12000 km ownership report Civic 1.8S

crkishore · 16th October 2007, 15:46

alankarm@sancha,
i am thinking of doing a good trip sometime now, and get to the 25k kms mark very soon (currently done some 23k kms).

are you planning to take the car for the regular service at 25k kms ? i didnt find anything useful done at the 15k kms mark. no oil change too. the dealer (dakshin) just told me that it is a recommended practice from honda to check if everthing is OK. that somehow sounded very unconvincing to me, when they were charging me around 600rs for that+pain&cost of taking the car for servicing.

instead, i would prefer taking the car for a nice waxing/polish before the dasara festival ends.

BUSA · 16th October 2007, 16:43

Civics braking is not poor by any standards, its quite decent and its just needs 205 size rubber. Good to know ST you plan to turbo it

Its going to be a beast then, not that its not now. Enjoy the stock car, till the turbo comes.

crkishore · 16th October 2007, 16:59

unknown,
I too dont understand why you commented that the brakes arent good. I once braked at 140kmph on the GQ with 3 rear passengers asleep and an elderly man in the passenger seat, and the elderly man was totally amazed as to how we saved a "stupid" life on the highway. the ABS noise however woke up one passenger who suspected we might have got a flat tyre [

]

more recently, i test drove a SX4 and the salesman was dumb stuck when i braked at just 80kmph and the car's back wheels skidded dangerously. could be due to the abuse the demo car would have undergone.

the EBD too works fantastically, though tough to observe on most occassions. there are these small indoor humps in my office campus, and i can feel the ABS kicking in on the wheels at different times with the car crossing the hump at a certain angle, speed and braking.

ST7677 · 16th October 2007, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by crkishore

are you planning to take the car for the regular service at 25k kms ? i didnt find anything useful done at the 15k kms mark. no oil change too. the dealer (dakshin) just told me that it is a recommended practice from honda to check if everthing is OK. that somehow sounded very unconvincing to me, when they were charging me around 600rs for that+pain&cost of taking the car for servicing.

Realistically Honda's require service every at 10k km (or once a year, which ever is lower), however you should visit dealer at every 5k km (or once in six months, which ever is lower) and ensure that the engine oil is changed.

Besides that the dealer might call you for service every 3 months (they keep reminding me), but that is only to make extra money. This is simply not required!

csentil · 16th October 2007, 17:46

For the Civic the engine oil change is required only for 10K kms unlike the NHC which is for every 5K kms.

ST7677, do you still think its worth changing it every 5K kms? its like 600 bucks, so money is not an issue.

I have an AT. Get around 8 in the city and 10-13 in the highways. Wide range of 10-13 depends on how you drive it. If you push it and use the Auto tranny you would get 10-11. If you drive nicely and with the Paddle shift you would get 13+

ST7677 · 16th October 2007, 17:58

Quote:

For the Civic the engine change is required only for 10K kms unlike the NHC which is for every 5K kms.

ST7677, do you still think its worth changing it every 5K kms? its like 600 bucks, so money is not an issue.

Engine change @ 10k

I guess you mean engine oil change.

Yes, Honda recommends engine oil change every 10k but Team BHP recommends engine oil change at every 5k (this is more to do with our poor driving conditions and choke-a-bloc traffic the car).
If you do not intend to change the oil every 5 k, then there is no need for a service every 5 k, you can just go for 10k services.

Yes Civic breaks are very good. Fatter tyres will just make it even better by giving it more grip.

crkishore · 16th October 2007, 20:36

and i hope you now meant "brakes" and not "breaks"...as far as i know the civic is quite strong.

one of my collegue's civic was once hit by a sumo from the back. he lost his boot door, but the sumo's tough looking front pole-bumper (the one attached to the stock bumper looking like bent poles/pipes) was broken and caused enough dent on his body too !

this incident also made my collegue (and me too) realise that this car can brake really well, but it is the other poorer vehicles (compounded by killer drivers) on the road that cannot cope up with its abilities.

jash · 16th October 2007, 22:45

Enjoying the run-in period of the new CIVIC for the last two weeks and was surprised with mileage of 9+ during the second tank fill (city drive with out major traffic problems) with auto A/C always on.

I heard some people crib about Civic braking but personally I was much satisfied with Honda cars (OHC & new civic). Ofcourse the vehicle bottoming out in poorly built speed brakes is an issue which I got used to from my OHC experience, so should not be a major problem to handle.

ST7677 · 17th October 2007, 10:11

Jash, Congratulations on your new V version Civic...

Drive safe and Keep us posted on your experience with the car.

csentil · 17th October 2007, 14:10

The Mysore Ring Road (from JP Nagar to Mysore road) has some horrible speedbreakers. Last weekend 5 of us in the Civic on that road, scrapped 3 bumpers out of a total of 12 I think. We all felt the scrapes on the left rear end of the car.

My friend's Verna with 5 on board scrapped 2 of those 3 breakers. So I guess any fully loaded car would have scrapped atleast 1 one of them. They were that bad. Other than that there was no problem.

unknown · 19th October 2007, 17:43

Civic owners - does your Steering wheel feels tight/heavy ?

thefreak · 19th October 2007, 18:09

ST great thing that you started this thread, hoping all Civic owners who have enjoyed an extended stint with the vehicle will chip in.

And guys join me in congratulating unknown for his newly acuqired Taffeta white Civic.

csentil · 19th October 2007, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by unknown

Civic owners - does your Steering wheel feels tight/heavy ?

Nope. Its a small steering wheel and is well suited for the car & is definitely not as artificial as the NHC. If it feels tight/heavy either there's very less air in your tyres or you need to check the wheel balance.

ST7677 · 19th October 2007, 22:56

Congratulations Unknown on your new car...

The steering is on a slightly heavier side compared to most other power steering found in B & C segment cars, but once you get used to it, it gives very good connect with the road and the car. (unlike City PS).

jash · 20th October 2007, 07:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by ST7677

Jash, Congratulations on your new V version Civic...
Drive safe and Keep us posted on your experience with the car.

Thanks ST7677, will keep posted on my experience after a long drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by unknown

Civic owners - does your Steering wheel feels tight/heavy ?

Unknown, congrats on your new car.

Yes it feels little heavy compared to my OHC, when you are on the straight road. Don't know whether it has anything to do with my steering setup(angle) & seating position. Because pulled the steeting all the way down & towards the driver position. My seating position also little further away from steering compared to OHC.

All said feel very easy & light in U turns.

16th October 2007, 15:46	#16
crkishore BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 30 Thanked: Once	alankarm@sancha, i am thinking of doing a good trip sometime now, and get to the 25k kms mark very soon (currently done some 23k kms). are you planning to take the car for the regular service at 25k kms ? i didnt find anything useful done at the 15k kms mark. no oil change too. the dealer (dakshin) just told me that it is a recommended practice from honda to check if everthing is OK. that somehow sounded very unconvincing to me, when they were charging me around 600rs for that+pain&cost of taking the car for servicing. instead, i would prefer taking the car for a nice waxing/polish before the dasara festival ends.
	() Thanks

16th October 2007, 16:43	#17
BUSA Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,130 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	Civics braking is not poor by any standards, its quite decent and its just needs 205 size rubber. Good to know ST you plan to turbo it Its going to be a beast then, not that its not now. Enjoy the stock car, till the turbo comes.
	() Thanks

16th October 2007, 16:59	#18
crkishore BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 30 Thanked: Once	unknown, I too dont understand why you commented that the brakes arent good. I once braked at 140kmph on the GQ with 3 rear passengers asleep and an elderly man in the passenger seat, and the elderly man was totally amazed as to how we saved a "stupid" life on the highway. the ABS noise however woke up one passenger who suspected we might have got a flat tyre [] more recently, i test drove a SX4 and the salesman was dumb stuck when i braked at just 80kmph and the car's back wheels skidded dangerously. could be due to the abuse the demo car would have undergone. the EBD too works fantastically, though tough to observe on most occassions. there are these small indoor humps in my office campus, and i can feel the ABS kicking in on the wheels at different times with the car crossing the hump at a certain angle, speed and braking.
	() Thanks

16th October 2007, 17:46	#20
csentil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,349 Thanked: 38 Times View My Garage	For the Civic the engine oil change is required only for 10K kms unlike the NHC which is for every 5K kms. ST7677, do you still think its worth changing it every 5K kms? its like 600 bucks, so money is not an issue. I have an AT. Get around 8 in the city and 10-13 in the highways. Wide range of 10-13 depends on how you drive it. If you push it and use the Auto tranny you would get 10-11. If you drive nicely and with the Paddle shift you would get 13+ Last edited by csentil : 16th October 2007 at 17:59. Reason: Oops.. missed the oil
	() Thanks

16th October 2007, 20:36	#22
crkishore BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 30 Thanked: Once	and i hope you now meant "brakes" and not "breaks"...as far as i know the civic is quite strong. one of my collegue's civic was once hit by a sumo from the back. he lost his boot door, but the sumo's tough looking front pole-bumper (the one attached to the stock bumper looking like bent poles/pipes) was broken and caused enough dent on his body too ! this incident also made my collegue (and me too) realise that this car can brake really well, but it is the other poorer vehicles (compounded by killer drivers) on the road that cannot cope up with its abilities.
	() Thanks

16th October 2007, 22:45	#23
jash Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 19 Thanked: 0 Times	Proud owner of CIVIC 1.8V AT Enjoying the run-in period of the new CIVIC for the last two weeks and was surprised with mileage of 9+ during the second tank fill (city drive with out major traffic problems) with auto A/C always on. I heard some people crib about Civic braking but personally I was much satisfied with Honda cars (OHC & new civic). Ofcourse the vehicle bottoming out in poorly built speed brakes is an issue which I got used to from my OHC experience, so should not be a major problem to handle.
	() Thanks

17th October 2007, 10:11	#24
ST7677 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,054 Thanked: 73 Times	Jash, Congratulations on your new V version Civic... Drive safe and Keep us posted on your experience with the car.
	() Thanks

17th October 2007, 14:10	#25
csentil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,349 Thanked: 38 Times View My Garage	The Mysore Ring Road (from JP Nagar to Mysore road) has some horrible speedbreakers. Last weekend 5 of us in the Civic on that road, scrapped 3 bumpers out of a total of 12 I think. We all felt the scrapes on the left rear end of the car. My friend's Verna with 5 on board scrapped 2 of those 3 breakers. So I guess any fully loaded car would have scrapped atleast 1 one of them. They were that bad. Other than that there was no problem.
	() Thanks

19th October 2007, 17:43	#26
unknown BANNED Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 439 Thanked: 23 Times	Civic owners - does your Steering wheel feels tight/heavy ?
	() Thanks

19th October 2007, 18:09	#27
thefreak BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 362 Thanked: 7 Times	ST great thing that you started this thread, hoping all Civic owners who have enjoyed an extended stint with the vehicle will chip in. And guys join me in congratulating unknown for his newly acuqired Taffeta white Civic.
	() Thanks

19th October 2007, 22:56	#29
ST7677 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,054 Thanked: 73 Times	Congratulations Unknown on your new car... The steering is on a slightly heavier side compared to most other power steering found in B & C segment cars, but once you get used to it, it gives very good connect with the road and the car. (unlike City PS).
	() Thanks