2004 Honda Civic

Coupe

4 - Cyl.

Automatic

1HGEM22934L022937

Salvage

Gasoline

For your consideration, a 2004 Honda Civic EX Coupe in very nice condition. Like the Toyota Camry, this is a car that needs no introduction. Honda Civics are everywhere, and over the decades they've been in production, have built up a reputation as a very reliable, extremely high value, quality car. They've almost become a right of passage in that most of us will have at some point either owned one, or spent extensive time in a friend/family members Civic. According to Kellys Blue Book, the retail price for a car like this is between $8,500 and $10,000 (I tried to put a link here, but ebay wouldn't let me, but if you go have a look for yourself, you'll see it's true) There's some minor cosmetic damage on the right side of the vehicle, that wouldn't be too tough for someone mechanically inclined to get out. There's a little rash on the right front bumper cover. Anybody who's handy with compound and a buffer should be able to get that out. There's also a little crunchiness on the right rocker panel. Finally, a small dent in the upper right quarter panel. Any interested and serious parties, please call Doug at: (504) 383-4129 I bought this car for my girlfriend who works hospice in the Bronx and needs a vehicle to get around to her patients. She's currently taking public transportation, which is about 2 - 2 1/2 hours each way, and quite frankly, I'm worried about her on the street. Unfortunately, the process to get a salvage vehicle re-titled in New York is unreasonably onerous - it takes 2 months to get an inspection appointment, another 2 weeks to get the title, and the expensive fees associated push this car over budget. In Pennsylvania, it's much easier. It takes a couple days to get an appointment, the fees are a tiny fraction of what they cost in NY, and the car can be on the road the same day. For the right buyer, with the ability to repair it and get it back on the road, this is an opportunity to get a great car for a very good price. Pros Fuel economy Visibility Acceleration (Si) Handling (Si) Cons Rear-seat entry/exit (coupes, Si) Vehicle Highlights Revised styling and upgraded features mark 2004 for Honda's entry-level car. Civic offers three body styles: a 2-dr coupe in VP, HX, LX, and EX trim; a 4-dr sedan in VP, LX, EX, and Hybrid models; and a 2-dr hatchback as a sporty Si edition. All have a 4-cyl engine. The VP and LX have 115 hp, the HX has 117, the EX 127, and the Si 160. The Hybrid has 93 hp and uses an electric motor to assist its gas engine. The system recharges the motor's batteries when coasting or decelerating; there's no plug-in charging. Civics come with manual or automatic transmission. The automatic used in the HX and Hybrid is a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with, in effect, a near-infinite number of ratios. Front side airbags are standard in the Hybrid, optional elsewhere. ABS is standard for EXs, the Hybrid, and Si, and unavailable otherwise. The Si has a sport suspension and standard sunroof; for '04, 16-inch wheels replace 15s. All Civics get revised front and rear styling for '05. LX models get standard keyless entry and 15-inch wheels to replace 14s, EX models gain standard alloy wheels, and the Hybrid joins the LX and EX as the only models with a height-adjustable driver seat. ACCELERATION HX cpe, CVT LX sdn, auto EX sdn, auto. Hybrid, CVT Class Average 4 4 4 2 4 Adequately quick with slick-shifting manual transmission: 9.4 sec 0-60 mph for test EX coupe, about 8.0 for lively Si. Automatic blunts performance: 10.2 sec for test LX sedan, 10.0 for HX CVT. Test Hybrid clocked 11.6 sec 0-60 with manual transmission, but doesn't feel pokey except up long grades. Hybrid with CVT feels OK around town, but is slow in highway merging, passing, and some testers detect slight driveline bog as system kicks in to recharge batteries. Ever-smooth CVT keeps HX, Hybrid powertrains working with impressive efficiency. Conventional automatic transmission fairly smooth but sometimes hesitates before downshifting. FUEL ECONOMY HX cpe, CVT LX sdn, auto EX sdn, auto. Hybrid, CVT Class Average 7 7 7 9 6.6 Two extended-use-test automatic-transmission EX sedans averaged 30.5 mpg combined over 15,453 total mi. Test EX sedans averaged 32.5 with manual transmission, 30.6 with automatic. In tests that included gas-eating performance runs, manual-transmission EX coupes averaged 26.5-30.4 mpg, automatic-transmission LX sedan 26.8, and CVT HX 28.9. Extended-use-test Hybrid with CVT averaging 41.5 mpg over its first 2607 mi. With fewer highway miles, other test CVT Hybrids averaged 31.8-39.3 mpg. Manual-transmission version averaged 47.6. Honda recommends regular fuel for all Civics. RIDE QUALITY HX cpe, CVT LX sdn, auto EX sdn, auto. Hybrid, CVT Class Average 5 5 5 5 4.4 All Civics ride better than the subcompact norm. Still, some bumps register through suspension and steering, and Si fidgets on rough freeways, though not uncomfortably so. Float over large humps and dips at higher speeds absent in Si, evident in Hybrids, EXs, fairly pronounced in other models. STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING HX cpe, CVT LX sdn, auto EX sdn, auto. Hybrid, CVT Class Average 5 6 6 6 5.3 Si the most agile, but all Civics are sure-footed. Still, cornering lean sets in fairly early, steering is slightly numb and overlight, and most models wander a bit on road grooves and in gusty crosswinds. Routine braking quite good, but test LX sedan without ABS showed mediocre control and longer-than-average distances in simulated panic stops. ABS provides surer stops, but Honda shouldn't limit it to top-end models. QUIETNESS HX cpe, CVT LX sdn, auto EX sdn, auto. Hybrid, CVT Class Average 5 5 5 5 4 Refined for small cars, but a step behind Volkswagen Jetta. Main problems are road noise and engine boom at higher rpm, both somewhat more evident in Si. CONTROLS HX cpe, CVT LX sdn, auto EX sdn, auto. Hybrid, CVT Class Average 7 7 7 7 5.6 Simple, well-arranged dashboards. Large, clear instrumentation. Si shift lever sprouts from dashboard instead of console, but is still easy to work. Hybrid includes readouts for battery charge, electric-motor operation, and fuel consumption. All have laudable ergonomics--though driver must stretch slightly to reach climate-system controls. Interiors exhibit solid workmanship, though cabin materials not up to Jetta's class-leading quality. Windows on test LX sedan made a mild scraping sound when operated, and one EX coupe had annoying rattle in driver-side door. ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT) HX cpe, CVT LX sdn, auto EX sdn, auto. Hybrid, CVT Class Average 5 5 5 5 5.1 Sedans offer decent 6-footer room and easy entry/exit. Coupes and Si have a bit less head clearance and longer, more-awkward doors. Seats nothing special, nor is over-the-shoulder visibility. Si's sport buckets are comfortable and supportive, but model's seat/steering-wheel relationship not ideal for tall drivers. ROOM/COMFORT (REAR) HX cpe, CVT LX sdn, auto EX sdn, auto. Hybrid, CVT Class Average 3 4 4 4 3.9 Adults have adequate head room in Civic sedans. Flat rear floor helps, but leg space still tight with a front seat set well back. Coupes and Si are more confining and require crouch-and-crawl entry/exit. CARGO ROOM HX cpe, CVT LX sdn, auto EX sdn, auto. Hybrid, CVT Class Average 3 3 3 3 3.9 Coupes, sedans have spacious trunks for exterior size, but trunklid hinges steal space and apertures won't swallow really bulky cargo. Hybrid's battery pack mounts ahead of trunk, reduces volume by 2.8 cu ft, and eliminates split folding seatback. Si offers hatchback versatility with easy-folding 60/40 split rear seat, plus ample interior storage. VALUE WITHIN CLASS HX cpe, CVT LX sdn, auto EX sdn, auto. Hybrid, CVT Class Average 7 10 10 8 5.6 Despite test-car glitches and worrisome non-ABS braking, Civic is a clear Best Buy. It's an unmatched blend of small-car comfort, refinement, and fuel thrift, plus great resale and reliability records. The Si adds extra sportiness and utility to the mix. The Hybrid delivers great fuel economy with minimal effect on performance, all in a conventional Civic package. Still, it's likely to take a couple of years to pay back in fuel savings the higher initial list price of the Civic Hybrid--even with the federal tax deduction allowed for hybrid-vehicle purchases. Total Score HX cpe, CVT LX sdn, auto EX sdn, auto. Hybrid, CVT Class Average 51 56 56 54 48.4 Total Score: 54 Scores for all Compact Cars Low Score 34 Average Score 48 High Score 64