I got this car (2000 Civic EX Coupe w/ Automatic) the summer after I turned 16. Having always loved cars, I wanted something that looked sporty, was somewhat fast, and handled well. I also wanted something that would get me through the rest of high school and through four years of college. After doing a lot of research, I decided on the EX because it had the more powerful VTEC engine and came with all the options for just a little more $ at the time. All I can say is WOW, this civic is all that and more.


Reliability:

When the car was purchased it had 93,000 miles on it, and a year later it has 104,000 miles. The car has been very reliable through this time period. It has not once broken down, not started, or had any frustrating problems. The only problem which has arisen so far is that the idle control was off when the car was bought. What this means is that the car, when stopped at a stop sign, light, or something else, would run at very low RPM's. The problem with this is that a couple of times the car would go too low and shut off. This did not, however, make the car undriveable, and was quickly fixed at a local shop for $68. After this was fixed, the car has yet to have any problem. It is a car that you can get in and be confident it will get you where you want to go without any problems (and this is with the 105,000 mile tune-up coming up in a month or two).


Gas Mileage:

In a time where gas prices are at all-time highs it is important to the wallet to have a car that gets good gas mileage. The Civic delivers in this area, getting between 28-32 mpg in city driving (28-32 depends on how I drive it and whether the A/C is on or not)and about 37 mpg highway. The numbers look great by themselves, but when you consider that it takes half the money to fill the Civic up as is does my Mom's Pathfinder (with the same number of miles), the gas mileage really helps keep the wallet full.


Roominess and Comfort:

For a subcompact car, the Civic has an excellent amount of room. It has a remarkable amount of trunk space, so it is great for a trip to the grocery store or to the golf course (three golf bags can fit in easily, and, with proper manipulation, a forth can fit in as well). Front and rear leg room are also excellent. I am 6 ft. tall and have no problem with leg room in front or back. Head room, however, is lacking a little. Up front my head is very close to touching the roof (if you are 6'2" or taller this might be a problem). In the back headroom is OK if you lean back in the seat, but lean forward to talk to the person in the front seat and my head easily touches the roof. This, however, is not a big problem. I have easily and comfortably taken 4 people in the car numerous times without even one complaint for room, just having the occasional rear head-banging in the back.


Styling:

Whether 16 yrs. old or 50 yrs. old, it is nice to have a car that looks good. This car is just that. All my friends like the styling and think that it is a "cool" car. Although not important to driving a car, it is nice to be able to look at your car and like what you are seeing. My car is Taffeta White, which is just beautiful when cleaned and waxed. The car already looks good, but I can't wait to get an SI spoiler for it as well as some bigger, better-looking wheels. The stock wheels are 14" hubcaps, which take away from the car's good styling (15" or even 16" wheels look much better). A spoiler adds to the car's appearance as well, making it look more sporty. The interior styling is excellent as well. It looks good, and everything is placed well. The controls are easy to read and easy to get to. Overall, the styling is excellent.


Driving Impressions:

Finally to the most important part of a car, and the Civic delivers with flying colors once again. As soon as you get in the car you will notice that the hood can barely be seen. Although strange at first, this quickly becomes appreciated as it allows the driver to see everything in front of him well, and to judge distances wonderfully as he is parking. The car's large windows allow for excellent viewing while driving. You can see anything and everything clearly, making it more safe to drive.

As far as acceleration goes, this car performs well. It will not squeel the tires unless it is wet or you are turning, but the power is enough to get you through traffic and around that slow driver in front of you. The engine itself is very quiet when sitting there, but acceleration is a different story. Through the first 4,000 rpm range, the car is just a little louder than most cars, but kick into the VTEC at 4,500 rpm and the car SCREAMS. It is quite an exhilerating experience to hear the engine whine, the rpm's rise, and the car quickly accelerate to the 7,000 rpm redline.

As far as handling goes, I have been quite impressed with this little car. The tires on it are 90,000 mile Michelin S-rated tires, meaning that they are not made to perform, but last a very, very long time. While more performance-oriented tires would make it handle better, this car already handles like a champ. Turn the steering wheel, and the car responds quickly and easily to the driver's input. The steering wheel takes a bit of turning to turn the car, but has a nice feel to it. It is not hard to turn, but is not easy to turn either. It lets the driver feel the car and the road without being bothersome on long, winding roads. While turning, the car is very stable, and feels planted to the road. Winding roads are a pleasure, and can be loads of fun when "attacked" by higher speeds and quick responses by the driver (of course, do not go too fast as this is dangerous and can result in getting pulled over by the cops - just have safe, responsible fun and the driving experience can be very rewarding). The suspension delivers an adequately comfortable ride while still being somewhat stiff. The car does not exhibit much body roll unless really pushed, and allows the car to be planted to the ground for safety and confidence on those winding roads. The car would probably handle and brake better with more performance-oriented tires, but is excellent as it is.

Speaking of the brakes, ABS brakes are only an option on this car. Mine did not come with them, which has caused a couple of lock-ups when avoiding an accident and avoiding hitting a dog on the road (the breaks have been adequate and have kept me out of an accident, but could easily be improved). If for nothing else, I would recommend a little more performance-oriented tire to help with the braking...it really works.

The transmission provides quick upshifting, but downshifts can be slow. However, it allows the engine to work and rev freely. Overall, this small car provides a great driving experience for everyone from the performance-oriented (who may want to add power and performance tires) to those who like to take it easy.


Aftermarket:

Ok. Here is the part for the "crazy" kids. There are a whole lot of aftermarket parts for the Civic. From body kits to oil caps you can find it all. There are two aftermarket performance tuners that focus almost solely on Hondas: Mugen and Spoon. While carrying a high price tag, these companies know what they are doing, and can provide excellent styling and performance for your ride. JDM is also a great company who can turn your street car into a great-looking machine. Aftermarket parts are plentiful, allowing you to have your own unique, customized ride even though there are many of these cars out there. The stock speakers are good, allowing you to get great sound with just a new CD player. I put in a Sony GT-510, and am very impressed with the quality of the stock speakers. Moving on to the mighty little engine, it has immense tuning opportunities, allowing a few crazed people with lots of money to raise the power up to around 450 hp. Have fun.


Final Impressions:

A great car (and certainly for the money), the Civic has kept me happy. There are not many cars out there I would rather have. I have been 100% satisfied with the car, and am glad I made the Civic my car. It's fun, inexpensive to drive, will last forever, is very easy on tires, and looks good. What more could you ask from a car?


Amount Paid (US$): 7500
Condition: Used
Model Year: 2000
Model and Options: EX coupe, Automatic