#Shortshift

Hmmmm., what do I say about the r18 civic that other content creators haven’t said before? The 8th gen Civic has a massive fan following in India due to its looks and the sweet revving r18 1.8-litre SOHC engine that pits out 135hp. The R18 motor has a very linear power delivery until 5k rpm, and once the Vtec solenoid kicks in, you feel the engine rev a bit faster. 

The Civic's dash has aged well and still looks refreshing. You sit low to the ground, which makes you feel like you are driving a sports car. The steering wheel is great to hold, and the feedback is insane! Once you are in the car, you’ll automatically appreciate Honda's designers for designing the Civic’s dash. It looks like a spaceship thanks to the high-mounted digital display that shows your speed, fuel level, and coolant temperature. 

One of the most intriguing features of this vehicle is the hybrid racing short shifter. Every time I shift a gear, I find myself beaming like a child playing peekaboo. Better yet, I almost had a boner when I downshifted 😂. You may think I'm exaggerating as you read this, but you have to experience a proper short shifter to understand.

The car also gets an OEM body kit from the Civic S that was sold in limited numbers. The most unique mod apart from the short shifter is the OEM 17-inch Accord CL 7 EuroR wheels wrapped in Michelin PS4 tyres. The white on white makes it pain in the rear to maintain but Tharun seems to maintain it well considering it is his daily driver. 

The Civic is not as reliable as the L15 City. I’ve personally seen many Civic engine blocks develop cracks and even have seen Civics with blown engines. With the current clientele the Civic serves, it is better to search for an enthusiast-maintained car with proper service records.

Some of the common issues with the car

The steering rack and pump tend to fail, and they cost 40-50k to replace. The ignition coil also tends to fail, and replacing it is fairly easy. Another common issue with older Honda cars is rust. These cars tend to rust easily, and if not repaired early, it can lead to expensive replacements in the future. While the engine blowing out is a rare occurrence, steering and rust issues are pretty common in all Civics.