Honda Civic Hatchback (2006 - 2011) 2.2 i-CTDi ES 5d Owner Review

I have owned my Civic since 65,000 miles - and it's been a mixed bag of experiences. In terms of the mechanics, I landed a bad one. A common issue with both the petrol and diesel models is the shock absorbers - which can go downhill quickly, and need changing so frequently that most mechanics have them on the shelf, ready for the next one to come in. I had mine lowered at the same time - but would advise against this, unless you plan to uprate the shocks/put-up with scraping on anything that isn't level road. Further down the line, I had the dreaded clutch slip. This, again, is a common fault - but is, mostly, limited to the diesel models. Mine started slipping at 73,000 miles, and I had both the clutch and flywheel changed at 75,000 - it does have a dual-mass flywheel, though - so be prepared for the bill. Since then, the drive isn't the same: shifts are always rough, no matter how it's driven; and I'm constantly waiting for the clutch to start slipping again. Aside from these two major issues, my turbocharger is making a whining noise at 89,000 miles - which I suspect is a bearing. The issue is, the engine is fantastic: it's got more torque than it needs - which means you'll leave the competition standing off the lights, if you're that way inclined. The pull it gives is like nothing else I've driven - and the general drive is faultless. The block is brilliant: head gasket failures, timing chain slips/splits - anything you'll have on another car - need not be an issue with these engines. I have nothing but praise for the engine itself - just not so much for the issues listed above! The interior, as mentioned, is typical of Honda: well-being and durable; and there are more creature comforts than the previous generation Civic (which is both good and bad - depending on whether you want to feel a raw drive or go for comfort). Even thirteen years after release, this car still maintains a technological presence - but keep an eye on the radio display, as the soldering on the back isn't the best - meaning that the display can randomly start flickering/fading (this is easily fixed, if you have access to a soldering gun). The magic seats are a fantastic practicality add-on - and the clever hiding of the rear doors gives the appearance of a coupe, whilst maintaining the practicality of a five-door hatch. Fuel economy is great: I average 55 mpg (a mix of motorway driving & giving it a thrashing on B-roads). I once got 84 mpg over a 25-mile journey along the M6 (50 mph, though - and it was a smooth, flat road - so probably not a realistic everyday figure); and I've never got less than 40 mpg if I give it a kicking. If driven nicely, you'll easily get 60 mpg. In general, if I were to buy another, I would probably go for a petrol model & sacrifice some economy, as I have probably spent more in repairs than I would have spent on fuel in the petrol variant. Apart from the clutch and turbo (as everything else is fairly routine service stuff, given its age), I would give this car a solid 10/10. It's very hard to score it any higher than I've given it, based on the problems I've had - but I know I've landed a bad one, and there are fantastic ones out there that really do act as a testament to Honda's good reputation.