2006 & Newer Civic Coupes

[Tim Hancock]

Oldest daughter graduates in a couple days from college and is moving 1.5 hours away and has landed a new job where she will need to drive 60 miles further west each way to work. I guess I will be taking back her somewhat tired '87 924S as she cannot afford the chance of a breakdown and I can no longer back her up with a spare car and free car repairs as she will be living too far away.

She wants either an '06 or newer Civic coupe stick or possibly an Accord coupe (not sure what year range it would need to be).

Will a 100k mileage '06 Civic be reliable? Are the Si versions less reliable than the standard models?

She has been looking at cars in the $12k range 30-60k mileage, but I kind of think she might be OK with higher mileage (100k) in the $8k-$10k range.

I hate to see her go non german, but it is time for her to pay her own way without dad to back her up. She is pretty much determined to go with either the '06/newer Civic coupes or possibly the 2 door Accords.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

My B-in-Law's cousin works on them when they show in his shop. They RARELY show in his shop! When they show it is because of parts break due to age/mileage (normal wear and tear) or because the owner fails to pull maintenance (like regular oil changes). He is moving their combined families into Honda's as fast as he can.

My mom's '90 Accord is still going strong, brother in law is now driving it. It just turned 150K on the odometer. Mostly original parts (pumps, engine, transmission, radiator) but a transmission module went out. Regular maintenance is pulled. It was replaced with a '04 Accord, zero issues in the past year.

One data point, FWIW.

[BRPORSCHE]

They are incredible cars.

Exactly the reason I am looking for one.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Tim, my last gf had an 09 Civic coupe. Excellent car and you can get a lot for your money at $10K.

I've had CRX's and Si's, brother had Preludes, they did run forever.

[Tim Hancock]

Thanks guys..... My dad has bought at least 5 new Accords over the years for my mom and him and has had good luck with his beater daily driver '98 at 366,000 miles. That said, I had a bare bones '95 Civic (IIRC) as a daily driver in about '99/2000 and at 90,000 miles it went thru over 1qt a week of oil to the point that I had to re-ring it and both rear quarters were rusting. I am just a little leary of the Civics based on this past experience.

[vash]

absolutely true story. i moved into the dorms at USF. met a guy that drove a civic. flat back hatch. 80's car for sure. he said, "this car has 200,000 miles, and we have never changed the oil!?" (he did say they had to add oil)

i of course being a total,, OCD, control freak. took out the tools and stuff from my jeep and changed his oil. it went all semester, with one full throttle run to reno. i mean full throttle. we were only going 85ish. full throttle. the motor blew up shortly after that, and my friend still blames my oil change.

[Sarc]

My wife had an '06 LX 5 speed since new; we ended up selling it last year with 115K for 8 grand. It was an extremely well built car with not once issue during her ownership (we would still own it if it was a sedan). I would buy one for my daughter in a heartbeat.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Sarc

My wife had an '06 LX 5 speed since new; we ended up selling it last year with 115K for 8 grand. It was an extremely well built car with not once issue during her ownership (we would still own it if it was a sedan). I would buy one for my daughter in a heartbeat.

Thanks! Good info.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by vash

with one full throttle run to reno. i mean full throttle. we were only going 85ish. full throttle.

The Civic I had problems with was a 5 speed hatchback and I drove it "wide open" on a 5 mile open stretch of rural road nearly every morning on my 37 mile commute to work. It would do about 90 in fifth but was "capable" of a slight amount more in 4th gear.

I am pretty sure that little economy engine did not like the morning high speed runs on that little short section of clear rural road.

[andrew15]

Good car - great drive train. We had a 90's civic years ago and the thing would just not die. Except for standard items like muffler, brake pads, and cklutch - we had no issues during our ownership. It rusted out from under us, but that was because it started life on the east coast.

Get one of the standard models (DX or EX?) - she will notice a definate drop in fuel economy with the si.

Wifey has an Acura TSX right now and we long for the mileage we got from our 1.5l Civic from years back.

AM

[andrew15]

One more thing - a compromise might be the Acura CSX coupe - basically a tarted up Civic, but with lots of standard features like leather, air, etc that may not be found in the lower end Honda version.

AM

[kaisen]

They're different in Canada.

[coldstart]

Originally Posted by andrew15

One more thing - a compromise might be the Acura CSX coupe - basically a tarted up Civic, but with lots of standard features like leather, air, etc that may not be found in the lower end Honda version.

AM

I believe that you are refering an Acura RSX (coupe) which was built for model years 2002-2006 and sold around the world (called the Integra in Japan and Europe). The Acura CSX (4-dr) is only in Canada.

I highly recommend an 2006+ Honda Civic coupe or a 2002-2006 Acura RSX. Watch out for rust in the rear quarters (like any Honda), front ball joints, rear wheel bearings and there are a few complaints on the Internet about cracked engine blocks/loss of coolant. My 2002 RSX (125K miles) and my friend's 2006 Honda Civic have both been fantastic fantastic cars.

[andrew15]

Odd that that CSX was only Canada - I didn't think we had a big enough market for a model for ourselves!

So ummm.... in conclusion, buy a Civic

AM

[Tobra]

Change the oil and coolant on time, timing belt and other stuff as advised, they run for a long time. I have 165K on my integra and drive it mercilessly.

My buddy has a 2006 Civic coupe, commuter utensil. 300K miles, original clutch, he does the maint, on his third timing belt, does water pump every other timing belt..

[kaisen]

My professional opinion, nothing more:

Civic Coupes are very expensive relative to their competition. Buy one new and resale value serves you. Buy one used and pay up front for faith that it will last longer than brand x. They're so popular that they bring stupid money if they are the clean, low mile examples everyone wants to buy.

Soooo, if you've decided it's a Honda, buy the Accord.
A 2006 Civic LX Auto with 50K miles brings $10K
A 2006 Accord LX Auto with 50K miles is only $500 more

Insurance (and theft rates) will be lower with the Accord
The Accord will be safer, bigger, more powerful, quieter, and smoother

[BRPORSCHE]

Wow, thanks kaisen. It seems that the sedan civic is just as much if not more as an accord. And I happen to like the coupe accord body style a lot.

Does the accord have more standard equip?

[kaisen]

Comparing Civic LX to Accord LX, they're mostly equipped the same.
A 2.4L DOHC in the Accord, the 1.8L SOHC in the Civic