Background:
I always wanted to own a paddle shift equipped Civic ever since it was launched in 2006. I remember how I used to drool over the pics and the ones that were parked on the roads, peeping through the tints to catch a glimpse of the paddles. Never could afford a new one then, so was waiting for years for it to become affordable in the used car market.
A bit of history:
My first car was a Palio S10. I was never a car enthusiast till then, and loved the RX than anything else. It was a search for an Indica (to keep me off the Bangalore pollution), that finally landed up on an S10 (got a whopping discount). Then the transformation from 2 wheels to 4, was pretty quick. After 4 years virtually living inside it, I had to let it go when I had to travel abroad for a long term.
The present:
Fast forward to 2009, and I was keeping keen eye on the used car market for a AT Civic. The Optra was getting boring and both the FIAT launches did not enthuse me. And I had a tight budget of 8L. Used prices for Civic were too high in Banglore, and curiously the ones that came along were not single owned. When the City was launched with the paddles, I was one of the first to go and checkout. I was not happy. The skinny tyres skidded around corners, the EPS was lifeless, no ACC, no Alloys and looked a size smaller than the Optra.
Buying:
One day I chanced upon an ad in Carwale, a Civic run 38K and asking for 8.3L. Took the phone number and then totally forgot about it. That evening, the owner called up (Carwale informs the owner of the ad). After a brief talk, I promised him to look at the car the next day. The guy sounded eager to sell. Next day, I got my friend (cum collegue cum relative) to go along with me (we have together shopped a number of cars for ourselves and our friends). The car did have some scratches and dings, but otherwise, it was in good condition. Took it for a short spin and came back satisfied. Could not take it on a highway as there was none nearby.
After a bit of haggling, made the deal at 7.6L. My negotiation skills are not very much honed, but the fact that I am going to pay up right away (without waiting for a loan or any such), the deal was quickly made. Next day, paid up and drove the car away, while the owner literally bid it a tearful farewell.
Vital statistics:
> Sep 2006
> S AT
> 38000 kms on the odo
> Bluish Silver (Royal Silver according to Honda)
> Single owner, KA registration
> No extra accessories than what comes as standard.
Post buying experience:
After a couple of weeks' driving, I decided to do the 40K service as the odo already showed 38.5K. Since I did not get a mechanic to checkup the car before buying it, I thought, doing the service early made sense. Dakshin Honda was the closest to my home. They gave me back the car on the same day and the bill came to 8K. Not bad. Asked the service personnel to check up the history, and he reported a "all clean".
My impressions:
+ Looks great. I badly wanted to get a white color, but in Bangalore, white is a rarity. And you cannot be fussy about colors when you are buying used.
+ Great seating position and steering posotion. I adjusted the seat to the lowest position, steering to the lowest + farthest position. I had really loved the Optra for its low driving position.
+ Stable at high speeds (I tested only upto 125kmph). The Optra used to feel nervous at anything above 100. The Palio S10 was rock steady at 150kmph. Hope the Civic matches that.
+ Great top range grunt of the engine. I revved to 6000 rpm easily and little noise seeped into the cabin.
- Springy rear suspension. The underbelly scrapes a lot of bumps in Bangalore with two people in the rear.
- Engine lacks low and mid range performance.
- Seats were not very comfortable compared to my previous car (Optra)
- Steering wheel has a reluctance to come back to the neutral position when the car is at low speeds. You have to do the last bit yourselves.
- Lack of foglamps in a C+ segment car is unpardonable.
- Very short service intervals. You have to visit them every three months or 5000km, whichever comes earlier. Ridiculous, I should say. My Optra didn't visit the ASC for one whole year.
Issues to be fixed:
> Still not able to decide whether the steering issue is normal behaviour. Yet to drive another one and check.
> Road noise is there and is audible inside the cabin. Need a tyre change, but the current ones have almost 1/3rd tread still left in it. Yes, even after 40K kms.
> Interiors are a bit soiled. The seats and the plastics too. Need a good interior treatment. Things remained the same even after the 40K service. Searching for good interior detailing services in Bangalore.
> Since the seat fabric is soiled, I am thinking of getting leather seats done. I am not in a hurry, anyway.
Pictures: