Topic: CD Article: 2006 Honda Civic DX Coupe

[Autos_Editor]

Test Drive:

The most appealing thing about the base Honda Civic Coupe DX, other than its sub-$20,000 MSRP, is that it's "sporty and economical," says Editor Greg Wilson. Official fuel consumption figures with the five-speed manual transmission are 7.8 L/100 km city (36 mpg Imp.) and 5.7 L/100 km (50 mpg Imp.) on the highway.  However, "getting into the rear seat is a chore," he says, and with the manual transmission, the car "lurches" when changing gears.         More...

[prufrock]

Hmmm...this looks like a really nice car. A fellow could really see himself in one. Might even be a little bit of fun for getting to work in...

If only I could.

I guess this article will force me to call about the '07s and see if I can finally get a damn car.

[Renesis]

Er... 19kg lighter shaves off 1 sec from 0-100km/h? 

My bet is that you've been comparing an automatic with a manual, if not it just doesn't make any sense.. 

[articsteve]

I have never seen a 2006 DX on the road or on the lots.  The majority sold in Canada are the DXGs.  It does not get 50 mpg highway.  That is what the Transport Canada sticker says.  I'd say at 100 km/per hour my DXG manual got 44 mpg.  After 100 km/per hour it starts to buzz.  

[Julie]

He reviewed the DX-G actually.

Might find some DXs in northern areas of provinces, etc.

Where I came from (Quebec City), percentage of cars without A/C isn't that low, like in Southern Ontario. Colder climate.

[Julie]

Hmmm...this looks like a really nice car. A fellow could really see himself in one. Might even be a little bit of fun for getting to work in...

If only I could.

I guess this article will force me to call about the '07s and see if I can finally get a damn car.

Go to large city, with lots of dealers! 

Too bad you don't live close by and don't want the AT. haha!

[a]

a second faster from 0-60 just because of the difference of 42 lbs haha... yea right...
and by looking at the tach, isn't the redline like 6800 ish? it said 6300 in the review..

[mdxtasy]

"I had an issue with the manual transmission though: while shift action is easy, if a bit clunky, and clutch effort is light, the car lurches back and forth when changing gears, particularly from 1st to 2nd. I found it difficult to make smooth shifts."

Okay...was that an observation or is it a fault of the car?  Or is it the driver?  Never driven the new Civic, but all the Civic's I've driven, I have never had issue with keeping the car smooth.  Is there something radically different?  I've driven DBW manuals.....no problems.

"Stability and traction control are not offered, but in a 140-hp front-wheel drive coupe with a tendency to understeer when cornering limits are reached, they're not really necessary."

Because you can't slip and slide in a car like this?  A FWD car can't benefit from traction control? 

"As the Civic Coupe DX is about 19 kg (42 lbs) lighter than the Civic sedan DX and has the same amount of horsepower, the Coupe is about a second quicker from 0 to 100 km/h (est 8.5 secs vs 9.5 secs), and offers better highway passing power."

Like the anon poster said, really?  1 full second and more highway passing power? 

"The Coupe's interior passenger volume of 83.7 cu. ft. compares to the sedan's 90.9 cu. ft."

Maybe this is the reason why it's 1 second faster and has more highway power....

"Rear legroom is tighter than in the sedan, and getting into the rear seat is a chore because the right front passenger seat doesn't slide forwards automatically when the seatback is lowered."

Stupid Honda....they had it in all other previous coupes.

"The driver's visibility to the front and sides is very good, but the high rear trunklid makes reversing into a parking space difficult."

Nah....just get out and do a walkaround...and use your mirrors...right fellas?   

"My dislikes included awkward access to the rear seat, and with the manual transmission, a jerky drivetrain."

So he is blaming the car....anybody else have problems with this?

Maybe I'm just being extra critical.....

The Civic is a good car and for under $20K, offers good car for the money. I think it's great for a second or third car, or for a young owner who needs practical and reliable transportation...with fun thrown in for free. 

[articsteve]

He reviewed the DX-G actually.

Might find some DXs in northern areas of provinces, etc.

Where I came from (Quebec City), percentage of cars without A/C isn't that low, like in Southern Ontario. Colder climate.

He reviewed the DX-G actually

He said he tested the DXG, but makes many more references to the DX.  The photo is a pic of the DX.  Overall a poor review IMO.

[mdxtasy]

Overall a poor review IMO.

[The Mighty Duck]

He said he tested the DXG, but makes many more references to the DX.  The photo is a pic of the DX.  Overall a poor review IMO.

   The DX-G is not considered a trim line in its own right.  It adds features to the DX trim (G, I believe, standing for Group, just like the old Si-G cars?).  The things he mentions about the DX also apply to the DX-G, so how does this make it a poor review?

Also, the pics sho a DX-G.  Take a look at the interior shot - it has A/C.

[chrischasescars]

So the basic lesson is that car writers get bashed for not criticising a car enough, and then again for being too critical?

[Rupert]

I got a good impression of the cars value from this. Possibly the gear change note was isolated to this vehicle. Two door coupes generally are not noted for ease of access to the rear seat. With the same motive power and specs a weight difference in the order of 280 LB would be required for a second difference from 0-60 MPH. These figures vary with source information as well. The speedo layout seems interesting. It certainly gets the important info up to eye level. There would be less eye movement away from the road ahead. All in all I could see buying one if I was on the market.

[Hal]

I wonder if the reviewer's difficulty in shifting was due to the revs "hanging" b/c of the drive by wire throttle - this has been mentioned in other threads. Also, isn't the 1-2 shift notoriously notchy in Honda/Acura products?

[The Mighty Duck]

The 1-2 shift is certainly the notchiest in my Civic, but it's not a big deal.  My guess is that it has more to do with how he drove the car than the car itself.

I wonder where's he's getting his numbers for 0-60 times.  If they're not from a test conducted on the same day, by the same driver, I can see a second's difference showing up.  But I would agree that the relatively minor extra weight of the sedan should not add a second to the "true" 0-60 time, as it were.

[mdxtasy]

So the basic lesson is that car writers get bashed for not criticising a car enough, and then again for being too critical?

I think the key is to be able to substantiate the criticism.  In my case, I have questions concerning some of the points the write made.  Can answers be provided?

[mdxtasy]

I wonder if the reviewer's difficulty in shifting was due to the revs "hanging" b/c of the drive by wire throttle - this has been mentioned in other threads. Also, isn't the 1-2 shift notoriously notchy in Honda/Acura products?

People can adjust to the car.....

[Hal]

I wonder if the reviewer's difficulty in shifting was due to the revs "hanging" b/c of the drive by wire throttle - this has been mentioned in other threads. Also, isn't the 1-2 shift notoriously notchy in Honda/Acura products?

People can adjust to the car.....

Very true. Strange that a veteran reviewer should have so much difficulty with what is supposed to be a very smooth gearbox/clutch combo.

[mdxtasy]

I wonder if the reviewer's difficulty in shifting was due to the revs "hanging" b/c of the drive by wire throttle - this has been mentioned in other threads. Also, isn't the 1-2 shift notoriously notchy in Honda/Acura products?

People can adjust to the car.....

Very true. Strange that a veteran reviewer should have so much difficulty with what is supposed to be a very smooth gearbox/clutch combo.

  Exactly.

[chrischasescars]

So the basic lesson is that car writers get bashed for not criticising a car enough, and then again for being too critical?

I think the key is to be able to substantiate the criticism.  In my case, I have questions concerning some of the points the write made.  Can answers be provided?

I'll point Greg to this thread and see if he wants to respond. Cool?