No Respect

"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman)
11/17/2015 at 17:22 • Filed to: Misadventures in automotive journalism

Honda enthusiasts are typically the butt of jokes in the automotive world. But is it a case of stereotypes clouding the judgement of most car enthusiasts?

Yes. You see, older Civics are brilliant little cars. A fizzy, small-displacement engine up front mated to a short throw shifter and all driving the front wheels. Up until 2001, they had independent suspension at all four corners. Sure, they were noisy, a bit cramped inside, and typically sparsely equipped, but they had a secret weapon named VTEC.

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DISCUSSION (26)

MonkeePuzzle > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/17/2015 at 17:28

I think you’re wrong. I think the Honda platform, pre-2001, is very well respected. It’s what the average owner does to it that gets no respect.

Party-vi > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/17/2015 at 17:28

My friend has a 1999 Civic sedan that is a hoot to drive. It is also a shitbox.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/17/2015 at 17:30

Respect in the car world isn’t very easy to find. Too many people on the internet get into keyboard fights over cars, brands, or numbers.

I love my TL, loved my Integra, and my mother loved her Integra as well. Yet I so badly want out of the honda/acura scene because it’s just littered with idiots. In my opinion owning a cheapy Honda or Acura these days is literally starting at the bottom.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
11/17/2015 at 17:36

The internet makes it seem like enthusiasts love hating cars more than they love loving cars.

wiffleballtony > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/17/2015 at 17:54

Where the hell did you find a stock Honda Civic?

Nobi > Party-vi
11/17/2015 at 17:56

I love my ‘91 wagon. It is also a shitbox though.

jkm7680 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/17/2015 at 18:13

Vtec was designed to improve fuel economy. Vtec does not equal turbo, nor does it mean that Civics are fast. They’re not.

As another person said, it’s the owners that give Honda a bad name.

Master Cylinder > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/17/2015 at 18:34

I still say my ideal DD/hoonmobile is a hypothetical 6th-gen Civic sedan with a stick, RWD, and who cares about the engine ‘cause it’s a Civic and you can swap basically any engine Honda makes into there. (J37 for me, please)

It’d be a Japanese E30 - RWD fun, good handling, light weight, decent economy, plus just-change-the-oil-once-in-a-while reliability.

They’re not the prettiest cars ever, but I think they have a clean, simple design that has aged fairly well.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
11/17/2015 at 18:43

This is very true.

DoYouEvenShift > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/17/2015 at 18:43

The stereotype that clings to a certain car is created by people that buy/modify that car for the sole purpose of getting into that “scene”. Not so much for the car itself.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > wiffleballtony
11/17/2015 at 18:43

An Ottawopponaut has one that looks stock. Ask Zippy about it.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > jkm7680
11/17/2015 at 18:44

#notallhondaowners

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Master Cylinder
11/17/2015 at 18:45

I’m interested in seeing someone RWD swap a Civic.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Party-vi
11/17/2015 at 18:46

Yeah, most old economy cars aren’t very good as cars.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > DoYouEvenShift
11/17/2015 at 18:46

You’re right. It is generated by the scene. It’s the same reason I no longer have a hankering for a Mark IV Jetta.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > MonkeePuzzle
11/17/2015 at 18:47

To some people, they don’t even respect the platform.

Master Cylinder > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/17/2015 at 18:47

I can’t imagine that it would ever even be worth half of the trouble. But if they’d made one like that from the factory, we’d all be remembering it fondly and fighting over the few good ones remaining.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Master Cylinder
11/17/2015 at 18:49

Yeah. The stigma of front wheel drive is strong on our side of the pond.

jkm7680 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/17/2015 at 18:52

Generally revolves around the mindset that “OH I DRIVE A CIVIC WITH VTEC AND THAT MAKES IT SO FAST AND I SMOKE MUSTANG GTS EVERY DAY.”

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > jkm7680
11/17/2015 at 18:54

Okay, those Honda owners.

Master Cylinder > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/17/2015 at 19:04

FWD doesn’t really deserve all the hate, but on the other hand, the FWD cars that I’ve had fun driving were fun in spite of being FWD, not fun because they were FWD. Whereas RWD can save what would otherwise be kind of a dull car.

But yeah, it’s not like there are no good FWD cars out there.

MonkeePuzzle > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/17/2015 at 20:23

savages

Random Commenter > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/18/2015 at 02:26

It’s been done... I’ve seen videos of Civics converted to RWD running Nissan SR20DETs and Honda F20Cs... but I prefer the idea of an F20C in a Civic over dropping an SR20DET in there...

Here’s a video of a RWD Civic with an F20C hooning on a drift track...

Random Commenter > jkm7680
11/18/2015 at 02:31

“...nor does it mean that Civics are fast. They’re not.”

7 minutes and 50.63 seconds says your argument is invalid. Just saying...

jkm7680 > Random Commenter
11/18/2015 at 07:19

No.

Amoore100 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
11/18/2015 at 21:14

Exactly. I really appreciate Honda and their cars (some of them) but I just couldn’t put up with the boy racer/ricer or old lady image that surrounds them, so before my grandma could offer my her Civic as a first car I already suggested the V50 to my parents...it is just a Focus underneath after all, but with the five cylinder that makes good noises...