Used 1998 Honda Civic Coupe Consumer Reviews
The little honda that could...
I bought my '98 ex 5 speed manual in 2006 with 69k miles on it for $5000. When this car finally reached the end of its useful value in 2013 it had 397,000 miles on it and still started and ran no problem rain, snow, or sun. With snow tires on it I could get through anything, and I even took it in the muddy fields and off road, and drove it like a race car, engine next to redline, on pavement and dirt a few times. As long as you do regular maintenance, especially change the timing belt, spark plugs, and distributor cap; and adjust the valves when recommended this engine will outlive you. Two major problems-the door lock assembly on the driver's side broke, and there was no way to open the door, so I had to cut it open with a torch to replace it; and the ignition coil inside the distributor burned out and left me stranded once. Other than that, just routine stuff you expect with a car that old-radiator replacement, timing sprockets and oil/water pump replacements....but the alternator, a/c system, power steering, struts, 3/4 ball joints, and rear brakes were original and working properly within specification when I retired it. Overall a fantastic car that won't give up on you, and trust me, mine got driven and abused.
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Best car I have ever owned
I bought my 1998 Civic brand new for $13,300 and after almost 20 years and 194,000 miles she is still chugging along. I still drive this car everyday because every time I turn the key it starts. I am scared to buy a new car because I don't want to be let down. My 98 Civic is the most reliable thing in my life. It has out lasted lawn mowers, dishwashers, refrigerators... It is not flashy, it is not fast off the line, it does not have all the electronics that are in today's cars, but it is incredibly fuel efficient, practical, and perfectly simple. I love this car.
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Love My Honda XD
I love my little red Honda! It currently has 199,602 miles on it, I have had it for about 3 years now and I have never had a car that has has this much fuel economy and power and still runs like new at 200k miles! I have done some minor modifications on this car, and now have about 55+mpg highway and about 45+city. All I did was put in performance spark plugs, wires and distributor, run full synthetic oil, and cold air intake with a k&n Filter (It cost me all of about 100 bucks)! I was always sceptical of 'Ricers' (this car was a gift from my fiance) and I WILL NEVER GO BACK!!! I love my Honda :) It has been nothing but an exceptional vehicle, I am planning on making it last to 400k miles..
Great Car
My sister bought it a few years old with very low miles and I picked it up off of her 7 years ago with 100K. Its still going strong at 201K with regular 3k oil changes. This is a northeast car where it battles large blizzards, oppressive heat and salt. Here's what has failed and replaced in the last 100k...it was pretty much flawless for the first 100k. I beat on it a bit, lol. Exhaust system (still has orig manifold), distributor cap, radiator, rear swing arm, front brakes a few times, rear brake line, drivers side power window motor, headliner issues, few sets of tires, relay issue with blinker, rear 02 sensor, clearcoat starting to peel. Otherwise it's a great car...
Great Economy for the Price!
I personally have owned about 5 cars and this is easily one of the more practical purchases I have made in car buying. I bought a 1998 Honda Civic Ex Coupe about half a year ago in 2017. When purchased it had over 250,000 miles on the odometer. I have put about 5,000 miles on the car and very few repairs. The only thing I have done outside of any expected maintenance at purchase or routine work is the starter. After reading other reviews this is about the only major mechanical issue in these cars and I attest to that. I love the ease of driving and the amazing gas mileage. When I drive it easy and don't throw my foot into it i can get upwards of 30 miles per gallon. Although I also feel the need to point out that when I do throw foot into it, the car takes it and goes. I have owned much faster cars, but this one will still do what you need it to. Just change the oil and keep going. It isn't anything fancy, but it gets the job done well. I'm glad i made this practical purchase and if able I will definitely buy another Civic in the future.
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1998 Honda Civic EX Coupe
This car doesn't seem to handle well in the rain regardless of the new tires it has that are made for wet roads. I'm quite shocked considering this is my fourth civic, but after 4 years with it, I'm ready for a change. I find it too small and not a good choice for someone that will have more than one passenger in their car at a time (other than children or short people) as there isn't much leg room in the back.
This car is the bombbbbbb!!!!!!
I've had this 98 hx all over a year now & it has been an awesome car..And of course I've did a lot of up grade( it's a Honda).. but it's all ways up for a road trip, I purchased the car with 125,xxx I'm @154,xxx and I've decided to rebuild the bottom end with high compression pistons to go with my comp-cam.. my house should end up @170-180hp by the end;which is the same hp as a Acura Integra Ls motor( which is a dohc) pretty good for a sohc...
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Loved My Little Car
Bought my car at 90k miles, sold at 115k after owning a couple years. Never had a problem with it, sold it for $200 more than I bought it for. Took it down the Alaska-Canadian Highway, no problem (though it is very small and the seats are not the most comfortable in the world). Calculated out 47mpg on some of these road trip stretches. I had the manual, and really liked the fine, smooth way it shifted. It was a very fun, responsive, maneuverable little car. I don't have kids, so the coupe was perfect for me and my dog. I'm also in the shorter/smaller/younger range, so getting in and out was no problem. That said, my husband with his back/hip problems disliked riding in it, and my 50 yo father climbed in and out of it once and said that was it for him, no more, my car was going to give him a hernia. To be fair, if you park it at a curb, you'll actually be climbing UP out of it. Also, it should be noted that it's not the best/steadiest on snow and ice (probably because of its short/narrow wheel base and light weight), though I drove it two winters in AK and never wound up in a snow bank. If you want to zip from place to place and do so reliably and efficiently, I highly recommend this car. Watch who you're buying it from, though. Mine was all OEM, and I know most of them out there have been modified (unless that's what you're into).
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The Best Little Honda ever
I ran my little red 98 Honda civic dx into the ground. I was hoping it would last me until I graduated college but after almost 9 years it's time had come...a piston broke in the engine which would have been twice as much as the car. She had a long run. She went through 5 break ins, 5 stolen radios, 2 mufflers and exhaust systems, 2 windshield replacements, 2 window cranks, 2 sideview mirrors, a starter, sparkplugs and 4 accidents one being with a 10-point buck at 70 mph. Although she shook when I got her to 80, she rode right along at 120. Although the interior and exterior wasn't anything fancy, she ran long and hard through thick and thin. RIP little Honda...best car ever.
Love My Car
I got my car over three years ago and it runs great. I have had to only fix minor things and thats usually my fault. I had to replace a door handle from a bad storm a few years ago (I just kept pulling). My car is great its fast, cute and great with gas. I am only getting rid of my car to get a 4 wheel drive SUV also going to be a Honda. I changed my family from Chevy lovers to Honda with my car.
Dependable/Reliable Car
I bought this car new in April 1998. I've owned this car for almost 14 years. I get regular oil changes. The car now has > 208,000 miles and it still runs great. It still has the original clutch and usually gets 35 mpg and have gotten over 38 mpg at times. I've had to replace the battery twice, front brakes once & muffler once. I will be needing new brake pads on the front and rear soon though. Last year the driver side window got off track and had to be taken apart to fix. The radio volume adjuster doesn't work right. The roof interior where the moonroof is worn. There are some usual exterior flaws. All in all, I've definitely got my money worth. Hoping to get this good with next vehicle.
200k and still strong!
I am a Honda Fan! My '98 Civic has over 200,000 and is still going strong (this is my 2nd, the first was a 1990 with 109K). She's had a few problems, but who hasn't? The A/C system was replaced when she was 7. I had to replace the odometer cable. When she was 10, the radiator and ignition coil was replaced. Understandable at her age. Overall, she has been a wonderful little car. Fairly zippy, she's not a Porsche, but she gets me onto the freeway with no problems. The interior is completely intact, nothing broken or fallen apart. In the last year (she's now 12) the dash lights for the air system have faded...haven't asked the dealer about it. I give the Honda a 10 star rating.
Toyota Man Now a Honda Man!
I bought my car with somewhere around 158,000 miles on it. I have had the car for 20 months and it has run like a champ since I have had it. I know these cars run a long time so I decided to take the plunge and redo a whole new suspension system on the car for over 1000+$. Also, I am even considering having it repainted because, again, I know that historically speaking, it should run for a long time and will be worth the investment. Since I have owned the car, I have only had one issue with the car which was a couple days where it was over heating. The only reason it was over heating was because the coolant was bone dry. This was my fault though for neglecting this, cost me 10$ for coolant
Great Gas Mileage... most of the time
Decent car, decent ride, decent handling, off the line pickup isn't that great with the automatic, but passing power is decent. Only con so far would be: any time the gas tank has fewer than 3 gallons in it, its nearly impossible to start, the dealer can't seem to find anything wrong with it, nor have they been able to duplicate the problem (always how those things go) Also, the dealership was a ripoff for trade-ins, and are a pain to work with in general.
1998 Civic EX 5spd
I've owned this car for almost six years it's got over 120,000 miles and still runs like new. I have never done anything to the engine or transmission, just regular oil change every 3K miles and a maintenance timing belt and water pump at 90K. Air filter and brakes when required. I'm getting 33mpg. It's a very reliable car.
Still Going Strong
I wrote a review on this car back in March 2008 after I purchased. I currently have 102,000 miles and this car is still cranking out the miles. Since last August(95,000 miles or so) I had a front passenger axle replaced due to CV boot/joint failure; AC system serviced; brake system serviced (but no new pads/rotors needed!); over the axle pipe on the exhaust replaced; new spark plugs and my oil pan gasket was leaking. All this totaled about $800 parts/labor at my indy mechanic. I may have a front crank seal leaking and the clutch is going, but we'll see. It burns no oil and has yet to leave me stranded. Started every time this past winter in frigid outside temps. Fantastic little car.
This is what most of U.S. should drive
Bought new in 1998. 5 speed EX 2-door model. 146,000 miles. Have replaced the battery once, tires twice, and timing belt and water pump at 105,000 miles. No other costs other than oil changes. Car has averaged 37 mpg overall to date. 100% reliable. A few door dings from the parking lot. Interior looks like new. Foreign oil dependency would be much lower if more of us drove these.
Go Turbo!
This is my first car and it's still alive and running like a champ although it's no ordinary Honda, i use to complain everyone has one but i now see why they are super reliable and not only that the customizations you can do are endless. I recently sold my old motor with 180k+ miles and still got a lot for it, i decided to replace the old one for added performance along i bought a turbo kit with all the goodies, custom paint job, rims and tires, hid lights/chrome headlights and tail lights, exhaust, short shifter, bodykit, coil overs, carbon fiber hood, and much more its show ready!
Another Great Honda
I bought this car new because of the fuel economy & the fact that it was a Honda (my 8th). The first few years I was in sales & on the road all the time, I cruised @ about 85mph & got 37-38 mpg. Currently my wife commutes in this car 4 miles ea. way, in town & gets 32 mpg. Last week we drove 4 hrs (to Sea World & back) @70 mph & got 39 mpg. Other than normal maintenance I have only had to replace the 'B' pipe & the blower fan. The A/C is good (Florida), the manual trans is flawless. There can be road noise if your tires become unevenly worn. Currently the car has 165K mile & is still a great car. If you can find one, buy it!
Excellent car!
I've had my Honda for 7 years, and it has been the most reliable car I could ask for. I've gotten in 2 significant car accidents, and after getting the body repaired, it still runs great. Rattles a little bit now, but that's expected for how old it is. GREAT gas mileage. Have had to repair absolutely NOTHING, and it now has 150k miles. Very, very reliable. Would recommend to anyone.
Love my lil 4 banger
I bought this car in 1998. Was my first new car. I was into the fast and furious concepts of things. The only mod I still have left on the car is air intake and the exhuast tip. I have gone through 1 window mash attempt to steal the car. They didnt steal at that time. On the side nice big scrape on the passenger door which I never fixed. Then the car was stolen and took my nice after market system with sub and amps. To say the least I was bummed. They found the car 3 days later. I had my insurace restore the car to stock has I bought brand new. I can say I have repalced several things over the pass 14 years with 145,000 miles on it ans still running great.
1998 Honda Civic
I have not been very happy with this car. From the paint peeling to the door handles breaking and wiper motors not working. Now at 155k, a deep knock in the engine (most likely a rod) I'm done with Honda!
Love my Honda
This is my first Honda and I love it. It is so dependable. I live in upstate NY and drove home this year on Christmas Day- anyone living anywhere near this area remembers how many feet of snow we had! It is reliable, in excellent mechanical and physical condition and I would love to keep it forever!
Couldn't be more happy
I bought this car new in 98. I have NEVER had a single problem with it. I've kept up with the regular maintenance and it runs great! I have never had a worry about it failing on me. I've driven it accross country many times. I am sold on Hondas forever!
MY CUTE CAR
I love my honda civic, its cute and fun to drive. VERY RELIABLE!!! I have never had to put any money into fixing anything, only the 70,000 mile tune up- $300. The interior of the car is great,nothing rattles and nothing is loose. Gets great gas mileage. Not much speed, or much room in the back seat, but that's ok.. My ONLY complaint is the exterior of the car dents VERY easily. You could take your finger and slightly push on it and it dents. When I first got my car there were no dents just a few, barley visible paint chips on one side. Now I have numerous dents, small but still frustrating to have. Overall a great car
Buy smart, get a Honda, Toyota or Nissan
My parents have always owned American cars, so I thought they were the best. Afer researching, however, I decided to get my Civic. Over 100,000 miles and no problems yet. Fun to drive, the best reliability. Overall quality much better than any Ford or Chevy.
Buy This Car!!
I sold my Civic for more cargo room but miss it so much! This was a great car! Excellent gas mileage and incredible reliability, especially for a traveling college student. It NEVER gave me ONE problem. And my fuel indicator would be on "full" for days!! I could always count on this car. Very fun to drive. Honda knows what they're doing! I'll never stray again! BUY THIS CAR! You won't be disappointed!
Honda Civic (Exceptional vehical)
I've bought a Honda Civic Ex. 2dr coupe, manual trans. A little over two years ago. Even though the car was not in my posession for very long I am very pleased with its preformance as well as its reliablitly. The Civic is a common car which means upgrades/replacements and aftermarket tuning parts can be found any where and fairly cheap. It has an elegant design Both inside and out. However the performance of the viehical is fair. It sometimes can feel very slugish up large hills or with a full car load of people. Steering and handling however is exceptionaly better than other vehicals in made in 98. Overall Its a sporty fuel effecient car that is very fun to drive. Perfect for a first car!
Better than I expected.
Have 92K+ on this car, and 7 years, and still have one of the most fuel efficient cars on the market. Always reliable. Friends who borrow it love its "kick" -- me too. I just don't have a reason to sell it until its an absolute heap! More stylin' cars can't beat its advantages.
Most Reliable Car Ever Made!!!
I bought my 1998 Honda Civic HX brand new and have been driving it ever since. I have taken moderate care of it over the years and it doesn't matter. It just keeps going strong. Honda must have made these cars for people like me who wait a few extra thousand miles to change their oil and rarely look under the hood. I call my Honda "The Mule" because you can beat the hell out of it and it will get you to work the next day no matter what. Never had a problem and will surely buy a Honda the next time around.
Civic Buyer
My 1998 Honda Civic has never let me down. it is dependable, reliable, and is very fun to drive. though the torque is not the best out of all cars, this car has always been there! its great styling and top of the line performance has stunned me.
Fun
Despite the lack of power this car is still fun to drive. The sound of the engine as well as the acceleration when VTEC kicks in accentuate the fun feeling. Under hard driving, though, the car has no power to get up and go if you lose any traction or shift at the wrong time. The interior is plain and simple with no rattling parts. The exterior looks very nice and sporty but it dents and the paint chips off easily. The suspension is rather loose but very smooth and I feel in control the whole time. Road noise is minimal and the stock tires grip incredibly well. The fuel economy is great as well as the reliability. 85,000 miles on it and it still looks and feels like new.
My Sweet Honda
This is the only car I have ever owned, and until I can save up to buy a new one with cash, it will be. This car had 72 miles on it when I got it 11 years ago, and has 236,000 today. Other than replacing the exhaust manifold and the blower motor on the air conditioner,it has only required regular maintenance. It gets good gas mileage, around 350 miles a tank. It is super reliable, and I don't think that I will ever love a car as much. If it breaks down tomorrow, it has been an excellent car!
awesome little car
I bought my 98 civic in 2000 and have never had a problem with it. I commuted over 100 miles on most days to go from home to college to work and then back home. Never one problem. It got great gas milage, a big plus for me. It even did good in the snow, especially with studded snow tires. Even though my car has nearly 100K on it, it's still going strong. My family buys only Hondas and have never had problems with any of them.
I dig my HX
I'm the proud 2nd owner of a manual HX, and, overall, I've been very satisfied with the car. With about 65,000 miles on it, this car sees mostly urban roads (especially the Capital Beltway), and is mainly used for shorts trips and commutes. This daily wear and tear has started to affect the starter and clutch a little bit (which hesitate or slip occasionally), but the car is still very reliable. I've only had one major issue with it: the muffler rusted and fell off at about 57,500 miles. Otherwise, she's running strong and still looks great. And, except for newer diesels or hybrids, you can't beat the MPG. Recommended for anyone shopping for the ideal commuter car.
Honda #1
This is the BEST vechicle I've owned. No problems. Runs better than a Timex. Great economy.
I love this car
I got this car right before the school year started and I love it. The interior is very well designed and I prefer the dash location for the power sunroof, though there are those that despise it. My auto does suffer from horribly slow upshifts, however, though it is still very fun to drive. The best thing about this car is the pelithora of aftermarket parts that can be utilized to make the car your own and increase performance. The only thing I would change about my car would be to throw out the auto a put a five-speed manuel in it. I have driven manuel versions and they are the best.
Don't let the size fool you.
I think the best part about my civic is that one rainy day i was joyriding and slid off the side of the road and went driver side door first into a tree at seventy mph. I walked away with only a cut on my lip from the sunroof collapsing on me. The car was totalled but when the insurance money came I went and bought the same car. and it has been great to me. The performance isn't the best but I can fix that.
Only nice at high speeds.
My 98 honda civic was the first new car I purchased. I have not been as satisfied I would have liked. The headliner (around the sunroof) started to squeak around 12,000 and needed 3 visits to the dealership before being fixed. The car has not started on two or three ocassions, according to the dealer the engine was flooded.Also now it is only 4 years old, has been very well maintaned and barely passes smog this year.
everyone should have this car!
I hear people with SUVs whining about their gas mileage, maintenance costs, and other stuff, and their jaw drops when I tell them I spend about $20 a week on gas! I bought this car in 10/03 w/ 53k miles and since then have driven the heck out of it. I now have 106k on it and have had no problems at all. I have done most of the big scheduled stuff on the car (spark plugs, timing belt, etc) and it runs like new! It also is a LOT cheaper to maintain than my wife's Liberty. My 6'3" stepfather is comfortable in the backseat. Drives smoother than any other compact I have ever ridden in! I love it!
First foreign car
Love it, love it, love it! I purchased my '98 Civic EX coupe in '97 and it's been the most reliable car I've ever owned. 55k and the only thing that I had replaced was a altenator, which they fixed promptly. My husband likes to drive it and fits comfortably in it (he's 6'4). We're thinking about having kids, so we might look into something a little bigger. But I just can't part with my Civic. We'll DEFINATLY stick with Honda, maybe we'll go to a 4dr or if I have it my way... an Accord. :)
Great Car!
First new car I have ever purchased. Grew up with Fords and Chevys and will never go back. This car has been trouble free. It is surprisingly comfortable and quiet for a small car. It is gets more than 35 mpg on the highway and is fun to drive. I only wish it had a liitle more low end torque.
Great Car for the Money
After 177,000 miles, The only repairs have been a new catalytic converter ($550) and an A/C compressor ($1300). This is a great car for a do-it-yourself mechanic. I now do 99% of the maintenance myself and I expect to keep this car until it reaches 300,000 miles. I bought it new in Jan. 1999. I haven't even had to replace a head light or signal light bulb. I get 36.5 MPG at highway speeds, even after 9 years of use. Around town I get 29 MPG. I wish that was higher.
best for your money
if u got 8gs its the best thing you will ever do
Short on dough? Civic's the way to go.
If it weren't for that darn school bus slamming into me, I'd still be driving my Civic today. What it lacks in low- end torque, it makes up for once the peppy VTEC kicks in. This car is affordable, reliable, & fun to drive. If you're on a budget, never fear. Look no further than the Civic EX . . . you won't regret it!
Last Honda I will Purchase
I know Honda has a reputation that precedes itself. That being said I must have purchased that one in a thousand defective vehicle. I have had nothing but problems with my car the past two years(check engine light constantly coming on) O2 sensors, transmission control unit ($2400). The engineers at Honda spent weeks helping service stations. When I tried to contact Honda for help with my problems I encountered the worst customer service I have ever experienced. Again my experience may buck the norm but it has been bad enough for me to catagorically state I will never again purchase a Honda. Cheers.
happy honda customer
I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 11/5/98. BRAND NEW. AS OF 10/28/04, I HAVE PUT APPROXIMATELY 126,000 ON IT. I PUT 33,000 CITY MILES ON IT WITH 2 DELIVERY JOBS IN THE FIRST YEAR. THROUGHOUT OWNERSHIP, THE CAR HAS: 1) SEEN BUFFALO NY WINTERS 2) BEEN USED TO DELIVER PIZZAS WITH & 3) HAS SEEN SEVERAL THRUWAY MILES COMMUTING TO COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THIS CAR HAS SEEN A LOT...AND KEEPS ON KICKING. INCREDIBLE RELIABILITY! HAS NEVER BURNED A DROP OF OIL. I ONLY AM GETTING RID OF IT CUZ I WANT TO GET A BIGGER CAR. THIS IS PARTICULARLY PERFECT FOR A STUDENT. GOOD ON GAS..34CITY/42HIGHWAY
Can't Go Wrong...
I bought a 1994 Honda Civic in 1999, but sold it to upsize to a truck (2001 Toyota Prerunner). Recently, I sold the Prerunner due to its poor gas mileage. I'm a college student and commuting back and forth to school required me to fill my tank about twice a week, totally emptying my wallet. I decided to buy another Civic because I had no complaints with the first one; they are cute, reliable and efficent cars, and I will probably keep this car till it dies on me (or till I die, whichever comes first). I love my Civic!
Reliable Car
This was my first Honda purchase. I own a 98 Civic EX with Auto. I bought this one with 66k. Before this I drove old American-Made beater cars. I am now a Honda buyer for life. My civic is responsive but it certainly is not a sportscar. I wish I would have purchased the 5sp. The only maintenence I have done is a tune up at 70k, Catalytic converter/exhause at 85k, new tires and battery. It's now at 92K and it rides great, ready to go another 100K.
honda needs a truck
A vehicle with the ability to let you forget about the hood release and jus drive. Normal maintenance is as simple and minimal as any car since the model T and comfort is good even for my 6'4 frame.