Opinions/Experience

[Chris]

I'm looking at a 2008 Civic LX and wonder if anyone has personal experience with one or similar. This is not for me but for Barb and she wants something reliable and with good MPG's (to compensate for my lousy MPG's :lmao:)

The one I'm looking at has under 100K miles, one owner and all maintenance records.

Any help is appreciated.

[Brad]

Have it thoroughly inspected.

[Jackie]

My daughter's car is an 05 Civic LX and she has had no maintenance problems at all. She's gone through tires...:rolleyes: and had her bumper wrecked a couple times, but nothing mechanical yet. Great MPG.

It's a pretty small car for a tall person, but for a DD for a short or medium height person, I think it would be a great choice.:thumb:

[ExplorerTom]

No experience but opinion: I know you guys have been "one carring it" for awhile so you're used to it, but having a second car will be great. I have 3 cars and 2 drivers- my wife has one car and I have 2. And something small and economical is a great choice for a second vehicle. The first time you're mid-project on the 4runner and you need to run to the store, you'll love having that second vehicle.

Check reviews on places like cars.com and edmunds.com and whatnot to get an idea of that particular car's quality and known issues. Also, join a forum or 2 for that particular make/model and search and ask questions.

[Chris]

It's a pretty small car for a tall person, but for a DD for a short or medium height person, I think it would be a great choice

:lmao: I thought you'd met Barb but obviously not Jackie, she tops out at 5'

Brad, naturally I would give it a good inspection but history has proven that Barb is much, much better at picking a used car than I am.

[Chris]

Check reviews on places like cars.com and edmunds.com and whatnot to get an idea of that particular car's quality and known issues. Also, join a forum or 2 for that particular make/model and search and ask questions.

Yeah, one car sucks! I keep having to put stuff off in fear of getting halfway and finding I need a car! Barb's in no hurry though and is taking her time so I may have to sabotage my truck to hurry her along!

Everything I've found so far is pretty good, there are exceptions of course but nothing's made me run from this model. Her last car was an Accord so she keeps coming back to Honda.

[Jim]

I have been a Honda car person for many miles (and am in a Honda family)... In general, all have been tires & scheduled maint vehicles with no surprises. Good, dependable vehicles.

My first Honda car:
1991 Honda Accord EX
Purchased 6/1/1995 @ 43,550 miles
Sold 6/2/2005 @ 275228 miles
This car left me stranded ONCE (tow truck to Honda for a broken ignition pickup wire in the distributor)

Current Honda car:
1993 Honda Accord LX
Purchased 12/20/2004 @ 37,989 miles
Currently at 203,000 miles with no plans to sell*
Has not left me at the roadside (and I hope it never does)

Out of all of the Civic's, Accords, and 1 Honda mini van - none have given surprises or were considered a money pit. All had routine to "decent enough" maintenance performed.

My Accord's consistently run in the mid 20's for MPG while the family Civic's are in the 30's to often 40's range.

* Edit: The Accord's do have a rust flaw - behind the rear wheels, the visible/outside painted area holds water and rusts. Not sure about the Civic's though I do recall one having a lower windshield corner rust area (though these are pre-2008 models I'm familiar with).

[zukrider]

Well I'm a Honda tech soooo.......


there good. There is an open campaign for an engine block recall if it starts leaking coolant. 8 yrs, unlimited mileage. Other than that, you will eventually see clunking from the struts, failed blower motor transistor. Otherwise, they seem pretty standard. I work for Mile High Honda. 12 yr tech. Would be happy to have a look at it for ya. Text me the vin and I'll run it to see if any open issues need dealt with.

Joe
7208792203

[zukrider]

Jackie. She will eventually look forward to a failed head gasket. That 01-05 D17 engine seems to always get there. Eventually. I can say this though, we have one customer that is a courier. He has over 500k on an 04. Constant maintenance, but it's still going. To put his driving into perspective, he does his 30k major maintenance, a typical 3 year service, every 3 months! And the 7 yr 105k t-belt replacement every 11 months or so!

[ctracy5]

My in-laws have a 2010 civic coupe and love it, no idea if they have the same engine as the one you are looking at. Crazy blind spots but a fun car to drive.

[Jackie]

We have a 2000 Honda mini van that runs like a top. We have beat the crap out of it cosmetically, but have done all the required maintenance and even got a new timing belt before it hit the 100K mile mark. It's been a champ. I would buy a Honda again.

[Jackie]

I thought you'd met Barb but obviously not Jackie, she tops out at 5'

...Then she'll fit right in!!!

[Chris]

Thanks everyone! I might take you up on your offer Joe if/when I can get Barb to move forward. I know she'll get motivated when wheeling season gets rolling and I strand her at home.

Chris' comment on blind Spots may be a killer though. Barb's been known to sit in a car say "i really like this" then check visibility and if she doesn't like what she sees crosses it off her list.

Jim, your experience is pretty much like ours with the exception of a tranny failure on the Accord which continues running like a champ for our son. Should never have sold it to him!

[The StRanger]

Iv see and work on them all and I think the Honda's need the least work..