---
title: "Before the New Civic Arrives, a Tribute to the Civics of Old"
description: "Paying homage to the definitive grassroots racer."
date: "2015-10-01"
modified: "2015-10-01"
authors:
  - name: "Max Goldberg"
    job_title: "Associate Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/max-goldberg"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/377/before-the-new-civic-arrives-a-tribute-to-the-civics-of-old"
categories:
  - "Honda News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Civic"
  - "compact"
  - "honda"
  - "sedan"
---

# Before the New Civic Arrives, a Tribute to the Civics of Old

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/civic-hero-1920.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The last Honda Civic was a little meh, an economy car with a controversial interior, uninspiring looks, and decidedly subpar performance. The next one looks promising, though, thanks in no small part to Honda Exterior Lead Designer [Jarad Hall](<https://www.thedrive.com/design/239/this-guy-is-why-the-honda-civic-isnt-boring-anymore>). We’ll be driving it here shortly, and everybody is excited. We’re ready for the Civic to be great again. Because, back in the Nineties, Honda’s entry-level compact was king.

With a scant curb weight and simple four-cylinder engine, the Civic was the perfect platform for tuning. A bag of tools, a few hundred dollars and some patience went a long way. This video from Elvijs Murnieks’ pays homage to the Civic, specifically the grassroots racing culture that flourished on Honda’s home turf: Japan.

Give it a watch. You’ll be tempted to hop on Craigslist, buy a $500 Civic project and get to wrenching. Bottom line: An old economy hatchback is the perfect way to get into cars. Hopefully the new Civic can pick that torch back up.

https://youtube.com/embed/kPFa4MsbM4U

## Author
Before working at *The Drive*, Max Goldberg raced the streets of Westchester in an ambulance as a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. He has boundless enthusiasm.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/maxems>)