Compromised Safety And Handling. Honda Civic VP 2004
Written: May 04 '05 (Updated May 04 '05)
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Pros: Value, Resale, Performance.
Cons: Safety Is Lacking. No Confidence In Handling.
The Bottom Line: Excellent In Performance And Economy. Noisy And Stiff Ride. Compromised Safety.
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| benicia's Full Review: 2004 Honda Civic |
I know I must be the only person here with a somewhat negative review of this vehicle but I found this automobile such a letdown (especially in the areas of safety) and so sub-standard in handling performance that my review isn't a positive one unless one feels that vehicle price and resale value are enough to warrant this car as a first choice.
Consider first that side airbags are an 'option'. Windshield wipers come with a basic single 10" blade but the window will take a 16" blade and actually accomplish full wiper coverage (we upgraded to Bosch dual blades with great success and coverage of the entire windshield).
Tires are so small that overall control of the vehicle beyond 60 miles per hour feels threatening with minimal tire to road contact and vehicle control. That saves fuel of course but you'll have to upgrade the tires or risk handling less than desirable.
Side doors are paper thin and the body behind the rear wheel wells is a plastic with no metal/steel reinforcement behind the plastic.
The rear window on the two door coupe is so swept in design that it is nearly impossible to clean this window. Thus viewing is fog-like with poor visibility. Partial access for cleaning this window can be accomplished by getting your Honda key and unlocking the rear seats and folding them down. Then you can climb inside to that window and clean about 70% of it.
Headlights are so inferior that even Consumer Reports questions their effectiveness. They spread no coverage at all.
Honda has done an amazing job at getting this car to accomplish 38 MPG on the highway and it really does get that. It's also a rare ULEV vehicle which means that its pollution is near non-existant. However, weight is the prime reason it gets such wonderful mileage and you'll find that wind against the vehicle is a struggle for handling. Road noise is excessive. So much so that talk radio or music works only while idle or on city streets and never on highways.
The Honda's engine I feel does a great job of getting you onto a highway quickly and with ample power. Power wasn't an issue with me considering its size and efficiency. Honda also does a wonderful job of keeping maintenence near non-existant.
Controls and switches are fair. They are somewhat difficult to see at night and the air-conditioning switch/light must be hand covered to see that the light is illuminated. It's ever so small.
Getting the 5-speed gearbox will reduce your weight by 57lbs and offer you first and second gear improved acceleration. The automatic transmission was sluggish and was not well married to the vehicle. It compromised performance greatly.
This is a great vehicle with just too many pitfalls in safety. Having confidence in what you are driving is essential and Honda has comprised safety for profit in the 2004 model. In fairness to Honda, the 2005 model comes with standard side airbags now. Safety prevails when your life (and your families lives) are essential first and foremost.
A nearly perfect car except in the areas of safety.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 15,200
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: VP
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Epinions.com ID:
benicia
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: San Francisco, CA
Reviews written: 66
Trusted by: 3 members
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