1999 Acura 1.6EL
(i) Engine
(ii) Body Suspension Chassis
(iii) Capacities
(iv) Exterior Dimensions
(v) Interior Dimensions
(vi) Safety Features
(vii) Exterior Features
(viii) Seating and Trim
(ix) Comfort and Convenience
(x) Warranties
(i) Dispatch
Emergency Roadside Service
(ii) Emergency Lockout
Service
(iii) Winching
(iv)
Mechanical Breakdown Towing
(v) Emergency
Transportation
(vi) Trip Interruption
Benefits
(vii) Traffic Accident
Services
(viii) Emergency
Message Relay Service
(ix) Tire Road Hazard
(x) Car Rental
(xi) The Acura
Trip Planning Service
(xii) Dealer Locator
Service
- 1.6 litre (1590 cc displacement), SOHC, VTEC
- 127 hp @ 6600 rpm
- 107 lbs.-ft. torque @ 5500 rpm
- 6900 rpm redline, 5200 rpm VTEC engagement
- 75 mm x 90 mm bore and stroke
- 9.6:1 compression ration
- 12V, 75 amp. max alternator
- multi-point programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI)
- 4-valves-per-cylinder
- transverse front engine, front wheel drive
- alluminum alloy engine block and cylinder head
- electronic ignition system
- 55 amp./hr maintenance-free battery
- 4-speed electronic automatic transmission with Grade Logic
Control System
- unit body
- independant double-wishbone with coil springs
- 24 mm front stabilizer bar
- 13 mm rear stabilizer bar
- gas pressurized shock absorbers with Honda Progressive Valve (HPV)
- rotary valve, variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering
- 3.6 steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock
- 17:1 steering ratio
- 10 m turning diameter, curb-to-curb
- 6.0 JJ 15 wheel size
- alloy wheels with Michelin all-season 195/55 R15 V rated tires
- power-assisted ventilated front disc brakes (ABS)
- power-assisted rear drum brakes (ABS)
- Crankcase (refill capacity w/ filter): 3.6 litres
- Cooling System (automatic transmission): 4.3 litres
- Fuel Tank: 45 litres
- Cargo Volume: 337 litres
- Passenger Volume: 2543 litres
- Wheelbase: 2620 mm
- Front Track: 1475 mm
- Rear Track: 4175 mm
- Length: 4478 mm
- Width: 1705 mm
- Height: 1395 mm
- Minimum Ground Clearance: 115 mm
- Curb Weight: 1187 kg
Front
- Head Room: 970 mm
- Leg Room: 1085 mm
- Hip Room: 1270 mm
- Shoulder Room: 1331 mm
Rear
- Head Room: 920 mm
- Leg Room: 866 mm
- Hip Room: 1252 mm
- Shoulder Room: 13316 mm
- anti-lock braking system (ABS)
- driver's and front passenger's air bag Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS)
- 3-point outboard emergency locking retractor seat belts
- 3-point automatic automatic locking retractor seat belts in (front
right, rear outboard)
- 8 km/h impact-absorbing body-coloured bumpers
- side impact door beams
- front occupant knee bolster
- front and rear impact-absorption zones
- collapsible steering colum
- childproof rear door locks
- child safety seat anchors
- daytime running lights
- keyless entry with panic feature and trunk release
- theft-deterrent system
- body-coloured bumpers, mirrors, side moulding and door
handles
- green-tinted glass
- front and rear mud guards
- wheel locks
- reclining front bucket seats
- 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback
- front seat belt height adjustment
- passenger seatback pocket
- rear seat headrests (outboard)
- centre console with armrest
- floor carpet (cut pile)
- leather-wrapped steering wheel
- leather-trimmed interior
- driver's seat manual height adjustment
- Tricot roof lining
- carpeted floor mats
- CFC-free air conditioning
- Acura Music System with 120 watt AM/FM/CD stereo (6 AM presets,
12 FM presets, auto station program, seek, skip) with Acoustic
Feedback (AFB) System
- 4-speakers with integrated amplifiers
- dual beverage holder
- print antenna
- power-operated moonroof with tilt feature, dark tint privacy
glass and sliding shade
- power windows with driver's one-touch auto down
- power door locks
- power side mirrors
- heated exterior mirrors
- soft touch ventilation controls
- electric cruise control
- tachometer
- adjustable steering column (up/down)
- rear window defroster with timer
- remote lockable trunk release
- remote lockable fuel-filler-door release
- digital quartz clock
- lights on chime
- low fuel warning
- low windshield washer fluid warning light
- trunk light
- driver's footrest
- rear heater ducts
- front door bins
- coat hanger (rear driver's side passenger grab rail)
- driver's and passeger's side vanity mirrors
- front and rear passenger grab rails
- 12-volt accesory socket
- heated front seats
- overhead map light
- complimentary full tank of gas at time of delivery
- 6000 and 12 000 kilometre scheduled maintenance
- 5-year/100 000 km limited warranty on major components
- 3-year/60 000 km distributors limited warranty on vehicle
- 5-year/unlimited distance limited warranty on rust perforation
- 3-year/unlimited distance limited warranty on surface corrosion
- 3-year/60 000 km limited warranty on accesories (when installed
at time of delivery of new vehicle)
- regular maintenance items, parts subject to normal wear and
replacement, and certain other items are excluded
Just what exactly is Acura Plus? Basically, it's a 24 hour roadside assistance service which "protects the driver of the vehicle (regardless of ownership) ... whenever the driver needs help". A lot of other auto companies offer a similar assistance program. I guess it's basically something you hope you never have to use but glad that it is there when you need it. I've never personally used it before but I have given some thought to testing out "The Acura Trip Planning Service" which is part of Acura Plus. My friend has made use of the "Dispatch Emergency Roadside Service" multiple times because of a dead battery. They were fairly prompt in answering his call. Sending someone over to boost his battery took a little longer but that's because they called upon a third party to help him out. All in all, Acura Plus has worked pretty well so far. The following information has been copied from my 1999 copy of "Roadside Assitance" which is the "instruction book" for the Acura Plus program.
How It Works
As a valued owner of a new Acura vehicle, you are entitled to the Roadside Asssitance Program, in addition to your "Manufacturer's Vehicle Warranty". In the event of a breakdown or an emergency anywhere in Canada or the USA, simply call 1-800-565-PLUS (7587) and help will be on the way. Acura Plus provides a network of more than 20,000 approved rowing and roadside service facilites. Every one is pre-screened and qualified to provide round-the-clock towing and roadside technical assistance.
Terms Covered
For a period of three (3) years, commencing from the date of first registration, Acura Plus Roadside Assitance will automatically provide with you Roadside coverage to minimize incovenience resulting from unforseen mechanical breakdowns, lockouts and accidents.
What It Covers
The following services are provided under the Acura Plus Roadside Assistance Program.
1. Dispatch Emergency Roadside Service
Emergency Roadside Assistance will be dispatched if your battery requires boosting, if you need help changing a flat tire or, if you need gas delivered to a stranded vehicle. If you incur expenses in seeking help yourself, Acura Plus will reimburse you up to a maximum of $100.00. Simply call Acura Plus for authorization.
If you lose, break or lock your keys in the car and are unable to gain access to your vehicle, Acura Plus Roadside Assitance will dispatch an authorized locksmith or transport the vehicle to the nearest Acura/Honda dealership. In the event that new keys are required, you will be responsible for the cost of the keys. If you incure expenses in seeking help yourself, Acura Plus Roadside Assitance will reimburse you up to a maximum of $100.00. Simply call Acura Plus for authorization.
Acura Plus will arrange for service and pay up to $100.00 per incident when your Acura requires winching (for example stuck in snow, mud or ditch) and, once removed, can proceed under its own power.
4. Mechanical Breakdown Towing (Limit - 100 km from Breakdown)
Acura Roadside Assistance Services will arrange to have your vehicle towed from the site of the breakdown to the nearest Acura dealer or alternative service establishment as authorized by Acura. If distance and the nature of the repair make towing to an Acura dealership impractical, simply call us for authorization to seek alternative service and we will reimburse you up to $100.00 for towing.
In the event of a mechanical breakdown less than 100 km from home, Acura Plus will reimburse you for expenses of up to $100.00 for the cost of emergency commercial transportation to your destination and/or back to the dealership.
In the event of a warranty related breakdown more than 100 km
from your home, you are also entitled to Trip Interupption
Benefits. These benefits include:
- Emergency accommodation and meals,
- Car rental or commercial transportation to your destination
- Return to the repair site, if necessary,
A limit of $500.00 per incident applies to warranty related break-downs,
less car rental reimbursement received under benefits #10.
Where a breakdown results from an accident, the following
benefits apply:
For distances of less than 100 km from breakdown site,
reimbursement for towing charges of up to $100.00 per incident.
For distances over 100 km from home reimbursement for:
- Towing charges to nearest Acura Dealer or other authorized
service establishments,
- Car rental or commercial transportation for you and all of your
passengers from the accident to your home or destination,
- Hotel accomodation and meals, should you stay at the repair
site while your Acura is being repaired,
- Return of passengers back home or to their destination in the
event you are hospitalized resulting from an accident,
Maximum of $500.00 reimbursement per incident on break-downs
resulting from accidents.
NOTE: Traffic accident benefits are provided when not covered by regular insurance.
8. Emergency Message Relay Service
In the event of an emergency, Acura Plus will make a reasonable effort to get a message to family, friends or business associates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anywhere in Canada or the USA.
While driving on the road, if any of the tires (other than a temporary spare) of your vehicle becomes damaged and rendered unsafe due to hazards such as nails, pot holes, debris or sharp objects, you are required to have your tire repaired, or, if necessary, replaced at the Acura Dealer. Specifically excluded are tires damaged due to accident, fire, improper inflation, lack of rotation, overloading, off-road use, misuse, damage from curb impact, rims and consequential damages. This coverage is administered at your Acura Dealership. The manufacturer's price for the original equipement tire supplied with your vehicle will be used as the base value for determining the amout to which you are entitled to be reimbursed. This value will then be prorated depending on the remaining tread depth at the time of the damage. The installation and balancing charges are also covered. Maximum coverage of four (4) individual tire losses or claims.
10. Car Rental (less than 100 km)
In the event of a warranteed breakdown that results in the vehicle being held overnight for more than five (5) hours of reparit time, or due to temporary non-availability of parts from Acura, you will be reimbursed for car rental expenses, of up to $35.00 per day to a maximum of five (5) days. The servicing dealership must secure pre-approval from and submit all claims to Acura Plus. This coverage is administered at your Acura Dealership.
11. The Acura Trip Planning Service
Call us before yoiu go on a trip and we'll send you this
helpful touring information package:
- A custom computerized trip routing map depicting the fastest,
or the most scenic routes, with distances and projected driving
time,
- Road, city and vacation area maps,
- Places of interest along the route to be traveled, and more.
Acura Plus Roadside Assitance provides you with everything you
need to plan a great trip. Including the peace of mind that comes
from knowing that we're just a phone call away - 24 hours a day,
365 days a year. To order your free travel routing, call us at
least 14 days before you leave at 1-800-565-PLUS (7587).
When necessary, Acura Plus will provide you with the exact location and phone number for the nearest authorized Acura dealership anywhere in Canada or the USA that will enable you to locate original parts and quality Acura service.
How To Obtain Service
Should you require any of our Emergency Road Services, simply
call 1-800-565-PLUS (7587) for necessary approval. Provide the
Acura service counselor with a brief description of your vehicle
including the model, license plate number, vehicle identification
number (V.I.N.), your current location and the nature of your
difficulty/problem. In the event you incur any cost for services,
as previously defined (excluding car rental and tire hazard), you
may request reimbursement by following the steps outlined below:
(i) Contact Acura Plus Roadside Assistance within thirty (30)
days of the date of a mechanical breakdown or accident and a
questionnaire will be mailed to you.
(ii) On the questionnaire please indicate cause and location of
breakdown. Towing claims must be accompanied by the original
towing bill and detailed repair bill.
(iii) Enclose the original invoice(s) that indicate the cost
incurred for lodging, meals, commercial transportation, battery
boost, or lock-out service, and the police report if the service
relates to a traffic accident. Alterations on bills will render
them invalid for claims reimbursement.
NOTE: Reimbursement applies only to expenses incurred within seventy-two (72) hours from the time of your vehicle breakdown or accident.
Acura Plus Roadside Assitance Conditions
(i) All service operators providing service are independent
contractors and are not employees of the Acura Plus Roadside
Assistance Program. Therefore, the Acura Plus Roadside Assistance
Program cannot and does not assume any liability or responsiblity
for any losses or damage to your vehicle or to any of your
personal property resulting from the rendering of such service.
(ii) Any loss or damage is the sole responsibility of the
servicing facility and should be reported to the proprietor of
the facility and your own insurance company within 24 hours and
prior to any repairs being carried out.
(iii) Only originals or receipts and/or charge copies submitted
by you will be accepted for consideration for reimbursement.
Originals will be returned upon request.
(iv) Acura Plus Roadside Assistance reserves the right to decline
any claim presented for payment later than thirty (30) days from
the date the service was performed and not in conformity with the
conditions as stated.
(v) Acura Plus Roadside Assistance covers the registered vehicle,
the owner of the vehicle, and any authorized driver of the
vehicle.
Exclusions
Acura Plus Roadside Assistance is not a warranty, but a
service provided to you as part of the Acura commitment to
minimize unforseen vehicle operation inconvenience. Acura Plus
Roadside Assistance as described in this agreement will NOT be
provided under the following circumstances:
(a) Where there is any indication at the time of the traffic
accident or incident that you were committing or attempting to
commit a criminal offense.
(b) While the vehicle is not covered by Public Liability and
Property Damage automobile insurance.
NOTE: Acura Plus Roadside Assistance does not pay for gasoline and for maintenance related parts and labour. Parts, repairs or labour covered under your warranty will be provided by your Acura dealer.
All correspondence and receipts for Tire Road Hazard (item 9) and Car Rental (item 10) should be directed to: Acura Plus Roadside Assistance, 248 Pall Mall Street, Box 5845, London, Ontario, N6A 5P6.
Our family needed a new vehicle as our '87 Dodge was beginning to become unreliable and troublesome. We are a very car-dependant family so having just one vehicle wouldn't do. My dad drives to work and I drive to school. In addition, my mom sometimes needed a car for her own business. Factors that were important in our decision for a new vehicle was quality, reliability, dependability, fit-and-finish, value, safety and fuel efficiency. The last factor was especially important as the other car our family drives is a '92 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6. We needed a car that would balance it's fuel consumption.
Personally, my heart had always been set on the 1.6EL ever since it was introduced. The family of a friend of mine had purchased it the first year it came out (1997) and I immediately saw the value in it. The list of standard features for the trim line his family got (Sport) was impressive and the price his family paid for it was even more so. Thus, when it came time to shop for a new vehicle, the 1.6EL was at the top of my list.
My friend's family initially bought the 1.6EL because it was very unique car. There weren't that many on the road and having a car that stood out in a sea of Acura Integras (his family's other choice) appealed to his family. However, the 1.6EL has turned out to be an extremely popular car here in the Lower Mainland. To me, this just meant that a majority of other people felt it was a very good car to invest in. It may not be unique anymore but at least it has proven itself to be a very good car so far (2 years anyways since it's initial introduction) with no major recalls of yet. Knock on wood.
A interesting piece of information I found out later was that the 1.6EL is made in the Alliston, Ontario plant in Canada. It is also the same car manufacturing plant that makes the Honda Civic hatchback and the new Honda Odyssey minivan. Soon, it will expand it's production capacities to include a new Honda SUV based on the Odyssey platform. This information was revealed to me in an episode of "Motoring '99" in a segment called "Kenzie's Corner". Something that should be mentioned here is that the host praised the 1.6El, stating it was "a Civic dipped in gold." To date, that is the best description of the 1.6EL I have ever heard.
Though the shape and exterior looks of the 1.6EL may not be immediately striking and different, I liked the maturity it represented. Nothing too extraordinary or radical. Just a well designed and functional exterior. It was very "Honda" I guess. There are no 2-door 1.6ELs and I'm not particularily agreeable to the idea. I personally have vowed never to drive a car in my lifetime with only 2-doors. In addition, the 1.6EL was added to the Canadian Acura lineup because the 4-door Integra was removed. Thus, adding a 2-door 1.6EL would only compete with the Integra. At first glance, the 1.6EL looks remarkably like the Civic. This is because the 1.6EL is based on the Civic platform; about 60% worth. The only exterior differences between the 1999 Civics and the 1999 1.6ELs are in the front bumper, grill, headlights, side mirrors, tailights, rear deck, rear bumper and the environmental controls. The side mirrors and side mouldings were body coloured as well which is only available in the Civic EX and Civic SE and only then for the side mouldings. The side mirrors are also of the "break-away" design which is not available in the Civic.
Our family wasn't too sure about the leather interior in the Premium Trim as we never had a vehicle with that before. Concerns about how hard it will be to take care and how hot it will get in the summer popped up. However, the leather was very comfortable and made the car look much better as the exterior and interior colours matched each other. New for 1999 was the exterior colour "Titanium Metallic" and the interior leather colour "Ivory" for that exterior colour. The Titanium trim was very appealing as it is a new and unique colour. There are a fair number of 1.6ELs in Vancouver and the surrounding cities so this new colour should differentiate it. The steering wheel is also wrapped in leather (available in Sport and Premium trims). It feels much thicker and better-gripping than the Special Edition one. As well, the steering wheel is not affected by temperature extremes that much supposedly so driving should be more of a comfort. This I'm not too confident about because the wheel does sometimes get too hot/cold for comfort.
The most striking feature of the Premium trim though are the new alloy wheels. Previously for the 1998 and 1997 model years, the Premium had the same alloy wheels as the Sport trim. I never did take a fancy towards them as they looked like they were made from a plastic material. The alloy wheels for the 1999 Premium trim are made from polished metal and they look very nice. It finally differentiated the Premium trim from the Sport trim and made the car overall very handsome and luxurious-looking while keeping a sporty edge to it. Not as striking but still noticeable is the front grill. It's design is different from the 1998 and 1997 model lines. There is additional chrome on the front grill which forms "wings" to either side of the Acura logo. Also, there is a honeycomb design to the grill now which was not in the 1998 and 1997 model lines.
Featured first in the 1998 model year, the front leather seats were heated. This was definately a handy feature I found out later (snow up at SFU) but at first my family was hesitant as to the usefulness of this feature. We considered it an extreme luxury. My mom never imagined in her life that she would own a car that would also warm her bottom. However, it was a feature we appreciated having than not having. The driver's seat is also adjustable. There are two rotary-type buttons on the bottom left-side of the seat that adjust the lumbar support and the seat support. Though our family haven't made much use of this feature, I can imagine it being useful for other drivers who are a bit shorter.
Floor mats that are coloured to the carpet and features the Acura logo (front driver's side) and name (front passenger side) are included as standard equipement so our family was quite pleased with this. With most other car companies, including Honda, they usually are a bargaining chip. Making the mats standard allowed us to use other equipement/options (ie rear mudguards, wheel locks) as a bargaining chip.
I personally really liked the moonroof/sunshade combination though my parents won't make much use of it. It features a tilt up function, first featured in the 1998 model line, which allows fresh air to enter the car without having to open the whole sunroof. The sunroof glass is also heavily tinted so there isn't excessive amounts of sunlight entering the car when the sunshade is opened. The rear window defroster was very interesting as it is "zoned". Unlike traditional defrosters, it clears the centre of the rear window first (which is the most important one anyways) and then slowly works its way to the outer edges.
The heated side mirrors is a very hand feature as it quickly clears them of snow or rain that may accumulate. In the Lower Mainland, we get a fair amount of rain so this is a very important feature that is used often. It made looking behind and to the sides of the car much easier and thus safer. Also, the side mirrors were now the "break-away" type so they could be folded inwards in tight parking situations or when hit.
The mist-type windshield-washer sprayer is a very interesting feature as well. It supposedly uses less fluids but covers a larger amount of area. I found myself using the system much more often just to see the interesting spray pattern. It does seem to do a more effective job of cleaning the front windshield.
Apparently, the headlamps on the 1.6EL has a unique feature which I don't believe other cars have. The right headlamp has the rear reflector shaped so that it directs more light above and to the right to the car. This is to aid reading sign posts while travelling on the highways at night. Though I haven't tested this feature yet, comparing the right and left headlamps there is a difference in the form of the rear reflectors.
The audio system in the Premium was adequate and is from Matsushita/Panasonic. There aren't really any special features or anything. The display is rather limited, showing only very basic information (CD track, station frequency, etc). Our family can not be considered audio-fanatics so this isn't really important. My parents still listen mainly to AM radio and I'm just glad to have the single CD player to fool around with. The 1999 deck featured a button layout that was slightly revised from the 1998 and 1997 model lines (both years having the same deck as the '97 Integra SE). The bass/fade and treble/balance buttons are now the push in/pop out/rotary variety. The Premium and Sport trim came with a 120 watt audio sytem with an "Acoustic Feedback System". As I found out much later, the AFS features small microphones in the rear speakers which monitors the bass level. If there is any distortion, it modulates the bass level accordingly to eliminate it. Though a 6 CD changer and tape deck was available as an option, our family did not go for either. The deck is prewired to control them however so they could be a future addition. The antenna for the audio system is "printed" on the rear window in the upper portion. I found this to be a handy feature as there's no antenna that could be broken or to create wind noise while travelling at high speeds. However, while cleaning the rear window, I have to be extra careful now as to not cut the delicate wires.
The standard Acura alarm system was also a great feature. It features dual-stage unlocking, remote lock, remote unlock, remote trunk open and a remote panic. The interior dome light can be switched to go on whenever the car is unlocked. The parking lights and brake lights both flash once to indicate the car is armed and twice to indicate the car is unarmed. The option of having an audio warning is available but our family found it to be too loud and obtrusive as the alarm system uses the horn instead of a seperate siren. One horn blow indicates the car is armed and two horn blows indicates the car is unarmed. If the car door is open while the alarm is activated, it will let loose 3 horn blows. Two alarm fobs were included. The alarm system doesn't have glass breakage sensor unfortunately. It's main purpose to to prevent the car from being stolen and it does this with an immobilizer system. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia gave our insurance a discount for having such a system. It should be mentioned that though the security LED will start to flash once the lock/arm buttons are pushed, it takes 15 seconds for the system to actually arm and come online.
The 1.6EL is not perfect and there are a few things lacking in it. The most signifcant one is that the engine is not a very powerful one. Though it has adequate hp for a car of its size, Honda engines are notorious for a lack of torque especially in the low-end range. There are a variety of aftermarket accessories which could solve this such as a supercharger. However, this is an expensive option. The 1.6EL is more than adequate for most city and highway driving situations though sometimes I find myself revving the engine higher in order to get the necessary power to get moving. It's fortunate that Honda engines are generally reliable so I have no reservations about revving it high. With a 6900 rpm redline and a 5200 rpm VTEC engagement, it's designed for high revs.
Whoever designed the cupholders in the 1.6EL obviously never had to carry a drink around. Though they didn't occur to our family as a problem until we had bought the car, trying to find a solution to this problem was quite a hassle. The thing with the 1.6EL cupholders is that seem to be only designed to hold pop cans. Anything other type of drink containers are too high and tip too easily out of the cupholders. The overhang where the tape deck is supposed to go is the main culprit here. For the 1999 Civics, this overhang is non-existant so it's much easier to place drinks in the Civic. Also, the short side-supports are to blame as well as they don't provide enough support to keep the cups from tipping out of the cupholders. I'm the only one in the family who has a problem with this as I'm mostly the one who needs the morning coffee on the drive to school.
On our 1.6EL, the rear passenger door lock seems to be malfunctioning. Once, a friend of mine had no way to exit that particular door as it wouldn't open from either the outside nor the inside. I thought maybe she had accidently tripped the childproof saftey door locks but that wasn't. I also thought that maybe it could've been the cold weather but that was a pretty weak argument. A visible symptom to this problem is the fact that the door lock appears to be lower when it is in the "unlocked" position. However, this problem does not always occur so it's hard to pin down. This also seems to be unique to our car. I plan on bringing this problem to the attention of the Acura technicians when I take the car in for it's 6000 km service.
When the sunroof is open, it can get quite loud as the aerodynamics of the car is really disturbed. Thus, while driving at high speed this could be quite bothersome. There is a sunroof deflector that is available from Acura to solve this problem but it is quite expensive. Aftermarket is probably the best way to go.
The alarm system is adequate enough for our needs and ensures the car will most likely not be stolen. However, the fact that is doesn't have a glass breakage sensor is unfortunate. This means stuff inside the car will not be as protected though anything of value should be out of sight anyways. However, the alarm system will not sound at false alarms such as a cat walking on the car or a person accidently hitting the glass. Another annoyance I have about the alarm system is that it uses the vehicle's horn as the audio warning. This can be quite loud sometimes and when unexpected, quite shocking and annoying.
I was lead to believe by the description in the 1.6EL brochure that the fuel-filler-door release was lockable. This intially made sense to me because the release handle for the door and the trunk were located in the same place. A lock mechanism is located on the left side of the driver's seat and it controls the trunk. I naturally assumed it would also control the fuel-filler-door. So, you would lock and unlock the trunk and the fuel-filler-door at the same time. Unfortunately, this was not the case as only the trunk would be locked and unlocked. The fuel-filler-door could be opened no matter what position the lock mechanism was it. Apparently what the brochure meant when it said the fuel-filler-door release was lockable was that the door couldn't be openrd from outside the car.
The instrumention cluster in general was adequate. I was a litte disappointed at the number of "idiot lights" that were in place of real gauges. I actually make use of the oil pressure and battery voltage guages that were available in the 4Runner I used to drive. Also, the amber coloured display at night took some getting used to because in the 4Runner, the night time display was in green. I personally found that to be easier on the eyes. Also, the clock was sometimes hard to read depending on the angle of the light that was shining down on it. If the display was more recessed and covered, it would've been easier to read in any angle of light. The white plastic needles looked to be of a cheaper material compared to the 4Runner. However, none of these complaints I have diminished the important performance of the instrumentation cluster which is to provide me with essential information about the operations of the vehicle.
The environmental controls of the 1999 1.6EL are of the slider types while the 1999 Civics have them as the rotary button types. Both have their advantages and disadvantages so I'm sort of indifferent towards their design. I have found the 1.6EL sliders to become more and more resistant as they move towards the middle of the temperature range. Whether this is an intentional design to prevent excessive movement and to allow for minor adjustments is questionable. It just might be that it needs some lubrication. As well, the soft touch ventilation controls sometimes are too soft. If not pushed hard enough, the buttons will activate the appropriate vent direction (face, feet, window, etc.) though their respective selection lights might not. The defroster option on the ventilation system is very useful as it turns on the AC system which helps to clear the windows of fog much faster. However, I have to remember to turn off the AC system manually when it's not needed anymore and this I sometimes forget. I also sometimes find the AC system to be a bit on the weaker side relative to the AC system on my old 4Runner.
The cruise control buttons took some getting used to as the placement of the cruise control buttons was on the bottom right side of the steering wheel. If my hands were in the proper driving position on the steering wheel, the controls would be operated with my thumb. That was something I wasn't used too as they were fairly low and far to reach for my thumbs. I would've preferred them to be on one of the spokes that connect the steering wheel to the SRS. However, that space was occupied by the horn buttons.
Update
May 1999
Unfortunately, my first update about the purchase of my car is a negative one. Its a common problem here in Vancouver, BC but it still hurts when it happens. My rear Acura badge was stolen. I have no idea when it happened too! I only noticed it as I was getting something out of the trunk. I believe it had been gone for a couple of days. The right tab of the logo was left on the car while the left tab was broken completely off. Replacement of the logo came to $30 including tax. Ouch! Sigh ... oh well ... can't be helped. Installation was a breeze though. Removing the old tab took mainly brute stregth with a pair of pliers and a lot of coercion as care as to not damage the sheet metal of the trunk. The most important thing about installation of the new badge was to make sure the area was clean for the double-sided tape to adhere to.
June 1999
Here's the second update of my 1.6EL and again, it is a negative one. My car was recently involved in an accident on the 29th of June, 1999 near the London Drugs on Kingsway. It was a cloudy day and there was some drizzling. I was pulling out of the minimall pointing north and wanting to head easst on Kingsway. I pulled into the driveway and partway into the curb lane to wait for traffic to clear up. It was not 3PM yet so parking on this lane was still allowed. As I waited, I suddenly felt an impact on my right side of my front bumper. Apparently, a white Asuna Sunrunner that was parked in the curb lane to my right had backed into me. He was wanting to get out into traffic too I assume and backed up to get enough turning room. His car was a bit higher up than mines and since I was slanted downward a bit on the driveway, his car rode up on my bumper a bit putting it out of alignment with everything else. For some reason, the weather stripping around my headlight seems to be out of alignment too though I'm not sure how that could've been. Of course there was a nasty scratch. The other drive maintained that it wasn't his fault; I bumped him and my scratch was caused from a previous accident. I just let ICBC handle it and I found out about a month later that ICBC had decided in my favour. Cool! Still ... the front right side still looks a bit out of alignment even though the bumper was totally replaced. Sigh.
July 1999
I took the 1.6EL in for its first checkup on June 24th, 1999 at 6669 kilometers. I took it back to Richmond Acura since I bought the car from that dealership. Estimated time for the checkup was quite long however; about 3 hours or so. According to the manual, what was done in the 6000 checkup was an oil change including the filter and a washer, a fluids check and tire pressure check. As well, a lubrication may have been done on areas that were needed. Mainly, this was to make sure the car was holding up as well as its supposed to have been. Since it is a new car, things that went wrong during assembly would maybe have been detected and remedied here. Actually, the car did develop a couple of problems during the first 6000 kilometers. The right rear door lock doesn't come all the way up sometimes so in essence, it locks the rear right passenger in. Since the part was not in stock, Richmond Acura told me to come back when they have ordered it and it was in. This took about a week or so and the repair of the lock took about 2 hours or so. In all honnesty, I don't think all these services of my car takes the amount of time it does. Its just that Richmond Acura is very busy as there are always many cars in service there. As well, another problem that came up had to do with the weather stripping on the front left door. Certain parts of it were detaching off like the glue wasn't working very well anymore. If you press and hold the loose part, it will stick back in. I noted this to Richmond Acura when I went in for the door lock repair. Again, they said they didn't have the part in stock so they said they would call me when they have ordered it. Unfortunately this time around, they never did get back to me. A definate point off for Richmond Acura. I will bring it to their attention again when I'm in for my 12 000 kilometer checkup and hopefully this problem will be rectified.