As the buyer of a used 2004 Honda Civic Ex, I will exclaim that it is an amazing car. After eleven months of ownership and thirteen thousand miles after, I am very happy. The car runs excellent.
My favorite part of the vehicle is the feel. For an eleven-year-old car, the drive feels absolutely great with no hiccups or feeling of it wanting to fall apart. It feels a like a solid performer. My second favorite thing about the car is the fuel efficiency. Combine city and highway miles, I obtain 34-37 miles per gallon. I can get as much as 40 miles per gallon riding on highway alone with cruise control activated.
The only gripe I have about the car is the lack of all-wheel drive. In NJ/NY where the winters can be harsh, the lack of it will make driving and parking in the snow and ice nerve-wracking. But, alas, it is a front-wheel drive car so that’s better than real-wheel in the snow.
Also, I would like to add that finding parts online is easy and cheap.
In regards to maintenance, it is not recommended to use non-Honda transmission fluid. Honda transmission fluid only.