JustCarsForum - Your Ultimate Automotive Community

Greetings everyone,

I have recently purchased a Civic. I was researching other automobiles, and Civics consistently emerged as reliable options with cheap operating expenses.


(Having driven an old Land Rover, any alternative would be more economical.)

She is a petrol 1.8 ES i-VTEC, five-door manual vehicle. I anticipate that it may take some time before I ascertain whether it is a prudent purchase. I have several enquiries, however -


Are these models usually considered effective? Is there anything of which I should be cognisant?

Does the front appearance differ from other Civics of comparable vintage due to a facelift or merely a trim level variation? Frequently, the headlamps extend over the complete width without a grille.

It includes an antiquated radio with an auxiliary input; I would prefer to upgrade it to a superior system. I would prefer at least Bluetooth; having a screen and Android Auto would be exceptional. Do you have any recommendations for the most effective approach to this matter?

Thank you, everyone.

The grille was the updated variant for the MY09 vehicle.

Generally, these vehicles are commendable; however, the rear axles may exhibit rust, so if the condition is satisfactory and it is a keeper, consider applying wax oil. Additionally, they may experience occasional trunk leaks, typically originating from the outer lights at the rear and along the roofline seams near the gutter rails. This issue can be remedied with thorough cleaning and strategically applied sealant.

joyful driving

Thank you, everyone. I may need to enquire further about the head unit at a later time, but I have additional research to conduct for the moment.

Initially, an adapter is required, which is readily obtainable. This kit includes the wiring harness; I purchased mine separately for about £100. All that remains is to select your radio. Numerous tutorials on YouTube demonstrate how to modify it.

Thank you, that is beneficial! I am not in a hurry, therefore I have been monitoring the situation. I have not yet determined whether the upper screen containing the climate controls remains functional following the upgrade. It appears to be connected to the head unit in some manner, thus it is imperative to avoid damaging it.

The connects2 kit preserves the original controls; however, I lost the steering wheel controls, albeit there are YouTube instructions available to assist in resolving this issue.