Honda Civic rear view

veganrun

Thinking about changing my car and I'm considering a Honda civic, most likely a 2010 model or younger. I didn't realise until last night they don't have rear wipers.

My current car has a rear wiper and I use it a lot so I can't imagine what it's like not to use one. I also noticed the Civic has a big spoiler half way across the rear window.

Anyone here had a Civic and how was the visibility out the back considering the spoiler and no wiper (especially in bad weather and/or if it gets dirty)?

CiniO

veganrun wrote: »

Thinking about changing my car and I'm considering a Honda civic, most likely a 2010 model or younger. I didn't realise until last night they don't have rear wipers.

My current car has a rear wiper and I use it a lot so I can't imagine what it's like not to use one. I also noticed the Civic has a big spoiler half way across the rear window.

Anyone here had a Civic and how was the visibility out the back considering the spoiler and no wiper (especially in bad weather and/or if it gets dirty)?

Wiper would be useless as you won't be able to see anything through rear window anyway - it's just such a design.
Huge side mirrors though compensate lack of rear visibility.

F00t13f4n

As far as I know, all specs of the 9th Gen Civic (after 2012) have a rear wiper and better visibility out the back window than the 2010 version.

I have a 2015 Civic which has a wiper. It also has a parking camera and sensors, so this helps when manoeuvring backwards. The bar across the rear window does interfere with rear visibility when driving, but you get used to it quickly. As you mentioned, the lower vertical section of the window gets dirty pretty quickly on Irish roads, but I'm used to it at this stage.

I drove a Scirocco as a hire car and found this had even less visibilty out the back! :eek:

BigEejit

I think the se plus model and above came with both a rearview camera and wiper on the last model

For what its worth my sister has a 2007 one and has not had a problem. Just what you get used to.

colm_mcm

The wiper on the current model is useless IMO as its on the top half of the boot door.
That said, you get used to it very quickly.

1hnr79jr65

I have 2008 civic sport and i have no issues with there not being a wiper on rear.

The design at back combined with window heater is enough to have the back clear nearly all time.

CreepingDeath

I've the 2007 1.8L Civic EX hatchback.

The rear window visibility is somewhat annoying at times but you can live with it.

You can always see the cars behind you, but the split screen typically obstructs your view of the driver of the car behind you.

The water tends to bead off the rear window.
Probably wouldn't do any harm to coat it with RainX or the like to improve it.

It's a good car. The EX model has plenty of gadgets like Sat nav, voice control of sat nav, audio, aircon and hands free calling from steering wheel.

I get between 6.3 - 6.7L per 100k from mine.

colm_mcm

my next one will be an EX.
I've settled on getting another one.

franer1970

That model of Civic was aerodynamically designed to keep the upper rear window dry - go fast enough through a shower and there won't be a drop on it.
No help whatever when it's parked or you're stopped in traffic of course.

colm_mcm

it's the lower window you need to see out though.
it's supposedly got a special coating that repels water. not in my experience!
as said before though,you adapt to it in no time.

CreepingDeath

The strip across the window is actually smaller than I remembered.
I paid more attention to it's size after this thread when driving.

You need both the top and bottom windows to see out the back, but the horizontal window divider covers no more than 10-20% of the window at most.

You'll always see cars behind you, but depending on their distance, the strip could cover up their headlights or a tailgating drivers face.
Nothing that can't be worked around by raising your head up or down a little when you've looking in the rearview mirror.

veganrun

Took a test drive in the new model this evening. The rear window didn't bother me, what did bother me was the driving position. My knees felt like they were almost tight up against the steering column even though the wheel was as high as it would go and the seat as low as it would go. I'm not super tall (5ft 11) but it definitely was a mark against it.

colm_mcm

Had another go in the new model last week too. Didn't find it as comfy as my old model one.
I'm 6'1 and wasn't hitting the steering column though.

veganrun

It was weird alright. The key chain was rubbing against my knee even though it wasn't full of long attachments etc. Its something I might be able to get used to, not sure.

I took a drive in a 2015 Nissan Note as well, it was more comfortable. Although I think the Civic handled the road better. I might try out a 2010 model of Civic on Saturday to see how it is.

colm_mcm

One thing on them is that you would need to be using the footrest to the left of the clutch.
Can't remember if the new model has one?

A few annoyances on the new model like the loading sill is way higher than it was on the old one. Knocked my knee off the dashboard getting in, Didn't particularly like the feel of the steering wheel either, wheel looks nice though.

veganrun

It was my first time driving a Honda. The front of it took some getting used to, as do the door mirrors. Engine was very quiet though and seemed to handle a bumpy road better than the Nissan.

chinwag

I've considered the new model myself but the rear view is a concern for me. Other posters have said that you get used to it, but the obstruction is still there.

I sat in the driver's seat of the civic recently and felt the rear spoiler was a definite hindrance.

The complex design of the rear baffles me, although I think they're a nice looking car overall and have a good reputation for reliability.

I wonder if the design of the rear window is putting people off buying them as they don't seem to be selling as well as other popular brands. It's a lot of money to spend on a car if the rear spoiler/split window causes serious driver discomfort and perhaps compromises safety.

Zcott

The rear visibility has never bothered me - the mixture of rear parking sensors and decent side mirrors means I haven't hit anything yet...

naughtysmurf

I've a reversing camera in mine which is very handy, took me more time to get used to that than the view out the rear window, as said, you get used to it very quickly, wasn't an issue for me when it came to buying

Zcott

Plus the epic dash more than makes up for it...

colm_mcm

they've toned down the dash in the new model a lot.