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I'm pretty green as far as civics go, working on correcting that, and need some advice. My daughter turns 16 in a few months and wants a tuner car. I researched several brands, sunfire, Hyundai, Dodge, Chevy and many others. Civic seemed to win hands down. I need your help in deciding what year and trim pkg would be best for an inexperienced driver. Obviously no engine mods in the short term looking into an 01 or thereabouts. All replies welcome

 
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Many tuners prefer 96-00 or earlier Civics, because they're lighter and utilize a double wish bone suspension design which improves the handling in stock form a bit. In my eyes however, unless you're taking the car on a race track and are an extremely experienced driver those benefits won't be felt.

I personally have a 2002, I've owned it for six years and is my first car as well. I chose it over an earlier generation, because it overall feels like a much more modern vehicle, while still being something of a tuner car which is exactly what I wanted. Handling stock is decent, braking is decent, power is a bit lacking in the lower rpm range, but that just helped keep me out of to much trouble when I first started driving.

I would definitely suggest getting a standard transmission civic as they're more reliable and if you can get an EX model, there were numerous small improvements to it over the lower models.

 
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The Civic is a great choice for a starter car. I have no complaints about it, and it certainly isn't a sports car. And, I'm sure you're aware that they can last forever.

My 2003 LX is my first car that my parents got for me back in July. I've grown to love it, and I'm not giving it up until it dies on me. Just gonna keep buying second or third car in addition to it when I want something new.

 
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Yes most definitely an automatic a stick scares her to death. By all the reviews I've read the 7th Gen seems to have the modern safety features which obviously is foremost in my mind and is yet still old enough to be affordable. Are repairs costs pretty reasonable? I know my way around most domestic engines and have a real good aray of tools. If I could teach her how to work on her own car that would be ideal to say the least. I assume no real surprises or special tools required.

Thanks for the advice. Nice to know I'm on the right track.

 
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the one that appears to be a high potential of higher costs seem to be the auto trans slipping early (before the 100k mark) and the much needed timing belt/water pump at the same 100k miles. While doing TB, better try to do Head gasket, they tend to die sudden as well.
besides that, nothing seems to be high cost issues.

 
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Thanks for the info guys! That lets me know where to start and what to expect down the road.