Honda Car Forum

Just wondering if there are any known caveats regarding the Civic DX model
year 2000

Thanks...

BE wrote:
> Just wondering if there are any known caveats regarding the Civic DX model
> year 2000
>
> Thanks...

------------------------


:-) They're too expensive because they hold their value WAY too long,
and they're worth buying even if the mileage seems high . . . and
here's your caveatunless they were driven by a teenager who wears a
Metallica T-shirt). :-)

'Curly'

When mated with a 5spd tranny, it's the best Civic ever made. The automatic
is 'too big' for the engine and guzzles gas (my wife's automatic returns
8.8L/100km while my 5spd returns 6.8L/100km).

I tend to drive as if I'm on the race track and after 215,000km of abuse,
the car still drives like new. The tranny has gotten noisier, but it'd
require a sensitive ear to tell the difference.

Exterior is excellent and no rust, but the driver's cockpit looks like it's
gone through hell. The 3/9 o'clock hand position on steering wheel has worn
through to the softer (but more grippy) core. All the rubber has been worn
away from the clutch peddle to expose the metal underlay. The floor mat has
a large hole from my heavy right foot. The left edge of the seat has worn
through to expose it's spongy guts. The windshield is constantly dirty from
the thousands of tinny stone chips. Even with all the hard driving, all the
component in the engine is still original (except for spark plugs, timing
belt and water pump). Tranny is also all original.

Pars
98 DX Hatch (5spd)
2000 EX Sedan (Automatic)

"BE" <be@home.com> wrote in message
news:6VdLd.2433$cl1.2047@newsread3.news.pas.earthl ink.net...
> Just wondering if there are any known caveats regarding the Civic DX model
> year 2000
>
> Thanks...
>
>

Pars wrote:
> When mated with a 5spd tranny, it's the best Civic ever made.

really? just curious why youd say that. not that im disputing you- i
have a 98CX, 5-spd. 48k miles and i could easily see myself keeping this
car another 15-20 years. no matter how tempting the scion xA is to me!

im a big fan of the 88-91 gen civic. always have been, although ive
never owned one. i like the low cowl, wedgy profile, and that they
offered up a really nice Si hatch.

honda could have sold a lot more 96-00 hatches if theyd offered one with
an EX or integra motor, maybe a few power amenities, like windows and
locks... and a sunroof. but then whod want a integra?

> Just wondering if there are any known caveats regarding the Civic DX model
> year 2000
>

If there are any problems I sure haven't run into them, my stock adult
driven `00 has never let me down, nothing but routine maintenance
needed, might be in the market to sell when the new & improved 2006
hybrid comes out ...


--
Rob Fruth - Houston, Tx
http://www.rfruth.net

1981 Raleigh for errands & fun ____ __o
1997 Trek 2300 for real fun ! ____ _ \ | _)
2000 DX 5 speed Civic hatchback (_)/ (_)

"SoCalMike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cOKdndUImuNPWGDcRVn-tQ@comcast.com...
> Pars wrote:
> > When mated with a 5spd tranny, it's the best Civic ever made.
>
> really? just curious why youd say that. not that im disputing you- i
> have a 98CX, 5-spd. 48k miles and i could easily see myself keeping this
> car another 15-20 years. no matter how tempting the scion xA is to me!
>

The 96-00 model is a perfection of design/specification that began in 1988.
The previous Civic models had a weak chassis (not suspension) and a weak
engine (ok, for normal driving but tended to fail from hard driving over the
long term). In certain areas in Toronto, every other car is a Civic and I've
yet to see a 96-00 (and up) spoiting blue smoke.

Back in 2000, it was possible to obtain a double wishbone (front & back)
for $14,000 (Canadian). Today, it will cost $25,000 (minimum) to obtained a
car with the same suspension setup (in the form of an Accord or Mazda 6).
The Accord and the Mazda 6 are the only mainstream front-drive to offer the
double wishbone suspension in the front. When compared to other sedans, the
Accord and Mazda 6 will always capture 1st and 2nd place. It doesn't make
sense that a heavy weight like the Camry can get edged-out by a new comer
(Mazda 6), unless you factoring in the capability of the suspension system.
5 years ago, it was possible to get the same kind of suspension for $14k.

> im a big fan of the 88-91 gen civic. always have been, although ive
> never owned one. i like the low cowl, wedgy profile, and that they

I've spent many hours in the 88-91 Si Hatch and raced against them countless
time. At the time, I had a 90' Corsica V6, while one friend owned a 90 Si
Automatic, and another friend owned a 91 Si 5spd. Surprisingly, the 91 Si
Hatch was able to out perform my V6 Corisca from 0 - 180 km/hr (my cut off).
I also, liked the wedgy looks and ability to look slightly down and see the
road (instead of the instrument panel).

> offered up a really nice Si hatch.
>
> honda could have sold a lot more 96-00 hatches if theyd offered one with
> an EX or integra motor, maybe a few power amenities, like windows and
> locks... and a sunroof. but then whod want a integra?

I think the front double wishbone was becoming too expensive to make, for
it's economy class. Honda needed to come up with a new mold that was less
expensive to assemble.

Also, the company made a huge mistake by putting inferior tires on the 96-00
Civic which hid the suspensions capability. Instead of getting top rankings
in the comparisons test, the car ended up mid-pack.

Pars