1999 Honda Civic VTI - retirement by the sea...
Discussion
Hello all,
With the demise of most online forums I thought I would post here to document my new arrival and hopefully gain more knowledge around this model.
My history with Honda goes back 6 vehicles that I have owned, loved and moved on, models such as the ep3 type r through to the Honda Jazz sport and through these I have developed a bit of a love affair with the brand which just won't go away, however in more recent years due to family needs I was looking for a fast(ish) estate and as Honda don't really cater for this (aside from maybe an import Accord type s?) I purchased a Mk3 Octavia VRS which has ticked all my boxes as a daily and still continues to do so.
Anyway... for the last few years I have been researching various type r's and also been watching the values go up and up but also with a feeling that I am getting a little older and want something that flies a little under the radar, hence the VTI. Initially I was after an EK4 but also looking at the Em1, all models which have either got huge mileage with no rear arches or that have been slammed, modded and ragged. I kept checking here, Car and Classic, Auto Trader, Facebook, Gumtree etc and found it really hard to find the low mileage, standard car that I so desired but knowing there must be one in the country tucked in a Garage I kept searching and searching until I kind of gave up for a while.
A few weeks ago I saw an advert on Car and Classic, having not checked anything for a while this advert made me jump off the sofa and run upstairs to make a phone call, the wife knew instantly I was up to something.
The picture that I saw was this one...
and then this picture of the interior..
The Car was being sold by Man Cave Cars and Classics down near Bognor Regis on the South Coast, it was described as one Lady owner, 67 Thousand Miles and Full Service History, I was ready to drop everything to see this car and called Craig (the owner) who informed me it was still available. He honestly told me all of the cars flaws, such as a small scuff on the front splitter and some low speed minor impact damage on the rear bumper.
Now I'm sure there aren't many customers for this type of vehicle in the country but if they are out there I didn't want to miss out so I placed a small deposit and Craig kindly took it off his page and marked it up as sold, at the same time sending me 15 photos and 3 videos of the car running and of the service history folder which needed its own video!
As I was committed at the weekend I arranged to come and see it in almost 2 weeks, this was to be a very long wait and result in a little test drive drama!
With the demise of most online forums I thought I would post here to document my new arrival and hopefully gain more knowledge around this model.
My history with Honda goes back 6 vehicles that I have owned, loved and moved on, models such as the ep3 type r through to the Honda Jazz sport and through these I have developed a bit of a love affair with the brand which just won't go away, however in more recent years due to family needs I was looking for a fast(ish) estate and as Honda don't really cater for this (aside from maybe an import Accord type s?) I purchased a Mk3 Octavia VRS which has ticked all my boxes as a daily and still continues to do so.
Anyway... for the last few years I have been researching various type r's and also been watching the values go up and up but also with a feeling that I am getting a little older and want something that flies a little under the radar, hence the VTI. Initially I was after an EK4 but also looking at the Em1, all models which have either got huge mileage with no rear arches or that have been slammed, modded and ragged. I kept checking here, Car and Classic, Auto Trader, Facebook, Gumtree etc and found it really hard to find the low mileage, standard car that I so desired but knowing there must be one in the country tucked in a Garage I kept searching and searching until I kind of gave up for a while.
A few weeks ago I saw an advert on Car and Classic, having not checked anything for a while this advert made me jump off the sofa and run upstairs to make a phone call, the wife knew instantly I was up to something.
The picture that I saw was this one...
and then this picture of the interior..
The Car was being sold by Man Cave Cars and Classics down near Bognor Regis on the South Coast, it was described as one Lady owner, 67 Thousand Miles and Full Service History, I was ready to drop everything to see this car and called Craig (the owner) who informed me it was still available. He honestly told me all of the cars flaws, such as a small scuff on the front splitter and some low speed minor impact damage on the rear bumper.
Now I'm sure there aren't many customers for this type of vehicle in the country but if they are out there I didn't want to miss out so I placed a small deposit and Craig kindly took it off his page and marked it up as sold, at the same time sending me 15 photos and 3 videos of the car running and of the service history folder which needed its own video!
As I was committed at the weekend I arranged to come and see it in almost 2 weeks, this was to be a very long wait and result in a little test drive drama!
Very nice. I’ve always wanted an EM1 (very nearly bought one in Electron Blue a very very long time ago)
They are definitely rarer than an EK4. You could get the EK4 in pre and post facelift but I’m 99% sure the EM1 was facelift only.
The running gear is identical to the EK4, interior is Coupe specific in the blue/grey, EK4 had black/red.
Look forward to more updates!
They are definitely rarer than an EK4. You could get the EK4 in pre and post facelift but I’m 99% sure the EM1 was facelift only.
The running gear is identical to the EK4, interior is Coupe specific in the blue/grey, EK4 had black/red.
Look forward to more updates!
The Rotrex Kid said:
Very nice. I’ve always wanted an EM1 (very nearly bought one in Electron Blue a very very long time ago)
They are definitely rarer than an EK4. You could get the EK4 in pre and post facelift but I’m 99% sure the EM1 was facelift only.
The running gear is identical to the EK4, interior is Coupe specific in the blue/grey, EK4 had black/red.
Look forward to more updates!
Thanks for the info, didn't know the interiors fact! Electron blue is the best, its finding one in standard form which is the real challenge!They are definitely rarer than an EK4. You could get the EK4 in pre and post facelift but I’m 99% sure the EM1 was facelift only.
The running gear is identical to the EK4, interior is Coupe specific in the blue/grey, EK4 had black/red.
Look forward to more updates!
mb148 said:
The Rotrex Kid said:
Very nice. I’ve always wanted an EM1 (very nearly bought one in Electron Blue a very very long time ago)
They are definitely rarer than an EK4. You could get the EK4 in pre and post facelift but I’m 99% sure the EM1 was facelift only.
The running gear is identical to the EK4, interior is Coupe specific in the blue/grey, EK4 had black/red.
Look forward to more updates!
Thanks for the info, didn't know the interiors fact! Electron blue is the best, its finding one in standard form which is the real challenge!They are definitely rarer than an EK4. You could get the EK4 in pre and post facelift but I’m 99% sure the EM1 was facelift only.
The running gear is identical to the EK4, interior is Coupe specific in the blue/grey, EK4 had black/red.
Look forward to more updates!
I would love to have an EK4 again, or an EM1 but the pricing has gone a little bit bonkers. I remember passing up on EK9s at £7k
sbk1972 said:
I live nearby and have seen this on Facebook for sale. I have the same model car all be it silver and just the 1.6 coupe engine version.
It was being sold for big money, 8 or 11k ? Did you buy it ? That's some major coins.
Simon
This is a 1.6 as well, albeit the B16A2. Is yours the same? I'm sure they did a 1.6 SR as wellIt was being sold for big money, 8 or 11k ? Did you buy it ? That's some major coins.
Simon
I saw it advertised for £7500 and paid £7100 for it in the end, expensive for an old Honda but there aren't many about!
mb148 said:
sbk1972 said:
I live nearby and have seen this on Facebook for sale. I have the same model car all be it silver and just the 1.6 coupe engine version.
It was being sold for big money, 8 or 11k ? Did you buy it ? That's some major coins.
Simon
This is a 1.6 as well, albeit the B16A2. Is yours the same? I'm sure they did a 1.6 SR as wellIt was being sold for big money, 8 or 11k ? Did you buy it ? That's some major coins.
Simon
I saw it advertised for £7500 and paid £7100 for it in the end, expensive for an old Honda but there aren't many about!
Sounds like a fair price for the car, the values have all gone a bit crazy but ‘find another one’!!
So, packed up the family and headed down in the Vrs. A 2 hour drive made easy in the Skoda as per usual. Arrived at for the appointment and got chatting to Craig about the vehicle, essentially the same Husband and Wife have owned the vehicle since new and it was mainly her vehicle, they had asked Craig to sell it for them as she now has a Honda Jazz (naturally). The exact reason for giving up the VTI is unknown but I'm guessing the tax might be getting expensive at £300 ish for a year.
I saw it parked up in the corner and Craig had left it stone cold for me so and informed me it hadn't been run for two days. Jumped in immediately appreciating the bus cloth seats (so comfy), the smell which is so 90's and the very simple dash. I had already noticed the stereo which is a 90's Pioneer tape deck, not standard fitment to my knowledge but at the time probably a decent upgrade in sound quality. Anyway Craig handed me the keys and it fired up also immediately, its such a sowing machine perfect start on this generation of Honda. The car immediately settled into a nice purr and Craig looked at me and could see me grinning from ear to ear.
the after market Pioneer stereo, very period correct!
I looked around the vehicle and could see the Enkei wheels were in perfect condition so I suspected a refurb, the paint is a lovely colour and in overall great condition but will definitely need a mop and there is no rust on the rear arches!!!. Anyway, Craig said to take the car out on my own and my car mad son immediately jumped at the chance to come with me, Craig told us about a little local route so off we went.
As we pulled out my son and I were getting to grips with the features of the car and testing the brakes and suspension whilst the oil was warming up, everything seemed fine, The coolant temp slowly crept up but I noticed it didn't get exactly half way up the gauge where it should be during the drive (poss Thermostat borked?) but other than this is felt like a new car, this is clearly a vehicle that has had been tended to regularly by a very caring owner.
Side note.. I had a neighbour like this as a kid with a Civic Eg, the ESI version, which he still has 27 years later. I remember him putting a tin can over the exhaust to stop rain water getting in the exhaust as it was parked on a slope when outside, but it spent most of its life in a garage anyway this was maybe a contribution to my Honda addiction?
Anyway, as the drive continued I could smell something funky as the car warmed up and we were getting into vtec a little (just to check its function of course) this is a smell I am very familiar with - brakes . We pulled over and sure enough the o/s front wheel was smoking and you could cook an egg on the wheel! An issue I have dealt with before on this generation (more to come later) of Honda, knowing the water gets in behind the seals in the caliper and corrodes the piston preventing it moving and effectively locking the wheels, not good for fuel economy or the discs!!
We cruised back to Craigs and still smiling I informed him about the issue, he immediately had a no problem attitude and we went to get a coffee and lunch nearby whilst he rectified the issue on his lift. The car was sold at this point!
Lovely Enkei wheels and condition but sticky brakes (Craig pulled the caliper and rubbed down the piston and refitted a get you home fix but much appreciated)
After a lunch and coffee at the nearby excellent Edge coffee https://edgcumbes.co.uk/pages/cafe-roastery we returned to the Man Cave and continued chatting, Craig is the sort of guy who can talk about cars for hours, I had already mentioned the Honda Motocompo in the corner which he has for sale, he showed me around it and I even had a ride around the yard, it was amazing and a proper Honda bucket list item for me.
Anyway- essentially I dug into the service history which is essentially Honda for ten years then a private garage for next ten, then back to Honda again more recently, there was an entry form for Goodwood Breakfast club 90's meet but it doesn't give a date (I wonder if anyone got a picture) and the owner even had a receipt for a Honda T-shirt! It was all so impressive and he even included two notes from people who had left them on the car asking to buy it (exactly what I would have done having seen it in the wild)
I had another look around the car and found something odd in the engine bay - this is very typical of a caring fastidious owner which I really appreciate
See the suspicious cloth bottom right near the washer fluid fill cap?
A bulb tester!! I need to speak to this owner...
Rocker cover has done the usual and will be refurbed in the standard Black wrinkle, previous owner has dealt with this issue by rubbing it down, maybe sending the cover off for refurb was a step too far for them which is understandable.
Anyway, Craig and I made a deal and the car was mine for £7100- I sorted tax and insurance. Craig is seriously one of the most impressive car dealers I've met from start to finish and I was even pulled to one side by a bloke who turned up in a Mk2 Jag and said "you won't regret buying a car from him" and told me a couple of tales of the brilliant service he has received. Just search Man Cave Cars and Classics on Facebook he gets some interesting cars in focusing on classic bikes and cars and the odd more modern Japanese stuff.
The drive home was brilliant, the kids took turns in the Honda and the brakes were fine, we stopped for fuel once and I took a picture of the cars together
Honda gets the limelight this time, normally snapping away at the Vrs!
The majority of this was motorway and I was mainly worried but I needn't have been as it got back absolutely fine, the B16 singing away like a sowing machine at 4k around 70mph!
Sorry if this is too much reading, always wanted to do a diary properly after reading so much on here over the years and I like my commas,,,,
Next up .. a Spoon rep exhaust (just kidding)
I saw it parked up in the corner and Craig had left it stone cold for me so and informed me it hadn't been run for two days. Jumped in immediately appreciating the bus cloth seats (so comfy), the smell which is so 90's and the very simple dash. I had already noticed the stereo which is a 90's Pioneer tape deck, not standard fitment to my knowledge but at the time probably a decent upgrade in sound quality. Anyway Craig handed me the keys and it fired up also immediately, its such a sowing machine perfect start on this generation of Honda. The car immediately settled into a nice purr and Craig looked at me and could see me grinning from ear to ear.
the after market Pioneer stereo, very period correct!
I looked around the vehicle and could see the Enkei wheels were in perfect condition so I suspected a refurb, the paint is a lovely colour and in overall great condition but will definitely need a mop and there is no rust on the rear arches!!!. Anyway, Craig said to take the car out on my own and my car mad son immediately jumped at the chance to come with me, Craig told us about a little local route so off we went.
As we pulled out my son and I were getting to grips with the features of the car and testing the brakes and suspension whilst the oil was warming up, everything seemed fine, The coolant temp slowly crept up but I noticed it didn't get exactly half way up the gauge where it should be during the drive (poss Thermostat borked?) but other than this is felt like a new car, this is clearly a vehicle that has had been tended to regularly by a very caring owner.
Side note.. I had a neighbour like this as a kid with a Civic Eg, the ESI version, which he still has 27 years later. I remember him putting a tin can over the exhaust to stop rain water getting in the exhaust as it was parked on a slope when outside, but it spent most of its life in a garage anyway this was maybe a contribution to my Honda addiction?
Anyway, as the drive continued I could smell something funky as the car warmed up and we were getting into vtec a little (just to check its function of course) this is a smell I am very familiar with - brakes . We pulled over and sure enough the o/s front wheel was smoking and you could cook an egg on the wheel! An issue I have dealt with before on this generation (more to come later) of Honda, knowing the water gets in behind the seals in the caliper and corrodes the piston preventing it moving and effectively locking the wheels, not good for fuel economy or the discs!!
We cruised back to Craigs and still smiling I informed him about the issue, he immediately had a no problem attitude and we went to get a coffee and lunch nearby whilst he rectified the issue on his lift. The car was sold at this point!
Lovely Enkei wheels and condition but sticky brakes (Craig pulled the caliper and rubbed down the piston and refitted a get you home fix but much appreciated)
After a lunch and coffee at the nearby excellent Edge coffee https://edgcumbes.co.uk/pages/cafe-roastery we returned to the Man Cave and continued chatting, Craig is the sort of guy who can talk about cars for hours, I had already mentioned the Honda Motocompo in the corner which he has for sale, he showed me around it and I even had a ride around the yard, it was amazing and a proper Honda bucket list item for me.
Anyway- essentially I dug into the service history which is essentially Honda for ten years then a private garage for next ten, then back to Honda again more recently, there was an entry form for Goodwood Breakfast club 90's meet but it doesn't give a date (I wonder if anyone got a picture) and the owner even had a receipt for a Honda T-shirt! It was all so impressive and he even included two notes from people who had left them on the car asking to buy it (exactly what I would have done having seen it in the wild)
I had another look around the car and found something odd in the engine bay - this is very typical of a caring fastidious owner which I really appreciate
See the suspicious cloth bottom right near the washer fluid fill cap?
A bulb tester!! I need to speak to this owner...
Rocker cover has done the usual and will be refurbed in the standard Black wrinkle, previous owner has dealt with this issue by rubbing it down, maybe sending the cover off for refurb was a step too far for them which is understandable.
Anyway, Craig and I made a deal and the car was mine for £7100- I sorted tax and insurance. Craig is seriously one of the most impressive car dealers I've met from start to finish and I was even pulled to one side by a bloke who turned up in a Mk2 Jag and said "you won't regret buying a car from him" and told me a couple of tales of the brilliant service he has received. Just search Man Cave Cars and Classics on Facebook he gets some interesting cars in focusing on classic bikes and cars and the odd more modern Japanese stuff.
The drive home was brilliant, the kids took turns in the Honda and the brakes were fine, we stopped for fuel once and I took a picture of the cars together
Honda gets the limelight this time, normally snapping away at the Vrs!
The majority of this was motorway and I was mainly worried but I needn't have been as it got back absolutely fine, the B16 singing away like a sowing machine at 4k around 70mph!
Sorry if this is too much reading, always wanted to do a diary properly after reading so much on here over the years and I like my commas,,,,
Next up .. a Spoon rep exhaust (just kidding)
Lovely. Hope you enjoy it. Ive had my Honda civic coupe for 5 years. It's the 1999 1.6 auto. 100bhp. :-) I brought it with 11k miles from an air hostess and it now has 72K on it. Perfect reliability. Ac, sunroof, even the same old 90's stereo which I still have in my garage. Great cars.
Nice, looks a great purchase 
Not surprising how rare these are nowadays given the states of the rear arches/undersides on most of them! I had an EG hatch (that had thankfully 'been done' to a decent standard previously), Civics of this era provide a great purity of driving and the chassis on them are great! Looking forward to further updates.
Not surprising how rare these are nowadays given the states of the rear arches/undersides on most of them! I had an EG hatch (that had thankfully 'been done' to a decent standard previously), Civics of this era provide a great purity of driving and the chassis on them are great! Looking forward to further updates.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff