Gutted. I currently own 2 Civics gen 8 & 9 2006 & 2015, both have been fantastic cars and I've done simple fluid, oil and brake services myself. Nothing goes wrong with them from new. My eyes lit up with this thumbnail, and I'm genuinely gutted to see this one go too. Thanks Matt for this type of content. I cannot relate to expensive executive cars due to my earnings and family life, so more content like this would be great. Cheers.
This is a prime example why you should AVOID low mileage old cars, they are often rust buckets and actually the engine seals benefit from use rather than sitting. Using the car dries it out prevents moisture and rust. I have a 1993 nissan bluebjrd has 330kms it runs circles over that civic. All those issues arise from lack of use. Car manufacturers don't design cars to sit particularly in humid or damp environments. Maybe it's ok in Texas.
I recently bought a 2001 civic 1.4 one owner 98'000 on the clock..absolutely immaculate inside...the old boy must have loved it more than his missus...needed a bit of welding for MOT which he had done then undersealed it within an inch of it's life...As basic as it gets but love this old crate..runs perfect...shame the Civic couldn't be fixed , great vid
Shame with the outcome, you can’t win them all or in your case save them all. Left to rot and became a safety hazard. Another great, well presented video Matt.
Low mileage cars are a red flag always. Unless garaged. Even then you are likely to have rusted exhaust, seal leaks. Nothing wrong with high mileage car that has had oil changes and not abused.
I used to own one of these and absolutely loved it. I had the same rev issue. When the battery dies, the car can actually forget how to idle but will sort itself out as you drive
It could also be the iacv that needs cleaning. These engines don’t like to start from cold for a minute or so and then stop. If you do this a lot the iacv will need cleaning.
Ive had that problem when my CRX has gone flat, but its the opposite ossue where revs keep dropping and about cutting out while it re learns, your supposed to start it, leave it at 2k revs for 2 cycles of the cooling fan or something like that according to manual but just driving it sorts it
I had same model civic with over 147thou and the mechanic I use said the cars engine STILL sounds, pulls like it has half the miles. The car was so reliable its crazy, I only changed the oil and filter every year and service other year. Mpg was always great and I think it returned 40ish mad.
@@gravemind6536 Great all round car that definitely ticks the boxes you need to run a car cheaply. The thing that made me smile always was mates raving about their golf's,bmw and making fun of my civic BUT I'll get the call they can't come to here or there why....cars not starting or engine gone always.
@@ruinunes8251 So proud when ever I see one on the road nowadays. They are bulletproof designed to last and last. An ideology that's lost in so many other cars..
This was my first car back in 2007, same color but the 125 hp 1.6 v-tec. Amazing car for a fresh driver and had it for over 10 years. It's still in the family, my brother drives it. It was also hunted for a couple of years, it revved itself but only in winter. Honda guys couldn't fix it. An older mechanic shop fixed it eventually, don't really remember how. I drive an E46 328i now, but that Civic is really way more fun to drive, go-kart like, really raw, I really loved it! 😃 Glad to see it in your videos, despite the sad end.
This car can be saved very easy for the diy guy at home and cheaply. Obviously, mechanics are not charities and will charge to fix them and not making them viable to make money. But it is fixable easily and cheap. I would rather have this honda than a plastic made Renault or so.
You'll be royalty at the next FOTU Matt! Great video. Given that chassis / structural rot isn't mentioned, there's probably an enthusiastic nutter who won't care how much it costs to restore.
A really good car for someone not in a hurry for a car who is mechanically inclined. The control arms can be found at salvage yards. Brake disc and pads are easy as well.
My dad had two of these as a kid a 1.5 1995 R Rag and a 2000 sport X Rag such a reliable car. Never had any issues Don’t see this model much on the road anymore but is a still a very good car.
My partner and I have mk7 Civics ,both 1.6 SE automatic (they're named Howard &Hilda lol) and they've seen so reliable. Mine is my first car, had 95k on it 3 yrs ago for £1250. Been so reliable, easy to drive, bags of room and very generous leg room front and rear, poky enough engine that's always started- we love them. Keeping them going until something goes badly wrong! And with my low annual milage ( only 1500-2000) it'll hopefully get me though another year til the next MOT! My garage tells me what a strong engine mine is and runs nicely, it gives me hope!
Granted this was a bit of a shocker (on the outside at least), but these cars were superb in their day. Amazing engine and gearbox, well specced and comfortable. My biggest regret (in motoring terms) was not buying one of these when I had half a chance - a 1.9 Vti-S in black.
I've owned a 1.6 & a 1.4 auto version of this Honda Civic & they were superbly reliable! The build quality was top notch & even the stalk controls for indicators & lights felt like they'd last 50 yrs easily! I still wish I could find a really good one! 🙂
@@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt All cars, even these superbly reliable Honda Civics, will eventually become uneconomic to own, but they are so well built that they were so cheap on running costs! 🙂
"The revs were hunting" ... that's a phrase I've not heard in decades. Takes me back to when I did a short term placement towards the end of school to a garage owned by a right character. He had a phrase for everything.
I used to have one of these. 2000/X reg 1.4 Sport. Rust got it in the end at 130,000 miles but I loved it, of all the cars I've ever owned it was my favourite. My brother still has a 1998/S reg 1.4S which he uses as a daily driver. Fantastic cars.
11:32 I think that's a good place for the passengers side window button, because the driver can then lower both windows if he/she is the only person in the car without needing to reach over.
wow.. I had a 95N 1.6 version of that in black.. actually built in the states, fully independent dual wishbone suspension all round - I loved that faux wood trim, back in the 90's it was a really nice smart interior, super reliable, was a really fun car up in the derestricted hills - back before they made it all 30/40 and put cameras every 30 Meters, I was up on the moors one evening and got all 4 wheels sideways.. found (and passed) the edge of the envelope that day . then kept it well inside it for the journey back.. loved that car.
This sounds insane but I noticed when you had the paperwork on the passenger seat, there was the original red key still in it's Honda packaging. This to some collectors is like gold dust as most were lost or opened, so I'd say this car was worth it for that alone. It's essentially the key that mechanics would use if they ever needed to access the ECU. *edit - you mentioned the key in the video as I posted this comment. Perfect timing! 😅
This year I came across a Civic that had sat for 10+ years. Lucky me when there was missing every single manual, service history or any paperwork whatsoever but not the glorious red key inside the packaging (already opened though).
Unless it always has been stored in a wooden garage under a blanket , low milage and high age is rarely a good combination. If it had been driven a lot this car would had been in a better condition. Engine is solid as a rock. Drive 200k miles, do an overall and drive another 200k! The body work I admit it, the Japanees 3 doors of this vintage was more lasting than this Rover 400 twin. Still, 23 years old, always out in the British wetter... Not all that bad. Once owned a car like this. They were better then what they looked from the outside. They were actually very good comuter cars, maybe a bit stiff on the suspension but handling, gear shift, seats, the touch of the materials, it was on part with something like a Mercedes 190! The ones with 1.8 Vtec engines are very collectible by the way!
I had a mint green one of these, T reg, automatic, only had it for 6 weeks as a stop gap car but was great fun in a weird way! Bought for £300, sold for £350
Thanks so much Matt. I remember getting a lift in a very similar Civic many, many years ago. A lovely quality practical family car in its day. And it was capable of a very long useful life judging by some of the vintage examples I have seen on the road.
This looks like a Rover 4.... that we rented in London many years ago and I believe these Hondas were manufactured in Swindon but that factory has now closed. Interesting that Honda and now Mitsubishi have pulled out of the UK. Hondas of this period were quite well known for their fit and finish but not always for their resistance to rust.
If you're buying used Civics, look for an EK4 or Ek9 (latter being a JDM only). Their 1.6L B16A & B16B are highly sought after & always hold prices. The gear boxes also fetch a premium
That takes me back, I had a 98 Honda Civic Aerodeck vti in the same colour. Unfortunately mine was destroyed by a volvo T5 after it hit me head on. It had only done 2,300 miles from new before it had the same fate as yours. Keep up the great work, regards Hugo.
A real shame. I live in South Italy and they really patch things up down here, there are many cars over 25 years old still in service, but I have to say the MOTs are every 2 years and certainly not as vigorous as the UK. Lights, brakes, emissions cover all of the test. Deeply sorry for your loss.
In all seriousness, that's the classic sign of a car that's been left to rot. If it had been well used, with parts replaced as and when needed, it would probably be still OK. This evening I went for a quick drive in my old Avensis, which is 19 years old. It's been well used, has 130,000 on the clock and it's still fine, drives well, brakes are sharp, air con ice cold. It's been used and regularly serviced, and I think it'll do a fair few more miles yet
When are we going to meet My Mechanic? Would be cool to see them carrying out the work on some of these ‘I bought a cheap’ videos. Keep up the good work Matt love this channel!
I don’t know how you put up with used car buyers these days as they expect perfection when buying a ten year old car . No wonder main dealers stick to cars no more than three years old. Great videos as always.
My day gets instantly better when a HPA video is thrown in my feed. Sad to see the little civic go, seems like it was left outside it’s whole life that it wasn’t driven.
Bought one of these 15 years ago for 400 and with that I was being generous as the value of it was 300 at most. To be fair, it had 135k on clock but 1y MOT, road tax and roughly 14p of petrol in the tank.
You're either a glutton for punishment or unable to refuse a challenge. I commend your work ethic and enjoy your videos. I'll have to stop by and say hello when I venture to your side of the pond my friend. Cheers!
Another great video. I'm picking up a 2015 Jaguar XE tomorrow after watching your videos. Driving up to Burnley from Essex next weekend to visit family and give the car a good drive. Gonna have to take a detour through Stockport and have a look at the showroom
What a shame. That would have been a reliable little runaround and have had many years left in it but as always boils down to the cost, it just wasn't economical to do so. Good video as always Matt
I bought a yr 2000 Rover 45 SXi 1.8 petrol 5 years ago with 42k which had a faulty ALBrakes sensor and loose passenger door handle so it was sold by a dealer as unsafe without warranty. It was very tidy and had three other potential buyers who were looking to break for parts but I pursuaded the seller to sell to me at £285. It has given me great service for 5 years. It has had, new front discs and pads, some rear brake pipes work, new ALB sensor, 1 2in X 2in welded plate to inner wheel arch, new battery, heater fan resister unit, re-gas of Aircon, new head gasket and updated ladder rail (65k MLS), recon alternator, four new tyres (Firestone's and Nexen's). Everything works as it should and it returns around 42mpg average and pulls like a mule. Very practical and economic load lugger. Insurance about £240 with full NCB. Tax £285 (the normal pre 2001 rate for 1.4ltr +). Total repairs costs est. total repairs £1200 (Inc £500 for head gasket parts and rebuild). Insurance suggest market value of £1000, so if it made that then the total cost of ownership over 5 years would be £500. Beat that! I also have something of a classic that I never need to call out the RAC to. 😉
i have this same car but its the 96 version with a different front bumper/lights and mine has a sunroof (has ac too) its a really fun car to drive and is a reliable daily driver the video was great and really interesting to see the whole interior even the places of buttons being mirrored since mines a left hand drive
That is a very rare find for that price and mileage these days. Exhausts are cheap and easy to fit, £50 a piece roughly. Revs fluctuating most certainly will be the iacv needs cleaning and it will be good as new. All the other bits can be found second hand. Then you will have a car for another 20 years no problems. They are bullet prof. I own one as my daily driver for the past 15 years. They can run on a blend of chicken nuggets and ketchup😂😂. I’m tempted to buy it of you.
My dad bought a Ford escort estate 1993 1.8tdi back in 1995 from a Honda garage in Leicester called Francis Honda. The thing keep going wrong and even time it went back he had civic just like that. They did a 1.5 with a green light that used to illuminate when you was efficiency, driving. In the end, he traded the escort back in and bought a Honda Civic aero deck witch was there estate version. 😅
Wow this video took me back! My mum’s got a maroon (I’m guessing sicilian red officially speaking) 1.4 automatic that’s still sitting on her driveway, been sat still for at least 5 years, the last I remember it being on the road was 2015, being ferried around places. If I had the time, space and money I’d love to revive it and give it back to mum, but that would require a few new body panels (mum dinged it a LOT), and probably a few new suspension pieces like the one in the video, alongside new fluids all around.
My Dad had a Honda Civic Aerodeck 1.5 V-TEC, 1998. Very good car but what caused it’s demise in the end was corroding fuel lines. Two garages tried to fix it to no avail. Interesting that this hatchback of yours had that as well.
That’s such a pity Matt, however there are cars which unfortunately aren’t economically viable, sadly this is one. As a car enthusiast myself, I totally understand your sentiments, sadly though, as much as we would like to, we can’t save them all. As always great content ❤.
It's a shame that this car had so much rot - (especially on suspension members/brake lines etc.). And can understand the rejection. I have a Ford Focus Edge and the body is so good - free of rust thst it aways passes MOT on body and parts. This year it only failed on lose Drive Shaft boot and wipers!!!
Engine and transmission would be worth quite a bit. That is the issue with cars that sit, although low km when it sits outside it wears fast. Great video .
Have got one (Type S MA8, VI Civic 1.4i), bought on 11th of August with just less than「２３０００」mls. She’s a ‘96 with 1 owner before meself, has the D14A2 & was £1200 altogether to buy. Gonna’ keep for ages, please get your one a new timing belt kit (with waterpump), valve clearances & a service like you said-if you’d kept her. Brakes were the same too, exhaust backbox got replaced, literally no service history. Despite “all” that, very happy with her. 🤪 Spent £1288.68 (🙃 more than the car 🙃) thus far taking her to garages (M. o’ T., timing belt kit & waterpump, new Uniroyal RainExpert 5 front tyres, both rear drums adjusted, new single rear foglight bulb & contacts cleaned, O/S wheel cylinder & N/S/F brake pipe replaced, N/S/F shock absorber was partially seized & new KYD-in, new O/S/F outer C.V. joint gaiter {tore; & me t’inks bearings inside were left too long without grease on a motorway journey home, so new C.V. joint required, no more “accidental wheelies” 😩}. Valve clearances tomorrow morning finally (≈「３５０５０」mls now), have done servicing in-meantime. Have put a Pipercross air filter on, done cleaning of throttle body & ducting, spark plugs twice, fuel filter twice, cabin air filter once & coolant once, x6-x7 oil changes since, cannot remember! 😝 They’re brilliant cars. Reall all-rounders. Always stopped & started - sometimes she doesn’t like hot starts too much, though -, probably a lot better than a 28yr olde me! Am spending more money than the car was bought for because she’s worth it for how much you can do w/a Haynes Manual & the manual itself! The engine bay is literally like the engine is an island, with lil’ ones scattered about elsewhere. Parts costs & availability could be a bit better but hey, no 2024 car will last until 2052 like this car has lasted from October in 1996, to today. Have an ‘92, Rev.2, MR2-too, love olde Jap.-crappers. Need those valve clearances adjusted, new front callipers & rear trailing arm bushes, besides that, hammerite undercoating & all’s good. Willing to spend money on a vehicle that lasts & isn’t overly complicated for focussing on just getting from one place to another, A-to-B.
Such a shame, 25 years ago today! I brought a new one same colour but a 1.6 had it for 19 trouble free years cornered well with its double wishbone suspension.Looking forward to the next vid 👍
i had a 97 R , maroon or sicilian red as honda called it, cost me £700 previous owner had it for about 14 years, i got rid about 5 years ago with almost 144,000 on clock, driving position were the best seats were great 1.4 engine was rev happy and sweet as a nut, handled very well too, engine clutch and gearbox were brilliant , engine hardly used any oil and gearbox oil was like new i had the car 6 years and covered about 47,000 miles and it did need a few age related things done to it but it was the best car in have ever owned, the rear trailing arm bushes all needed done could only get the whole arms from honda that cost £350.all the electrics worked and i had 3 original keys the red one is the master key. but as i live in north east scotland rust got the better of it even though it was undersealed
Oddly enough I watched this before walking my dog this morning. As I neared the ayuatamiento there in the car park was a white one, I'd guess about the same year and needles to say in near pristine condition. Always makes me chuckle when I see something that normally would be in a scrapyard in the UK yet is still bombing around in Spain
Maybe you can sell the engine itself and recover money? My Corolla is almost the same age and has some issues but i keep it (disks, suspension, paths, wheels....) Yes bodywork looks bad it has been hitten many times. But it works proper. And the interior has 20 years old. Other than that, is a machine that keep doing kms. All the best Matt
Does anyone else wonder how the finances of High Peak Autos works? I swear with every car Matt either overspends or scraps... Could probably register as a charity by now! Shame you couldn't save it but good work as always, love a low mileage old car
Low mileage is no indication of how good a car will be.. Mr corrosion ignores these things.. underside... rubber things.... brake discs... Mr moss can be removed... Mr corroision ...not always soo... break it for parts... ? you got the time..? Great vid Matt N x
My old cheif had one of these in the exact same colour and spec, late 90s early 2000s. Very good cars if a bit uninspiring. The first vehicle we had that had A/C other than a tractor. If i recall the seat material meant any hair, clothing lint etc stuck to it like a magnet
Personally I'd put it back on the road only because in a trained mechanic and I have good friends with garages and tools they let me use I'd love the chance to buy this car
In my (very limited) experience, an old car with little mileage may be more troublesome than a car with high mileage, but newer. That wasn't the case in the '70s or '80s, but newer cars just don't last very long. Of course, there are exceptions (like the 2001-2005 model of the Civic). I am not saying it's a bad idea to focus on low mileage, old cars, but to reduce risks they should pass basic pre-purchase checks. No MOT and long time without use tend do be red flags, in my opinion, more often that not. Even a few hundred pounds should be able to buy you much better cars (as you proved a few times already). I hope your next purchase will bring you a lot of profit and, above all, satisfaction. You deserve that. I do like it when you save cars that would have been scrapped, but only when it's worth it.
My dad has one of these. 1.8 VTi estate. Fantastic car, I learnt to drive in it. Now it's started turning brown on the rear arches, I don't think it's long for this world given the prices for small parts like suspension arms. It's absolutely crushing to think how many of these cars are just wasting away because nobody was ever interested in them, probably because of the rover 400/45 relation
Just bang the metal in where it's rusty, apply rust treatment and filler. From the boot pull out the inner liner then spray it with wd-40 inside. (I assume you're talking about the rear body panel above the rear wheel.)
I’d say that engine on its own with that mileage is worth £400👍
I agree I would of paid more just for the engine out of it bullet proof
@@adriancope6557indeed they are,one of the best engines in the last 30 years 👍
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. All the parts seemed okay with the car. Better to strip it for parts.
What a pity, l had High hopes , l love my Jap cars
@@adriancope6557 Would have...
Gutted.
I currently own 2 Civics gen 8 & 9 2006 & 2015, both have been fantastic cars and I've done simple fluid, oil and brake services myself. Nothing goes wrong with them from new. My eyes lit up with this thumbnail, and I'm genuinely gutted to see this one go too. Thanks Matt for this type of content. I cannot relate to expensive executive cars due to my earnings and family life, so more content like this would be great. Cheers.
Same here mate.
This is a prime example why you should AVOID low mileage old cars, they are often rust buckets and actually the engine seals benefit from use rather than sitting. Using the car dries it out prevents moisture and rust. I have a 1993 nissan bluebjrd has 330kms it runs circles over that civic. All those issues arise from lack of use. Car manufacturers don't design cars to sit particularly in humid or damp environments. Maybe it's ok in Texas.
I recently bought a 2001 civic 1.4 one owner 98'000 on the clock..absolutely immaculate inside...the old boy must have loved it more than his missus...needed a bit of welding for MOT which he had done then undersealed it within an inch of it's life...As basic as it gets but love this old crate..runs perfect...shame the Civic couldn't be fixed , great vid
I would’ve said with that sort of mileage it’s worth having spent the money on it. People like the classic Hondas.
Shame with the outcome, you can’t win them all or in your case save them all. Left to rot and became a safety hazard. Another great, well presented video Matt.
Low mileage cars are a red flag always. Unless garaged. Even then you are likely to have rusted exhaust, seal leaks. Nothing wrong with high mileage car that has had oil changes and not abused.
@@TB1M1 Particularly if those miles are motorway ones.
@@ttrjw exactly. Mileage is extremely misleading, it's like measuring cholesterol, you need to know the balance
utter crap
@@TB1M1
This car is a future classic. Keep it with the low miles and it will double in value
Can't that be said for nearly all cars though?
It'll also double in rust.
Some cars really don't go up that much in value with age.
Not a good example though.
How many of those you see on the road? Not many.
@@lewis72They are not so bad with rust like the older ones.
I used to own one of these and absolutely loved it. I had the same rev issue. When the battery dies, the car can actually forget how to idle but will sort itself out as you drive
Yep, the ECU is re learning run parameters. It's called adaptation from what I remember.
It could also be the iacv that needs cleaning. These engines don’t like to start from cold for a minute or so and then stop. If you do this a lot the iacv will need cleaning.
@@ruinunes8251Yes, I had this exact issue with mine too and that fixed it
Ive had that problem when my CRX has gone flat, but its the opposite ossue where revs keep dropping and about cutting out while it re learns, your supposed to start it, leave it at 2k revs for 2 cycles of the cooling fan or something like that according to manual but just driving it sorts it
Ahh the face off stereos… those were status items in the 90s and early 2000
Love content like this, reto cars we all had back in the day! Shame not all can be saved, and put back on the road!!
I just love these old civics! If you find one in better condition, I'd love to see a video on that.
I had same model civic with over 147thou and the mechanic I use said the cars engine STILL sounds, pulls like it has half the miles.
The car was so reliable its crazy, I only changed the oil and filter every year and service other year. Mpg was always great and I think it returned 40ish mad.
Carwow ran one of these with no oil or coolant and it lasted over 7x longer than the other cars in the video. Insanely good engine and reliability.
@@gravemind6536
Great all round car that definitely ticks the boxes you need to run a car cheaply. The thing that made me smile always was mates raving about their golf's,bmw and making fun of my civic BUT I'll get the call they can't come to here or there why....cars not starting or engine gone always.
Mine has now 164k. They are solid engines
@@ruinunes8251
So proud when ever I see one on the road nowadays. They are bulletproof designed to last and last. An ideology that's lost in so many other cars..
@@Leehuss5582 precisely.
This was my first car back in 2007, same color but the 125 hp 1.6 v-tec. Amazing car for a fresh driver and had it for over 10 years. It's still in the family, my brother drives it. It was also hunted for a couple of years, it revved itself but only in winter. Honda guys couldn't fix it. An older mechanic shop fixed it eventually, don't really remember how. I drive an E46 328i now, but that Civic is really way more fun to drive, go-kart like, really raw, I really loved it! 😃 Glad to see it in your videos, despite the sad end.
Crazy as it seems these are becoming pretty rare and collectable. It might warrant having some decent money spent on it. Famous last words 😅
We don’t see many these days. I own one.
@@ruinunes8251 I'm getting one tomorrow, any things to look out for?
This would be perfect for parts, especially engine gearbox and interior
That’s exactly what I thought too. I’m sure a Honda specific independent garage would at least give back what Matt spent.
Right decision Matt. We applaude your efforts to give older cars a second life, but some, likethis one are just beyond saving!!
This car can be saved very easy for the diy guy at home and cheaply. Obviously, mechanics are not charities and will charge to fix them and not making them viable to make money. But it is fixable easily and cheap. I would rather have this honda than a plastic made Renault or so.
You'll be royalty at the next FOTU Matt! Great video. Given that chassis / structural rot isn't mentioned, there's probably an enthusiastic nutter who won't care how much it costs to restore.
Agreed - just been watching a few videos from Hubnut and the like about the 2023 FOTU. The tatty exterior on this car would be described as "patina" 🤣
A really good car for someone not in a hurry for a car who is mechanically inclined.
The control arms can be found at salvage yards. Brake disc and pads are easy as well.
My dad had two of these as a kid a 1.5 1995 R Rag and a 2000 sport X Rag such a reliable car. Never had any issues Don’t see this model much on the road anymore but is a still a very good car.
My partner and I have mk7 Civics ,both 1.6 SE automatic (they're named Howard &Hilda lol) and they've seen so reliable.
Mine is my first car, had 95k on it 3 yrs ago for £1250. Been so reliable, easy to drive, bags of room and very generous leg room front and rear, poky enough engine that's always started- we love them. Keeping them going until something goes badly wrong!
And with my low annual milage ( only 1500-2000) it'll hopefully get me though another year til the next MOT!
My garage tells me what a strong engine mine is and runs nicely, it gives me hope!
Granted this was a bit of a shocker (on the outside at least), but these cars were superb in their day. Amazing engine and gearbox, well specced and comfortable. My biggest regret (in motoring terms) was not buying one of these when I had half a chance - a 1.9 Vti-S in black.
I had one of these in blue in the 2000s the sporty mode, beautiful car! Never gave any problems!
I've owned a 1.6 & a 1.4 auto version of this Honda Civic & they were superbly reliable! The build quality was top notch & even the stalk controls for indicators & lights felt like they'd last 50 yrs easily! I still wish I could find a really good one! 🙂
You sold the ones you had but now want them back? Why sell in the first place if they were that good?
@@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt All cars, even these superbly reliable Honda Civics, will eventually become uneconomic to own, but they are so well built that they were so cheap on running costs! 🙂
@@TOMLINBISH Not anymore apparently
"The revs were hunting" ... that's a phrase I've not heard in decades. Takes me back to when I did a short term placement towards the end of school to a garage owned by a right character. He had a phrase for everything.
I used to have one of these. 2000/X reg 1.4 Sport. Rust got it in the end at 130,000 miles but I loved it, of all the cars I've ever owned it was my favourite. My brother still has a 1998/S reg 1.4S which he uses as a daily driver. Fantastic cars.
11:32 I think that's a good place for the passengers side window button, because the driver can then lower both windows if he/she is the only person in the car without needing to reach over.
wow.. I had a 95N 1.6 version of that in black.. actually built in the states, fully independent dual wishbone suspension all round - I loved that faux wood trim, back in the 90's it was a really nice smart interior, super reliable, was a really fun car up in the derestricted hills - back before they made it all 30/40 and put cameras every 30 Meters, I was up on the moors one evening and got all 4 wheels sideways.. found (and passed) the edge of the envelope that day . then kept it well inside it for the journey back.. loved that car.
This sounds insane but I noticed when you had the paperwork on the passenger seat, there was the original red key still in it's Honda packaging. This to some collectors is like gold dust as most were lost or opened, so I'd say this car was worth it for that alone. It's essentially the key that mechanics would use if they ever needed to access the ECU.
*edit - you mentioned the key in the video as I posted this comment. Perfect timing! 😅
That key saved me when I locked my only key in the boot one time, killed me to open the packaging!
This year I came across a Civic that had sat for 10+ years. Lucky me when there was missing every single manual, service history or any paperwork whatsoever but not the glorious red key inside the packaging (already opened though).
Them red keys are worth thousands!
Unless it always has been stored in a wooden garage under a blanket , low milage and high age is rarely a good combination. If it had been driven a lot this car would had been in a better condition. Engine is solid as a rock. Drive 200k miles, do an overall and drive another 200k! The body work I admit it, the Japanees 3 doors of this vintage was more lasting than this Rover 400 twin. Still, 23 years old, always out in the British wetter... Not all that bad.
Once owned a car like this. They were better then what they looked from the outside. They were actually very good comuter cars, maybe a bit stiff on the suspension but handling, gear shift, seats, the touch of the materials, it was on part with something like a Mercedes 190!
The ones with 1.8 Vtec engines are very collectible by the way!
Can’t get enough of these videos 👏👏
I had a mint green one of these, T reg, automatic, only had it for 6 weeks as a stop gap car but was great fun in a weird way! Bought for £300, sold for £350
Ah yes! I had one of these when I was 20. Crashed it unfortunately, but it was great while it lasted. Been a fan of Hondas ever since.
Show tunes with Elaine Page. That's what I was listening to 20 years ago aswell
This is why I love the VW shows where you get to see the cars you owned when you were younger perfectly preserved. Bringing back great memories!
Thanks so much Matt. I remember getting a lift in a very similar Civic many, many years ago. A lovely quality practical family car in its day. And it was capable of a very long useful life judging by some of the vintage examples I have seen on the road.
Your passion for 'saving' cars such as these is why I am a long time subscriber of this channel
This looks like a Rover 4.... that we rented in London many years ago and I believe these Hondas were manufactured in Swindon but that factory has now closed. Interesting that Honda and now Mitsubishi have pulled out of the UK. Hondas of this period were quite well known for their fit and finish but not always for their resistance to rust.
I'm sure there is a viewer who'd love to spend his own time n energy restoring it...
That in its self would make a great video
I had an 02 civic. 220k on its original clutch. I did most of the miles over 20 years. Serviced it myself. Never broke down. Unreal motor.
I've had hodas for years never had problems with them great cars 👍❤️
If you're buying used Civics, look for an EK4 or Ek9 (latter being a JDM only). Their 1.6L B16A & B16B are highly sought after & always hold prices. The gear boxes also fetch a premium
That takes me back, I had a 98 Honda Civic Aerodeck vti in the same colour. Unfortunately mine was destroyed by a volvo T5 after it hit me head on. It had only done 2,300 miles from new before it had the same fate as yours. Keep up the great work, regards Hugo.
I love these type of videos, keep up the good work!!!!
A real shame. I live in South Italy and they really patch things up down here, there are many cars over 25 years old still in service, but I have to say the MOTs are every 2 years and certainly not as vigorous as the UK. Lights, brakes, emissions cover all of the test. Deeply sorry for your loss.
My dad used to have one of these when I was born back in 2004!
1998 Civic Limited Edition. Great car, sunroof too!
In all seriousness, that's the classic sign of a car that's been left to rot. If it had been well used, with parts replaced as and when needed, it would probably be still OK. This evening I went for a quick drive in my old Avensis, which is 19 years old. It's been well used, has 130,000 on the clock and it's still fine, drives well, brakes are sharp, air con ice cold. It's been used and regularly serviced, and I think it'll do a fair few more miles yet
When are we going to meet My Mechanic? Would be cool to see them carrying out the work on some of these ‘I bought a cheap’ videos. Keep up the good work Matt love this channel!
when starting a car that didn't move for years first check if there is oil than empty the old fuel ! you risk damaging many parts otherwise.
Ah memories, miss this era of Civic, had a couple of 1.8 VTI's back in the day with half leather, LSD and the B18C4 DOHC VTEC engine. Great cars.
I don’t know how you put up with used car buyers these days as they expect perfection when buying a ten year old car . No wonder main dealers stick to cars no more than three years old. Great videos as always.
People are now used to getting their own way too which makes it harder
My day gets instantly better when a HPA video is thrown in my feed. Sad to see the little civic go, seems like it was left outside it’s whole life that it wasn’t driven.
1998 1.4 Green Manual Honda Civic was my first car
Green cars are the future.
Bought one of these 15 years ago for 400 and with that I was being generous as the value of it was 300 at most. To be fair, it had 135k on clock but 1y MOT, road tax and roughly 14p of petrol in the tank.
Your a man after my own heart, please keep up the good work....
The key with the red fob is part of the engine immobilizer system. If you use it as a spare key the engine will not start.
You're either a glutton for punishment or unable to refuse a challenge. I commend your work ethic and enjoy your videos. I'll have to stop by and say hello when I venture to your side of the pond my friend. Cheers!
Another great video. I'm picking up a 2015 Jaguar XE tomorrow after watching your videos. Driving up to Burnley from Essex next weekend to visit family and give the car a good drive. Gonna have to take a detour through Stockport and have a look at the showroom
Matt the saviour of lost car's 👍I just love that you want to save them all 😊 if only there was more like you
Alright guys, how’s it going welcome back, best opening line of all time🙏
What a shame. That would have been a reliable little runaround and have had many years left in it but as always boils down to the cost, it just wasn't economical to do so. Good video as always Matt
I bought a yr 2000 Rover 45 SXi 1.8 petrol 5 years ago with 42k which had a faulty ALBrakes sensor and loose passenger door handle so it was sold by a dealer as unsafe without warranty. It was very tidy and had three other potential buyers who were looking to break for parts but I pursuaded the seller to sell to me at £285. It has given me great service for 5 years. It has had, new front discs and pads, some rear brake pipes work, new ALB sensor, 1 2in X 2in welded plate to inner wheel arch, new battery, heater fan resister unit, re-gas of Aircon, new head gasket and updated ladder rail (65k MLS), recon alternator, four new tyres (Firestone's and Nexen's). Everything works as it should and it returns around 42mpg average and pulls like a mule. Very practical and economic load lugger. Insurance about £240 with full NCB. Tax £285 (the normal pre 2001 rate for 1.4ltr +). Total repairs costs est. total repairs £1200 (Inc £500 for head gasket parts and rebuild). Insurance suggest market value of £1000, so if it made that then the total cost of ownership over 5 years would be £500. Beat that! I also have something of a classic that I never need to call out the RAC to. 😉
Great idea to end the video in the office, a well presented way of delivering it 👍🏻
Thank you! 👍
i have this same car but its the 96 version with a different front bumper/lights and mine has a sunroof (has ac too) its a really fun car to drive and is a reliable daily driver the video was great and really interesting to see the whole interior even the places of buttons being mirrored since mines a left hand drive
Just bought this exact same car with a tan interior in red with 97,000 miles as my first car, great car to drive and no rust to be seen
Got it for just over a grand
That is a very rare find for that price and mileage these days. Exhausts are cheap and easy to fit, £50 a piece roughly. Revs fluctuating most certainly will be the iacv needs cleaning and it will be good as new. All the other bits can be found second hand. Then you will have a car for another 20 years no problems. They are bullet prof. I own one as my daily driver for the past 15 years. They can run on a blend of chicken nuggets and ketchup😂😂. I’m tempted to buy it of you.
Matt I love it when you do these crazy car buys
My dad bought a Ford escort estate 1993 1.8tdi back in 1995 from a Honda garage in Leicester called Francis Honda. The thing keep going wrong and even time it went back he had civic just like that. They did a 1.5 with a green light that used to illuminate when you was efficiency, driving.
In the end, he traded the escort back in and bought a Honda Civic aero deck witch was there estate version. 😅
Wow this video took me back! My mum’s got a maroon (I’m guessing sicilian red officially speaking) 1.4 automatic that’s still sitting on her driveway, been sat still for at least 5 years, the last I remember it being on the road was 2015, being ferried around places. If I had the time, space and money I’d love to revive it and give it back to mum, but that would require a few new body panels (mum dinged it a LOT), and probably a few new suspension pieces like the one in the video, alongside new fluids all around.
My Dad had a Honda Civic Aerodeck 1.5 V-TEC, 1998. Very good car but what caused it’s demise in the end was corroding fuel lines. Two garages tried to fix it to no avail. Interesting that this hatchback of yours had that as well.
That’s such a pity Matt, however there are cars which unfortunately aren’t economically viable, sadly this is one.
As a car enthusiast myself, I totally understand your sentiments, sadly though, as much as we would like to, we can’t save them all.
As always great content ❤.
For a diy guy, this can be done cheaply. It is worth because it is a low mileage.
The rust is the problem, in short the car is unloved = unused. That's why it's junk
It's a shame that this car had so much rot - (especially on suspension members/brake lines etc.). And can understand the rejection.
I have a Ford Focus Edge and the body is so good - free of rust thst it aways passes MOT on body and parts. This year it only failed on lose Drive Shaft boot and wipers!!!
Brilliant episode. Thank you 😊😊
Engine and transmission would be worth quite a bit. That is the issue with cars that sit, although low km when it sits outside it wears fast. Great video .
Exactly. Avoid low mileage cars. Low mileage basically means unused = unloved.
Have got one (Type S MA8, VI Civic 1.4i), bought on 11th of August with just less than「２３０００」mls. She’s a ‘96 with 1 owner before meself, has the D14A2 & was £1200 altogether to buy. Gonna’ keep for ages, please get your one a new timing belt kit (with waterpump), valve clearances & a service like you said-if you’d kept her. Brakes were the same too, exhaust backbox got replaced, literally no service history. Despite “all” that, very happy with her. 🤪 Spent £1288.68 (🙃 more than the car 🙃) thus far taking her to garages (M. o’ T., timing belt kit & waterpump, new Uniroyal RainExpert 5 front tyres, both rear drums adjusted, new single rear foglight bulb & contacts cleaned, O/S wheel cylinder & N/S/F brake pipe replaced, N/S/F shock absorber was partially seized & new KYD-in, new O/S/F outer C.V. joint gaiter {tore; & me t’inks bearings inside were left too long without grease on a motorway journey home, so new C.V. joint required, no more “accidental wheelies” 😩}. Valve clearances tomorrow morning finally (≈「３５０５０」mls now), have done servicing in-meantime. Have put a Pipercross air filter on, done cleaning of throttle body & ducting, spark plugs twice, fuel filter twice, cabin air filter once & coolant once, x6-x7 oil changes since, cannot remember! 😝 They’re brilliant cars. Reall all-rounders. Always stopped & started - sometimes she doesn’t like hot starts too much, though -, probably a lot better than a 28yr olde me! Am spending more money than the car was bought for because she’s worth it for how much you can do w/a Haynes Manual & the manual itself! The engine bay is literally like the engine is an island, with lil’ ones scattered about elsewhere. Parts costs & availability could be a bit better but hey, no 2024 car will last until 2052 like this car has lasted from October in 1996, to today. Have an ‘92, Rev.2, MR2-too, love olde Jap.-crappers. Need those valve clearances adjusted, new front callipers & rear trailing arm bushes, besides that, hammerite undercoating & all’s good. Willing to spend money on a vehicle that lasts & isn’t overly complicated for focussing on just getting from one place to another, A-to-B.
Such a shame, 25 years ago today! I brought a new one same colour but a 1.6 had it for 19 trouble free years cornered well with its double wishbone suspension.Looking forward to the next vid 👍
i had a 97 R , maroon or sicilian red as honda called it, cost me £700 previous owner had it for about 14 years, i got rid about 5 years ago with almost 144,000 on clock, driving position were the best seats were great 1.4 engine was rev happy and sweet as a nut, handled very well too, engine clutch and gearbox were brilliant , engine hardly used any oil and gearbox oil was like new i had the car 6 years and covered about 47,000 miles and it did need a few age related things done to it but it was the best car in have ever owned, the rear trailing arm bushes all needed done could only get the whole arms from honda that cost £350.all the electrics worked and i had 3 original keys the red one is the master key. but as i live in north east scotland rust got the better of it even though it was undersealed
Hi Matt, still a good video even though you had to scrap it. Thank you for taking the time to upload another video . Ged
As a young fella i worked for honda during this era, the 1.4 was one of the most uneconomical cars i came across. Late 30s Early 30s mpg.
Good cars - travelled to Albi, down near the Pyrenees - from Suffolk a few years ago. It wasn't quick, but it never missed a beat.
I wonder where Matt calibrates his fingers to gauge tire tread.
You should say 5.3 or 4.93 instead just 4 or 5mm. It wil sound a lot more awesome!
Oddly enough I watched this before walking my dog this morning. As I neared the ayuatamiento there in the car park was a white one, I'd guess about the same year and needles to say in near pristine condition. Always makes me chuckle when I see something that normally would be in a scrapyard in the UK yet is still bombing around in Spain
I like your honesty Matt! Great video 💪🏻
Another really enjoyable video Matt I actually like the MR2 and think as usual you’ve done a great job with it.
Maybe you can sell the engine itself and recover money?
My Corolla is almost the same age and has some issues but i keep it (disks, suspension, paths, wheels....) Yes bodywork looks bad it has been hitten many times. But it works proper. And the interior has 20 years old. Other than that, is a machine that keep doing kms.
All the best Matt
Does anyone else wonder how the finances of High Peak Autos works? I swear with every car Matt either overspends or scraps... Could probably register as a charity by now!
Shame you couldn't save it but good work as always, love a low mileage old car
Haha I wish I could. I’d get rate relief then 😂
Miss this old family car! it never had any issues (back in 1999 to 2004)
The fact I've been researching 2008-9 Honda Civic's as a second car and then this video pops us cannot be a coincidence.
I love the cheap stuff more than anything!
Sometimes, cheap is expensive...
Best part of my day
Great episode:) you can only try your best and that car was far to gone.
Look forward to the next episode
Thank you
These weren't the most desirable Honda's. Great video!
Low mileage is no indication of how good a car will be..
Mr corrosion ignores these things..
underside... rubber things....
brake discs...
Mr moss can be removed...
Mr corroision ...not always soo...
break it for parts... ? you got the time..?
Great vid Matt
N x
My old cheif had one of these in the exact same colour and spec, late 90s early 2000s. Very good cars if a bit uninspiring. The first vehicle we had that had A/C other than a tractor. If i recall the seat material meant any hair, clothing lint etc stuck to it like a magnet
Personally I'd put it back on the road only because in a trained mechanic and I have good friends with garages and tools they let me use I'd love the chance to buy this car
I’ve Always liked watching your videos.as always you don’t disappoint.
In my (very limited) experience, an old car with little mileage may be more troublesome than a car with high mileage, but newer. That wasn't the case in the '70s or '80s, but newer cars just don't last very long. Of course, there are exceptions (like the 2001-2005 model of the Civic). I am not saying it's a bad idea to focus on low mileage, old cars, but to reduce risks they should pass basic pre-purchase checks. No MOT and long time without use tend do be red flags, in my opinion, more often that not. Even a few hundred pounds should be able to buy you much better cars (as you proved a few times already). I hope your next purchase will bring you a lot of profit and, above all, satisfaction. You deserve that. I do like it when you save cars that would have been scrapped, but only when it's worth it.
The up and down tick over sounds like air leaks/split pipes! Got it right! 😎
Keep it up man😁
I literally said OH YES out loud when I saw the latest video was an old Civid. would love a saloon one in a country where it doesn't rust.
My dad has one of these. 1.8 VTi estate. Fantastic car, I learnt to drive in it. Now it's started turning brown on the rear arches, I don't think it's long for this world given the prices for small parts like suspension arms. It's absolutely crushing to think how many of these cars are just wasting away because nobody was ever interested in them, probably because of the rover 400/45 relation
Just bang the metal in where it's rusty, apply rust treatment and filler. From the boot pull out the inner liner then spray it with wd-40 inside.
(I assume you're talking about the rear body panel above the rear wheel.)
Hey mate don’t scrap it I want it , if you get it all sorted I’ll pay whatever it cost plus abit extra for your time with it 😊
Better luck next time Matt and another good video 🚗🚙🚘👏👏👏👍👍👍👍⭐️⭐️