I’ve owned many good quality vehicles (and some real dogs!). For all around performance, fun, reliability, and solidness, the best vehicle I ever owned was my 1990 Honda Civic Hatchback.
I had heard Hondas were good cars. In late 1989, as my wife and I talked with the salesman in the showroom, he explained, “Unlike all other cars today, the Honda has a ‘wishbone’ suspension. This configuration provides two pieces of metal supporting each wheel on the axle, versus one on traditional suspensions.”
On the test drive I could feel the car’s solid suspension and great handling. At $6800 for a brand new car, albeit stripped down – it didn’t even have a radio much less air conditioning or power anything – my car payment went from $230 a month to $80. Such a deal.
The car had a 1.9 liter four cylinder motor. This is not a big engine, but with a light body and no extras like a compressor or electrical gadgets, the car had pep.
One time a Mustang pulled up beside me. The plate on the side of the car read “5.0 liter engine.” The street was pretty empty. I couldn’t believe it: the guy wanted to race. I’m a writer so racing does not come naturally to me, but I thought, what the heck; I’ll try it. The light turned red, I popped my Honda into first, quickly into second, then third. By this time, there was no need to shift into fourth – the Mustang was so far behind me, it was no contest. I had won my first (and last) auto race.
After about 30,000 miles my wife, a car person, was looking for another vehicle. We were disappointed we couldn’t buy another Honda: the rear windows no longer opened so our dog could breathe. Not to worry, our friend convinced us to look at Saturns. These cars were partly lightweight plastic, achieved good gas mileage and were inexpensive to purchase.
With our sights on a new gold 1993 Saturn station wagon, I put new Michelin tires on the Honda, which smoothed out the car’s slightly too-tight ride, and our friend installed an AM/FM radio. After we drove it for two and a half years and paying $6800 for it originally, we sold the Honda Civic quickly for $5000.
I loved the car and hated to see it go. But we moved upward and onward to the bigger, more comfortable Saturn.