As a 80's car enthusiast, i am actually happy to see that you guys gonna drive this Civic. Cars are meant to be driven, not to be put away. Its time for the girl to finally stretch her legs. I bet it's gonna be lots of fun!
The 84 Civic is all most people need, basic cheap transportation that gets good mpg. My brother had one and drove it for 10+ years and 250,000 miles before selling it in excellent well maintained condition!
True. Though they are so loud on the highway and felt very tin-ey. There were 1984 domestic cars that could also go 250,000 miles and were much more pleasant to drive.
Word. I drive an 04 Blazer LS RWD, and despite having multiple oil leaks, flaky steering, and deteriorating leather on the wheel, it still drives like it’s fresh off the lot. For the $5000 it was bought for, it can tow up to 5500lbs, runs a naturally-aspirated 4.3L V6, and it carries cargo and passengers like a champ.
I'm really glad to hear Honda decided to cooperate with you, I mean your channel has developed so much and you're recognized as a high professional journalists 👍
That 84 Honda Civic is the car I learned how to drive, 5 speeds, manual awesome transmission, it belonged to my auntie Angela, she removed the battery at one point to stop me from driving it. I just brought 2 friends, they pushed me and we drove away 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
My college car was a 1984 Honda Accord. That thing was incredibly reliable and relatively simple like the 1984 Civic. I wish you the best on your trip!
In 2000, I drove an ‘85 Civic wagon like that across the country. I loved that little wagon but I did have to draft behind semi’s if I wanted to go the speed limit in a head wind. Mine had push button 4 wheel drive and would go through anything that didn’t high center it.
The Honda CRX was a great car from this period as well. My Brother had a 1984 CRX Si that with a manual got around 50MPG on the highway! It is unfortunate that the manual has gone mostly the way of the Dodo!
My first car was a used, similar generation Toyota Corolla with similar horsepower. I agree with Alex, I think your perception of 76 horsepower will change when you have to drive it over mountains. lol. My Corolla struggled over the Appalachians, so I can only imagine taking that Honda over the Rockies. Thankfully it's a manual. I'm confident it will make it to California just fine though even if the ride won't be pleasant. Those old Civics are tough old birds. I also have to say, it amazes me that a cheap little sludge-colored car from the 1980s, that everyone who had one back then wished they could trade in for something cooler and nicer, is now considered a classic museum piece. It's kinda heartwarming that you guys are giving it a chance to bask in glory that it would never have had back when it was made. I'm looking forward to the video. 😀
Bought a 1986 civic hatch high economy version, 4 speed manual, 1300cc carb, base model with factory manuals for $6,000 total. 44 mpg in town and 54 mpg on highway cruising easily 80 mph. Had to slip the clutch to get it moving from a dead stop more than I would have liked. Put over 100,000 thousand miles on it and had seat coverings replaced under warranty, the only time it went back to the dealer. Amazing cars in my opinion especially in 1986 for basic transportation.
80's Hondas were so much better built than the domestic cars of that time. Those cars cemented Honda as a serious competitor in North America. I'm guessing the Honda makes it to Cali with minimal issues. The only thing I could see maybe giving you an issue is the carburetor. You're going from high altitude down to low altitude so there may be some stumbling with the idling and acceleration.
My first new car was an Red 1986 Honda Civic Si. It was a wounderful car, loved the 5 speed shifter & got gas mileage on trips in the low to mid 40MPG. It was a great car to take a trip in. It also had speed control for trips. Great basic sunroof & could hold plenty ofstuff with the back seats down. Had pep when it needed it & mechanically it never had much wrong with it at all. Had that car for 15 years & 215K on the odometer. I really wish I had never sold it.
Obviously there many advantages to newer cars - safety, comfort, power to efficiency ratio, etc. On the other hand, there is so much in a modern car that seems unnecessary, and is only put there to make us feel like we are driving a high-end vehicle. And it's driven the cost up much higher than it needs to be for a basic, fairly necessary product. I have 4 adult kids and only one of them drives because the others feel that it is all too expensive and complicated.
What i don't like about modern cars is the exterior design with all the random edges and corners. Some look as if someone already crashed or as if it already got rear ended.
@@hyperturbotechnomike yes, I agree. For this exact reason I drive a ten year old box-like vehicle that is as far away from the new designs as I could find.
"Nothing you don't need" -Multiple backseat ash trays As someone who's put mega miles on tiny Japanese engines screaming their heart out, I've got faith in the old girl just as much as I do Andy
My wife had an 84 Civic, before we got married. Two interesting features it had. 1) No matter what it wouldn't start if it was colder than -9 degree. She had to call Time & Temp in the morning to see what the temperature was. If it was -9 or colder she had to take the bus. Tried everything; ether, we even put a engine block heater in it. Made no difference. At -8 started right up. 2) Funky Thunk Thunk Thunk noise when making a left turn at between 10 and 15 miles per hour. Was fine above or below that. Checked all the U-joints. She put 140,000 miles on it. Changed the oil and rotated the tires and other than the 2 issues ran fine. Oh, heater was a bit wimpy.
My parents bought a new 1987 with Realtime 4WD for 10k out the door, basically the same spec as this car only with 4WD. We used this car a lot and drove it between Montana and southern California a few times. We used this car like a Jeep in the mountains of western Montana and it was amazing in the snow. The only issue we had was the timing belt broke around 120k miles and rust finally got to it well over 200k miles. We ended up selling the car to friend who fixed it up and continied to drive it for several years. I would buy a new version of this car anytime.
I never owned one of those but I remember them. I think what you're doing is experiencing nostalgia. If you could drive one of those again I doubt you'd be satisfied. And, if you like it so much you should have gotten the Honda Accord cross tour which was similar in concept but much better
As with 40 years ago, Civics and Corollas were more expensive than the competition, but worth it. Adjusting for inflation, the new one is 50% more $ , but also 50% heavier, considerably larger, with the same gas mileage, double the power to weight ratio, 50% more value in quality, features, vastly better acceleration, braking, and cornering, and safety- passive, active, and structural. It's all in there.
i used to own a 1984 Honda civic 4 speed manual transmission, and it was a very reliable car, great gas mileage, hand cranked windows, no air conditioner, easy to maintain. I would pay 15 thousand for a car like that, i don't need all the led lights and digital cluster or lane assist, or backup camera, or the blue tooth. they don't make affordable and reliable cars because they don't want to make them, i used to own a 1982 honda accord hatch back also and it was a great car. the new cars are money pits with all their sensors and all their electronic unnecessary surveillance devices.
I have to throughly disagree with our RUclips presenter. $33,000 for a 2024 "economy" car is NOT affordable. Today's autos have so much useless fluff, from bloated video screens, useless entertainment system add ons, dual zone air conditioning, etc, etc. That is why I would love to see a basic car like the mid 80s Civic be built. But, unfortunately, this the United States with the American consumer being brainwashed into thinking bigger, more bloated, overly complicated and more unaffordable is always something we should desire in our personal transportation needs.
I'm betting you could drive it from one end of the country to the other with no issues. I'm glad to see the car getting to live it's life finally. Car makers need to get back to simple, dependable, affordable. Be safe in your travels guys!
I’m glad I’m not the only person who struggles to find the hood latch. 😂. I’m old enough to remember when the third gen Civic came out. It was a game changer for economy cars. It had style that was lacking in other cars plus awesome 80s Honda reliability.
I have been looking forward to the Cali trip with this car since you announced it months ago. I am old enough to remember these cars well. Back then, practical cars like this were what i most looked for, especially as they fit in my price range. Anyway, here's hoping the trip to California goes smoothly!
If this was owned by Honda, I wonder why they left fuel in it over decades. I would think they would have procedures to drain the fluids before storing cars. Even so, it probably needed an overhaul anyway, due to rust on metal, rubber parts becoming brittle, etc. over time. Some tips for driving to CA. 1. Some western states have 85 octane gas. Do not use it. It made the engine of my 90 Toyota Tercel ping like crazy. 2. Stay behind semis going up mountain hills. They go slow too. 3. Use engine braking downhill to keep your brakes cool.
I would like the old civic for no more than 15k, can do without all of the extraneous stuff on the 2024 Saw a pristine 2012 civic Si with 21k moles on it for sale at carmax for $21k when shopping with my son for a car. Was a steal as far as I'm concerned, has just the right amount of tech on it and is a blast to drive. But my son had his heart set on a WRX. Good luck on your trip! I'm sure you'll have a blast.
@@LafemmebearMusic Everything aside from A/C and power side mirrors is extraneous. That's all my current car has from late 2000s along with a radio, and I don't feel need to have anything more even though I've had other cars with much more. Stuff like power seats, power windows, power moonroof, infotainment system, climate control, cruise control, etc is nice, but I don't care for that stuff. I enjoy simply driving
To be fair, the old Civic is the larger wagon model...a more accurate comparison would have been with a standard sedan. Even better, it would be cool if Honda would make a Civic wagon again (although I suppose that's what an HR-V is).
I think the 84 Civic will make it to California under its own power. Especially since I still drive a 1993 Ford aerostar and put 9,000 miles on it doing cross country trips in 3 months. If my van can do it then I know the Civic will do it
Oh wow a brand new 80's car. I'm driving a 40 year old volvo which has almost 500k km (~310k mi) now. It would be a dream to find a brand new one. Greetings from Europe.
I'm actually pretty excited about seeing the civic make it back home. I wish you'd do a 0 - 60 with it 😅 my vote after seeing how Andy is with Hondas SHES GONNA MAKE IT!!!
@@new2000car LOL, show me where in the USA you can legally go more than about 85 mph? 13 in wheels have been used in Germany for years on the autobahn were the speeds were unlimited and they did just fine with the correct rated tires.
It will make it just fine; amazing the classic achieves same gas mileage as the new one. Best manual transmission ever made; 82 Civic GL got 59 mpg highway with that carburetor, many lasted 300K. Have a safe trip.
I wish that car manufacturers would allow for a customization for all of the bells and whistles when buying a new car. They only allow packages that include certain features within the package. Some packages do include the same features only to add others. Some features may not be necessary for me as well as some are not necessary for others. So if you start with a bare bones car, add what you need, people will be more happier with the car instead of having features that may never get used.
Just lovin' that old Civic hatch! Would totally rock that as a daily when the weather is nice. Am on my 5th Honda and although I've strayed over the decades, I just keep coming back and I'm pretty well back to stay now. Wayyyyyy back in the day bought a well used and worn 2nd gen Civic hatch for pennies and drove the snot of it like only a young male who thought he'd survive anything could. Couldn't kill the thing and finally had to junk it after our salty winters did it in and you could see the pavement go by though the holes in the floorboards. Still ran extremely well, pull the choke and turn the key and it never failed to start. Next Honda was a 2002 CRV and I just loved that thing! Lots of upright windows with great visibility, carried lots plus that Honda 2.4L was and is unkillable. Next up was a 2014 Civic LX, just a basic car but did everything it said on the box and never had any issue with it. After that was a 2018 Civic and same thing, other than the A/C recall it was flawless. Traded that in on the latest 11th gen Civic Sport and am AMAZED at how well thought out this new car is. In my country the Sport's have heated seats, heated steering wheel, sunroof, remote start, proximity key, all the safety doodad's, dual climate control, etc... Just got off the interstate today with it and it was rock solid at 80mph, didn't get moved around from the wind blast coming off the semi's like the older Honda's did. Personally not a fan of all the safety doodad's so have disabled all that are possible except for forward emergency braking and blind spot monitoring. I can turn on my own high beams, steer and adjust the cruise on my own thank you very much. But yeah, I have to keep reminding myself that THIS is a Civic?!?!?! It's just sooooo good. Sure, you can get less expensive cars but can you get a less expensive better car? That's something only a buyer can answer for themselves but after all these months with my Sport I've never thought hmmmm, maybe I should have gotten that other car. That thought doesn't come up at all. Well, except for maybe thinking I should have splurged and gotten the Si ;)
I would pay for the options of air conditioning, a radio/CD player, and probably power mirrors. If the modern Civic were THAT base model though, I bet it would still cost disproportionately more. I don't need a sunroof, dual zone automatic climate control, power windows, satellite radio/smartphone connectivity, or any driver assistance tech. But the base models will still include that kind of thing.
@@PotsdamSenior That's a good point, and I agree. The only reason I didn't specify a power mirror only on the passenger side is that I've never heard of a vehicle that offered only one as an option. If they did, I WOULD get power passenger only.
Great comparison review and good luck on the road. I think you'll have better luck with a 40 year old Civic now than you would with a 2025 Civic 40 years from now.
I love this old Civic wagon! I'm excited about your upcoming videos of your road trip. I wish manufacturers would bring back wagons, cars with large areas of glass so they're easy to see out of, wheels small enough to have actual "meat" on the tires for better ride quality, colored interiors, and upholstery patterns. I'm sick of bland all-black interiors with unpatterned upholstery that feels rough and scratchy, and interiors with horrible outward visibility. Oh, and drop all of the luxury electronic crap on base trims that makes economy cars stupidly expensive to buy and repair. Stop making economy cars financially non-economical because they're trying to turn them into small premium cars!
Would love to see Honda bring back the Acura TSX sport wagon! Don’t want the shape of the accord crosstour… the TSX sport wagon was a way better shape for utility.
Fuel injection just won't last as long as old carburettors. I have a 40 year old nissan with the original carburettor never opened or redone and it still runs. It has more then 150 k miles on it.
Where are Civics made, historically through the years Japan, North America ? I look at it this way, what does a screen(s), buttons, AC, usbs, wireless charging, etc etc actual drive the car and the answer is nothing. You need a car that drives well, fuel efficient with reliability. And diving is serious, you either know how or you don't, get your skills in check instead of relying on all those high-tech aids. Love seeing side by sides.
I can't wait to see how u guys make out. I think as long as Andy didn't miss anything going through the car and if any car that sat for 40 years a Honda will make it. I can't believe I was 6 years old when that car came out. Now I really feel old. lol. It's kind of funny that I learned to drive a manual on a 1984 but not a Honda civic but a 1984 Ford ranger. My neighbor taught me when I was 8 years old.
I agree with Alex, you will make it but you may have a few issues just from an old car that sat around for so long. I am curious if 1984 carburetor technology and years of sitting will be able to function with the changing air density on your trip. Hopefully that is the only issue you have and a few tweeks to the mixture screws gets you there without any other fiddling. Excited to watch the journey!
I would rather have the 84 Honda Civic mostly because the DIY of mechanics work at home with analogue parts versus the newer cars that have computer chips left and right if every part. Cars today are getting hella complicated. Oh and old cars don’t track you how you drive 😅🥴😜
I got another thing to add to this... One of my dailies is a 1988 Mercury topaz. I just passed the 100,000 mile tic. It deals with all sorts and she's a workhorse. 88 horsepower is plenty enough to get her up the pass and back. This car that's been sitting around and not driven ever and renewed, she'll be just fine. She's doing what she's built to do.
I’m looking forward to the road trip videos… I love the old school Civic, this class of car has all but disappeared from the U.S. market, which I think is a shame… also brown houndstooth needs to make comeback!
Back in the day with only a left side mirror, i would till the inside mirror a bit to the right and I could see a bit to the right for a quick look. for safety it's best to turn you head and look back to the right.
I have to call a little BS on the statement that some people would buy the old version today if they could. You can buy a modern version of the old Civic. It's called a Mitsubishi Mirage, and they are struggling to sell them, Id bet you wouldn't buy one.
Progression ? In 1984 that civic was 20% of the average income. In 2024 it's half (50%) of today's average income. So considering price to own there's no progress, it's now just an expensive cheap car. It would cost you 75% less to operate a 1984 Honda Civic today than to operate a new Civic. So it has gotten worst in the last 40 years.
I wanted to comment BEFORE I watched this video specifically because I want to compare my opinion going into it with what I think afterward. So here it is: the new one, while a decent car in today's market, is too over the top and needlessly complicated, while the old one is simple, reliable, much more durable, easily serviced and maintained. VERDICT: If I could buy a brand new old Civic versus a brand new current year Civic, I would happily buy the old one. Edit: after watching the video I've Come Away with this conclusion. If it's a binary choice of only the new Civic versus the 84 that you're showing here I would take the old one. However, if I could get one a few years newer with fuel injection, and a passenger side mirror I absolutely would do that. Air conditioning would be nice but not a necessity. Since I don't want multiple touch screens and automatic climate control and adaptive cruise control and all these other high-dollar expensive things that cost a fortune to repair after the warranty is expired and they fail, a car that I could buy for $21,000 after adjusted for inflation that's much simpler would absolutely be better for me. Or if we talked about adding just a couple of simple things like fuel injection, a passenger side mirror, and a basic air conditioner, we might push that price up to $24,000. Also, with today's modern Bluetooth FM radio converters, having a basic AM FM radio is all I would need because then I could connect my phone through a simple $15.00 Amazon Bluetooth adapter So if I had the opportunity to choose what era of older Civic I would buy compared to a modern one, it would probably be mid-90s, preferably OBD2. But once again, if it was a binary choice between this 1984 Civic as it is, versus a modern Civic, I would take the 84 all day long. I would just add a passenger side mirror and a cheap basic aftermarket radio to it.
Most people don’t want to buy a vehicle if it Doesn’t have all the fancy features. Many companies are sacrificing the power train and build quality (GM, Ford, etc.) to lower prices so they can put the tech and safety features they need to put in for people to buy them. People complain about a 7” screen.
You can get a 2025 Nissan kicks base model for $24k. It has 140 hp. That would be a good comparison to the 84 civic for price, and body style (sort of). As low as I feel 140 hp is, it’s double the civic’s. I would dislike driving a kicks, so I really would hate driving the 84 today.
@new2000car the kicks is a modern car with way too much needless electronics in it. On top of that, it comes with Nissan reliability, which means it's barely better than a Dodge. I'll happily stick with my 2000 Toyota Camry 4 cylinder 5 speed that's at nearly 200,000 mi.
I had a 1989 CRX-Si. I put 320,000 hard miles on that car. Had a 1994 Civic Dx that had 172,000 miles but met a early demise from a Ford Econoline van. That 1984 Civic needs a K20 swap.
My favorite part thank you Alex and kase. For this magnificent glorious video. It’s sad Alex it’s not gonna go but it seems really solid. You three did outstanding fixing it up. I’m proud. It lived a sheltered life but you three brothers came along and said. It needs to be in the sun Like kase said it’s a star too. I love you guys 18:51
The little Honda will make it all the way, the biggest thing is only going to be the lack of power over the mountains and the lack of strength in its headlights if you guys are driving in the dark. I can’t wait to see your amazing journey and I am so excited that Honda is letting you guys enjoy this little piece of their history.👍🚙💨💨🤗🤗🤗🤗
No, people go for the older Civic because you can actually work on the thing and you don't need to own a multi-million dollar computer to do it. I get that Honda's paying you guys for this but that's the real reason. It's cheaper. Buying a car part once in awhile is still less than a monthly payment for a brand new car. Full stop.
I'm tired to telling people, 5:00 IT IS NOT A CVT! Is a eCVT, it doesn't have the belt mechanism but a clutch to control electric motors or the engine to direct drive the wheels, please stop calling it CVT! Is not the same thing at all!
It has speaker grills, yet no radio. Weird. I wonder if it has speakers under the grills? I'm assuming it doesn't. I guess the hole was there regardless and a blank was probably more expensive to develop than using the existing grill.
As a 80's car enthusiast, i am actually happy to see that you guys gonna drive this Civic. Cars are meant to be driven, not to be put away. Its time for the girl to finally stretch her legs. I bet it's gonna be lots of fun!
The 84 Civic is all most people need, basic cheap transportation that gets good mpg. My brother had one and drove it for 10+ years and 250,000 miles before selling it in excellent well maintained condition!
True. Though they are so loud on the highway and felt very tin-ey. There were 1984 domestic cars that could also go 250,000 miles and were much more pleasant to drive.
True. Not everyone needs, wants or can afford fully loaded 200hp SUV.
Word. I drive an 04 Blazer LS RWD, and despite having multiple oil leaks, flaky steering, and deteriorating leather on the wheel, it still drives like it’s fresh off the lot. For the $5000 it was bought for, it can tow up to 5500lbs, runs a naturally-aspirated 4.3L V6, and it carries cargo and passengers like a champ.
I'm really glad to hear Honda decided to cooperate with you, I mean your channel has developed so much and you're recognized as a high professional journalists 👍
That 84 Honda Civic is the car I learned how to drive, 5 speeds, manual awesome transmission, it belonged to my auntie Angela, she removed the battery at one point to stop me from driving it. I just brought 2 friends, they pushed me and we drove away 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
My college car was a 1984 Honda Accord. That thing was incredibly reliable and relatively simple like the 1984 Civic. I wish you the best on your trip!
In 2000, I drove an ‘85 Civic wagon like that across the country. I loved that little wagon but I did have to draft behind semi’s if I wanted to go the speed limit in a head wind. Mine had push button 4 wheel drive and would go through anything that didn’t high center it.
The Honda CRX was a great car from this period as well. My Brother had a 1984 CRX Si that with a manual got around 50MPG on the highway! It is unfortunate that the manual has gone mostly the way of the Dodo!
My first car was a used, similar generation Toyota Corolla with similar horsepower. I agree with Alex, I think your perception of 76 horsepower will change when you have to drive it over mountains. lol. My Corolla struggled over the Appalachians, so I can only imagine taking that Honda over the Rockies. Thankfully it's a manual. I'm confident it will make it to California just fine though even if the ride won't be pleasant. Those old Civics are tough old birds.
I also have to say, it amazes me that a cheap little sludge-colored car from the 1980s, that everyone who had one back then wished they could trade in for something cooler and nicer, is now considered a classic museum piece. It's kinda heartwarming that you guys are giving it a chance to bask in glory that it would never have had back when it was made. I'm looking forward to the video. 😀
Bought a 1986 civic hatch high economy version, 4 speed manual, 1300cc carb, base model with factory manuals for $6,000 total. 44 mpg in town and 54 mpg on highway cruising easily 80 mph. Had to slip the clutch to get it moving from a dead stop more than I would have liked. Put over 100,000 thousand miles on it and had seat coverings replaced under warranty, the only time it went back to the dealer. Amazing cars in my opinion especially in 1986 for basic transportation.
80's Hondas were so much better built than the domestic cars of that time. Those cars cemented Honda as a serious competitor in North America. I'm guessing the Honda makes it to Cali with minimal issues. The only thing I could see maybe giving you an issue is the carburetor. You're going from high altitude down to low altitude so there may be some stumbling with the idling and acceleration.
My first new car was an Red 1986 Honda Civic Si. It was a wounderful car, loved the 5 speed shifter & got gas mileage on trips in the low to mid 40MPG. It was a great car to take a trip in. It also had speed control for trips. Great basic sunroof & could hold plenty ofstuff with the back seats down. Had pep when it needed it & mechanically it never had much wrong with it at all. Had that car for 15 years & 215K on the odometer. I really wish I had never sold it.
Obviously there many advantages to newer cars - safety, comfort, power to efficiency ratio, etc. On the other hand, there is so much in a modern car that seems unnecessary, and is only put there to make us feel like we are driving a high-end vehicle. And it's driven the cost up much higher than it needs to be for a basic, fairly necessary product. I have 4 adult kids and only one of them drives because the others feel that it is all too expensive and complicated.
@@kirbycairo very good points.
What i don't like about modern cars is the exterior design with all the random edges and corners. Some look as if someone already crashed or as if it already got rear ended.
@@hyperturbotechnomike yes, I agree. For this exact reason I drive a ten year old box-like vehicle that is as far away from the new designs as I could find.
"Nothing you don't need"
-Multiple backseat ash trays
As someone who's put mega miles on tiny Japanese engines screaming their heart out, I've got faith in the old girl just as much as I do Andy
Andy is always a great guest on the show, brilliant 85 year old mechanic stuck in a young bucks body! Love the old CIVIC.
My first car was a 1989 Honda Civic hatchback
Base model
No a/c
Radio delete plate
4 speed manual
Vinyl seats
Man I loved that car and still miss it
My wife had an 84 Civic, before we got married. Two interesting features it had.
1) No matter what it wouldn't start if it was colder than -9 degree. She had to call Time & Temp in the morning to see what the temperature was. If it was -9 or colder she had to take the bus. Tried everything; ether, we even put a engine block heater in it. Made no difference. At -8 started right up.
2) Funky Thunk Thunk Thunk noise when making a left turn at between 10 and 15 miles per hour. Was fine above or below that. Checked all the U-joints.
She put 140,000 miles on it. Changed the oil and rotated the tires and other than the 2 issues ran fine.
Oh, heater was a bit wimpy.
My parents bought a new 1987 with Realtime 4WD for 10k out the door, basically the same spec as this car only with 4WD. We used this car a lot and drove it between Montana and southern California a few times. We used this car like a Jeep in the mountains of western Montana and it was amazing in the snow. The only issue we had was the timing belt broke around 120k miles and rust finally got to it well over 200k miles. We ended up selling the car to friend who fixed it up and continied to drive it for several years. I would buy a new version of this car anytime.
I never owned one of those but I remember them. I think what you're doing is experiencing nostalgia. If you could drive one of those again I doubt you'd be satisfied. And, if you like it so much you should have gotten the Honda Accord cross tour which was similar in concept but much better
Actually I expected more of a size difference but the new one isn’t all that much bigger. Old Civic is a GOAT but the new one is definitely cool too.
What you mean the new one is bigger than a 90s/00s accord both in wheel base and interior room .....not to mention wider
Weight..the new one is a bloated porker!
Bro, That is the "Shuttle" was renamed "Wagovan" for the USA. The normal Civic was a little 2 door Hatchback.
@@truckercowboyed2638Yeah, I know. But I thought the Civic was a lot smaller than the new one. Side by side it’s only a little smaller.
@@truckercowboyed2638 almost all cars are bigger now - safety, structural rigidity, etc… I would not want to be t-boned by a truck in the old civic
His outfit is very much coordinated with the ‘84 Civic 😂 love it!
A/C and radio's were normally a dealer installed option on imports in the mid '80's.
You would think the car museum folks would have at least a few protocols for car storage for classics that would not have destroyed them.
As with 40 years ago, Civics and Corollas were more expensive than the competition, but worth it.
Adjusting for inflation, the new one is 50% more $ , but also 50% heavier, considerably larger, with the same gas mileage, double the power to weight ratio, 50% more value in quality, features, vastly better acceleration, braking, and cornering, and safety- passive, active, and structural. It's all in there.
i used to own a 1984 Honda civic 4 speed manual transmission, and it was a very reliable car, great gas mileage, hand cranked windows, no air conditioner, easy to maintain. I would pay 15 thousand for a car like that, i don't need all the led lights and digital cluster or lane assist, or backup camera, or the blue tooth. they don't make affordable and reliable cars because they don't want to make them, i used to own a 1982 honda accord hatch back also and it was a great car. the new cars are money pits with all their sensors and all their electronic unnecessary surveillance devices.
In normal countries, they still sell car for 6000$ like that. America is a Joke
I have to throughly disagree with our RUclips presenter.
$33,000 for a 2024 "economy" car is NOT affordable.
Today's autos have so much useless fluff, from bloated video screens, useless entertainment system add ons, dual zone air conditioning, etc, etc.
That is why I would love to see a basic car like the mid 80s Civic be built.
But, unfortunately, this the United States with the American consumer being brainwashed into thinking bigger, more bloated, overly complicated and more unaffordable is always something we should desire in our personal transportation needs.
all i need is a radio with apple car play, good mpg, and the durability to drive 140 miles a day 5 days a week.the rest i could care less about
I'm betting you could drive it from one end of the country to the other with no issues. I'm glad to see the car getting to live it's life finally. Car makers need to get back to simple, dependable, affordable. Be safe in your travels guys!
I’m glad I’m not the only person who struggles to find the hood latch. 😂. I’m old enough to remember when the third gen Civic came out. It was a game changer for economy cars. It had style that was lacking in other cars plus awesome 80s Honda reliability.
I have been looking forward to the Cali trip with this car since you announced it months ago. I am old enough to remember these cars well. Back then, practical cars like this were what i most looked for, especially as they fit in my price range. Anyway, here's hoping the trip to California goes smoothly!
If this was owned by Honda, I wonder why they left fuel in it over decades. I would think they would have procedures to drain the fluids before storing cars. Even so, it probably needed an overhaul anyway, due to rust on metal, rubber parts becoming brittle, etc. over time. Some tips for driving to CA. 1. Some western states have 85 octane gas. Do not use it. It made the engine of my 90 Toyota Tercel ping like crazy. 2. Stay behind semis going up mountain hills. They go slow too. 3. Use engine braking downhill to keep your brakes cool.
Whoever stored it is probably going to get fired if they still work for Honda lol
So lovely that '84. Would love to own that gem. Simple little car.
I had a 76 and a 78. Wonderful cars with no issues with steering or fuel pumps unlike the current models.
I have a 97 Chevy Cavalier with no rust and at 145,000 miles on it. Still drives the same when I bought it.
Is your road-trip with Tommy? I love the on-screen dynamic between you guys!
I would like the old civic for no more than 15k, can do without all of the extraneous stuff on the 2024 Saw a pristine 2012 civic Si with 21k moles on it for sale at carmax for $21k when shopping with my son for a car. Was a steal as far as I'm concerned, has just the right amount of tech on it and is a blast to drive. But my son had his heart set on a WRX. Good luck on your trip! I'm sure you'll have a blast.
What’s extraneous in your opinion?
@@LafemmebearMusic Everything aside from A/C and power side mirrors is extraneous. That's all my current car has from late 2000s along with a radio, and I don't feel need to have anything more even though I've had other cars with much more. Stuff like power seats, power windows, power moonroof, infotainment system, climate control, cruise control, etc is nice, but I don't care for that stuff. I enjoy simply driving
To be fair, the old Civic is the larger wagon model...a more accurate comparison would have been with a standard sedan. Even better, it would be cool if Honda would make a Civic wagon again (although I suppose that's what an HR-V is).
I think the 84 Civic will make it to California under its own power. Especially since I still drive a 1993 Ford aerostar and put 9,000 miles on it doing cross country trips in 3 months. If my van can do it then I know the Civic will do it
Oh wow a brand new 80's car. I'm driving a 40 year old volvo which has almost 500k km (~310k mi) now. It would be a dream to find a brand new one. Greetings from Europe.
I'm actually pretty excited about seeing the civic make it back home. I wish you'd do a 0 - 60 with it 😅 my vote after seeing how Andy is with Hondas SHES GONNA MAKE IT!!!
I drove my 1986 over Trail Ridge Rd. several times & had no problem at all!
*Huge heavy wheels and tires*
That's a regression in engineering if you ask me.
Tires are the single greatest engineering advancement of the past 40 years, actually.
@@jamesengland7461 Are you a bot? I specifically mentioned Huge HEAVY wheels and tires. Nobody needs these things.
@@horseathalt7308at speeds over 120 mph, the 13 inchers are not safe.
@@new2000car LOL, show me where in the USA you can legally go more than about 85 mph? 13 in wheels have been used in Germany for years on the autobahn were the speeds were unlimited and they did just fine with the correct rated tires.
It will make it just fine; amazing the classic achieves same gas mileage as the new one. Best manual transmission ever made; 82 Civic GL got 59 mpg highway with that carburetor, many lasted 300K. Have a safe trip.
I wish that car manufacturers would allow for a customization for all of the bells and whistles when buying a new car. They only allow packages that include certain features within the package. Some packages do include the same features only to add others. Some features may not be necessary for me as well as some are not necessary for others. So if you start with a bare bones car, add what you need, people will be more happier with the car instead of having features that may never get used.
Just lovin' that old Civic hatch! Would totally rock that as a daily when the weather is nice.
Am on my 5th Honda and although I've strayed over the decades, I just keep coming back and I'm pretty well back to stay now.
Wayyyyyy back in the day bought a well used and worn 2nd gen Civic hatch for pennies and drove the snot of it like only a young male who thought he'd survive anything could. Couldn't kill the thing and finally had to junk it after our salty winters did it in and you could see the pavement go by though the holes in the floorboards. Still ran extremely well, pull the choke and turn the key and it never failed to start. Next Honda was a 2002 CRV and I just loved that thing! Lots of upright windows with great visibility, carried lots plus that Honda 2.4L was and is unkillable. Next up was a 2014 Civic LX, just a basic car but did everything it said on the box and never had any issue with it. After that was a 2018 Civic and same thing, other than the A/C recall it was flawless. Traded that in on the latest 11th gen Civic Sport and am AMAZED at how well thought out this new car is. In my country the Sport's have heated seats, heated steering wheel, sunroof, remote start, proximity key, all the safety doodad's, dual climate control, etc... Just got off the interstate today with it and it was rock solid at 80mph, didn't get moved around from the wind blast coming off the semi's like the older Honda's did. Personally not a fan of all the safety doodad's so have disabled all that are possible except for forward emergency braking and blind spot monitoring. I can turn on my own high beams, steer and adjust the cruise on my own thank you very much.
But yeah, I have to keep reminding myself that THIS is a Civic?!?!?! It's just sooooo good. Sure, you can get less expensive cars but can you get a less expensive better car? That's something only a buyer can answer for themselves but after all these months with my Sport I've never thought hmmmm, maybe I should have gotten that other car. That thought doesn't come up at all. Well, except for maybe thinking I should have splurged and gotten the Si ;)
My mom had an '81 Civic hatchback. Its nickname was "The Roller Skate". Super cheap and simple car.
The old one all day any day the wagon I used to want one of those when I was a teenager there is just something so endearing about them ❤
I would pay for the options of air conditioning, a radio/CD player, and probably power mirrors. If the modern Civic were THAT base model though, I bet it would still cost disproportionately more. I don't need a sunroof, dual zone automatic climate control, power windows, satellite radio/smartphone connectivity, or any driver assistance tech. But the base models will still include that kind of thing.
Who needs a power mirror on the driver's side? I never understood. And never will.
@@PotsdamSenior That's a good point, and I agree. The only reason I didn't specify a power mirror only on the passenger side is that I've never heard of a vehicle that offered only one as an option. If they did, I WOULD get power passenger only.
Miss my 91 civic wagon.
Great comparison review and good luck on the road. I think you'll have better luck with a 40 year old Civic now than you would with a 2025 Civic 40 years from now.
I love this old Civic wagon! I'm excited about your upcoming videos of your road trip. I wish manufacturers would bring back wagons, cars with large areas of glass so they're easy to see out of, wheels small enough to have actual "meat" on the tires for better ride quality, colored interiors, and upholstery patterns. I'm sick of bland all-black interiors with unpatterned upholstery that feels rough and scratchy, and interiors with horrible outward visibility. Oh, and drop all of the luxury electronic crap on base trims that makes economy cars stupidly expensive to buy and repair. Stop making economy cars financially non-economical because they're trying to turn them into small premium cars!
Would love to see Honda bring back the Acura TSX sport wagon! Don’t want the shape of the accord crosstour… the TSX sport wagon was a way better shape for utility.
Fuel injection just won't last as long as old carburettors. I have a 40 year old nissan with the original carburettor never opened or redone and it still runs. It has more then 150 k miles on it.
Who would have thought 20 years later people would be putting obnoxious exhaust, wings, and dragon decals on it and think it’s cool?
I drive one of these daily. I'm confident you guys are gonna make it. 190,000 miles and still going
Where are Civics made, historically through the years Japan, North America ? I look at it this way, what does a screen(s), buttons, AC, usbs, wireless charging, etc etc actual drive the car and the answer is nothing. You need a car that drives well, fuel efficient with reliability. And diving is serious, you either know how or you don't, get your skills in check instead of relying on all those high-tech aids. Love seeing side by sides.
Give me the old one, in fact, give me two of them
If Honda was making these 1984 models brand new just like they were made in 1984 they would sell like hotcakes! They are that good and reliable!
I love these old honda's they are still the best daily work commuter.
Its going to make it fine
Love the old wagon
I can't wait to see how u guys make out. I think as long as Andy didn't miss anything going through the car and if any car that sat for 40 years a Honda will make it. I can't believe I was 6 years old when that car came out. Now I really feel old. lol. It's kind of funny that I learned to drive a manual on a 1984 but not a Honda civic but a 1984 Ford ranger. My neighbor taught me when I was 8 years old.
I agree with Alex, you will make it but you may have a few issues just from an old car that sat around for so long. I am curious if 1984 carburetor technology and years of sitting will be able to function with the changing air density on your trip. Hopefully that is the only issue you have and a few tweeks to the mixture screws gets you there without any other fiddling. Excited to watch the journey!
I would rather have the 84 Honda Civic mostly because the DIY of mechanics work at home with analogue parts versus the newer cars that have computer chips left and right if every part. Cars today are getting hella complicated. Oh and old cars don’t track you how you drive 😅🥴😜
I got another thing to add to this... One of my dailies is a 1988 Mercury topaz. I just passed the 100,000 mile tic. It deals with all sorts and she's a workhorse. 88 horsepower is plenty enough to get her up the pass and back. This car that's been sitting around and not driven ever and renewed, she'll be just fine. She's doing what she's built to do.
I’m looking forward to the road trip videos… I love the old school Civic, this class of car has all but disappeared from the U.S. market, which I think is a shame… also brown houndstooth needs to make comeback!
Back in the day with only a left side mirror, i would till the inside mirror a bit to the right and I could see a bit to the right for a quick look. for safety it's best to turn you head and look back to the right.
I have to call a little BS on the statement that some people would buy the old version today if they could. You can buy a modern version of the old Civic. It's called a Mitsubishi Mirage, and they are struggling to sell them, Id bet you wouldn't buy one.
The new Honda Civic looks about the same size as the Honda Accord. The Civic is a compact sedan while the Accord is a mid-size sedan
Progression ? In 1984 that civic was 20% of the average income. In 2024 it's half (50%) of today's average income. So considering price to own there's no progress, it's now just an expensive cheap car. It would cost you 75% less to operate a 1984 Honda Civic today than to operate a new Civic. So it has gotten worst in the last 40 years.
80s: a small coupe that looks cute
2020s: reminds me of a subaru Impreza
I wanted to comment BEFORE I watched this video specifically because I want to compare my opinion going into it with what I think afterward.
So here it is: the new one, while a decent car in today's market, is too over the top and needlessly complicated, while the old one is simple, reliable, much more durable, easily serviced and maintained.
VERDICT: If I could buy a brand new old Civic versus a brand new current year Civic, I would happily buy the old one.
Edit: after watching the video I've Come Away with this conclusion. If it's a binary choice of only the new Civic versus the 84 that you're showing here I would take the old one. However, if I could get one a few years newer with fuel injection, and a passenger side mirror I absolutely would do that. Air conditioning would be nice but not a necessity. Since I don't want multiple touch screens and automatic climate control and adaptive cruise control and all these other high-dollar expensive things that cost a fortune to repair after the warranty is expired and they fail, a car that I could buy for $21,000 after adjusted for inflation that's much simpler would absolutely be better for me.
Or if we talked about adding just a couple of simple things like fuel injection, a passenger side mirror, and a basic air conditioner, we might push that price up to $24,000. Also, with today's modern Bluetooth FM radio converters, having a basic AM FM radio is all I would need because then I could connect my phone through a simple $15.00 Amazon Bluetooth adapter So if I had the opportunity to choose what era of older Civic I would buy compared to a modern one, it would probably be mid-90s, preferably OBD2. But once again, if it was a binary choice between this 1984 Civic as it is, versus a modern Civic, I would take the 84 all day long. I would just add a passenger side mirror and a cheap basic aftermarket radio to it.
Most people don’t want to buy a vehicle if it Doesn’t have all the fancy features.
Many companies are sacrificing the power train and build quality (GM, Ford, etc.) to lower prices so they can put the tech and safety features they need to put in for people to buy them.
People complain about a 7” screen.
You can get a 2025 Nissan kicks base model for $24k. It has 140 hp. That would be a good comparison to the 84 civic for price, and body style (sort of). As low as I feel 140 hp is, it’s double the civic’s. I would dislike driving a kicks, so I really would hate driving the 84 today.
@new2000car the kicks is a modern car with way too much needless electronics in it. On top of that, it comes with Nissan reliability, which means it's barely better than a Dodge. I'll happily stick with my 2000 Toyota Camry 4 cylinder 5 speed that's at nearly 200,000 mi.
The old Civic looks stunned
cool the first add I saw was for honda civic any one else ?
I had a 1989 CRX-Si. I put 320,000 hard miles on that car. Had a 1994 Civic Dx that had 172,000 miles but met a early demise from a Ford Econoline van. That 1984 Civic needs a K20 swap.
You could fit more stuff in the old one than the new one.
I like a car where the most advanced feature is a mirror I gotta flip the little thingy on to dim it.
It was the 80s where everything was so brown lol
Guys the 1984 Civic is the "Wagovan" / "Shuttle". It's Not the regular Civic hatchback!
There was a regression
Yall videos are so entertaining and relatable! Y’all’s personalities are so watchable and likeabke
My favorite part thank you Alex and kase. For this magnificent glorious video. It’s sad Alex it’s not gonna go but it seems really solid. You three did outstanding fixing it up. I’m proud. It lived a sheltered life but you three brothers came along and said. It needs to be in the sun Like kase said it’s a star too. I love you guys 18:51
That 40 year old Honda Civic has a rear defroster. A cheap base model didn't have a rear defroster as shown on Doug Dumero's channel
The little Honda will make it all the way, the biggest thing is only going to be the lack of power over the mountains and the lack of strength in its headlights if you guys are driving in the dark.
I can’t wait to see your amazing journey and I am so excited that Honda is letting you guys enjoy this little piece of their history.👍🚙💨💨🤗🤗🤗🤗
I'm quite confident in old school Japanese tech👍❤
*I'd take the 1984 Honda Civic every time over the new disposable 2025*
I want to try to get my hands on one
No, people go for the older Civic because you can actually work on the thing and you don't need to own a multi-million dollar computer to do it. I get that Honda's paying you guys for this but that's the real reason. It's cheaper. Buying a car part once in awhile is still less than a monthly payment for a brand new car. Full stop.
Someone please tell me I'm not the only viewer who has seen the Surprised Eel Historian on Twitter. Guy's basically dedicated his life to eel-ology
You should ask Honda if they have any other 80s Civics or Accords, they would be willing to let you keep.
She'll make it!
Why wouldn't Honda upkeep this little gem of a car. I'll take it over the new one any day.
I hope the car doesn’t sit and rot when it gets back to the museum
Why do we not get under seat trays anymore!? What the heck!? The space is still there! But no tray! I’m mad.
Computers and seat motors are there and subwoofers
@@nipperdawg1865 In every vehicle I’ve owned there’s nothin
I predict no mechanical issues. The car will run better when they get there than the start.
I'm tired to telling people, 5:00 IT IS NOT A CVT! Is a eCVT, it doesn't have the belt mechanism but a clutch to control electric motors or the engine to direct drive the wheels, please stop calling it CVT! Is not the same thing at all!
True, but that's the stupid manufacturers ' fault
It has speaker grills, yet no radio. Weird. I wonder if it has speakers under the grills? I'm assuming it doesn't. I guess the hole was there regardless and a blank was probably more expensive to develop than using the existing grill.
Did you discuss all the recalls?
Rather have the 84
One thing the old civic has over new one. Old one is probably manufactured in Japan.
It'll make it. It'll get you where you want to go! Bon voyage!
Please try to estimate the mpg and let us know.
i would prefer that manual mirror on driver side all day long ........cheaper to buy, to replace , cant fail
Old Civic is the size of current SxS
*Yeah the $33,000 dollars gets you a lot more....to break and fail!*