Only three head gaskets? You were lucky! Depending on what year your 400 is, you could always get another but with the Honda 1600 engine. The early shape 416 was the 4 door saloon and came in manual and auto ('89-95) and the late one was the 5dr hatch (a few 4 door ones around too) which only had the Honda engine with an auto 'box ('95-99) Yours sounds like the not so trusty K-series.
Having worked for both MGRover and now Honda, the Civic is a great car, especially the Jap built ones. Look at the chassis (vin) number of the car. If it starts with a 'J' it's Japanese build, if it's an 'S' then its a 5 dr built in the UK along-side the Rover 400 as it's basically the same car. The 1.4 and 1.5 engines are bomb-proof if looked after. 3dr Civics tend to hold their value as well. The only things we tend to get with them are brake pads and the odd exhaust section, but generally they are great.
I will agree about the Renault and other French cars - too fragile. Puntos seem ok but not much experience of them!
Sorry to ramble on!
ps Nissans solid cars too!