This year’s Civic lesson came in the form of a the Civic sedan Sport. One feature on the “Sport” that I had a tough time getting used to until I sat down and really thought about it was the power programmable door locks. This particular feature I remember because the first few times I drove it, I thought about reprogramming the unlock portion so that it would unlock when the key was turned off. In the end, I left it so that you had to use the door mounted switches to unlock the doors. I figured it was the best safety type of locking system to have. It didn’t unlock a door until everyone was good and ready to get out.
Aside from my door lock dilemma, the Civic continues to impress our family. The design of this four door sedan is conservative as well as sleek. The body colored front fascia divides the front into upper and lower segments. On the lower side, the large center opening funnels air into the rad and around the motor. The outer “scoops” duct air into the wheel well to aid in brake cooling. The upper half does duct more air into the engine bay, but seems primarily designed to hold the Honda emblem and a chrome strip.
When you look at a side view of the Civic, you can see where the wind cheating design has shaped the whole car. Even the passenger compartment follows a smooth arc so as not to disturb the wind as it goes over the car. At the rear, there is a short deck and little lip spoiler to provide that bit of turbulence required to draw air out from under the car.
Inside, the layout looks conventional, the driver’s seat is comfortable and easily adjusted and then you turn the key. Front and centre is a large tachometer with an instrument information centre just below it. Above the tach in a separate eyebrow like dash is a digital speedometer as well as the fuel gauge and the engine temp gauge. All of the instruments were done in blue with white numerals. These instruments did not fade out in direct sunlight, nor were they affected by my sunglasses as some others have been.
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| The design of this four door sedan is conservative as well as sleek. |
Aside from my door lock dilemma, the Civic continues to impress our family. The design of this four door sedan is conservative as well as sleek. The body colored front fascia divides the front into upper and lower segments. On the lower side, the large center opening funnels air into the rad and around the motor. The outer “scoops” duct air into the wheel well to aid in brake cooling. The upper half does duct more air into the engine bay, but seems primarily designed to hold the Honda emblem and a chrome strip.
When you look at a side view of the Civic, you can see where the wind cheating design has shaped the whole car. Even the passenger compartment follows a smooth arc so as not to disturb the wind as it goes over the car. At the rear, there is a short deck and little lip spoiler to provide that bit of turbulence required to draw air out from under the car.
Inside, the layout looks conventional, the driver’s seat is comfortable and easily adjusted and then you turn the key. Front and centre is a large tachometer with an instrument information centre just below it. Above the tach in a separate eyebrow like dash is a digital speedometer as well as the fuel gauge and the engine temp gauge. All of the instruments were done in blue with white numerals. These instruments did not fade out in direct sunlight, nor were they affected by my sunglasses as some others have been.
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| Front and centre is a large tachometer with an instrument information centre just below it. |