Video summary

I’m No Longer Buying Toyotas, This Car is Better and 5x Cheaper

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product Reviewed

A 2013 Honda Civic (4-door) with ~217,735 miles on the odometer. The car was purchased used during the COVID period with ~140,000 miles, and the video evaluates whether it needs major maintenance (especially struts/shocks/brakes) and how reliable it remains at high mileage.

Key Features Highlighted

Engine

  • 1.8L Honda 4-cylinder
  • Timing chain (not a timing belt)
  • No turbo (regular fuel injection; not a high-pressure turbo-style system)
  • Framed as “indestructible” if maintained

Suspension

  • Front: McPherson struts
  • Rear: shocks
  • The reviewer checks for wear/leaks due to reported brake/ride vibration (“shake shimming”).

Transmission

  • 5-speed automatic with real gears
  • Explicitly noted as not a CVT
  • The reviewer strongly dislikes Honda CVTs found in newer models.

Braking

  • Front discs / rear drums
  • Recently replaced: front rotors and brakes (last year per the owner)

Interior / Tech

  • Econ mode available (turned off during testing for more “zip”)
  • Traction control can be turned on/off
  • Real emergency brake (contrasted with “crappy electronic ones”)

Scan / Diagnostics

  • Uses a scan tool to check electronic health and live data.

Pros (What the Video Claims Is Good)

Suspension Appears Healthy

  • Static push test: car rebounded well, not overly bouncy
  • Hand inspection: front struts and passenger side dry (“as a bone”)
  • Rear: no bounce, simple shock setup feels fine
  • Argument: no need to spend money on new struts/shocks if tires aren’t worn/scalloped

Engine Reliability

  • Live-data results described as “almost perfect” / “insane”
  • No misfires reported
  • Idle described as excellent

Transmission Experience

  • Described as “zippy” with the 1.8L engine
  • Strong approval of the 5-speed automatic over disliked CVTs

Fuel Economy Still Solid

  • About 32.7 mpg average city/country driving

Diagnostics Show Few Meaningful Issues

  • No check engine light mentioned
  • Codes largely attributed to low voltage / weak battery, not severe engine failure

Brakes Issue Seems Minor

  • Vibration described as coming from the pedal/body, suggesting rear drums slightly out of round
  • Since rear drums aren’t worn thin, it’s framed as not urgent

Cons (What the Video Flags as Not-So-Great)

Weak Battery

  • Battery voltage noted around ~12V
  • Scan suggests replacement

Brake-Related Vibration at Hard Braking

  • Slight shuttering/vibration, especially at higher speeds or hard braking
  • Attributed to rear drums warped/out of round
  • Not considered immediately necessary, but can be corrected with rear drum/shoe replacement

One Broken/Annoying Cabin/Electrical Issue

  • Front defrost stuck on initially, eventually turned off (minor electrical control problem)

Electronic Stability / Traction-Related Trouble Codes

  • EPS / VSA / traction assistance malfunction codes exist
  • Reviewer leans toward low voltage as a contributor

User Experience / Ride Feel

The reported “shake” is investigated using:

  • Static rebound checks (struts/shocks)
  • Road testing for brake vibration behavior
  • Scan tool + live data for mechanical/electronic condition

Overall impression: smooth and stable enough, with only minor braking vibration noted.

Comparisons Made

Versus Newer Honda Civics / Newer Honda Tech

  • Reviewer dislikes modern Honda problems associated with oil dilution, turbo issues, and CVTs
  • This Civic is praised for being naturally aspirated (non-turbo 1.8L) with a traditional 5-speed automatic

Versus Generic “Mechanic Upsells”

  • Reviewer argues many people get upsold unnecessary strut/shock replacements
  • This car is presented as not needing that spending.

Ratings / Numbers Mentioned

  • Average fuel economy: ~32.7 mpg
  • Mileage evaluated: 217,735 miles
  • Battery: described as ~12 volts
  • Trouble codes: 4 codes reported via scan tool (described qualitatively; not given a numeric “score”)

Unique Points Mentioned (Consolidated)

  1. 2013 Civic with family-friendly 4-door layout and usable rear seat space (better when not fully slid back).
  2. Hood access described as easy with ample work room.
  3. 1.8L engine reliability emphasized:
    • timing chain
    • no turbo
    • simple fuel injection
  4. Claim of original alternator and “almost all original parts.”
  5. Two main concerns: strut wear risk and brake vibration/shake.
  6. Static suspension tests show good rebound and no leaking struts (front both sides dry).
  7. Rear suspension: no bounce; shock dry.
  8. Argument against replacing struts/shocks unless ride is clearly bad or tires show scalloping.
  9. Road testing plan used to confirm vibration source.
  10. Convenience/features: regular key, econ mode, real emergency brake.
  11. Reported fuel economy: 32.7 mpg average.
  12. Suggestion that the ride is ~10–15% rougher than new, but acceptable.
  13. Brake feel: vibration felt in pedal/body, not steering wheel → likely rear drums out of round.
  14. Rear drums condition: not worn thin; possible fix is rear drum/shoe replacement, but not urgent.
  15. Scan/diagnostic findings:
    • battery weak / low voltage
    • 4 trouble codes
    • EPS/VSA/traction-related and ABS-speed/low-voltage related codes
  16. Live data described as near-perfect:
    • air/fuel close to ideal
    • no misfires
    • idle “like a dream”
  17. Transmission praised:
    • real 5-speed automatic
    • contrasted against unwanted CVTs
  18. Cosmetic/UX praise: nice, not cluttered dash (and general usability).
  19. Verdict framing: great transportation with remaining life; don’t overspend on unnecessary suspension parts.
  20. “Buy attitude” comparison:
    • reviewer not a fan of newer Honda issues (oil dilution/turbo/CVT)
    • preference for this Civic’s naturally aspirated, chain-driven, geared automatic setup.

Speaker-Specific Views

Only one main speaker appears to drive the review narrative (no clear multi-speaker segments in the provided subtitles).

Concise Verdict / Recommendation

Strongly recommended for reliability and value. The video concludes this high-mileage 2013 Honda Civic likely does not need expensive suspension replacement. Minor issues are noted—especially weak battery and rear drum warping causing slight braking vibration—but overall the engine and drivetrain are described as running near-perfect and still in good life/shape.

Original video