Buying a Civic; Do's and Don'ts?

Buying a Civic; Do's and Don'ts?

Author
Discussion

GasolineFire

Original Poster:

2,907 posts

186 months

Monday 22nd June 2009
quotequote all
Good Morning Guys,

Just looking to pick a few brains.

After much (no really, LOADS) of debating witht he Girlfriend as to what car we should get "together" (she has a Bettle, I have £3000: I'd rather not be seen driving a beetle funished with fluffy toys around my home town),

We have Decided on a Civic... Be it a Coupe, Type R, Standard matters doesn't make much difference other than I like Coupe's and She like the Hot Hatches.

How many miles before engines start to get little tic's? (Wosrt case/Best case)

Any particular years/models to avoid?

How hard/expensive (not afraid to do work myself or get family, self employed mechanics, involved) is it to upgrade say... an 1.6 SE to Type R standards?

Is buying a Modded one dangerous? Do the powertrains get stressed easily?

Must admit, not looked into Honda's in a technical sense as I always thought VTEC was a bit gimmicky... Then a friend told me about a Type R anniversary they had and now misses very much...

Thank you very much in advance.

I look forward to your replys driving

Gareth

Kozy

3,169 posts

225 months

Monday 22nd June 2009
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Buy a mint EK instead of a newer breadvan model.

1.6 SE to Type R? Haha, good one...

GasolineFire

Original Poster:

2,907 posts

186 months

Monday 22nd June 2009
quotequote all
Why the EK? Is it more open to performance upgrades?

What's funny about swapping engines/boxes/coilovers of a 1.6?

Thanks for your reply.

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

224 months

Monday 22nd June 2009
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GasolineFire said:
Why the EK? Is it more open to performance upgrades?

What's funny about swapping engines/boxes/coilovers of a 1.6?

Thanks for your reply.
I don't really agree. The older EK models are not as good as the EP3 in terms of being an everyday car and the B series engines are not in the same league in many ways.

Yes, the EK will have more character (including the engine, ironically) but it falls short in so many other areas I wouldn't want to compromise that much.

Now if you were talking about circa 1991 Civic VTs, I probably wouldn't find the answer as easy...

Kozy

3,169 posts

225 months

Monday 22nd June 2009
quotequote all
Amongst my group of Honda enthusiast mates, the EP seems to be regarded as a bit of a lame duck, the build quality is apparently not as good, not to mention being heavier and looking worse.

I have never driven one though so couldn't comment personally, but a friend who recently drove an EP3 and my EK4 back to back said he preferred my EK over the EP3.

Could just be that we are all EK fanboys though... biggrin

As for the swapping Type R stuff over, just buy a Type R surely?

GasolineFire

Original Poster:

2,907 posts

186 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2009
quotequote all
Kozy said:
Amongst my group of Honda enthusiast mates, the EP seems to be regarded as a bit of a lame duck, the build quality is apparently not as good, not to mention being heavier and looking worse.

I have never driven one though so couldn't comment personally, but a friend who recently drove an EP3 and my EK4 back to back said he preferred my EK over the EP3.

Could just be that we are all EK fanboys though... biggrin

As for the swapping Type R stuff over, just buy a Type R surely?
Hehe, Well the GF and I both prefer the EP shape weirdly tongue out

The reason for upgrading a regular EP would be the insurance, we can't afford to ensure the Type R at the moment so were planning to slowly and subtlely upgrade our Civic as and when we could afford it.

GingerWizard

4,721 posts

205 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2009
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As i understand it the 1.6 Type S is really hard to mod, Redline had one with a massive body kit and ICE install, they left the engine standard as it was not worth the money.....

Get a high milage 01' CTR and upgrade that would be the best bet.

oh and the EP model is a fine looking car.... wink

GasolineFire

Original Poster:

2,907 posts

186 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
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Thanks for the Input guys,

I think the Girlfriend and I are going to get a 1.6 S Exec and just use it to get used to VTEC's... Save our Money up slowly and then get either a Teg/Accord (The new models) in a few years time when they become the Old Models or get a Rex when we can afford the chance of an engine rebuild.




.. failing that, if the girlfriend gets her way, we might buy a house

750turbo

6,164 posts

231 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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GasolineFire said:
Thanks for the Input guys,

I think the Girlfriend and I are going to get a 1.6 S Exec and just use it to get used to VTEC's...




.. failing that, if the girlfriend gets her way, we might buy a house
Ehh apologies if I have got the thread all wrong, but if it is the last model civic, you will struggle to feel the VTEC, there is no comparison with the CTR. (The missus used to have a similar model)

Buy a house smile

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

250 months

Saturday 27th June 2009
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GasolineFire said:
Thanks for the Input guys,

I think the Girlfriend and I are going to get a 1.6 S Exec and just use it to get used to VTEC's... Save our Money up slowly and then get either a Teg/Accord (The new models) in a few years time when they become the Old Models or get a Rex when we can afford the chance of an engine rebuild.




.. failing that, if the girlfriend gets her way, we might buy a house
The EP3 is quick and has a very flexible engine but is a world away in terms of costs over the 1.6. The VTEC in the 1.6 doesn't really have a noticeable effect against the CTR, just make sure you realise that.

In terms of car vs house, do the smart thing and buy a house!