Hi folks, was out enjoying a drive in m' City-Cabrio these last few days, and been lookin' at buyin' a non-turbo 1984 City (just a basic 3 door) for a friend
It's the one with the 3 speed Hondamatic semi-auto trans (designated as Low, Star and OD from memory)
On a test-drive the car seemed to go ok, but my question is .....
QUESTION....."How are these transmissions ? are they known to be trouble-some or trouble-free ?"
My friend just wants a runabout to tootle around in, but she's only driven an auto before so I cannot talk her into going for a "real" gearbox. But she could drive a semi-auto ok.
Your opinions appreciated
Thanks
semi-auto trans reliability question
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gearbox
hi, i've had three Hondamatic Civics and they all performed reliably and well above satisfactory.
I prefer hondamatics to normal autos as you are still in control of the gearbox but don't have to worry about the clutch i think because of all these things Hondamatic is superior plus you can still do some really fun stuff using the brak, handbrake as well as the accelerator. so i recommend them if you have to go auto.
I prefer hondamatics to normal autos as you are still in control of the gearbox but don't have to worry about the clutch i think because of all these things Hondamatic is superior plus you can still do some really fun stuff using the brak, handbrake as well as the accelerator. so i recommend them if you have to go auto.
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thanks folks
Thanks for the comments. My flatmate ended up buying the semi-auto City and it seems to go great.
We also got, included in the price another City (manual gbox model). Towed that here on an A-frame
It *supposedly* has a good motor and gearbox (5 speed) but with parts removed it was unable to be started to be heard running
Golly mate sometimes I amaze even myself, even with a lack of visible timing marks on the bottom pulley I managed to get the (previously removed)Distributor back into its hole. Got the ign coil re-installed and wired up right first time (copied some off the other City) and got the motor started but it wouldn't rev-up. So withdrew the Dizzy partway enough to let it turn like one tooth cog along more advanced then re-seated it.
The car started right up again and now revs fine. Have no idea how exact I got the dizzy-ignition timing but obviously it's close enough for an engine to start and run well, albeit without normal driving load
Couldn't really drive the old car 'roundon the roads of inner city Chch as it's very obviuosly NOT registered or WOF, rear bumper/dam and headlights already gone, and I had to take the front dam off to fit the A-frame to tow it home the day we bought the cars, so no indicators plus someones previously removed the steeringwheel stalks, but the engine runs fine.
Currently parked on the front lawn with barely one and a half metres in front and behind it, sandwhiched between large treetrunks, so I Jacked one wheel off the ground and runs through the forward gears fine upto 80 kmh on speedo, and reverse ok also
Bastards ! In the past I've bought old wrecks that still had heaps of fuel in them. This one doesn't even get upto the E on the gauge, but there's obviously a very little petrol still there, enough to test run the motor anyway. The needle eventually creeps up above its absolute zero resting point
No I'm not wanting to wreck it out for parts, I want the parts for my own Cabrio and my flatmates 3 door City if needed
cheerio
Cate
We also got, included in the price another City (manual gbox model). Towed that here on an A-frame
It *supposedly* has a good motor and gearbox (5 speed) but with parts removed it was unable to be started to be heard running
Golly mate sometimes I amaze even myself, even with a lack of visible timing marks on the bottom pulley I managed to get the (previously removed)Distributor back into its hole. Got the ign coil re-installed and wired up right first time (copied some off the other City) and got the motor started but it wouldn't rev-up. So withdrew the Dizzy partway enough to let it turn like one tooth cog along more advanced then re-seated it.
The car started right up again and now revs fine. Have no idea how exact I got the dizzy-ignition timing but obviously it's close enough for an engine to start and run well, albeit without normal driving load
Couldn't really drive the old car 'roundon the roads of inner city Chch as it's very obviuosly NOT registered or WOF, rear bumper/dam and headlights already gone, and I had to take the front dam off to fit the A-frame to tow it home the day we bought the cars, so no indicators plus someones previously removed the steeringwheel stalks, but the engine runs fine.
Currently parked on the front lawn with barely one and a half metres in front and behind it, sandwhiched between large treetrunks, so I Jacked one wheel off the ground and runs through the forward gears fine upto 80 kmh on speedo, and reverse ok also
Bastards ! In the past I've bought old wrecks that still had heaps of fuel in them. This one doesn't even get upto the E on the gauge, but there's obviously a very little petrol still there, enough to test run the motor anyway. The needle eventually creeps up above its absolute zero resting point
No I'm not wanting to wreck it out for parts, I want the parts for my own Cabrio and my flatmates 3 door City if needed
cheerio
Cate
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