A Car with a difference

Being taller than the average person, at 6'+ height, I had given up on cars a few years ago in favour of SUVs. Though an avid driver ( I like to chuck the car around on occasion when the open road beckons) I was convinced that car manufacturers had only shorter men in mind when they designed their products and I was doomed to either drive only SUVs or trucks.

Boy! Was I wrong!! I initially approached the Honda Civic with some scepticism. Being an avid car buff , I had researched the car extensively and sought the opinions of several owners. The thing that drew me to this car was that though some owners cribbed about some small issues (like the low stance, and below expected mileage) they were also unequivocal in their admiration for the car.

Not one of them regretted their purchase and in todays competitive world where distinction and differentiation between competing products are ever shrinking, this was a refreshing change.

I took delivery of a spanking new Taffeta White Civic about two months ago, and I must say I'm in LOVE!! :) I chose white because the Civic has several very subtle contours to its exterior shape and I found that the White highlighted them to best effect.

First the PROS;

Top-notch Style/Build/Quality/Finish. The Civic is easily the most stylish, upmarket and technologically advanced car in its segment. I dare say even in the segment above! The build quality, finish and attention to detail is simply awesome, and I must admit I have a new-found admiration for the Honda badge. The leather interiors and cabin reek of quality and luxury and frankly the passengers feel that they are in an automobile of a higher class/segment.

Amazing Performance and Technology. The Civic is loaded with tech that frankly I had only till now read about. As a new owner, I cannot but wonder how I managed all these years without the wonderful automatic transmission, the sporty paddle shifters, the ultra responsive brakes and the involving steering response. The car handles superbly and throttle response is like a kick in the rear. Stomp on the accelerator and you will be rewarded with a satisfying kick-down of the gears for immediate thrust that feels like it will blow away anything else on the road. Overtaking with so much extra torque and power is a breeze. The disc brakes are very effective and do not lose bite even with a heavy foot.

Great Comfort and Ergonomics. As I mentioned earlier, I am a tall person and generally find cars uncomfortable, so I have been driving an SUV for the last three years. The Civic is an eye-opener and a lesson to other manufacturers in the science of ergonomics. The seats (after adjustments) are so comfortable and supportive that I now look forward to long drives. The middle arm-rest is just right and the pedals well positioned. My only grouse is that I have to keep one hand on the steering wheel to steer;  which incidentally is one of the best designed steering wheels that I have ever seen. I only wish that Honda had mounted the music controls on the wheel.

The car has very few shortcomings; the CONS;

The low stance and the long wheelbase means that the car does have a tendency to scrape the bottom at high speedbreakers or extreme entry/exit angles. In my mind though, this is a trade-off for the sporty low stance and aerodynamics of the car. Again, the low stance also means that the car is a little difficult to get in and out of - this is no tall boy, and it takes some getting used to the low height. Again I feel that this is a worthwhile tradeoff. No car can be all things to all people and this car is designed like a sports sedan, a role that if fills admirably and as such calls for the low stance and therefore accompanying  compromises. I say if you want a tall boy, buy a Santro!

The second often heard  complaint is the alleged  low mileage.  I get  about 8kmpl  in the city in my automatic transmission Civic, which in my opinion is good mileage for an automatic, 1.8L hi-performance engine. In my opinion, to crib about fuel efficiency when you can afford to plonk down 14L for a car seems silly. I say if fuel efficiency is your main criterion, buy a Maruti 800!!

The OE tyres and alloys in my opinion are a let down. The tyres are the very ordinary Michelin MXV8 195/65 R15 with matching alloys. Though good-looking, the alloys/tyres are too narrow for a car of this type and I immediately swapped the tyres with Michelin Pilot Primacy 225/55 R 16s and a fantastic pair of imported alloys. This size actually increases the ride height slightly of the  car and greatly improves the handling, not to mention the killer looks!!. Since the sidewall height is not very different from the OE's, the ride comfort and suspension feels the same.

Overall, the car cannot be beat for the feel good factor that it bestows its owners. Civic owners will normally bear a self-satisfied smile when you ask about their cars.

Every vehicle is designed for a purpose and I maintain a garage that reflects that philosophy. My Scorpio serves for long drives (diesel economy) with the family on holiday and for site visits in rough terrain on business ( I'm a builder). My Accent takes my wife shopping and my kid to school ( a safe, reliable, city sedan with a good boot ) My Civic takes me out with my family in the evenings, or my wife and I out on long drives to de-stress. It is the first car that I have ever purchased simply because I wanted one, without too much care for other factors; the fact that it is a fantastic all-rounder is a testament to Honda engineering and a bonus to owners like me.

If you can afford to splurge on a car that appeals to the heart but still makes value for money sense it would be hard to turn your back on the Honda Civic, in my mind easily the best car in the segment.