Questions Honda civic for 5k, advice please!!!!

[Pal8485]

Hey guys! I'm new to this forum but seems like most of you know what your talking about so thought I'd come here for help.
I'm currently travelling but when back I've decided my ideal choice would be a Honda civic for my new car! But due to lack of funds my budget will only be around 5k. Here are the things I'm confused about:
1.what type of Honda civic should I go for?
2.what year is best for reliability purposes (I'd heard some bad reports about 06, not sure if true).
3.will 5k be enough to get me a decent car that will last me a few years or should I look elsewhere?

I've chose Honda civic as I wanted a car that I like the look of, wil give me something different, and that should be reliable. I'm not an expert on cars so any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[michael3011]

Mine is an 06 plate with 113k on the clock covering 15k a year and the engine and gearbox never miss a beat. I have the 1.8 and went for the petrol due to the clutch reports on the 2.2. All you need to look for is full service history and use the checklist in the wiki (cant post link on phone) to take your time. Make sure you look at lots of them and dont give much away to the seller!

[2.2escdti]

if u buy a diesel civic for 5 k u will definetly get moe problems than the clutch >>>>

sorry i am not trying to be fanny but for a decent diesel i thing u need like min 7k

[WreckerL]

If you can get a diesel for 5k I imagine it will have lots of miles so if it had the early clutch it will have been changed a long time ago. The replacement clutch is an improved version.
My 2.2 56 had 75k when I bought it 2 yrs ago and now it has 110K. I've replaced 2 tyres!

[sims0519]

You need to take your time to pick the right car. 5K is quite a stretch because you need to think about profit margin if you get it from a dealer. Getting it private you are not covered at all and for high mileage that is a big risk from my point of view.

1: What civic depends on what you are going to use it for, short trips in town or commute.
2: Some people said 07 onwards is better some said 09 but it depends how lucky you are. Some people got no problems and some have a lot (me).
3: This is quite a tricky question. I commute a lot (about 200K+ in the past 5 years)and so far (touchwood) mechanically my car is ok and I haven't seen a Civic broken down on the side of the road yet.

Just an example for what you get for 5K:

Mine only done 57000, had the clutch changed in Aug, New Michellin Energy saver all round in August, MOT till Aug next year, tax till Jan 2012, new rear disc and pads, basically nothing need doing for a long time. Got it valued and it is only 5500. I know they will put it out for around 7K so for 5K it will be a very high mileage car.

My Honest opinion:
I don't want to put you off and as I said before some people got no problems at all. I am one of the unlucky ones so far. Got an 07 plate ES 2.2 last year with 24K on the clock. The car showed no problems when I got it. After a few months the problems began to appear. The car went in because my clutch pedal was clicking, pedal alignment, then a new pedal box then a new master clutch cylinder. Was ok for about 10K and then it returns. From the posts in forum I tried WD40 (didn't work for me) and then the 3in1 lube mentioned here (works a bit better). Clutch went around 50K and got an uprated one with Honda paid for 50% of the costs.

The rear caliper wasn't working properly and it was striped down and lubed by the garage. I have rattling noise from the wind screen (very rare and only happens on a specific part of the route to work). Rattling around the whole dash, from the steering wheel when I turn right, sun blind rattling next to my ear which really bugs me. The drop links also went as well.

I also have a Type S 2.2 (before I experience all the problems with the ES) that is showing signs of clutch slipping and the rattling on that car is on the driver door and the trim around the driver door. The plastic on the right rear of the boot came loose as well.

I used to drive an EP3 and that didn't have a single problem even after 165K miles. But this is not a Honda specific problem as I drove an 06 plate Ibiza that rattles even more.

Don't let my problems put you off as my friend at work got an EX 2.2 and his is perfectly fine and he doesn't understand why I have problems. That makes me think it is the road that people drive magnify the problems. A12 is not a nice at all in my opinion.

Is it a very practical car? Yes.
Is it likely to break down? No.

So it has some 'characters' so to speak, but other cars have problems too so just make sure you have warrantly with the car and can't really complain too much as it takes me from A to B and does the job.

[Pal8485]

Thanks for the replies. Think I will be looking at the 1.8 type s, seem to be quite a few going for under 6k with decent miles so think that might be a good option, just looks like I might have to spend more money than I planned! What you guys reckon to the 1.8 type s, decent choice? Will be reliable enough for 5.5k ish?

[Jack The Lad.]

Try and stretch your budget a bit- even if you have to hang on a bit longer and purchase from a Honda Dealership
More so - If it's a high milage car.
Rep's cars can be a good buy.
They will have done the miles, but they will also have been serviced at the correct intervals.

[Peteo48]

There's a big premium on diesels due to their much better fuel economy. Depending on your mileage, a petrol really does seem the best bet for your budget. The Civic diesel is also rarer than the petrol putting prices up even more.

It's a cracking car though.

[judderman]

I picked up a Civic Diesel for a touch over 4k about 6 months ago, its got high mileage but it has a Full Honda Service history has had 2 clutches and the most recent was an uprated one and feels perfect, I have had 1 problem with it in 6 months and that was a ball joint which was covered on the warranty.

It certainly doesnt drive like its high mileage and I am told it will last forever given the right servicing and attention and I believe it!

With regards to ex reps cars, mine was ex lease and no doubt belonged to a sales or business person who has had it sat on the motorway all its life and every receipt even for tyres HAD to be from Honda.

A mechanic friend of mine has a bloke in with his civic for servicing every other month its on well over 200k and he says apart from service work he's hardly ever had to do anything to it!

Just be a savvy buyer, check for common faults and if you are buying go armed with cash... people might say it doesnt give you the leway it used to but I got nearly £500 knocked off the sale price and a bonnet respray because I said I would walk away if it wasnt sprayed before I picked it up!

Good luck!