The $5,000 Used Car That’ll Run Forever And Is Still Fun To Drive

Today, a lot of us bemoan the death of manual transmission, and for good reason; there is a real joy to the stick shift, and you get a more connected feel to whatever you’re driving. It is also very common that to get a manual transmission in a fun car, you have to opt for a sports car, which, unfortunately, does not always have the best reputation for dependability, or have to spend a bit of money.

But, back in the early 2000s, Honda released a line of cars that boasted a manual transmission, a rock-solid build (with lots of examples pushing into the hundreds of thousands of miles), a nearly indestructible engine, a relatively sporty setup, and today are available for less than $5,000. To honor the dying breed that is the manual transmission, we are taking a look at this manual transmission Honda model that offers you cheap thrills and a long-lasting companion.

The Ever-Hardy And Fun Manual Transmission Civic Will Just Keep Going

Boasting a perky engine that is renowned for its durability, a manual box, a relatively sporty setup (model dependent), and low used prices, it is the 2001-2005 Honda Civic (7th Generation) that still offers some fun driving chops and a trusty ride. Throughout the 2001-2005 MYs, there were coupes, sedans, and hatchback models available, and though they may not be the most exciting-looking Civic lineups ever conceived, they do get the job done with a certain amount of connected driving feeling.

Released to continue the awesome work of its Civic predecessors, the 2001-2005 Civic arrived on the scene with multiple engine options, oodles of space inside, good practicality and versatility, and something that is seldom seen today: a manual transmission.

Bulletproof Reliability And Low Running Costs

Like a lot of Japanese marques, Honda models offer immense reliability, and this generation of Civic sits fairly high in terms of dependability – maybe not as high as some other Honda models, but still very good for the age of the generation compared to other similarly-aged cars.

According to Repair Pal, the Honda Civic has a low yearly average maintenance bill of $368 and an average reliability score of 4.5 out of 5. This puts the maintenance bill a lot lower than the average repair bill for a compact car of $526, and a lot lower than the market average of $652.

2001-2005 Honda Civic Reliability Scores

Each model year has a slightly different reliability reputation, though, and it is worth noting that the 2001 Civic is considered one of the most recalled cars in history, because of a plethora of problems that range from a faulty fuel system, defective seatbelts, and poor headlights to a bad airbag system, but if you make sure you that all the recalls have been looked at before buying one, you should get yourself a fun and sturdy car.

The Highest Mileage 2001-2005 Honda Civic

The highest-mileage Honda in the world, when it was last heard of, was a 1.16 million-mile Honda Accord. We haven’t seen any models of the Civic surpass this almighty number, but there are still some 7th-gen models that have been around the block more than a few times.

According to owners who have posted on the Civic Forum, many owners have claimed to put over 200,000 miles on their Civics, but the highest-mileage 7th-gen Civic is a 2002 Honda Civic EX with 469,752 miles on the clock, with the owner saying that it is still running smoothly despite diagnostics saying there is insufficient airflow to the engine. Considering that when the EX was new, it only cost under $17K (or around $30,000 today), it can be seen as good value for money.

Every Model Year Can Be Bought For $5,000 Or Less

As it stands, the average auction price of the 2001-2005 Honda Civic stands at just over $11,000, but because of the different model years that are available and because so many have continued to be sold, a lot of examples that are sold away from auction sites command a lot lower than average prices.

Different Years Mean Different Low Prices

Each 7th-gen Honda Civic comes in a variety of flavors, and you can choose between a coupe or a hatchback, but according to data about average purchase prices from Kelley Blue Book, throughout all MYs, all model variations except for one can be bought for under $5,000.

2001-2005 Honda Civic Price Range

• 2001 Honda Civic: $2,598 – $3,483
• 2002 Honda Civic: $2,789 – $4,070
• 2003 Honda Civic: $2,965 – $4,292
• 2004 Honda Civic: $2,978 – $4,338
• 2005 Honda Civic: $2,967 – $5,242

The most expensive model of the seventh-gen Civic you can buy is the 2005 Honda Civic Si Hatchback, which has a national average used price of $5,242, and is one of the more favored models from the lineup due to its sportier setup compared to the likes of the coupes that you can still buy. It boasts an impressive owner rating of 4.5 out of 5 and receives a 4.7/5 mark for reliability, a 4.6/5 mark for value, a 4.6/5 mark for quality, and 4.5/5 for performance, comfort, and styling.

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What To Look Out For When Buying A Used Honda Civic

Though Honda has a very sturdy reliability reputation and the Honda Civic is one of their hardiest cars, there are still a few things you need to look out for and things to check when buying one.

• Head Gasket Leaks. Though the engines under the hoods of Civics are generally solid, owners of high-mileage models have complained that the head can leak. Check for white smoke from the exhaust, milky-looking oil, or, when you are test-driving, overheating.
• Noisy Suspension. Over time, bushings and springs can become damaged – take a good look at the suspension for any signs of damage.
• Rough Shifts. Pay special attention when test-driving for gear shifts that aren’t smooth – it could be a sign that the shift control solenoid needs some attention.
• Cracked Exhaust Manifold. Some owners have said that their Civic’s exhaust manifold has cracked over time – listen out for ticking or hissing sounds on a cold start.

What You Get From A 2001-2005 Honda Civic

So, it is cheap to buy, it has a manual stick, and a good reliability record, but what do you actually get from a 2001-2005 Honda Civic? Though Honda Civics today may be more thought of as hatchbacks, the 2001-2005 saw more sedans and coupes produced. Between the 2001 and 2005 MYs, the Civic was available as a coupe or sedan as the DX, the LX, the EX, the HX (as a coupe only), the VP, and the Special Edition (2005 only).

Between 2002 and 2005, though, Honda released the Civic as the Si hatchback, which, as we have mentioned, commands the highest prices and is by far the most popular flavor among enthusiasts.

Performance Specifications And Performance Features

A range of engine options are available if you opt for one, including a 1.7-liter inline-four, good for around 115-horsepower, and a 1.3-liter SOHC hybrid mill that can achieve between 46 and 53 combined MPG, but if you are looking for cheap thrills in the form of a relatively lightweight hatchback, a manual box, and a relatively useful and well-built engine, it is the Civic Si trims you are going to want to look at.

Honda Civic (7th Generation) Specifications

Under the hood is a DOHC i-VTEC K20A3 engine with a compression ratio of 9.8:1, a 3.385-inch square bore and stroke, deep piston cavities, and a 6,800 RPM redline. The Si weighs in at a relatively bloated 2,744 pounds, so you only get 0.058-horsepower-per-pound, but at stock level, you’ll be able to sprint the quarter mile in 15.7 seconds at around 90 MPH.

Power is sent to the front wheels via a five-speed, short-stroke, close-ratio manual transmission, while underneath, you get a solid suspension setup with MacPherson struts up front and a double wishbone setup at the rear, which helps keep you planted in the corners. Honda also stiffened up the chassis compared to previous generations of the Civic; 16-inch wheels sit on all four corners (2004-2005), a beefy sway bar is equipped (also 2004-2005), and disc brakes on all four corners, paired with ABS and electronic brake distribution, help to keep you stable under heavy braking.

Though some may argue that it’s not, because of its sportier nature and not-too-pedestrian sprint capabilities, the Civic Si can be considered a very important, fun, and impressive hot hatch, especially as you can get one very cheaply.

The 2002 and 2003 models of the Civic Si boast a relatively mundane and everyday look for what is meant to be the sportier variant, but the 2004 and 2005 models were equipped with side skirts as standard, a dual-bulb headlight setup was added, and an all-around sportier look.

Dated But Rugged And Clean Interior

The 2001-2005 sedans and coupes boast a clean and functional interior with a driver-focused layout, which includes a dashboard that features a barrel-style cowl housing clear gauges and a four-spoke steering wheel. Seats are relatively supportive (though some owners have complained about how comfortable they can be), but you do get around 12.9 cubic-feet of cargo space and optional features such as a CD changer (which we are sure you could swap out for something a bit more modern), navigation, and a woodgrain dash panel.

If you are looking for some hot hatch fun, the Civic Si lineup has an interior that matches its sportier vibe while still keeping things practical. One of the standout features is the unique, rally-style gear shifter mounted high on the center console, close to the wheel, which isn’t just designed to look cool, but ensures that you can shift quickly, and gives you a very connected and fun feeling to driving one. Again, the cabin is clean and simple, with white-face gauges, and though it feels a bit sportier than your regular Civic, it doesn’t scream “race car,” more approachable and affordable everyday sporty hatchback.

The Civic Si also boasts other more athletic-feeling features, such as aluminum pedals, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a better six-speaker sound system compared to what you get in a lot of the Civic sedans and coupes, while the cargo space is also better than what you get from the other trims, with a maximum cargo capacity of 35.7 cubic-feet.

Other Cheap Cars That Just Won’t Die

Though you do get quite a lot from the Civic, and you can have a lot of fun in this sporty little hatchback, we know it isn’t for everyone. If something like the seventh-gen Honda Civic doesn’t tick all the boxes, and maybe you are looking for something a bit newer and can stretch your budget a little further, there are still a huge swathe of that have proven themselves for their dependability, low maintenance costs, and don’t feel as cheap as their price tag suggests.