Thanks for that answer, you are completely correct. My four cars thus far have all been simple Japanese TC autos with NA engines. I will research a civic 1.8 auto from 2012-

I want to avoid fighting dealers for failure of a component that should not have failed etc. I read the HJ problem pages and recoil at many of the troublesome issues that require legal action etc. Given my budget (and advice here) I will avoid the Auris and consider a 4/5 yo Civic auto (I only drive autos) service it myself and expect it to last until I quit driving in 2025.

An excellent reply and I envy your car owenership habits. You could well be right about the sealed coolants. I have been in the habit of preventive maintenance for so long and no doubt wasted money but in 30 years no car has broken down. I like your point about brushing off the air filter.....I did it with a pollen filter a few months ago even though a new one on ebay was £6.

I presume you thought of the hybrid for two reasons, one being another Japanese car of well proven reliability over high miles, and two being the running costs due to it's frugality.

The first is a given with lots of Japanese cars whether made in Japan or Swindon or Burnaston, the second can be yours on some models if LPG might be a suitable alternative fuel.

We're on our 4th LPG converted car, the 3rd Japanese model and the 3rd one we've had converted ourselves, apart from the cars being re-fine tuned after about 1000 miles, none have given any bother but i've had flashlube on the conversions and this has no doubt helped keep things well, no better on fuel, but fuel @ 56/60ppl makes a hig difference to running costs.

It's not a fuel for everyone for several reasons, but as you are a long term owner the conversions costs are likely to pay you back handsomely, and LPG runs far cleaner than petrol.

My daughter would give a big thumbs up to the Civic, she's had two used 2.0 S types that have given sterling service despite being thrashed mercilessly for some 150k miles, she now has an 08 plate 1.8 for her commutes and dog carrier, this one shows every likelihod of carrying on the good work, all serviced by me, easy servicing too, surprisingly they have adjustable tappets (haven't a clue of the later model continues this), also chain cams....note keep the brakes well lubed on these, especially the rear parking brake which utilises the rear disc brakes via internal adjusters.

She also runs a 16 plate type R, her fun car which is almost too quick, i don't service that one, i'm sure no coincidence (though as John F mentions one has to wonder), but the local Honda dealer (no longer has the franchise and one can only wonder why) left her brakes needing pumping to work after some recall work and after query suggested this was quite normal...on a 300hp car! they had another think about that after her brother who picked the car up explained things clearly when he returned minutes later.

Edited by gordonbennet on 26/07/2018 at 21:01

I think the electrical and mechanical bits are integrated in some way and maintenance is not as simple as a regular car.