the vehicle must be on the lift.
Check more Car maintenance tips

1997 Honda Civic sedan short specifications

Links

Honda’s Ownerlink website- maintenance tips, recalls, maintenance schedule and a lot more - registration required.
SaferCar.gov - compare crash test ratings.
Fueleconomy.gov - compare fuel economy ratings.
Insurance quotes - compare insurance quotes before buying a car.
Used car history - check used car history records before buying a car.
Edmunds.com - new car invoice pricing.

If you are looking for more detailed technical information

If you want to find technical information about you car such as repair manual, check engine codes description, wiring diagrams, diagnostic procedures, fluid type, maintenance schedule, component location, technical service bulletins, recalls, etc. follow this link:

by Vlad Samarin