Used 2004 Honda Civic Consumer Reviews
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What a car!?!
My 2004 Accord EX is without question the best car I have ever owned (am will likely own). In four years I have not had a single issue with it, both interior and exterior. Routine maintenance and a little TLC leave her running and looking great. An added bonus is the fantastic fuel efficiency now that gas is through the roof. On average, she gets close to 30 mpg. If you are considering buying a Honda, this particular model will serve you very, very well.
I Love my Civic
The wife and I bought a 2004 civic new, and love it. Fit and finish are excellent. Fuel economy is great I have averaged 37mpg (better than window sticker). I have put 58k on it in 18 months and only had to change the oil and buy a set of tires. This is the best car for the money. We bought it new for around 16K. Reliable and comfortable, and safe to, I was in two accidents and both times walked away fine (not fender benders were talking serous crumple zone work-6K in damage). The civic is a great commuter car.
- EX Sedan w/Side AirbagsMSRP: $5,99010 mi away
- LX SedanMSRP: $3,49520 mi away
- Hybrid SedanMSRP: $2,99527 mi away
2004 Civic Hybrid
Great auto for 100 mile r/t to work. Comfortable for 6'2, 230 lb guy. No repairs as of 35,000 miles, except for service. Handles good in wet conditons but poor in snow.
Good overall car
This is a follow up from my first review. I've had my car for 9 months. The gas mileage is wonderful - on a 2k round trip, I averaged 38-40mpg on the highway even through the mountains of TN! In FL, mpg's were closer to 45! Had a couple of service needs that I didn't quite expect so soon. O2 sensor at 63k & recently replaced the timing belt at 69k (but the car is 5 yrs old). Control arm bushings also need to be replaced. Mechanics said these are all typical for these Civics but overall they're still some of the best cars out there. I wish it had more power. But this is the car to take on a long road trip!
Total Reliability
A pleasure to drive. The definition of dependablity. Fantastic gas mileage. Remember people choose to buy cars w/ poor mileage & pay out the nose. Not me. It's a quick, cute car. I drive a flawless manual. I have bought one set of new tires and change the oil regularly. No maintenance problems to speak of despite hard driving and a lot of travel.
How can so many people buy this junk?
I really hate this car! Summer in Virginia is always hot, and this car has the worst AC I have seen in any of the car! Take >10 minutes to cool down even set at the maximum. I want to get rid of it ASAP!!!
Saves $$$ on Gas - But Crappy Car
The car is only good for its gas mileage. Otherwise it is a poorly manufactured vehicle. You have to crank the radio more than half way to hear anything since the car fails to block the road and engine noise. Speaking of engine noise, the engine is so loud even though the engine power is worse than my lawnmower. The car easily scratches internally and externally. The car is so compact and uncomfortable. Also, there is no door lock/unlock switch on the passenger side. What the hell was Honda thinking. It is common sense. It probably costs Honda only $2 to install that feature in the car. No space in the back seat.
Armrest console
The armrest hinge got stuck in the upright position and would not go down. The service dept at Honda found this normal. The part alone (the would cost $162, to say nothing of the labor ($100 plus). I think the armrest should last the life of the car. It was not abused in any way, it just died an untimely death. Everything plastic on the interior of this car has been feeble and junky.The interior lock for the trunk faces upward and is constantly full of sand. It has been replaced twice.The plastic covers for the seat back locks fell off long ago.The paint on the bumpers is all damaged and freckled. Perhaps this is a way for Honda to recoup the admittedly very low initial sales price.
Simply amazed!
A few years ago I would never buy a vehicle that was not an "American" automobile. When gasoline prices began rising early 2004, I was no longer as proud of my American gas-guzzling pickup truck. Though I still need it for my small ranch. Perfect for that! Anyway, the payment for my Civic was almost the same as the cost for the gasoline I was using in my truck for commuting to work. The amount I spend on gasoline now is almost the same as I was spending on my pickup 4 years ago. i am averaging 32- 35 mpg with 73,000 miles. I commute 100 miles total every day. I have had ZERO problems with my Civic!
Great Job Honda!
Overall, this car is everything that a budget minded consumer wants for under $15000. Small, ecomonical, and a no nonsense approach to functionality, wrapped up in a fun to drive, sporty car thats not embarrasing to drive around town in. If your looking for a car without all the frills that you dont need, but need features like a/c and cd player, this really is the car for you.
Love my Honda
I've had my Civic for 4 full years now and I've NEVER had any problems with it. The only time I've ever had to take it to the shop is to get an oil change. It's the most comfortable car you'll ride in - everything is designed conveniently and easy to use. I think the Civic has better mpg than a lot of hybrids. My payments were less than $200/month, and I just finished paying it off 2 months ago. It's the best car I've ever had and I plan on driving it for at least another 4-5 years.
When Honda Made Good Cars
I really liked this car... It was a good value for the money. The gas mileage was reasonable at 34 MPG highway. It felt solid to drive, but a bit underpowered. The interior was nice and quiet, and didn't rattle like my now 2012 Civic Coupe. I'm sorry I traded this car in...
My old chevy pickup runs better
I bought this car as a comuter back and forth from la to san francisco and am not pleased. I bought the car with 300 miles and now have nearly 92,000 miles on it. 85% highway. I was driving around napa valley and my steering started to make noise and wobble so i pulled over and found my steering knuckles came out at 5k. My radiator leaked at 15k, rear brakes failed at 25 and luckily tranny went right before warranty at 34,650. My gas mileage is good but reliability is flimsy, build quality is cheap. Ive replaced the axles twice since out of warranty, brakes once, stereo went twice and then decided to add new one.. Not impressed with honda product
Good little car
I bought this car used just for driving back and forth to work. The ride is so good, however, that my wife and I have also driven it on several trips. The ride on the highway is really good, and the mileage is excellent, 40 to 41 mpg cruising at 70 mph, with plenty of power left over. It also has lots of luggage space in back. Driving back and forth to work, I get 35 to 38 mpg. While this is not a race car(it wasn't designed to be one), it has plenty of power for everyday driving, and can keep up with everybody else, including on the interstate. It also is a nice quiet ride at any speed, and is sure footed, both on dry roads or snow.
So Far 92000 Miles and 0 Problems
I bought my 04 Civic VP new and no problems. Gas Mileage is better than advertised - I get about 42 mpg highway. Drive it 70 miles per day and has never let me down. All it needs is scheduled maint. This is the best car I have ever owned. My next car is probably going to be Honda Fit or the New Civic. This Civic won't need a tune up until 110K Miles.
2004 Honda Civic VP
Great car to drive and the new front grill has an awesome new look to it.
big expectations but what a disappointme
one problem after another from the time i left the dealer. hard starting, prone to vapor lock problems,idle control motor erratic,problems with power window contols not working and making noises, squeaky brakes, poorer gas mileage than advertised, water leaking through seals in rear windshield after heavy rains, hinge on glove compartment misaligned
Little Hercules
Iv owned this 04 honda coupe since new ,, I currently have 300kms on the motor and it still runs like a Rolex.Cheap to operate and extreme fuel efficient,, I will drive this car until it stops running ,, especially with the price of fuel now aways
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220,000 miles and runs like new
This is a car for the long haul. Runs like a champion. Ours has been in the family since Brand new and it has needed nothing but basic maintenance and minor repairs (plastic pieces, gasket seal, etc.) This is the Toyota truck of cars.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
The Americanized Civic
Cheap materials, Americanized content, mediocre capabilities...not what Honda is known for. This is a harsh-riding little car. The door fabric has come loose from its glue, the clutch creaks at each pressing, door mats had heel holes after 4k miles, hard plastics everywhere you touch, no tint-strip at top of windshield, no lock on glovebox, thin sheet metal, poor sound insulation, pathetic engine performance, but very good fuel economy. I should have bought a used Accord instead. A Toyota is going to be my next purchase after my 4th and last Honda.
Honda Civic, The Best Car Around!
I have owned 4 Honda's now including this one and I am the happiest with this purchase. It's a great car I drive 116 miles to work a day and I can go all week with 1 tank of gas. And it is the cutest, roomiest car around.
I Love My Car
I've had this car for 4 years now, and I've only put on a little over 20,000 miles. I have never had an issue with breakdowns or any kind of system failures. This car is extremely reliable, the only thing that would ruin its quality is a bad driver! Everything about this car works, has always worked, and the interior design is extremely practical.This is not meant to be a high-end luxury car, however for a low-priced car, the quality is absolutely fantastic.
It's a blast!
Used to own a '91 Accord (with 250K on odometer at the time it was totaled). Honda's have come a long way since then. At first I thought I'd stepped down from an Accord to get into the Civic, but now I'm totally satisfied, especially with the wonderful gas mileage this vehicle offers. Furthermore, a smaller car is easier to park! I'm not totally in love with this vehicle though, however I am, like I said, very satisfied with the purchase. And, as a repeat Honda owner, I have no doubt about it's exceptional reliability. Yet, needs work on the exterior durability. Dings and scratches easily. It's great to know that this car will probably last as long as my former Honda too.
zoom
I've the manual 5-spd, v. different driving- functioning than the automatic. Like a racing car. The control is magnificent, zip-zip here, there, everywhere - zoom, juice to spare, just downshift. Driving is easy, shifting smooth, cruise control great luxury. Can't imagine what more expensive autos are like! This athletic lean machine is for the tight human athletic lean machine who travels light, Slim. Extra poundage - not.
reliable
I find the honda civic is reliable, but the noise is terrible while driving, I don't get the gas mileage, the visualble is horrible. meaning that the beam between the back and front seat you can't see.
Fun Spunky Car
The speedometer display is easy to read day or night. I like the spunky engine and smooth quiet ride. The gas mileage is great! In one week I drove over 200 miles with more than 1/4 tank of gas left. The drivers seat is adjustable enough for me to reach the pedals and look over the dash (I'm 5'). My 6'3" husband is able to drive this car comfortably. Adults fit in the back with plenty of knee room.The a/c, defroster, heat and audio controls are easy to reach and operate. The a/c cools the whole car. The defroster automatically turns off. A standard feature is cruise control. I strongly recommend this car for performance, comfort, size and quality.
Why spend more?
If I had known the Civic was this good, I might not have bought my last car, an Accord V6 coupe. The Civic isn't as much car as the Accord, but it's about $8,000 cheaper. It's also easier & more fun to drive in the city and much cheaper to operate - the Accord got 14 mpg in city driving, the Civic gets about 30.
WoW for the 2nd Time!
I just traded my 2001 Civic Lx Coupe in for a new 2004 Ex Coupe and i am just as amazed. This car is incredible! It's the beginning of the model year and i got $800 off, the gas milage is almost 40mpg (and its not a hybrid), and it looks HOT. Besides maitanence, i put $0 into my last civic over 3yrs. These are truly THE best cars out there!
Hybird reality
The Honda civic hybrid fule fact for my civic is city and highway combined 37mpg. I have driven the car less than 200 miles and probably very close to 50- 50 city vrs. highway miles. It takes a bit of getting use to the hybird technology as the car shuts down at most stops. The Civic is remarkably quiet. also it has a great standard packsage, A.C., cruse control, CD am fm sterio. Some folks may like the lighted dash information stystem that includes a tac, odomitor, battery status and other things. I find it a bit distracting with all the flashing and moving lights. It is a great car for those that have concerned about consumption and enviormental issues.
Follow-up to "Spunky Little Car"
I mentioned my AC had no freon in my prior review, my car is now 3 months old and has visited the dealer one too many times. Turns out after 2 trips to service and a nasty letter to Customer Service, my car was kept at the dealers for an AC investigation (3 times). Turns out there was a leak. They say they fixed it, lets hope so. I would hate to associate "Lemon with Honda".
Very Satisfied
I've had the car for a little over a year now. I've put almost 25k on it! Definitely not overpowered, but it's fine for me. Great gas mileage, comfortable and reliable. I love it!
Great new car for new driver!
I bought this car for my daughter who is about to turn 15. She loved it! I took it on a long road trip last weekend and was very comfortable in it. It is very easy and fun to drive. My grandmother and aunt were very comfortable in the roomy back seat. It gets a lot of looks on the street and is a favorite among all the teenagers!
Good Car
This car is extremely reliable. It drives very nice and has a much better ride than my previous (more expensive) vehicle.
goodbye chevy, hello honda civic hybrid
having been a chevy diehart most of my life, i simpley got tired waiting on g.m. hybrid. purchased a honda civic hybrid, got the shock of my life. handels great, fun to drive, gets 50 mpg and 100 mph if i want to. a very very solid car, compaired to my priouvis chevys. my corvette has been parked.
Dope Ride
I love my new Civic ex . I love how it drives and its responce time is great too. The only thing that bothers me is it is a little loud when its running. I also wish Hinda would come out with its new bug shield and vent visors to match the color. I also wish the sun roof popped up and opened like the neon does.
Can't beat it
Bought the car used, only 16k...Had the gas tank filled up twice, and both times I averaged 49.6 mpg. It probably would have worse gas mileage if driven harder, but I cannot complain about what I get (is a 5 speed one). It would be nice if would have a little more oomph, but...then no mileage. Nice piece of machinery and technology, I enjoy getting almost 600 miles per tank, happy with the residual value down the road...
Who would have thought!
I never would have thought that a Honda Civic could be so cool and so sporty! I bought my Hoda Pilot in May of 2003, and absolutely love it. When my husbands 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse hit 60K miles last month, it was time to trade it in! So my amazing Honda dealer JEREMY BRAUN @ DCH Kay Honda in Eatontown NJ, hooked me up with with a beautiful Fiji Blue Pearl Civiv EX, totally loaded and he helped me pick out awesome accessories for it! We added leather interior, a rear spoiler, front spoiler and complete underbody kit. It handles better than any car I have ever owned, and I have owned a LOT of cars.
the perfect car
A friend of a fried bought a vw jetta but conceeded that the civic coupe all in all is the perfect car. Unless you have kids or something try not to waste your time or money on another car.
Most uncomfortable to drive ever
The car looks and drives well enough, but I never imagined the super-low seats would give me as much uncomfort as they have. I'm 5'4" kicking myself for not thinking to get the EX model that has the dial on the side to raise the seat. It's like sitting in the bottom of a boat-- wouldn't be so bad if the steering wheel could come down farther. I've owned it for a month and I'm trading it in rather than have the seat raised. I'm generally unsatisfied with the ergonomics of the whole driver's console area.. seems like it would be fine for a tall person, but just awkward for the shorter folks.
nice little car
excellent handing. NO mechanical problems. comfortable ride (seating). roomy back seat. good vision (except when it rains, water tends to stay on rear window). Seats are very low, 6way power-seating would be great. NO place for handbag. Beige color I chose is very hard for others to see, daytime running lights are necessary. So nice to get a $2000 tax rebate.
Surprized by the quality
I purchased my Honda Civic in February. At first it was great. Then it began shifting from 5th gear into neutral while driving on the highway at 65 mph!! The dealership was able to find nothing wrong with the car.
The Forgotten Honda
I bought my '04 SiR (Canada) with 180 000 km on it, a mechanic used to own it, so it was still in great shape, compression was A1 and took no oil. I'm now at 220 000 km and still runs awsome, very reliable little car. Didn't do much repairs on it except regular maintenance. I use it as a daily driver and do at least 180 km a day on average, it gets great mileage and hasn't let me go yet. Above all, it's a blast to drive, handles great, but in a weird kind of way: understeers a lot, but it will still manage to get around the corner very quickly. My only complaint: Needs more power, it tends to feel weak at low RPM's, but thank god, like all Hondas, it loves to rev :)
lemon
My 2002 honda civic sir is the worst vehicle I ever owned. Gas guage never worked, parking brake never worked, cruise control quit, rain cutter mouldings came out, rear window washer motor and assembley had to be replaced. Gas mileage was poor. The engine ran rough cold and would cough and sputter when hot. The longer I drove it the rougher the clutch and shifting became. I put 31000 km on this car in 11 months. I dealt the car for a four door civic after a 11 months of trouble with the sir hatchback.
honda hybrid in florida
Does over 42 mpg in mostly city driving consistently since purchase, by my own calculations - the gas consumption gauge overstates reality by 2-3 mpg. Battery does not charge well in hot weather here in Florida, gas mileage is noticeably better in cool weather.
Honda Civic EX
The design wasn't quite up to the early models, but the reliability is still the best of coupes and hatchbacks.
Would have bought sooner
In October, best quote was $20.4K. In March same guy said $500 BELOW invoice. I didn't trust him, kept shopping. Paid $19.7K plus tax & title. For best mpg, hammer the assist and get to speed quick! USE THE CRUISE! Keep econ turned on. DON'T creep up after stop, the engine WON'T auto stop again, and you'll be sitting there wasting gas. - Down sides: a: Construction pot holes trigger ABS. ABS kills re-generative braking (expected). Requires more braking effort. And re-gen won't re-engage until you accelerate. Releasing the brake and re-applying doesn't reset. b: CVT really lets engine scream on expressway merge (scary scream).
Should have kept the Mazda
Before buying my 04 Honda ex I owned a 2002 Mazda Protege. The Mazda was much funner to drive, faster, sporty and gas mileage wasn't that different. This Honda is gutless I cant believe how slow it is. I hate the automatic downshift while breaking down hills. There are so many rattles in this car I don't know where to start. Road noise is really loud, same with the engine sounds like its working to hard. I think this is a good commuter car but not much past that. It looks pretty good but the build quality is not up to par for what a Honda should be. I would rate value to cost at a 5-6 with 10 being greatest value.
mpg problem
car has 5500 miles and is yielding 17 mpg. rating is 30-38.dealer can't find reason.situation is dragging.
my 2004
The 2004 Honda Civic is suppose to be a really great buy but I have had so many problems with mine. The front strut went out on my car, the rear defroster and my cv boots are now popping. This is all within a four month period and Honda sites everything as my fault eventhough it sits all the time. I am afraid that is will just fall apart on me. The car does have decent pickup but it doesnt have a traction control system which it really needs. I think they should put an ESP program on it similar to VW's and Toyota's have. My 14 year saab is more realible than this new civic.
Planet saver with a Big price tag
Legendary Honda built and quality for engine, chassis, suspension. Questionable reliability of battery & electric motor. Ride quality is firm, handling is acceptable and price is slightly on the high side. Acceleration is fair.