How We Roll

How We Roll: 1998 Honda Civic DX Coupe Review

Welcome to "How We Roll", the new automotive review segment on GMLH. I will do my best in this feature to share with the readers some of my expertise of today's finest motor cars. Only motor cars will be reviewed; no carriages, chariots or buggies.

This is the inaugural edition of what will hopefully become a popular recurring feature; however, lacking reputation in car-review circles, and faced with the budgetary restrictions of this blog, a test vehicle becomes a particularly challenging thing to procure. Manufacturers aren't just standing in line, waiting to lend their products to the editors of How We Roll. Not yet. That day may came, but in the mean time, we will have to do our best with a 1998 Honda Civic DX Coupe.

One could do worse: this very same car has actually been mentioned or pictured in multiple posts on this blog in the past. When you step into the cabin, you are entering a piece of history.

The interior of the car lives up to the fame. High quality surface materials and well placed controls are things to be expected of any Honda, but as a bonus, the version we tested came equipped with some unique upgrades. For instance, our critics couldn't say enough about the integrated tape deck audio system with Dolby Noise Reduction, providing crystal-clear cassette tape listening pleasure. Other goodies, including a specially installed imitation-mahogany rubber steering wheel cover (from after-market specialist Wal-Mart), and a set of exquisite, Tasmanian Devil floor mats, created an atmosphere of understated luxury inside the Civic.

This is a drivers car, with a classic stick-shifting transmission. The brakes are another exciting feature; too many lawyers have led us to a market that is flooded with boring, anti-lock braking systems. The Civic DX comes as a breath of fresh air then, with its braking system that most definitely will lock, inducing long, enjoyable slides during even the driest of pavement conditions.

This car has had only two owners, and the original owner took great care of it, keeping complete service records stored in the glove box. The records were, unfortunately, stolen during a late-night breaking-and-entering. No great loss, however; those service records, if we could see them, would have been a short list of oil-changes and tire rotations. Manual transmission, manual locks, manual windows, and a complete lack of an air conditioner leave very few parts to be repaired. Plus, the missing air conditioner *very rare* turned out to be a great conversation starter during summer drives.

In conclusion, the 1998 Honda Civic DX is a reliable car, for fun, windows-down driving. If you are strictly concerned with the ride, and willing to give up pricey options like the Tasmanian Devil floor mats, you might even get behind the wheel for as little as $7500.