Owner Review: After Test Driving Lancer, 308, Altis, I Chose Honda Civic FD 1.8 SL

Basic information about my car

Honda Civic FD 1.8 SL

I bought this Civic FD 1.8 SL in 2010 after test driving a few other models which was around the same price range back then. This model is equipped with an i-VTEC SOHC 1.8 engine. It has a 5-speed automatic transmission. The car produces 140hp at 6300rpm and max torque is 174Nm at 4300rpm. As for the dimensions of the car, it is 4540mm long, 1435mm tall and 1755mm wide. Wheelbase is 2700mm and ground clearance of the car is 155mm. Its fuel tank has a capacity of 50 litres.

Reasons why I bought this car

Selecting the right care for myself

I had test driven Lancer GT, Peugeot 308 VTI and Corolla Altis 1.8 but in the end I decided to purchase this Civic 1.8 SL which was priced at RM120,000. Well, the reason was simple back then. All I wanted was a car looking good, driving well, with good reliability and was easy to maintain. What attracted me most was the two-tier instrument cluster which wasn’t available in any segments of the car as far as I can remember. Besides that, I felt that all the buttons in the car were within reach and as if it was telling me that I was in control. The moment I sat on the driver seat, the ‘cockpit’ styled instrument cluster made me feel like I was in a spaceship. The view from the driver seat gave me the impression that the car sat low on the ground as I couldn’t see the hood at all. This car has dark blue leather seats and hydrophobic side mirrors which is the same spec in the 2.0 model.

User Experience

• I have already done nearly 200,000 km

Without being noticed, time flies and it is the 10th year that I am owning this car. From being single to having a family now, this car has suited me well. I live about 15km from my workplace and have to travel daily using the NSE to reach KL. It provides good stability at high speed cruising and enough power to overtake other cars or even lorries and buses. Although it has enough power and is stable at high speed, sound insulation is not that great especially when it rains.

If I am driving alone, I feel comfortable in this car. But my wife tends to complain on and off that the ride is a little bumpy when she sits at the back seat during high speed. After all, the car’s suspension is on the stiffer side. At low speed, if the roads are smooth, the ride is alright but when it comes to potholes or uneven roads, the ride can be a bit jarring and too bumpy. Fuel economy is good as I travel high speed at highway and need to refill my fuel tank every 9 days. When it comes to turning sharp corners like the one at Genting or Bukit Tinggi, I would say that it grips on quite well and has less body roll when compared to Corolla Altis which feels a bit floaty (I have driven before).

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Enough Power for daily use
• Good reliability
• Stable at highspeed
• Can take some sharp corners

Cons

• Poor sound insulation
• Hard plasticky interior

Rating

Total Score: 4 (I am comparing to all the C segments and my affordability back in 2010)

Performance: 4

Quality & Features: 3

Space: 4

Ride Comfort: 3

Fuel Economy: 4

Price & Cost: 4

Summary

Well, after owning it for 10 years, I do not see myself trading this car away as I loves it so much for its reliability and driving experience. Worst case, I will pass this car to my wife as it is a good family car and just to get myself another ride. At the time of writing this short article, my car has clocked in close to 200,000km and about a month ago, I had done a major service which consisted of changing the wear and tear parts. Total cost was about RM 4,000. I would dare to say that it is a better choice to get this car from a second hand car dealer than owning a Myvi or a Saga, as long as you have prepared between RM 4,000 and RM 5,000 for the repair and parts changing.