Review of a 2003 Honda Civic vs 1996 Ford Bronco
05-22-2013
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Review of a 2003 Honda Civic vs 1996 Ford Bronco
First the Bronco:
Next the Civic:
The 1996 Ford Bronco XLT has an impressive (in its day) 5.8L351 cubic inch V8 producing 210hp@3600rpm and 325 ft/lbs torque@2200rpm. Thismonstrous low end torque, combined with the steep 4.88 final ratio in the solid Dana 44 and Dana 60 axles makes it a great vehicle for mud bogs and rock crawling. In addition, this model came with 315/75R16 Goodyear Wrangler Kevlar MT/Rtires, heavy duty Superlift leaf spring suspension and a full spool in the front end. At no time during the test drive was traction in question. Driving curvy mountain roads left something to be desired though, as braking and steering in this 7 foot-tall, 5042 pound horse lacked anything near a quick or precise response. In town the vehicle accelerates promptly, and passing power is adequate on the highway as. During the test, I averaged an abysmal 11.2mpg being easy on the gas. The Bronco does gain points in traffic and parking lots though, as its high stature and aggressive stance make it easy to get where you desire. Ride quality suffers from squeaks and an extremely stiff suspension.The automatic transmission combined with the cold a/c and spacious interior accommodates the driver well during the summer Phoenix traffic. Despite numerous runs through the mud bogs and several passes at rock crawling on Broken Arrow trail,this Bronco simply did not give up. The extreme low end torque, combined with high ground clearance and meaty tires made the Bronco a pleasure to drive off the road no matter the terrain. This bronco is by no means a rally car as the front axle spool and high stance sway and jerk the vehicle around in tight turns on dirt roads. At any speed, a blip of the throttle produces a heavenly sound from the 3” exhaust and Flowmaster 50 series muffler. 45mph is the max one can expect to travel in reasonable safety on winding dirt roads. Overall the Bronco is an excellent vehicle for those who don’t mind suffering while moving at reasonable speeds on the road to gain an unmatched edge in severe off-road driving.
The 2003 Honda Civic LX edition comes standard with a 1.7L non-vtec motor producing 115hp@6100rpm and 110 ft/lbs torque@4500rpm. As expected, revving the engine is necessary to produce sufficient power. Unlike the Bronco, the Civic suffers from tire spin at low speeds and often bogs if the engine is not revved sufficiently before launch. However, this coupe should not be underestimated. As the engine climbs steadily over 3000rpm, power is widely available and on tap due to the advantageous manual transmission. The Civic in my test is equipped with a cold air intake which lets the driver know that the engine is healthy and in for a fight. 195/60R15 GoodyearEagle GT tires were functional in corners and gave the driver a healthy road feel, but left something to be desired during full throttle launches and while controllable were easily defeated on the track in hard chicanes and sharp turn-ins. The tires handled light snow and rain with ease, and overall performance was good, allowing the driver to easily push the vehicle out of corners with speed albeit with all 4 tires squealing. The car suffers from understeer, and the loosey-goosey rear end does not help handling and braking. In city driving, the coupe is superior in every manner to the bronco. The steering responds sharply to driver input, and gives liberal amounts of feedback to the driver. The brakes, equipped with aftermarket ceramic pads, are firm yet easy to apply, and held well throughout the track day. The aftermarket clutch had a strong feel and increased the precision of the driver on the track. On the road, the Civic gives the driver a feeling of security and sportiness. The car is cramped for tall drivers, and a/c on summer days in Arizona is not adequate unless highway driving accounts for a majority of the trip. I averaged an astonishing 39.44mpg with the Civic making it even more of a blast to drive. Road noise is slightly louder than expected due to the larger wheels and aggressive tires.
As the night approaches, the Bronco and Civic are two entirely different animals. One is a torque and offroad monster that is hard to control yet fun and capable off the road, while the other is a sport compact car which delivers excitement and control on the daily drive. With mild engine and suspension and better tires, the Civic would be a fantastic street/track car and a daily driver, while any modifications to the bronco would only add to it becoming less street friendly and more off-road capable. Which is the better choice? Neither. Two different animals, two different reasons. This is why I have been able to enjoy both to their fullest extent.
Next the Civic:
The 1996 Ford Bronco XLT has an impressive (in its day) 5.8L351 cubic inch V8 producing 210hp@3600rpm and 325 ft/lbs torque@2200rpm. Thismonstrous low end torque, combined with the steep 4.88 final ratio in the solid Dana 44 and Dana 60 axles makes it a great vehicle for mud bogs and rock crawling. In addition, this model came with 315/75R16 Goodyear Wrangler Kevlar MT/Rtires, heavy duty Superlift leaf spring suspension and a full spool in the front end. At no time during the test drive was traction in question. Driving curvy mountain roads left something to be desired though, as braking and steering in this 7 foot-tall, 5042 pound horse lacked anything near a quick or precise response. In town the vehicle accelerates promptly, and passing power is adequate on the highway as. During the test, I averaged an abysmal 11.2mpg being easy on the gas. The Bronco does gain points in traffic and parking lots though, as its high stature and aggressive stance make it easy to get where you desire. Ride quality suffers from squeaks and an extremely stiff suspension.The automatic transmission combined with the cold a/c and spacious interior accommodates the driver well during the summer Phoenix traffic. Despite numerous runs through the mud bogs and several passes at rock crawling on Broken Arrow trail,this Bronco simply did not give up. The extreme low end torque, combined with high ground clearance and meaty tires made the Bronco a pleasure to drive off the road no matter the terrain. This bronco is by no means a rally car as the front axle spool and high stance sway and jerk the vehicle around in tight turns on dirt roads. At any speed, a blip of the throttle produces a heavenly sound from the 3” exhaust and Flowmaster 50 series muffler. 45mph is the max one can expect to travel in reasonable safety on winding dirt roads. Overall the Bronco is an excellent vehicle for those who don’t mind suffering while moving at reasonable speeds on the road to gain an unmatched edge in severe off-road driving.
The 2003 Honda Civic LX edition comes standard with a 1.7L non-vtec motor producing 115hp@6100rpm and 110 ft/lbs torque@4500rpm. As expected, revving the engine is necessary to produce sufficient power. Unlike the Bronco, the Civic suffers from tire spin at low speeds and often bogs if the engine is not revved sufficiently before launch. However, this coupe should not be underestimated. As the engine climbs steadily over 3000rpm, power is widely available and on tap due to the advantageous manual transmission. The Civic in my test is equipped with a cold air intake which lets the driver know that the engine is healthy and in for a fight. 195/60R15 GoodyearEagle GT tires were functional in corners and gave the driver a healthy road feel, but left something to be desired during full throttle launches and while controllable were easily defeated on the track in hard chicanes and sharp turn-ins. The tires handled light snow and rain with ease, and overall performance was good, allowing the driver to easily push the vehicle out of corners with speed albeit with all 4 tires squealing. The car suffers from understeer, and the loosey-goosey rear end does not help handling and braking. In city driving, the coupe is superior in every manner to the bronco. The steering responds sharply to driver input, and gives liberal amounts of feedback to the driver. The brakes, equipped with aftermarket ceramic pads, are firm yet easy to apply, and held well throughout the track day. The aftermarket clutch had a strong feel and increased the precision of the driver on the track. On the road, the Civic gives the driver a feeling of security and sportiness. The car is cramped for tall drivers, and a/c on summer days in Arizona is not adequate unless highway driving accounts for a majority of the trip. I averaged an astonishing 39.44mpg with the Civic making it even more of a blast to drive. Road noise is slightly louder than expected due to the larger wheels and aggressive tires.
As the night approaches, the Bronco and Civic are two entirely different animals. One is a torque and offroad monster that is hard to control yet fun and capable off the road, while the other is a sport compact car which delivers excitement and control on the daily drive. With mild engine and suspension and better tires, the Civic would be a fantastic street/track car and a daily driver, while any modifications to the bronco would only add to it becoming less street friendly and more off-road capable. Which is the better choice? Neither. Two different animals, two different reasons. This is why I have been able to enjoy both to their fullest extent.
05-24-2013
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