[car_crazy1400]

My dad bought the 1st gen 1.5 exi sport, Silver color way back in 1998. With alloy wheels and spoiler, it looked great and was much much better than the Esteem or Cielo that we had.
I bought a City Vtec in 2001 in Sky blue silver color and a 1.5 exi with beige interiors and Black color in 2002. Loved it to bits.

Then got a White Civic in 2007.

[Burn_out]

My first experience with Jap power came in form of a Gen1, VTEC. Dark grey with a golden H badge. Alpine cassette player, tinted windows, meaty alloys, spoiler and dual exhaust at the back. That's class, no modern version can replicate.

[esoticoreventon]

My 2006 City ZX VTEC. I am proud to have been a part of Honda's glory days! This 11 year old girl still manages to make me smile everytime I push the throttle! I love her.

[ALTIMAed]

Voted for the 1st gen. Most of us here were buyers of this legend as compared to those who sold this as his / her profession. 1.3 Ltr legendary for its fuel efficiency and 1.5 for its raw power. I am blessed to be a part of the sales team to have sold this car from Daman all the way to Gandhidham / Surendranagar / Ahmedabad / Rajkot etc.

Test drives got us 'demand drafts'!!

My colleague Harshal and myself used to leave Kamdhenu Honda and travel across Gujarat for weeks after weeks. Just conducting test drives and collecting demand drafts. Thats exactly what the 1st gen Honda City was made for and thats what it did. Competition was no where near to what the City dished out. With a warranty of just 20,000 kms / 1 year whichever is earlier (no extended warranty), the product was so strong that it did not need a warranty. Just nothing went wrong!! As salesmen, it was a high to sell this product. Customers who bought the City gave us references which increased our sales.

[RavenAvi]

Ah, the Honda City!

My dream car ever since I entered my teen years, and it was a big "to own" target in my life's check list. So much so that when I finally saved enough to buy a car, I chose the City base model (Corporate) over the Jazz X and other similar offerings in that price range, back in 2012.

It was a teenage dream come true in February 2012.


My Pegasus (2012 Honda City - Silver Pegasus - A journey of absolute bliss! EDIT : Now SOLD!) (2012 City Corporate Edition, Alabaster Silver):



How I wish I had kept her till today!


My Empress (2014 Honda City VMT i-DTEC - The Golden Brown Royal Eminence. EDIT: Now sold!) (2014 City VMT i-DTEC, Golden Brown):




While Pegasus was a gem of a car (even today I regret selling it off in haste to get the 2014 new-gen City), Empress didn't leave too many good memories with me.

If only Honda India had stuck to the build and interior quality of the 3rd-gen, I would have kept Empress for a very long time. Squeaks, panel gaps, engine-check light issue, stuck driver-side window - one doesn't expect such issues in a 12-lakh rupee car. Only good thing going for the 4th-gen City was the excellent i-DTEC - driveability & FE-wise, despite sounding like a loud tractor.

Today, the game has moved on. Companies like Hyundai have upped the quality level with each of their new offerings, while Honda went down in quality during the same period. But, it's a testament to brand CITY that the car still sells like hot cakes and holds plenty of aspirational value for a lot of customers - enthusiasts & loyalists alike.

Even now, whenever I pass by a 3rd-gen City on the roads, I can't help but feel a pinch in my heart as my memories go back to the first car I bought with my life's first-ever savings (paid in full cash, too!) - my lovely Pegasus.

[Durango Dude]

Originally Posted by esoticoreventon

My 2006 City ZX VTEC. I am proud to have been a part of Honda's glory days! This 11 year old girl still manages to make me smile everytime I push the throttle! I love her.

This was on my list when I was in search of car some twelve years back. It was the most user friendly car I've ever driven. On TD itself, I felt like I've been driving this car for 10 years. The VTEC wasn't launched then only the GXI was there in the 77 bhp avatar and was bare bones (no safety kit and a basic ICE) compared to the Elantra GLS which was also on my list. Ultimately the Elantra which was heavily discounted came with dual airbags, ABS, Traction Control, all round disc brakes, 1.8L engine and acres of space and a sumptuous ICE was chosen and is still with me. Even the VTEC didn't have ABS just all round discs, if my memory serves me right. But have fond memories of this gen of the City etched in my mind just because it was so easy to drive.

[OSH]

Originally Posted by RavenAvi

even today I regret selling it off in haste to get the 2014 new-gen City

I can exactly understand your feelings, I too pick my 3rd gen over my 4th gen. Even though the 4th gen has a bunch of features more than it's predecessor, every morning my hands grab the keys of the 3rd gen instead. The 4th gen is not bad, but for those who own/have owned the 3rd gen they will definitely feel the step down in quality.

BTW, a very Happy Birthday Sir. May God bless you with more and more "birdies", loads of scoops and insider info.

Originally Posted by Durango Dude

Even the VTEC didn't have ABS just all round discs, if my memory serves me right.

At the time of the 2nd gen's facelift, there were 4 variants of the City available;

• Exi
• Gxi
• Vtec
• Vtec+

Over the Vtec variant, the Vtec+ had got ABS, dual airbags and leather seats. This Vtec+ variant had however seen very less sales compared to the Vtec variant and it was the fault of some sales advisors, they themselves did not know how ABS and airbags work, so they used to come up with any crap explaining the functionality of those safety features. I remember so many sales people saying that airbags inflate upon hard braking. For ABS, instead of Anti-lock Braking System they used to say Anti Braking System. They used to also deter people from buying the Vtec+ by saying that replacing the airbags cost >2 lakhs, ABS causes loss of tyre life etc etc.

[bullock-Car]

Honda City- I distinctly remeber the 1st gen city advertisement, showing Honda city marked as pistol and other cars marked as Bow and arrow, and I could not agree more. This is the car that created the buzz around the Honda badge when others were dishing out outdated "escorts".This Vtech was the "beast" The second generation CIty was a "beauty"design and looks made it more popular. The efficiency figures were unheard of cars. in 2008, i tried to buy pre-owned this car,but they were quoted at high prices and picked immediately.
Then the amalgamation of "Beauty and beast" 3rd generation car came, with looks and iVTec engine,ABS,airbags, 117 hp power. This was the zenith of Honda city badge.
I picked this car in 2009 Oct,till today the love affair continues. a vTec roar still sends adrenalin pumping ( only my Yamaha RX-100 used to give such pleasure).
Everytime during the servicing, i used to look at new Honda cars. I am sorry to see the decline in design standards and quality of interior. A classic case of diluting brand image. All over you must built upon your strength,here they neglected their strength to pursue their weakness.
Honda should stay Honda and dish out Civics like cars,they can not match Marutis game.

[NishantKj]

My obvious choice would be 3rd gen City as i own one. I have driven 2014 city and 2012 model beat that one in every aspect except features. Can't stop myself looking back after i park my car.

[asitkde]

Voted for the 3rd generation City.

I own a 3rd generation version 2, bought in December 2012. I own the car for 5 years now, and it runs flawlessly (as smooth as ever) without a single rattle, despite the car being driven over many broken roads. The car does not have many features (compared with similar cars for today), but dual airbags and ABS with EBD were standard across variants. Ground clearance and the suspension were tweaked sufficiently for this uplifted 3rd generation so that the car does not scrape any big bumpers/speed-breakers.

I have never driven the first generation (of course admired it). But considering all aspects, my favourite is the 3rd generation (and the uplifted version that came end of 2011 or beginning of 2012), without a doubt.

Considering what I paid for it at the time (with a very very good discount), it appears even sweeter.

[King_pin09]

Voted for the 2nd gen.

The Honda City ZX still remains my all time favourite. Though it did not came equipped with all fancy gadgetry, it had all essentials in place. It was reliable, efficient, frugal, spacious, had plush ride and looks mature.

The only downside of the otherwise ideal car was abysmally low Ground clearance, due to which its belly scraped while passing over humps, etc.

Nonetheless, the car remains a champion forever.

[//M]

I am not registering a vote as I have not really experienced all Generations of the Honda City yet.

Our 4th Gen 2014 Honda City i-Dtec has now completed 56000 kms so far. No major hiccups during the ownership period. Minor rattling issues did crop up but has been successfully rectified by the dealer.

I agree the 4th gen City is nowhere close to the 3rd Gen City in terms of interior quality, but overall it has been a pleasant ownership experience thus far. We have driven the City in hills, beaches, jungles and across 16 states in India and Bhutan as well. It has proven to be very frugal and at the same time very comfortable.

Link to my ownership thread : 2014 Honda City i-Dtec

[bigron]

We had the 05/06 Model CVT. Served us well till 2015. As a package this car is hard to beat. My mother swore on the super light steering, the ease of CVT and comfortable ride. Even space at the back was enough. For in city use this is the best there is. The latest one looks good and should find a way into our garage in future sometime.

[joy_swift]

My dad had the 1st gen Honda City VTEC version bought in 2002.I still remember the free reving engine and what a delight it was to drive.

It also had a rear spoiler and Alpine music system.

[bkc]

The first generation was excellent and the third generation also looks stunning, especially the rear. I love the top pointing taillights, seems like gt90 from the nfs game.


Got the honda city image from some other thread here.