First Car to Buy in 2024 Dec - 2025 Jan (Honda Civic FD1,FD3, FD4)

[pasindu oshadha]

Hello good people in Auto Lanka,

I am planning to buy my first car these days and I am really interested in buying a Honda Civic FD Series car. So far I have noted few cars like this.
 

• FD1 Cars - 6Mn - 7.6Mn price range, (yr 2006 - 2008)
• FD3 Cars - 6Mn - 7Mn price range, (yr 2006 - 2010)
• FD4 Cars - 6.6Mn - 7.8Mn Price range (yr 2008 - 2010)

So far I have done my homework and as per the findings through this website and other various sources, below is the summary of what I absorbed.

• FD1 - high performance, joy rider with power, hard to find a balanced (between the price and condition) vehicle
• FD3 - hybrid version, balanced power and efficient, battery issues, easy to bargain , bit cheaper than the other models.
• FD4 - latest, decent power, nicely maintained more vehicles, bit higher prices depending on the vehicle conditions.

My Main questions are:

1. which one/series I should consider when buying -  any specific reasons?.
2. what are the know faults and issues specific to the above models.
3. How can I check if the car is not a garbage (generally)

All of your valuable comments, thoughts and suggestions are welcome!!  

I am a work-from-home worker and I won't do over 50Kms per day, weekdays. but will be doing 150Km+ on weekends. - for now I am not considered about the fuel consumption but concerned about the time I will be spending in the garage!!

The main reason I wanted to buy a civic is that, I love the vehicle from childhood, nice looking and even the more availability of aftermarket modifications.

======= side notes about current market, for future readers=======

By the time this thread is started, the government says import restrictions will be lifted starting February 2025, with the tax structure remaining the same.
 

Edited December 24, 2024 by pasindu oshadha
typo

[fiat fan]

If you can find a good specimen, FD1 is the best all the way. The normies found out they were excellent cars and ruined them and hyped the market. I would say wait for one and buy it. Kandy has some clean examples with 1st and 2nd owners. 
 

If you really cant find one, FD4 it is. Not as cool. But not bad at all. It’s just that the FD1 with all the options comes real close to a Euro. Those paddle shifter and open sunroof do wonders on good drives in the bends.

Whats sad is, the FD  series was 2.8 to 4 mil a decade ago. Funny how that works in SL.

[alpha17]

I was in the same dilemma like 6 years ago. By all means, stay away from the Hybrid. But i think you have already figured out all the pros and cons by yourself, so it's upto you

[matroska]

  On 12/25/2024 at 7:57 PM, fiat fan said:

hats sad is, the FD  series was 2.8 to 4 mil a decade ago

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IIRC FD's were around 4M even as late as 2018.

 

  On 12/24/2024 at 9:57 PM, pasindu oshadha said:

All of your valuable comments, thoughts and suggestions are welcome!!  

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FD1 all the way but good ones are like gold dust. Keep the FD4 as backup. Nothing bad with the FD3 but keep in mind potential battery replacements etc.