A few observations from 1000 miles on holiday

3rd Honda · 18th September 2006, 10:01

Having just done over 1000 miles in England/Scotland, I thought a few observations would be of interest.

Fuel consumption - Journey north - 55.5 mpg, sticking to 70/75
Local running and journey south, 51.5 mpg

Overall with car (2500 miles) = 52.5 mpg

Likes - Comfortable, rides well when laden, relaxed on M'way, roomy.

Dislikes - Road noise at motorway speeds - this is a bad issue, and makes long motorway journeys tiring.
Radio sensitivity very poor - couldn't get FM stations my battery portable could easily get
Thick front pillars annoying on twisty highland roads
Regularly showered by tailgate!
Would prefer steering a touch heavier at speed

Problems - Sat nav locked up once, with map keeping moving OK, but directions pop up screen stayed 'popped up' after that point had been passed, and new directions absent. Cleared by deleting journey and re-entering destination. - Worked fine thereafter

TMC advised motorway was queued on several occasions - on the first I took the recommended deviation ........ and ended up behind traffic I had already passed when I rejoined the motorway

.
After that I ignored its warnings and there were no real queues present (well not by M6 standards

)

Grounded twice (luckily gently) - front spoiler is just too low for rural Scottish roads

Good points - Hands free much better after lowering mic as advised elsewhere
Fuel consumption excellent (55 mpg+) if at 70 mph ish
Cruise works very well
Low first gear excellent for really steep junctions
Firmish ride is well damped especially when laden for minor roads 'lumps and bumps' (but crashes a bit on potholes)
Interior well laid out for ease and driver comfort on long journeys

Sum up - I have done this trip annually for about 20 years in a variety of cars. The Civic is pretty good, the biggest weakness in my view being seriously poor road noise at motorway speeds on less than perfect surfaces. This becomes very tiresome on a long journey. Otherwise, a very nice car, economical, comfortable, and on smooth road surfaces, refined.

Trekker308 · 18th September 2006, 10:25

Good write-up 3rd Honda! I totally agree about the steering at speed - it's a bit light for my taste too...

Touch wood: I have found the radio in my Sport just fine, and it seems to track frequency changes OK. I sat in the New Forest tuning stations and picked up BBC Bristol (!), so no complaints on sensitivity either... The CD player doesn't exactly overwhelm you with its quality though.

Your comments about the front pillars:- Agreed, I spent a week on the West Coast of Scotland and Skye six days after picking up the Civ and being a bit nervous about a new car, the front pillar width didn't help! ...but I think that there are new cars that are a lot worse on this score!

rmh999 · 18th September 2006, 10:32

I think the standard fittment tyres are the root cause of the road noise issues so with a bit of research this can be improved upon...... i will certainly be trying something different next time.

The front pillars do not bother me, in fact i think they are pretty good but i'm used to a Peugeot 206CC where these are seriously structural and even larger, so you learn to adapt ... give it a bit more time and you will get used to it... also all cars are going this way !!

Why is the mpg lower going South ... surely its downhill

richierich · 18th September 2006, 10:42

Very good report 3rd Honda. I agree with the A pillar remarks, but I guess you soon learn to look around them, it can mean quite a bit of jiffling in the seat, but you can see round them, although I do not know about twisty highland roads.

I would also have thought the mpg back down would be better.

As far as the road noise, I would agree it is noisy on older stretches, but find new tarmac and it is quiet. I just turn the radio up.

elfa7 · 18th September 2006, 11:02

Interesting write-up 3rdHonda. I too, thought the pillars obstructed vision,

in fact I mentioned this previously, but you do get used to it.

As for the economy. You could have had a tail wind going, and the reverse

coming back. Very good economy though.

Trekker308 · 18th September 2006, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by richierich

As far as the road noise, I would agree it is noisy on older stretches, but find new tarmac and it is quiet. I just turn the radio up.

...I knew there had to be an answer to the road noise....

JB75 · 18th September 2006, 18:19

Interesting reading. I can certainly echo your points on the front pillars and how the tailgate seems to accumulate water after a downpour. I'm still waiting for Honda to announce this as a "water saving" feature: catch in a bucket and re-use!

52.5 mpg overall! I seriously need to work on that, I'm still floundering in the mid-thirties.

sco77harris · 18th September 2006, 20:48

i also find road noise can be excessive, and yes the pillars regularly create blind spots.

WoolyCiv · 18th September 2006, 22:16

I actually find the A pillar obstruction a whole lot less than my previous car (Rover 75). I think that all new cars suffer from this obstruction as the manufacturers had to beef them up to pass the NCAP test by passing forces suffered in an accident up to the roof.

Agree about the noise at 70 on a motorway especially over the concrete sections

Nick7 · 19th September 2006, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoolyCiv

Agree about the noise at 70 on a motorway especially over the concrete sections

How's it with other cars on same sections?

pjelsworth · 19th September 2006, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick7

How's it with other cars on same sections?

I must admit that I find it no worse given it's sporty intentions. I had a Laguna previously that was quieter, but I had a Saab 9-5 a couple of years ago that was worse.

Moley RUFC · 19th September 2006, 17:09

I currently drive a Saab 93 2006 (whilst waiting for my Civic) and have to say its so quiet at 70/80 on the motorway. I have driven many different cars (12 this year alone!!) and for decent runs on the motorway nothing has come close, inc BMW/Renault/Lexus

3rd Honda · 19th September 2006, 18:41

Thanks for all the comments. The economy reflects sticking to 70 'ish', and gentle driving for the majority of the time.

As an aside, the quietest car I have driven (and owned for 8 years) was a Daimler Double Six - very near silent, but used about 3 times as much fuel as the Civic!

pjelsworth · 20th September 2006, 09:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moley RUFC

I currently drive a Saab 93 2006 (whilst waiting for my Civic) and have to say its so quiet at 70/80 on the motorway. I have driven many different cars (12 this year alone!!) and for decent runs on the motorway nothing has come close, inc BMW/Renault/Lexus

I'm glad it's good, and it was what I was expecting from the Saab. Everything else about the car was great, but I was so disappointed with the amount of road noise I had a technichian from UK HQ come and take a ride in it. He agreed it was noisy but deemed it acceptable and suggested I try different tyres. It was a 1999 model, so maybe they improved.

18th September 2006, 10:01	#1 (permalink)
3rd Honda Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 24th July 2006 Location: Tewkesbury Posts: 367 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	A few observations from 1000 miles on holiday Having just done over 1000 miles in England/Scotland, I thought a few observations would be of interest. Fuel consumption - Journey north - 55.5 mpg, sticking to 70/75 Local running and journey south, 51.5 mpg Overall with car (2500 miles) = 52.5 mpg Likes - Comfortable, rides well when laden, relaxed on M'way, roomy. Dislikes - Road noise at motorway speeds - this is a bad issue, and makes long motorway journeys tiring. Radio sensitivity very poor - couldn't get FM stations my battery portable could easily get Thick front pillars annoying on twisty highland roads Regularly showered by tailgate! Would prefer steering a touch heavier at speed Problems - Sat nav locked up once, with map keeping moving OK, but directions pop up screen stayed 'popped up' after that point had been passed, and new directions absent. Cleared by deleting journey and re-entering destination. - Worked fine thereafter TMC advised motorway was queued on several occasions - on the first I took the recommended deviation ........ and ended up behind traffic I had already passed when I rejoined the motorway . After that I ignored its warnings and there were no real queues present (well not by M6 standards) Grounded twice (luckily gently) - front spoiler is just too low for rural Scottish roads Good points - Hands free much better after lowering mic as advised elsewhere Fuel consumption excellent (55 mpg+) if at 70 mph ish Cruise works very well Low first gear excellent for really steep junctions Firmish ride is well damped especially when laden for minor roads 'lumps and bumps' (but crashes a bit on potholes) Interior well laid out for ease and driver comfort on long journeys Sum up - I have done this trip annually for about 20 years in a variety of cars. The Civic is pretty good, the biggest weakness in my view being seriously poor road noise at motorway speeds on less than perfect surfaces. This becomes very tiresome on a long journey. Otherwise, a very nice car, economical, comfortable, and on smooth road surfaces, refined.

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This thread is about: A few observations from 1000 miles on holiday, it's in User Reviews at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Having just done over 1000 miles in England/Scotland, I thought a few observations would be of interest. Fuel consumption - Journey north - 55.5 mpg, ...

18th September 2006, 10:25	#2 (permalink)
Trekker308 ..with Superchips please! Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 29th July 2006 Location: Ringwood Posts: 337 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Good write-up 3rd Honda! I totally agree about the steering at speed - it's a bit light for my taste too... Touch wood: I have found the radio in my Sport just fine, and it seems to track frequency changes OK. I sat in the New Forest tuning stations and picked up BBC Bristol (!), so no complaints on sensitivity either... The CD player doesn't exactly overwhelm you with its quality though. Your comments about the front pillars:- Agreed, I spent a week on the West Coast of Scotland and Skye six days after picking up the Civ and being a bit nervous about a new car, the front pillar width didn't help! ...but I think that there are new cars that are a lot worse on this score!

18th September 2006, 10:32	#3 (permalink)
rmh999 Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 3rd August 2006 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 158 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I think the standard fittment tyres are the root cause of the road noise issues so with a bit of research this can be improved upon...... i will certainly be trying something different next time. The front pillars do not bother me, in fact i think they are pretty good but i'm used to a Peugeot 206CC where these are seriously structural and even larger, so you learn to adapt ... give it a bit more time and you will get used to it... also all cars are going this way !! Why is the mpg lower going South ... surely its downhill

18th September 2006, 10:42	#4 (permalink)
richierich Smell My Cheese! Rocketship door handle Join Date: 17th May 2006 Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire Posts: 1,847 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Very good report 3rd Honda. I agree with the A pillar remarks, but I guess you soon learn to look around them, it can mean quite a bit of jiffling in the seat, but you can see round them, although I do not know about twisty highland roads. I would also have thought the mpg back down would be better. As far as the road noise, I would agree it is noisy on older stretches, but find new tarmac and it is quiet. I just turn the radio up.

18th September 2006, 11:02	#5 (permalink)
elfa7 Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 8th May 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,703 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Interesting write-up 3rdHonda. I too, thought the pillars obstructed vision, in fact I mentioned this previously, but you do get used to it. As for the economy. You could have had a tail wind going, and the reverse coming back. Very good economy though.

18th September 2006, 18:19	#7 (permalink)
JB75 Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 18th August 2006 Posts: 174 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Interesting reading. I can certainly echo your points on the front pillars and how the tailgate seems to accumulate water after a downpour. I'm still waiting for Honda to announce this as a "water saving" feature: catch in a bucket and re-use! 52.5 mpg overall! I seriously need to work on that, I'm still floundering in the mid-thirties.

18th September 2006, 20:48	#8 (permalink)
sco77harris Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 5th June 2006 Location: stanmore london Posts: 978 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	i also find road noise can be excessive, and yes the pillars regularly create blind spots.

18th September 2006, 22:16	#9 (permalink)
WoolyCiv 12th June 2006 1.8EX Rocketship door handle Join Date: 28th May 2006 Location: Lancashire Posts: 1,118 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I actually find the A pillar obstruction a whole lot less than my previous car (Rover 75). I think that all new cars suffer from this obstruction as the manufacturers had to beef them up to pass the NCAP test by passing forces suffered in an accident up to the roof. Agree about the noise at 70 on a motorway especially over the concrete sections

19th September 2006, 17:09	#12 (permalink)
Moley RUFC Valve Cap Join Date: 4th September 2006 Posts: 38 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I currently drive a Saab 93 2006 (whilst waiting for my Civic) and have to say its so quiet at 70/80 on the motorway. I have driven many different cars (12 this year alone!!) and for decent runs on the motorway nothing has come close, inc BMW/Renault/Lexus

19th September 2006, 18:41	#13 (permalink)
3rd Honda Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 24th July 2006 Location: Tewkesbury Posts: 367 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Thanks for all the comments. The economy reflects sticking to 70 'ish', and gentle driving for the majority of the time. As an aside, the quietest car I have driven (and owned for 8 years) was a Daimler Double Six - very near silent, but used about 3 times as much fuel as the Civic!