In article <YLadnfGiJvju603ZnZ2dnUVZ_oidnZ2d@comcast.com>,
"KWW" <kwalker@nospamaircooled.net> 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.
>
> 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

The engineering refinement was beautiful in the 96/97 Civics. Every
system was simple and did exactly what it needed to do. Unfortunately
they're getting high on milage now.

I had an 01 Civic as a loaner and it wasn't much fun to drive. Bumps
modulated turns, making it feel jittery and unsteady at high speeds. It
felt like bad wheel alignment but with no wandering while going straight.