KWW wrote:
> My daughter just totaled our '97 Odyssey and, since this fall all 3 kids
> will be in college, I am pondering replacing it with a smaller vehicle.
> Thing is, we had a '96 Civic (eldest son totaled years ago) and it seemed to
> be the best car we've ever had. It handled and drive very well, smoothly,
> and quitely. The '01 Civics have a harsher ride, are noisy, and don't seem
> to handle well. The suspension seems like a cloan of the old Saturn sedan
> suspension.

that's because it pretty much is! mcpherson struts = cheap. end of story.

>
> So I am wondering whether maybe I should try to find a good used '98 or '99
> Civic. Given that we will for a short time have 3 in college, and for a few
> years thereafter 2, a new car is out of the question.
>
> I have never been an Accord fan - my daughter and in-laws have them and they
> don't seem as nimble or efficient as the Civics, and don't provide THAT much
> more room for any particular model year.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> KWW

imo, the best civic honda ever produced was the 88-91, and if you want
to be really specific, the 89's. light, fast, and with the body that
suspension was designed for. provided the driver's not too "generously
built", the seats offer much more side support too, so you can
comfortably take much better advantage of the vehicle's handling.