Honda civic 1.8, good or bad?

v240gltse

hi

iam looking at changing from my 2001 is200 auto ( 22 -25mpg) and was looking at a 2006/7 Honda civic 1.8 either manual or preferably auto.

Money is tight so i need to improve on the mpg and dont mention diesel its not an option :D:D.

Has anyone got any reviews of what they are like to own/actual mpg

thanks in advance

brendan

colm_mcm

You looking at saloon or hatchback?

v240gltse

thanks iam looking at a hatch back.

colm_mcm

Ok, I had one of those. Biblically reliable. Fuel economy wise I think I was averaging 39mpg but that was with regular city driving. I could get up to 57mpg with a very very light foot. Never bothered tbh.
Average without the city commuting was around 44 as far as I remember.
Worth noting that the hatchback uses the same 6 speed manual box for auto and manual models, with the auto being a robotised setup. I’m not a fan of this type of box but toyotafanboi on here and said at the time that it was grand.

The saloon uses a traditional 4 speed torque converter box. Not as economical but smoother.

I’d have a manual hatchback if you’re not too fussed about having auto.
A few things to note:
The ride is relatively hard, but not that bad
Rear visibility isn’t great
Access to back seats for child seats isn’t great due to small doors. Plenty space in the back just small doors
Seats don’t have adjustable lumbar support

gooner99

Didn't know you changed from the civic Colm. I always remember you praising it. What did you replace it with?

rizzodun

Also own a 2007 1.8 hatch, can back up everything Colm says. Can't justify selling it for something newer as it suits what we use it for so well and hasn't cost me anything other than normal wear and tear in the years I've owned it.

Berserker5

What's the best model to go for in a pre-2008 , there seems to be a few variants of the 1.8 civic?

What's peoples opinion of the 1.4 civic reliability v the 1.8 thanks

colm_mcm

The EX is the model to aim for if you want the toys, Type S if you want it to look nice, ES is a good compromise as they’re pretty common.
For me, I’d always get one with a panoramic sunroof.

Berserker5

Are they all v-tec or what's the story there

colm_mcm

The older 1.4 aren’t I-VTEC, They’re i-DSI like a first gen Jazz.

The 1.4 is too slow IMO.

Berserker5

Is the 1.4 generally as reliable as the 1.8?

redbuck

v240gltse wrote: »

hi

iam looking at changing from my 2001 is200 auto ( 22 -25mpg) and was looking at a 2006/7 Honda civic 1.8 either manual or preferably auto.

Money is tight so i need to improve on the mpg and dont mention diesel its not an option :D:D.

Has anyone got any reviews of what they are like to own/actual mpg

thanks in advance

brendan

I have one a 1.8 petrol 2006 civic and it's atrocious on petrol, I'm only doing short journeys usually but I've been using it for a 12 mile each way commute to work the last couple of weeks and it's getting about 18mpg.

I'm going getting rid in the next few weeks and getting a diesel van.

I've had it since February 2017 and my average mpg over that time period is currently 17mpg.

I used it for motorway driving a few times on a long journey and I got to about 28mpg I think.

Mines a saloon 1.8l ses.

Rows Grower

Bought a 2006 1.8 about 7 months ago for 800 euro as a run around for the wife, sold it last month for 780 euro.

Great car to drive, as Colm said visibility at the back takes a bit of getting used to and if you're anyway tall you'll probably bang your noggin getting in the first time but other than that they were a car ahead of their time and ultra reliable.

Plenty of power, very good on juice, feels safe to drive.

Bought another one last month, bit newer with way less mileage, full service history and heated leather seats. She loves it and so do I, hoping to make a profit off of this one when I move it on.

Rows Grower

redbuck wrote: »

I have one a 1.8 petrol 2006 civic and it's atrocious on petrol, I'm only doing short journeys usually but I've been using it for a 12 mile each way commute to work the last couple of weeks and it's getting about 18mpg.

I'm going getting rid in the next few weeks and getting a diesel van.

I've had it since February 2017 and my average mpg over that time period is currently 17mpg.

I used it for motorway driving a few times on a long journey and I got to about 28mpg I think.

You need to work up through the gears a bit earlier I'd say.

bluelamp

redbuck wrote: »

I have one a 1.8 petrol 2006 civic and it's atrocious on petrol, I'm only doing short journeys usually but I've been using it for a 12 mile each way commute to work the last couple of weeks and it's getting about 18mpg.

I'm going getting rid in the next few weeks and getting a diesel van.

I've had it since February 2017 and my average mpg over that time period is currently 17mpg.

I used it for motorway driving a few times on a long journey and I got to about 28mpg I think.

That's not a reflection on the car - theres something wrong with yours that needs to be fixed.

The 1.8 civic is well known for being very efficient (for what it is) - real world 38 - 55 mpg

Toyotafanboi

Yeah, I had an automatic I-shift. It's not the best auto box ever by comparison to its competitors but it's absolutely fine. Being an automated manual, you have to drive it a little different to a traditional auto box but once you get used to it, it's grand from a drivers point of view and probably one of the reasons the auto still delivers really good MPG.

Never had any reliability issues with the box, or the car itself, bar a seized brake caliper over 3 years and 60k kms.

MPG was excellent, my driving was mostly motorway in fairness and I wasnt driving it especially gently, mid 40's was very possible, I'd say you could do 50mpg with a bit of effort, you can see in my signature below.

Agree with the above, avoid the 1.4 and an ES with a pan roof is a nice spec and easy enough to find.

cnocbui

redbuck wrote: »

I have one a 1.8 petrol 2006 civic and it's atrocious on petrol, I'm only doing short journeys usually but I've been using it for a 12 mile each way commute to work the last couple of weeks and it's getting about 18mpg.

I'm going getting rid in the next few weeks and getting a diesel van.

I've had it since February 2017 and my average mpg over that time period is currently 17mpg.

I used it for motorway driving a few times on a long journey and I got to about 28mpg I think.

Mines a saloon 1.8l ses.

I drive a 2005 Civic Type R and get over 30 mpg. My suggestion to you is to try also using gears 5 and 6 - they are the two after 4.

Gobsmackingly reliable car, even after 13 years of ownership.

DelBoy Trotter

cnocbui wrote: »

I drive a 2005 Civic Type R and get over 30 mpg. My suggestion to you is to try also using gears 5 and 6 - they are the two after 4.

Gobsmackingly reliable car, even after 13 years of ownership.

I have a 2008 Civic Type R and would also be getting a lot better mileage than Rows Grower's 1.8 Civic!

5uspect

I’ve a 2009 1.8 Civic hatchback too. It’s a great car and is indeed exceptionally reliable and reasonably light on petrol. The i-VTEC marketing claims to give the power of a 2L with the efficiency of a 1.4L, which is a stretch but it’s plenty powerful TBH. I’m used to the rear visibility but the rear doors are pretty small.

Was in getting it serviced today and looking over the newer models. The last gen is like a fat ugly sister while the latest model is a mad looking departure but much larger. Not sure what I’ll do when it comes time to replace it, I really want to keep that Honda reliability.

gooner99

5uspect wrote: »

I’ve a 2009 1.8 Civic hatchback too. It’s a great car and is indeed exceptionally reliable and reasonably light on petrol. The i-VTEC marketing claims to give the power of a 2L with the efficiency of a 1.4L, which is a stretch but it’s plenty powerful TBH. I’m used to the rear visibility but the rear doors are pretty small.

Was in getting it serviced today and looking over the newer models. The last gen is like a fat ugly sister while the latest model is a mad looking departure but much larger. Not sure what I’ll do when it comes time to replace it, I really want to keep that Honda reliability.

I'd say the fuel economy is as good or better than any other mid sized normally aspirated 1.4 manual.

Turbulent Bill

5uspect wrote: »

I’ve a 2009 1.8 Civic hatchback too. It’s a great car and is indeed exceptionally reliable and reasonably light on petrol. The i-VTEC marketing claims to give the power of a 2L with the efficiency of a 1.4L, which is a stretch but it’s plenty powerful TBH. I’m used to the rear visibility but the rear doors are pretty small.

Was in getting it serviced today and looking over the newer models. The last gen is like a fat ugly sister while the latest model is a mad looking departure but much larger. Not sure what I’ll do when it comes time to replace it, I really want to keep that Honda reliability.

The 1.8 uses VTEC for economy rather than performance, still a decent amount of go.

It has a few minor niggles (the rear visibility, no rear wiper, display reflecting on the windscreen etc.), but it's a great car overall. Handles well, deceptively big inside.

Totally agree about the newer models, not a patch on this generation.