First long run in the car yesterday

[For Mash Get Smash]

Deepest Essex to Great Yarmouth (and back) around 115 miles each way. I get more and more impressed with the car every day, though the kids claim that that the back isn't as comfortable as the last car. Corners beautifully, holds the road fantastically, plenty in reserve for overtaking and comfortable in all gears. The power is a bit slower to kick in than my last cars but once it does the response is more than adequate

Tried out cruise control for the first time on the way back. I'll be honest I don't think that's for me as I like to drive the car but I was impressed at the way it held the speed. The only thing I did notice is that cruise control has a slight impact on fuel consumption but I can't really complain too much; averaging 50.5 mpg on the way up and 48.2 on the way back and I wasn't driving like a pussee (though with 2 kids in the back I wasn't driving like a tiger either ).



Bluddee Hell. Yarmouth hasn't changed much from when I was a kid. The Pleasure Beach is still there with its old wooden (and fantastic rollercoaster) and wristbands at £16 with no queues for any of the rides meant a terrific day out all round.

[Charles_Harding]

Glad you're enjoying your Space Ship.

It's so great that you can get excitement from the car and still get that fabulous fuel consumption.

"If you can keep your head
When all the others are losing theirs.
You obviuosly haven't grasped
The seriousness of the situation!"

Charles H.

[cb550]

Glad its going so well for you!With its punchy engine,the Civic's always a pleasure for me on a run out.With 11,000 miles on the clock,my 2.2 will give 55-60 mpg on what I reckon would be a similar run to your's.If your car has only clocked up a few thousand it could well improve even on your returns

Traditional British seasides are great for days out.'Skeggy'(Skegness) and Whitby are two of many.Lets hope that sun keeps shining

[laserman]

Did a run recently from Fife to Newcastle airport on the A68, average 55mpg on the way down and 48mpg on return.
Great car, great mileage, great fun.
No complaints

[Swindon Japster]

Further to your comments , thought I would add my own after touring nothern France and then N. England. 1.8 achieved 50mpg (well according to Honda's trip computer!) which was pleasing given weight of luggage, duty free etc.

This trip really conifrmed my thoughts of the first year of ownership.
Plus points - great engine, gearbox and handling. Practicality fantastic although the DVD and PS2 were invaluable, as was the iPod kit. Seats confortable although see point below.
Minus points - Build quality grates even more on long journeys - squeaks, rattles etc. Suspension spine shattering on poor road surfaces. Interestingly I actually found the driving position in relation to the throttle pedal gave me pins and needles in my leg after 2 hours - perhaps cruise control would have been an advantage.

Discussion point (couldn't find this in Search) - I often found myself searching for a 'seventh gear' on motorway sections - anyone else think the same, that the gearing is a bit short?

[FWH]

Originally Posted by Swindon Japster

Discussion point (couldn't find this in Search) - I often found myself searching for a 'seventh gear' on motorway sections - anyone else think the same, that the gearing is a bit short?

Some other six speed car do have a taller 6th, but the ones I have tried have been tourqier diesels (I have a petrol Civic) or bigger petrol engines. Motorway revs of around 2000 and so.

If often find myself never needing 5th.
So I agree 6th could have been a bit taller.

But probably not too much seeing as torque in low revs on the petrol are not enourmous.