The Honda Civic when first launched in India around 2006 was one of the best looking cars. Not that much has changed 4 years down the line. Buyers in this segment are more than happy to accommodate the Honda in their garages. However with the advent of time, as expected, some of the novelty has worn off and you can now find used Honda Civic’s in the used car market. The primary reason for this is that the Civic, even though a looker inside out, isn’t too practical for the Indian roads. However for some of you who still fancy that space age look of the Honda Civic however don’t have the moolah for a new Honda Civic can satisfy themselves with a used Honda Civic. However when buying a used car, one has to be more alert than buying a new specimen. The Honda Civic was launched in India with a single engine option and is offered in as many as 8 variants including the Honda Civic Hybrid. These variants are the Honda Civic 1.8 S MT, Honda Civic 1.8 V MT, Honda Civic 1.8 V AT, Honda Civic 1.8 V Elegance, Honda Civic 1.8 S Elegance, Honda Civic 1.8 V Inspire and the Honda Civic 1.8 S Inspire Here are some of the tips for buying the used Honda Civic that you were eyeing for long but somehow didn’t have the courage to buy.
Paperwork:
The first and foremost thing to check for in an used Honda Civic is whether all the registration documents, PUC certificates and service history are in place. Also the numbers on the car’s number plate and those under the bonnet match with the registration certificate. The car, if was financed, should also have a hypothetication mark included in the registration certificate. The registration plates shouldn’t also be broken or in any vernacular language other than English. It should also have the correct spacing as specified by the RTO. The screws holding the number plates should be tight. Confirm that the mileages tally and if the figures on the odometer and those by checking out the make of the car don’t tally, just walk away from this car.
Bodywork:
The Honda Civic shouldn’t be painted with a different color as opposed to what is mentioned on its papers. Check for uneven paint marks as this is sign that the car has been in an accident. There might be minor scuffs and marks and this isn’t something which a good polish cannot take care off. There shouldn’t be any uneven panel gaps. Some of the earlier Honda Civics were prone to rusting however the ones after 2007 were coated with an anti rust spray. Be sure to check out the body aperture as well as under the bonnet for signs of repainting. If you find any shunt or major dent, be sure to ask the owner the reason for it and why it wasn’t repaired. If his answer isn’t satisfactory, just move away.
Tyres:
This signify the way the Honda Civic has been treated and if it was driven sanely or with much enthusiasm. Honda Civic manuals say that the tyres are good for 40k kms. If the model you are looking at is below this mark and the tyres have been replaced, ask the reason. It may be that the odometer has been tampered with. If the car still runs on stock tyres, you should check if it has plenty of tread on it and the wear is even across the face and all the way to the circumference of the tyre. Also look out for tears, gouges and bulges in the side walls. Measure the tread depth of the tyre using a 1 rupee coin. If it shows more than 75% of the coin, it means that the tyre needs to be replaced.
Exhaust:
An exhaust is something which bears the brunt of a car even if it has been sanely driven. It has to be replaced some time or the other. A noisy exhaust other than those after market ones should mean an abused car. There shouldn’t be any rust or holes on the silencer. Also the exhaust should be securely bolted on and not loose or sagging.
Interiors:
The Civic has a beige interiors and this should get soiled easily however its nothing which a simple wash and wipe cannot set straight. The Honda Civic has easy to use controls as well as long lasting ones. Take a look at the seat belts and they shouldn’t be sagging or broken. The carpets have to be removed and then checked if there is any rust in the inner body. The power goodies should work perfectly fine and if they aren’t then replacing them would be a costly affair. The car’s butterfly like wipers should also be in good working condition and there shouldn’t be any chips or cracks in the windscreen.
Lights and Electrics:
There are numerous lights in a car and the Honda Civic is no exception. Check if the head lights are in working condition. Check for both upper as well as lower beams. The turn indicators, hazard lights, tail lamps, brake lamps as also the lighting on the number plates. Also check the aircon blower at full speed and even the heater.
Test ride:
Honda Civics have softer suspension setups and this means that the car should ride well. It has an excellent handling as well. The gearbox is a smooth shifting unit both on the auto as well as in manual model. Lest I forget, the Honda Civic comes in automatic as well as manual version. The automatic is the more fun to drive since it also has paddle shifts behind the steering wheel for manual control. The car shouldn’t be pulling to one side as this would mean that either there is a problem with the suspension or with the steering. Watch out for any unusual noises coming from the suspension or the tie rods.
Engine bay:
This is one of the most important things to be considered while buying a used car. However given Honda’s fool proof reliability, this shouldn’t be a major problem. Check for an unusually clean engine bay as this is a sign that the owner is trying to hide something. Open the oil filler cap and check for the look of the oil. It should be light green in color and not blackish. Also the cap shouldn’t have brown residue inside. This means engine damage and one which is expensive to replace. The other lookouts should be any loose wiring or pipes inside the engine bay. There shouldn’t be any burning smell from inside the engine bay.
There was a Honda Civic Hybrid launched in India with a 1.3 liter engine mated to an electric one. There wouldn’t be any such samples in the market as this is a collectors item. Buy one from Honda’s used car facility as this would give you peace of mind as these samples go through a 100 point check point and carry Honda’s assurance policy for 6 months. Also visit First Choice mart’s as even they offer 6 months or upto 1 year free warranty. The fuel efficiency to expect from the used Honda Civic would be approximately 9.4 kmpl in the city and 14.0 kmpl on the highway. The 1.8 liter gives out 132 Bhp and loves to be revved. Regular maintenance may be on the costly side considering Honda’s high service standards. Spare parts would also be costlier than others in its class. Difference between the variants would be in some features. For a 2007 model Honda Civic, you are expected to pay about Rs.8,500,00 for the manual version and about a lakh more for the automatic version. This signals Honda high resale value and one can be rest assured that there wouldn’t be much of a depreciation if one intends to sell the car after 2-3 years.
Honda Civic Models
Honda Civic 1.8 S MT: This is the base variant and comes with some basic features like airconditioner, power windows and split seats.
Honda Civic 1.8 V MT: It offers additional features than the base variant and those are Cruise Control, Out Door Mirrors with Turn Indicator, Leather Upholstery, Front Fog Lamps, Chrome Door Trims, Chrome Finished Outside Door Handles, etc.
Honda Civic 1.8 V AT: Other than the features of the 1.8 V MT, the only difference is the presence of automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
Honda Civic 1.8 V Elegance: This package offers Illuminated Side Step Garnish, rear door sunshade and Door Visior.
Honda Civic 1.8 S Elegance: All the features of the Elegance trim plus front fog lamps.
Honda Civic 1.8 V Inspire: This package offers Front Under Spoiler, Rear Under Spoiler Trunk Spoiler and Side Under Spoiler.
Honda Civic 1.8 S Inspire: The only addition to this is the front fog lamps in lieu of the features of the V Inspire package.
Technical Specifications Of Honda Civic 1.8
Engine Type: In-Line Engine
Engine Description: 1799 cc i-VTEC petrol
No. of Cylinders: 4
Maximum Power: 132 Bhp @ 6,300 rpm
Maximum Torque: 150 Nm @ 4,300 rpm
Valves Per Cylinder: 4
Valve Configuration: DOHC
Fuel Supply System: Programmed Fuel Injection or PGM-FI
Bore x Stroke: 82 x 86.3 mm
Compression Ratio: 10.6:1
Transmission and gearbox: 5 Speed Manual or 5 speed automatic with paddle shifters
Drive Type: FWD
Rear Suspension: Double Wishbone, Coil spring and Torsion Bar
Front Suspension: McPherson Strut, Coil Spring and Torsion Bar
Steering details: Electronic Power Assisted Rack & Pinion, collapsible
Turning Radius (wheel base): 5.6 m
Rear Brake Type: Solid Disc
Front Brake Type: Ventilated Disc
Top Speed: 208 kmph
Acceleration (0-100 kmph): 9.3 seconds
Mileage-City (kmpl): 9.6
Mileage-Highway (kmpl): 14.8
Fuel Tank Capacity (litres): 55
Emission Norm Compliance: Bharat Stage III
Tyre Type: Tubeless Radial Tyre
Tyre Size: 195/65 R15
Wheel Size: 15 x 6J
Cargo Volume: 405 litres
No of Doors: 4
Seating Capacity: 5
