Used 1997 Honda Civic Consumer Reviews
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300,000 mile club or higher
Thomas, 09/02/2018
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
Really reliable car mine has 270,000 miles on it and same transmission and engine and still runs good it's automatic one and was state trooper own for most of time
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Great Car
A honda owner, 03/18/2016
updated 09/21/2017
1997 Honda Civic DX 4dr Sedan
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
I bought this car almost 20 years ago and I can honestly say it was one of the best purchases I made. It has more than 150,000 miles on it and I changed the tires, battery, brakes, timing belt and front CV joints, but other than that had no major issues. Now my son, who learned to drive with this car, drives this car to and from college over an hours drive away, but so far it is still holding up well. Update Sept 2017: The outside is looking pretty worn but this car is still running good. Just took this car in for a smog test and and with almost 190,000 miles on it this car easily passed. In fact, it passed way below the minimum requirements needed to pass.
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Honda convert
HappyHondaOwner, 10/12/2009
1997 Honda Civic DX 2dr Coupe
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
I purchased this civic at 10 y/o (in 2007) with 145,000 miles. I replaced a Ford coupe, at first I was skeptical about the transition to Honda nameplate. Very easy and fun to adjust to the civic, easy to love. The car was very clean, good engine (evrything original). The only repairs needed so far: a radiator replacement (just over $100), brake service overhaul (ouch: $400), alternator replacement (about $100). Routine servicing has included a new set of tires ($245), new battery ($55) and the usual periodic oil changes (at around 5k miles; $23ea), and a autotrans flush ($85). I am currently clocked at 192k (happy) miles! Cant wait to break 200k I know it will...
Love Honda
syfy, 05/19/2010
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
I think buying a honda you will never go wrong. I bought mine in 1998 and trade it in 2005 just because i wanted something bigger living in the north. I wish I would have kept my civic ex
Best car I've ever owned, period.
NWTransplant, 05/30/2004
1997 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
I've had mine since 3,300 miles and couldn't be happier. No reliability issues whatsoever. Built like a fine Swiss watch. Follow the maintenance schedule according to the owner's manual (as I do) and the car reward you with amazingly trouble-free motoring. If deprived of my Civic, I would immediately seek another one just like it with no hesitation. It's like a premium motorcar in a smaller, less expensive package.
Great first car!
KY Civic, 03/12/2010
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I got this car for my 16th birthday three years ago with 88k miles, and nearly 30k miles later it's still running great. Had to have the axle replaced a while back, for a cost of $800, but that's really been the only problem I've had. Gas mileage is decent, but could be a little better. Acceleration can be a tad sluggish, but overall okay for a 4 cyl. Couldn't have asked for a better first car.
Great commuter car
theron, 04/09/2010
1997 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Besides looking like grandma's car, this is one dependable vehicle. No major problems in 13 years - new brakes, rotors, tires, 3 new mufflers, and 1 new tailpipe. My friends beg me to sell it to them for commuting. Avg 27 mpg. No sports car but re-li-a-ble. I've had 2 Chrysler vans since 03 for my wife and am about to find a 3rd. Switching to a Honda van due to the reliability of this car and the junk from Chrysler!
Honda Civic LX
CivicDriver, 08/04/2002
1997 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I think this car is a good deal because of it's low price. The engine is very rev happy and seems to ask for more. The gas mileage is wonderful. The car is well built and you know when you wake up in the morning the car will be waiting for you to start it up. The car is some what rommy and can fit 4 people nicely when there is 5 people it gets a little crowded. Another thing that could be better would be the accleration because you will need that extra pick up to merge on to the freeways. Besides that this is a great car and I have learned to love this little car.
Had my 1997 civic for 19 yrs, still running strong
Pam in Wisconsin, 11/02/2016
1997 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I love my 1997 Honda Civic! It has needed only routine maintenance, no problem with anything. There was a recall on some belts early on, Honda repaired everything at no cost to me. I have a five speed, manual transmission with 207,000 miles on it now and it runs great! I'm still using the original clutch and getting 41-43 mpg hwy, 36-38 mpg routine driving. Going to get a Civic EX sedan again!
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good ole reliable
Eric, 12/13/2005
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
What can I say about the civic. Light, nimble, with a quick feel. The only expenses other than fluids, filters, batteries, and tires was the timing belt at 90,000. The car runs effortlessly and still gets 37mpg combined. Honda did a great job making a very economical car sporty and fun. The only problem with mine is a slow passenger side window motor. Now the 2006 civic looks to do it all over again. Get in line to get the Si.
Awesome car
buckeyedrifter86, 03/21/2016
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
This was my first car. I bought it when I was 16 and kept for 9 years and simply needed a change. This is a car for anyone, be it your first car, a project car, or a commuter car. By no means was the car fast, but it took corners like it was on rails and it was very lively; especially compared to V6/V8 Toyota/Lexus that my parents own. My only grip was the placement of the cup holders. To access them, you would have to open a flap which in turn covered the slot to the CD/tape player. Great car to blast around a track and the best part was I still got solid gas mileage regardless of how aggressively I drove. Very easy/cheap to repair, own, and soup up. Very sad that Honda doesn't make their cars like this anymore.
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Excellent car
Driver, 05/14/2009
1997 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have been driving this car for 12 years and it's still performing with no problems. I've mostly kept up with the maintenance schedule, but not to the T. My goal is to drive it for 10 more years!
Best car for drivin around
best drive around, 12/10/2009
1997 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Got this car a while ago. Still please with it today with 247,000 miles and purr like a cat. I got a good deal with it and decide to use it as a work car since I live 30 miles from work. Guarantee u will never find a better car than this.
Follow up
2nd Timer to Honda, 01/14/2007
1997 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Follow up tp be to my earlier post, 12/28/06. Confirmed that this car has an ABS, another plus point. Came across an exhaust crack issue. That was fixed by the dealer, no charge. I came to know that Honda was aware of this issue and they have extended the warranty to 15 years or 150K for this issue. Please don't be fooled to pay dealer approximately $1000 for this repair. Fixed pulley in the engine and now this car is at a point that I don't need to do any repair. I like driving it. Yes, it would be nice to have a little more horsepower but overall I am happy with this car.
Amazing Car!!
DguyGp, 06/05/2008
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I received this car in early 08' and am extremely happy with it. Have added multiple after market performance parts to it recently. But even before that it ran incredibly for having 133,000+ miles on it. Excellent suspension and reliability! Gas never an issue, but i have dropped it with the addition of vtec motor. Clutch was first thing to go, but not a problem for a car of this age. Super clean and excellent body work. Over all, this was a great choice in car. Easily modified, a car to be proud of!
97' Honda Civic
aeriellele, 03/20/2013
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
5 of 9 people found this review helpful
I bought this car as my first car from a private seller for $1400 with 146K on it only 3 months ago. When I first bought it, it needed a new oil distributor and radiator. I replaced them both thinking I had gotten away with an awesome deal. Then one of my tires went flat, spent a pretty penny on that too. Shortly after, on a long trip to my favorite state park, the transmission gives out in the middle of the road when I was almost at my destination. I had invested too much money on repairing this car for it not to last and I would never buy it used again. For the short while it lasted though, gas mileage was AMAZING.
mpg's
jb, 04/11/2008
1997 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Now that gas is 3.50 my 2001 suburban that gets 11 mpg sits in the driveway I bought the 97 civic from a dealer with 178,000 on it after I week the MPG were 36/40 all the sudden it ran like crap went to the auto parts store and 65.00 later and 15 minutes it was tuned up. It runs perfect and when I checked the MPG I was shocked. 80 on the highway and city driving hard like it was a v8 90% city 10% on the highway my MPG were averaging 43 mpg (The suburban was costing me 120 a week in gas at 3.00/gal) I am so happy with it we bought my wife a 2002 civic and she loves it.
dissapointed
jg, 03/28/2009
1997 Honda Civic DX 4dr Sedan
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
After having this car I can not understand how everyone seems to love it. I bought the car with 46,000 miles on it and now have 93,000. The AC blower motor went out, I've replaced the radiator because it was leaking, it has an oil leak, I have had to replace the muffler, then I had a problem where my break lights wouldn't turn off causing the battery to die constantly. The AC is broken AGAIN, the windshield wipers broke and now will turn on if I go over any kind of bump. There are numerous rattles and shakes. The interior is low quality. I will be so happy when I get rid of the car. I wish it was as reliable as everyone else says they are.
My First and only
beavetm, 09/08/2004
1997 Honda Civic DX 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have driving my car for over seven years and have only had it in the shop for a major repair one time. I must say that this car has got me through high school, college and beyond. It is a wonderful first car for young drivers because it looks sharp and is relatively inexpensive. I will never buy another car except a Honda in the future, but I plan to keep my Civic forever.
One Major Problem, Otherwise Great
Bill, 04/26/2005
1997 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This has been a great car. I bought it new and drive less than 10,000 miles per year. I have had a major problem with the exhaust system. I have had to have the exhaust pipe replaced twice and the muffler replaced once. I just had the pipe replaced 4000 miles ago and its beginning to rattle again. The mechanic says that short trips tend to do this to an exhaust (condensation does not have a chance to evaporate and rots the pipes) but I don't know. One minor problem is that the window fell off track and had to be replaced. Overall the car is great, and I have had no engine problems at all.
This car is honestly my best friend.
Trish Gibson, 07/21/2021
1997 Honda Civic DX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My 1997 Honda Civic has kept me safe for almost 25 years. "Sparky" (that's his name) fits me like the perfect glove and allows me full 360 view around my car with his large windows and hardly any blind spots. Not like the cars made today. He is approaching old age with 195k miles but still runs better than most of the crap out there. I know one day I will have to part with my best friend (and there will be tears) but he has been reliable, affordable, a comfort and a joy. I recommend the Honda brand with a full urging heart. There is no better car out there. These cars will keep you safe, safer than those cars with airbags creating blind spots and impeding your vision. Safer than the cars that drive FOR you. The Honda drives WITH YOU. (I'm going to copyright that!)
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A little red dream
Joe, 04/01/2005
1997 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My little red civic hatchback (3 door) is a dream to own. with oil changes every 3000 miles, it has run like new since the day i got it. i haven't had any problems with it what so ever. If you are looking for a reliable and stylish used car, this is the one to go with. it won't let you down.
Reliable, simple, no frills
piercejs4, 12/22/2012
1997 Honda Civic DX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My car now has 165000 miles on it without having any major difficulties. The car has never left me stranded.
The perfect car!
CivicFlyer, 04/02/2009
1997 Honda Civic DX 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've had my 97 Civic since 2000 and as long as I keep it tuned up it is getting 40 MPG plus. That is with an hour commute with speeds up to 85 mph. The dealership offered a free warranty tune up once a year. I just had all the bodywork done and a high end paint 2004 Subaru Garnet Black (white and red pearl on black). With a Cold Air Pack you get that piece of junk 70s Honda motorcycle sound (+mpg). I got cool wheels, chrome exhaust tip, mirror tinted back windows... chicks dig it. It looks very similar to a picture I see on the edmunds.com 1997 Honda Civic Styles page. I have run alcohol and hydrogen through it with no problems at all. Very low maintenance and very good power for an economy.
best car ever
mackel, 03/05/2002
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
this car drives perfectly and is a joy on every commute
Greatness
bcw04, 08/07/2004
1997 Honda Civic DX 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
wow this car is great
1997 CIVIC EX
Peter Tancula, 03/03/2004
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My 1997 Civic ex has 124,000 miles on it and the engine stil runs like new; ). I never had problems with it, NEVER. Great car.
daughter's first car
djm, 06/15/2004
1997 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I'd seen this car in the neighborhood. My wife and daughter were looking for Jeeps. This car went on the market in the morning and I knew this was the perfect car. Reliable and low maintenance. Fun but practical. I think I'll drive it around town for the economy
Still the best...
EX-G, 01/09/2009
1997 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car in 2001 @56K. I did 200K since then, had an accident and the car still runs with no problem. My next car will be a Honda Civic as it packs quality and reliability in one package. Go Civic!
A decent car
The Dude, 01/27/2010
1997 Honda Civic DX 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Not a bad little car. My commute is 100 mi/day, and I bought it for commuting and hauling. I'm familiar with Hondas, so when the 5-spd failed I wasn't surprised. Gets 40-43 MPG consistently. Like the hatch and fold-down seats to haul ladders, furniture, trees, tools, wood, etc. There's a lot of cheapness inside, but not the hollow cheap you get with GM or Ford. Handling isn't great, but not terrible. I don't know why ppl race these so much when it's only a commuter at best.
Best car I've ever owned
MaeMcDonald, 09/24/2003
1997 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is an excellent car, and a great value. I haven't had a SINGLE problem with this car. Granted, I am very good at keeping the regular maintenance schedule.
Love my Civic
Jake, 10/12/2005
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've had my Civic for 8 years now, and I love it - I even bought my wife an Accord after such a great experience with Honda so far. It feels very stable on the highway, but is manueverable and fun when you downshift and take it around curvy country roads. Great long trip car - I've had it get 40 mpg before on a flat highway, no A/C on, going through a whole tank of gas at a time. Otherwise, it averages about 32-34 mpg in normal commuting. Great car, great company - my next car will have 4 doors though - I didn't really care at the time (college) but now I need 'em (baby).
1997 Civic 4 Dr. Manual trans
alex89, 01/26/2009
1997 Honda Civic DX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car was my first one and the one I learned to drive on. Even though I bought it when it was 9 years old and had 140,000 miles on it, it worked great and held up even though I learned to drive manual on it, abused the clutch, and drove recklessly. The Honda Civic is a great car for a first time car buyer as it offers both great economy, inexpensive repairs, and a good driving experience.
I LOVE MY HONDA!
Jessica, 02/22/2010
1997 Honda Civic DX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have driven this car for 200,000 miles and still love it. This car has been reliable and efficient all the way! And so much fun to drive! None of the extra bells and whistles on the DX means nothing breaks. Solid car all around. Also handles very well in the snow, this car has never left me in a ditch even through years of nasty winters in upstate NY. I have had numerous exhaust pipes/mufflers put in, but that has been it other than the scheduled maintenance. I love my Honda and the fact that it was built in Ohio (how many of the so-called American cars can say that anymore?). Still has another 100K left in her! My 8 rating for comfort was due to the fact that the car doesn't have AC.
Amazing Car
guera1904, 05/18/2009
1997 Honda Civic DX 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car a little over two years with about 65k miles on it. I've driven this car HARD- I'm now at 110k (mostly highway miles but plenty of city driving as well) with no problems. My AC unit went out, but that's to be expected after 100k miles. I take great care of it, and the mechanics always tell me my car is in great shape mechanically. I wish it had more power on hills and a little more style, but the car is GREAT economically so I cant complain. I would recommend this car to anyone!
Dodee's 1997 Civic EX
dodee, 07/06/2002
1997 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The best car I've ever had (over 40 years of driving). NO problems. LOW maintenance.
Money well spent!
Steven D.., 02/20/2004
1997 Honda Civic HX 2dr Coupe
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have owned 2 new civic. The first civic lasted for 221,000 miles in 10 years. My second civic has 160,000 miles on it in 7 years and does not show any signs of slowing down. They are and were worth more to me than the sticker price I paid for them. Reliability is the best feature of the civic. They are not the fanciest vehicle out there but they cover every base very well for the everyday person or the traveling type.
The Civic
Mountain Man, 10/13/2005
1997 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have personally owned two Hondas (my family has owned many more) and this overall was a good car while I was going to college. It was recently totaled, and as I looked to buy another Honda I was disillusioned with how much people are asking for their used Hondas. Give me a break! They are good cars, but not gold bricks on wheels! I had some problems with my car, so they are not impervious to damage and are not maitenance free. I think too much of a mystique has been built around Honda reliability to the point of being ridiculous! This is evidenced in how much people were asking for their Hondas with obvious blemishes. I ended up buying a luxury car for less.
Does not live up to its name
slowcar, 06/25/2010
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
1 of 4 people found this review helpful
I purchased this Honda to replace my Turbo Eclipse because i needed a daily driver car for my commute to Nashville. Car has been riddled with problems. 139k transmission went out, spark plugs were seized in head. Now my electrical system is malfunctioning. The headlights Dim i am throwing codes for oxygen sensor, speed sensor, and ELD. cannot figure out what is wrong with it. I will never buy a Honda again, i must have been one of the few that purchased a true lemon. i have had the car for 6 months drove it 6000 miles and have had to invest 3500 on top of the 3000 cost. Horrible design why did i get such a lemon?
Fun car
got frank?, 07/12/2002
1997 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have fallen in love with this car. I put a lot of stuff additionally to this car because I love it so much. Now it has HID headlights and green parking headlights, a talking alarm system, mesh grill for the front, radar detector, 4 inch exhaust, tinted windows, etc.... i'm still planning to add more things. Well, it's a 1997 Honda Civic LX, Automatic transmission. I wish it was a manual, but I can still drive it somewhat like a manual (if you know how). Lovely car, reliable, nice-looking. I wish it had more horsepower and torque on the engine.
Great little car!
oregon girl, 08/03/2009
1997 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Very reliable little car! Excellent gas mileage, too. Oh, and it's cute! We love it.
little white cloud
mary, 07/19/2002
1997 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The only problem is highway noise and ride. If your tires are not new, and the car isn't aligned recently, it will shake at 75 mph. Of course we should all be driving this little white cloud, to save what is left of the environment.
97 honda civic
civic_racer, 05/16/2002
1997 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car from a family member and it was well taken care of. Fun to drive and "cruise" in. A good car for long trips or short drives. Extremely dependable. However, it needs to be because it is expensive to bring to a shop. Easy to modify and parts are everywhere. LOVE THE MOONROOF!
this has been a GREAT car
earmenta, 07/25/2002
1997 Honda Civic DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has been perfect for me. It is now going on 6 years old, and so far I have had absolutely NO PROBLEMS with it, not even minor ones! And I just passed 80,000 miles! Often times I will drive this car 1,000 miles in one weekend, and it's held up just fine and I never worry about it. If you want a dependable, low-maintenance car, get a Honda. They will last forever and are a great investment.
Solid Zippy Car
KLynn, 09/08/2002
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased this solid, zippy car when it was already 2 years old at a peak used car value! It hasn't disappointed me. Guests enjoy the roomy backseat. I like the space-making features in front for coins, maps, sunglasses, etc. Honda's modern exterior tricks some to think my car is new. However, my brother bought an identical '98 which has a few more ergonomic features worth considering. I am trading it in because *my* needs changed; I'm getting rid of the 2- door, 5-speed. But the value has remained. It will be a perfect twice- used car for someone else!
Very Good Car
punt, 06/13/2002
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a great car. I have run this car very hard and it keeps on going and going and going. I have had no problems at all in 5 years.
Simply the best in its class
superBBQ, 09/14/2002
1997 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Honda Civic is simply the best car in its class. Super reliable, low maintenance, awesome gas milages and very stylish look. You can do so much to upgrade this baby!
Very Reliable!
Honda Lover, 04/29/2002
1997 Honda Civic EX 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I had one less thing to worry about! I never had any problems with the car; just it's average maintenance. It was very fun to modify - there are so many new things you can to do to personalize it. I am now a Civic enthusiast!
1997 Silver Honda Civic HX
Nathan Geib, 06/13/2002
1997 Honda Civic HX 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have really enjoyed my 97 Civic HX. It is super reliable and is alot of fun to drive. Love going around corners at high speeds. Really holds the road with the double wishbone suspension. Engine very smooth and rev happy even with 140000 miles on the car. Reaches 74 mph in second gear at 7200 rpm before fuel cuts out. Doesn't use a lick of oil. I am amazed how Honda's last. My parents last one had a 236000 on it when they traded it in. I am sold on Honda.
Honda Hatchback is #1
JohnJay, 10/18/2002
1997 Honda Civic DX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I got this car and i have never had any problems with it. And I beat this car EVERYDAY :) Hiting 110+mph. This car gets good gas mileage and is very reliable. And there are so many aftermarkets parts for it. I am in to fixing up cars for racing and this car is idel for the tack because of it light body. And it is so easy to put in a bigger engine. :)