1996 - 2000 Honda Civic review

1996 - 2000 Honda Civic

The 1996-2000 model is a sixth generation of Honda Civic. Very economical, reliable and long-lasting vehicle. Excellent for daily commuting. Available as a four-door sedan, two-door coupe or a two-door hatchback. Front-wheel drive. Transverse mounted 4-cylinder engine, four-speed automatic, five-speed manual or (for HX model only) continuously variable transmission. The interior is comfortable for daily driving and is fairly spacious for a small car, although rear seat headroom is limited. Controls are simple and easy to use. The split rear seat folds down offering generous cargo space. Handling is very good, nice smooth ride. The engine is a bit noisy at acceleration.

1996 Honda Civic interior

Engine

Honda Civic 1.6L SOHC engine Honda Civic features 1.6-liter SOHC four-cylinder 16-valves engine. The US EX model and Canadian SI model comes with VTEC version of the same engine with more power. Either engine has a timing belt that needs to be replaced regularly. Honda Civic engine is easy to maintain and is proven to be durable provided good maintenance.

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 is an excellent choice if you need an inexpensive economical daily commuter. Good as a starter car. The Civic is very easy to work on - any garage can handle the repairs. Maintenance costs are fairly low.

What to look for buying a used Honda Civic

Definitely check the used car history records to protect yourself from hidden problems, 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 the 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 one of those fast lube places; the vehicle must be on the lift.
Check more Car maintenance tips

1997 Honda Civic sedan (US model) short specifications

Links

American Honda Motor Co. - find information about current models.
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.

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