Kyle's Corner (FYI) You or Someone You Know Have Likely Owned This Car

Cars come and cars go! But some cars are highly popular and end up touching most drivers' lives. The VW Beetle is one example. My first car was a used 1968 Beetle that I bought for $125 in 1975. Although the car was not very big or powerful, many drivers connected with it (boy, the Beetle great in the snow but low on heat!).

Another car that the odds say we are familiar with is the Honda Civic. With today's 2012 Civic, Honda is on its ninth generation of the car.

The Civic first became available in the U.S. in 1973 and it has sold about 9 million units as a coupe, sedan, hatchback and wagon. Given the large number and variety of Civics, the odds are high that you or someone you know has indeed owned the car.

The following are some interesting Civic facts:

In 1973, the first Civic cost $1973, the car weighed 1,552 lbs., it had a 50 hp 4-cylider engine and the combined gas mileage was 20.4 mpg. The 2012 Civic weighs 2,725 lbs., it has a 140 hp 4-cylinder engine and the combined gas mileage is 29.4 mpg.

In 1980, the second generation Civic was released. The car weighed 1,822 lbs., it has an 88.6 inch wheelbase, it stopped from 60 mph in 150 feet, and the hatchback cost $4,949. The 2012 Civic 4-door EX has a 105.1 inch wheelbase and it stops from 60 mph in 125 feet.

In 1984, the third generation Civic CRX cost $6,600, it had a 76 hp 4-cylinder engine, was equipped with independent front and semi-independent rear suspension and it had lateral grip of .85 g. The 2012 Civic EX has .81 g of grip.

In 1988, the fourth generation Civic CXR Si and 4 WD Wagon were equipped with the most powerful Civic engine to date at 105 hp. Back then, all Civic engines had 16 valve engines, except the CRX 1.5-liter 8 valve mill. In 2012, all Civics' are equipped with 16 valve engines except the 8 valve Civic Hybrid.

In 1992, the fifth generation Civic came on the automotive scene. The car had 14-inch wheels, a driver's side air bag and a 0-60 mph time of 8.5 seconds. The 2012 Civic Si delivers 201 hp and a 0-60 time under 6.5 seconds.

In 1995, Honda released its sixth generation Civic including the ultra fuel-efficient HX Coupe that had a 1.6-liter 115 hp 4-cylinder with a CVT delivering 33 city and 41 mpg highway mileage. The 2012 fuel saver Civic HF provides 140 hp, a 5-speed automatic transmission and 29 city and 41 mpg highway. Although the gas mileage is slightly less in the city, the 2012 Civic is larger and it has gained four additional air bags, two extra doors, ABS, stability control, plus air conditioning.

In 2003, a year after the seventh generation Civic was released, Honda provided the Civic Hybrid with a combined 93 hp and 40 city and 43 mpg highway mileage. The 2012 Civic Hybrid has a combined 110 hp and an EPA 44 city and 44 highway mpg.

In 2006 (you guessed it!), the eighth generation Civic appeared. The car had a sleek 'mono-form' body and it won Motor Trend's "Car of the Year" award. Of note is that in 2010, 252,882 out of the 260,218 Civic' sold in the U.S. were built in North America.

If the Civic were its own brand apart from other Honda vehicles, in 2010 it would have outsole the following automotive brands with their combined models: Volkswagen (256,830 vehicles), Mazda (229,566 vehicles), and Mercedes-Benz (224,944 vehicles).

Now, back to the central automotive point. Have you or someone you know owned a Honda Civic? The odds say the answer is yes!

And for me, I have owned my Volkswagen Jetta for 20 years (the car has over 510,000 miles on the odometer). What car did I drive so many years ago before my VW? A 1982 (you guessed it) Honda Civic four-door. I beat the odds with my Volkswagen but I was in the money and with the odds on favorite Honda Civic!

Hats off to Honda for building a great car that so many drivers love!

Kyle Busch is the author of "Drive the Best for the Price..." He welcomes your comments or car questions at his auto web site: www.DriveTheBestBook.com. Follow Kyle on Facebook and Twitter.